Trainee Patent Attorney – Biotechnology

Carpmaels & Ransford, Trainee Patent Attorney – Biotechnology

Are you looking for a career that allows you to apply the technical knowledge gained from your engineering degree in a legal and commercial environment? Do you have an inquisitive mind, a flair for writing and a love of problem solving?

If so, a career in intellectual property law may be for you.

Why Carpmaels & Ransford?

We are a leading European intellectual property law firm. Through our passionate and award-winning team of life scientists, engineers and regulatory experts, we advise some of the world’s leading healthcare companies.

With top tier rankings in all the industry directories, we were awarded EPO Prosecution Firm of the Year at the IAM and WTR Global IP Awards 2024, received two Europe Impact Case of the Yearawards at the 2025 MIP EMEA Awards and most recently took home Patent Litigation Firm of the Year: Biologics & Biosimilars; and SPC Litigation Firm of the Year at the LMG Life Sciences Awards 2025 EMEA.

As a firm, we’re passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Diversity of thought is vital to our business; it’s how we approach challenges differently and offer our clients creative and original solutions. Through our work with organisations such as IP Inclusive, Stonewall and Business in the Community via the Race at Work Charter, we are putting the right steps in place to make sure that all our people feel supported and empowered to be themselves.

A healthy work/life balance is very important to us and we run regular wellbeing events in addition to the large number of clubs and social activities that are available to everyone at the firm. We are also enthusiastic supporters of our local community through partnerships with the Social Mobility Foundation and Holborn Community Association.

What you’ll be doing

Each year, we recruit a number of exceptional STEM graduates, with our renowned training programme supporting them through to qualification as a UK and European patent attorney.

As a trainee in our industry-leading Life Sciences (Biotechnology) practice group, you will be part of a team that supports some of the world’s leading biotechnology companies across the full spectrum of biotechnologies, from diagnostics to therapeutics including platform and manufacturing technologies.

With increasing demands from our major international clients, there is never a shortage of challenging, high-value work.

The role of a patent attorney involves a unique combination of technical knowledge, legal expertise and precise communication. Language proficiency, particularly in writing, reading and sometimes speaking, is vital.

As a new trainee, this is a fantastic opportunity to put your degree to good use in a rewarding and intellectually stimulating profession.

Candidates need to possess, or be working towards, a strong first degree (minimum 2:1 or equivalent) or PhD in a relevant technical discipline. This may include molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry and immunology.

Your degree will be complemented by strong A Levels. Our typical minimum requirements are three at grade A or equivalent, including two STEM subjects.

In addition to your technical skills, you will have an excellent command of both written and spoken English. You enjoy analysing and conceptualising complex matters and have a passion and aptitude for problem solving. With strong time management and organisation skills, you are a strong communicator, both verbally and in writing.

We are proud to be usingRare Recruitment’s Contextual Recruitment System (CRS)which allows us to consider your achievements in the context in which they were gained. We understand that not all candidate’s achievements look the same on paper – and we want to recruit the best people, from every background.

The recruitment process

Our recruitment process is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your interest in a career within IP. If successful, following the completion of our brief online application form and submission of your CV, you will be asked to complete a short, pre-recorded video interview. Successful candidates will then be invited to a two-stage interview process.

Our aim is to ensure all candidates are treated equally and fairly, allowing them to perform at their best during the recruitment process. If you have a disability, if you’re neurodivergent, or if you have a condition that you believe may affect your performance during our recruitment process, we encourage you to share your requirements for any adjustments in the relevant section of our application form.

Examples of adjustments may include:

• allowing extra time for assessments.
• providing some extra information about what to expect.
• additional rest breaks.
• adjusting room setup.

Please note that we review applications on a rolling basis and may make offers prior to the closing date. Therefore, we encourage early applications.

What we offer

We offer a competitive benefits package that currently includes the following:

• An annual base salary of approximately £50,000.
• 25 days’ holiday, increasing by 1 day per year up to our maximum of 28 days.
• Employer pension contribution of 5% in your first year, with a minimum 3% employee contribution, increasing to 10% employer contribution after one year’s service.
• Holiday buy scheme, with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days.
• Holiday bonus, starting at £400 per year, increasing each year up to a maximum of £2,000.
• Private medical insurance via Bupa, where you’ll be eligible to join the month following your start date. You will also have the option to add dependants, subject to a monthly cost.
• Free confidential access to 24/7 medical, mental, legal and financial wellbeing support via Health Assured and WeCare from your first day of employment.
• Access to internal Mental Health First Aiders, all of whom have completed the Mental Health First Aid England accredited training programme and champion wellbeing across the firm.
• Life assurance of 4x your base salary.
• Income protection, with cover for up to 5 years and compensating for up to 75% of your base salary.
• Season ticket loan.
• Access to Payroll Giving or Give As You Earn (GAYE) which allows you to donate to charity through your monthly pay.
• We’re passionate about the benefits of corporate volunteering and offer all employees 1 paid volunteer day per year.

We’re very proud of our collegiate culture and the value that working together brings. Through our commitment to enabling everyone to do their best work, we offer a range of family and life-friendly policies.

We are proud of our inclusive culture where individual differences are celebrated, and we are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees and job applicants. We do not tolerate discrimination either directly or indirectly on the basis of race, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, pregnancy and maternity, socio economic background or any characteristic protected by law. Our approach is embodied in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, as well as our diversity and inclusion programmes.

Please mention IP Careers when applying to Carpmaels & Ransford.

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