Graduate training and career progression in patent law
One of the advantages of getting a job in patent law is that, whether you become a patent attorney or a patent examiner, you benefit from a structured career progression. What’s more, training and development opportunities in the intellectual property profession are designed to give you the skills and expertise to progress swiftly.
Experienced patent attorneys (or agents) and examiners are expected to be confident users of the three official languages of the European Patent Office (English, French and German) so all trainees are given appropriate language training. You will also undergo the necessary training to develop your legal and technical expertise. Such training is usually given in-house by employers.
Career progression as a patent attorney
Starting out as a patent attorney, you will usually be known as a trainee or technical assistant and begin to study for your professional qualification with the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys. In private practice the career ladder leads to partnership, sometimes by way of an associate position. Corporate practice has more levels, and you may end up as a manager without much direct patent work. As a registered patent attorney you should be able to direct your focus towards the specialist areas that interest you most, eg biotechnology. There are also postgraduate qualifications available, which may exempt you from parts of the chartership process or, at a later stage in your career, enhance your understanding of your field.
Patent work can involve spending time in Europe, as you will be applying for patents from the European Patent Office. Most UK patent attorneys also choose to become qualified and registered European patent attorneys.
Career progression as a patent examiner
Typically, patent examiners begin as a trainee or associate and, when deemed able to work fully independently, progress to become a full patent examiner. The UK Intellectual Property Office (formerly the Patent Office) maintains that this often takes around three years, From there, you will progress to become a senior patent examiner. After this, you can become a principal examiner, though competition for these vacancies is fierce. Patent examiners at the UK Intellectual Property Office are encouraged to take a postgraduate diploma in intellectual property law, which is taught in-house. Trainees at the European Patent Office undergo a two-year training course. Like patent attorneys, patent examiners often build up an area of expertise in one particular specialism.
There are many opportunities to work abroad, with the European Patent Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization (for whom you can work when you’re more experienced) having bases around the world.
