STEM Diversity European Patent Pipeline Summer Internship

STEM Diversity European Patent Pipeline Program - Paid Summer internship opportunity

We are delighted to announce that we will be running the  European Patent Pipeline Program for

a consecutive year!

We’re accepting applications now for internships commencing in the summer of 2025.

This internship is suitable for students studying Chemistry, Biology, Electrical Engineering, Engineering (General with electrical focus), Computer Science, Physics and Biochemistry and related degrees to these areas. Undergraduate degree and Integrated masters applicants from these areas are welcome to apply. This internship is for selected underrepresented groups (listed in eligibility criteria below) to help increase the diversity of people going to Patent Law.

What is it?

The Patent Pipeline Program (PPP) is a program launched by the National Council on Patent Practicum (NCPP) in partnership with Meta. This program has seen fantastic success in the U.S. for the last 3 years and we’re excited to bring this program into Europe with the launch of the European Patent Pipeline Program (EPPP).

The goal of the EPPP is to widen access to the patent attorney profession by breaking down barriers to entry and through our Partnership with Generating Genius, offering internships to STEM students. These are paid internships offering a one-of-a-kind opportunity to work closely alongside private practice patent attorneys and in-house patent professionals, thereby providing a unique hands-on opportunity to experience life as a patent attorney. Feedback from the program in 2024 and 2025 was incredibly positive and the interns felt it gave them a unique insight into the patent attorney profession. We’re delighted to be running this program again!

The EPPP internship will run for 10 weeks in total and will allow STEM students to gain valuable work experience within private practice at one of the London offices of our consortium IP firms (either Kilburn & Strode, Murgitroyd or Withers & Rogers), shadowing and learning from qualified patent attorneys and taking on the real work and responsibilities of trainee patent attorneys. Not only that, but you will also be able to spend at least 1 week working directly within in-house intellectual property (IP) teams outside of private practice, observing the different work and business considerations facing IP teams at some of the most famous companies in Europe.

Location of Internships: London

The patent attorney career path

Do you want to find a career where you can apply your knowledge of science and engineering to the protection and commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies, while working alongside world leading clients who are at the forefront of innovation? If so, a career as a patent attorney might be for you! Being a patent attorney gives you the chance to immerse yourself in a diverse range of innovative technologies and grapple with fascinating legal challenges to protect these technologies.

To begin the path to qualifying as a patent attorney within Europe, you will need to have completed a STEM degree. After that, at least 3 years of work experience (typically as a trainee at a private practice firm) under the supervision of a qualified patent attorney is mandated before your final qualifying examinations. Those three years are an exciting time of learning and career progression, working alongside patent attorneys to advise clients on protecting their new technologies and the best ways to craft and manage their patent portfolios.

No two days are ever the same as a patent attorney! Throughout the course of your training, you will master the fundamentals of UK and European patent law, learn how to draft patent applications, take part in the prosecution of patent applications and interact with clients to help them deliver on their business goals.

What will I be doing during the internship?

Throughout this 10-week program, you will be given a unique insight in to the role and career of a patent attorney in both private practice and in-house. This will not only include assisting qualified patent attorneys to work on patent issues facing their clients, but also attending training sessions with individuals across the patent profession to kick-start your career as a private practice patent attorney. Your internship will therefore allow you to:

• Experience life as a private practice patent attorney by working directly with patent attorneys on real client work

• Understand the career of a private practice patent attorney to see whether it’s right for you

• Learn about the real-world impact of IP from in-house professionals

• Develop your knowledge through training and mentorship

• Meet patent professionals at different stages of their careers and from different firms and companies

• And more!

What happens at the end of the internship?

Not only will you have gained an unparalleled insight into the career and role of a patent attorney and a jump-start in your training, but also you will have the opportunity to apply for any available trainee patent attorney position at Kilburn & Strode, Murgitroyd or Withers & Rogers.      

Please check through the eligibility criteria carefully before applying

Eligibility Criteria

• You are in your penultimate or final year of study in either Physics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering, Computer Science, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry or related degree. (This can be an integrated Masters course but not a 1-2 year separate masters from undergraduate course.)

• Either attended a non-fee paying school or had a bursary/scholarship at a Fee paying school

• These internship places are in London. You must either live in London or be prepared if you wish to take on the role to find your own accommodation in London.

• You must be available for the full duration of the internship 22nd June 2026-28th August
  Additionally you must meet ONE of the below criteria:

  • Come from an ethnic minority background

  • Be from a low income household. (We will look at your full social context including household income, job roles of parents or guardians, free school meal status. We may reach out to you for more information to provide more of a social context if needed).

  • Be a woman (cis-gendered or trans) or identify as non-binary

Application Process

Step one- We strongly advise that you please attend the Application tips and insight webinar on Wednesday December 10th, 6pm-7.30pm. This is going to be a great opportunity to learn more about the process. We also have some fantastic prizes to be won keeping the evening both informative and fun.

Please complete the short sign up form here by no later than 3rd December at 9am

Step two - Please make an application by completing these steps by no later than Wednesday 7th January at 9am:

-or-

Submitting cv and cover letter via email

Step three-Selected candidates will be invited to an Assessment Centre in February. This is the final stage.