Trainee Patent Attorney - 2027 in England

We have an opportunity for a graduate to join our thriving and friendly Technology, Software and Engineering (TSE) team here at Dehns. Our TSE team handles work across all modern technical fields, allowing you to use your technical knowledge and access cutting-edge research without being confined to a lab. A real positive of the trainee patent attorney role is the ability to work across a range of technologies, providing a varied and interesting caseload working with clients from large corporations to individual private inventors.

The role will provide traditional patent attorney drafting and prosecution work, as well as opportunities to play a part in developing commercial IP strategy. In addition to technical knowledge, the role demands strong written communication skills, as patent attorney work requires clear and precise communication. You should therefore enjoy reading and writing, as these skills will be important to the role.

Location
The principal place of business will be one of the Firm’s offices. The Firm is located at various sites within the UK and Europe; travel to, and working from, these offices will be required from time to time. The Firm operates a Hybrid Working policy, permitting full-time trainee patent attorneys to work from home one day a week initially, and then two days per week once they have at least 2 years’ experience and with the approval of their Supervising Partner.

Hours of work
35 hours per week to be worked in accordance with the provisions of the Firm's flexitime scheme.

Purpose of role
To work with a range of Partners, Senior Associates and Associates in supporting the Firm’s clients with their patent portfolios, while simultaneously working towards qualification as both a European Patent Attorney and a Chartered UK Patent Attorney.

Main Responsibilities
Typical responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Direct client work in an appropriate technical area
• Liaising with inventors, technical and research directors, local patent attorneys, in-house attorneys, IP managers and CEOs
• Advising clients on applying for and exploiting patent protection to ensure successful protection of their innovations
• Working with clients to develop and implement global IP strategies
• Identifying new inventions
• Drafting, filing and prosecuting patent applications in both the UK and Europe, as well as directing prosecution of patent applications in various jurisdictions outside Europe and preparing and sending patent filing instructions to overseas attorneys
• Corresponding with intellectual property offices to respond to official objections to a client’s patent application(s)
• Conducting oppositions, appeals, entitlement hearings, invalidity and revocation proceedings before relevant offices and tribunals, and representing clients at oral hearings
• Identifying third party patent rights
• Monitoring and reviewing third party patent applications
• Providing Freedom To Operate (FTO) and validity opinions
• Conducting Intellectual Property audits and due diligence for clients
• Taking an active approach in business development opportunities with the support of the firms’ marketing and business development department
• Working towards qualification as a European Patent Attorney and a Chartered UK Patent Attorney

The Person
We welcome applications from graduates who have a strong academic background in any Engineering, Electronics, Mathematics, Physics or Computer Science field. Suitable candidates will ideally have:

• Excellent academic competence – you must achieve, or have achieved, a 2.1 degree result or above in a relevant subject
• The ability to analyse and interpret complex technical matters
• Ability to review large amounts of information and pick out the pertinent points
• Strong scientific communication skills, both oral and written
• Coachability
• Resilience
• An ability to work under pressure, prioritise to meet deadlines, and multi-task
• An ability to work independently to a high standard
• Strong organisational skills, excellent attention to detail and good interpersonal skills
• A fundamental sense of commerciality – as well as technical excellence, we are also looking for the potential to adeptly and perceptively help our clients achieve their goals.

The Offer
As well as a highly competitive salary and wide-ranging benefits package, we offer a relaxed, friendly, sociable environment in which to work. We have active Charities and EDI Committees who run regular events, alongside a whole calendar of social, wellbeing and club activities which also take place throughout the year.

We provide unrivalled training and support at every stage of your career. We stand out from other firms by having a dedicated Professional Support Attorney, a qualified attorney with many years of experience, who oversees training within the firm. Through specifically designed training and tutorial programmes, we ensure that not only are our trainees in the best possible position to achieve professional qualification, they are also equipped with the practical skills needed to excel in their careers.

About us
Consistently top tier ranked by IP and legal directories, our core business for over 100 years has been to obtain and defend intellectual property rights for local and international clients ranging from large, multinational corporations to small and medium sized businesses and private individuals. Our practical, business-oriented approach to intellectual property helps us to turn inspired thinking into patents, trade marks and registered designs that are valuable commercial assets for our clients.

People are at the heart of Dehns. We care about each and every one of our employees and work/life balance is important to us. We pride ourselves on our commitment to training and provide unrivalled support to our trainees and attorneys through to qualification and beyond. We actively embrace diversity in all its forms – background, identity, experience and thought – and are passionate about providing a workplace in which all individuals can thrive. We strongly believe that diversity enriches our culture and enhances the quality of the work that we do for our clients.

This job description describes the principal purpose and main elements of the job. It is a guide to the nature and main duties of the job as it currently stands. It is not intended as a wholly comprehensive or permanent schedule and may be varied from time to time. It does not form part of the contract of employment.