Before joining Murgitroyd, I knew I was interested in innovation, but I wasn’t yet sure whether becoming a patent attorney was the right path for me. #
My EPPP internship changed that. It gave me a first-hand look at the work, the culture, and the types of technologies I could be involved in, ultimately confirming that this was where I wanted to build my career.
Why I chose the Patent Attorney path #
I am writing this article to share my experience with prospective applicants who might be wondering what a trainee patent attorney role at Murgitroyd entails. After completing the EPPP internship, I returned to the firm in the summer of 2024 as a trainee in the Electronics Practice Group.
Exploring IP through the EPPP internship #
I applied to the EPPP internship during my Master’s degree because I wanted to learn more about the IP profession and determine whether this is a viable career pathway that aligns with my skills as a physics graduate and my interests in various technology areas.
During the EPPP internship, I had exposure to a variety of inventions ranging from farming apparatus to computer-implemented fintech algorithms. Understanding and explaining what makes a product novel and inventive requires a deep grasp of the technology that powers it.
I immensely appreciated the aspect of the job that allows for continuous learning and the application of my degree’s knowledge, which I thought I would never use again unless I choose a career in academia. By the end of the internship, I was determined to pursue a career in IP.
Stepping into the role #
Since returning to Murgitroyd as a trainee after the internship, I have taken on significantly more responsibilities. As an intern, I learned how to structure a response to an office action from an intellectual property office in relation to a patent application and how to approach claim drafting.
Now, as a trainee, I actively apply this knowledge in patent prosecution on a daily basis. In addition to drafting and filing responses to office actions, I have also been involved in conducting infringement analysis and IP audits, which require an understanding of different aspects of IP law and advising clients on their commercial strategy.
Challenges, support, and growth #
My main activities as a trainee include supporting qualified attorneys in patent prosecution and receiving training to pass qualification exams.
Murgitroyd has a very supportive, friendly work culture. I work with a group of experienced attorneys and have a cohort of trainees based in the London Office who I can grow with.
I receive structured exam tutorials on a weekly basis. In addition, I have the valuable opportunity to arrange one-on-one training sessions with attorneys on any topics I wish to learn. There are also internal drafting tutorials for trainees based on mock client cases, which provide constructive feedback to improve one's drafting skills.
This is a real privilege that I am fortunate to have, thanks to the incredibly supportive attorneys that I work with.
There are certainly challenging aspects to the role, but they’ve all contributed to my development. Working with inventions in optics and artificial intelligence means engaging with technologies at the cutting edge, which can be challenging to understand but also incredibly rewarding. I’ve also found it a useful challenge to balance detailed drafting work with deadline-driven tasks, and it has helped me build strong time-management and prioritisation skills.
Looking ahead: my path in the profession #
Being a patent attorney is a deadline-driven profession that comes with the challenges of time management and passing rigorous qualification exams. However, these demands are also part of what makes the role so engaging.
I decided to pursue a career in IP because it enables me to work on a breadth of inventions that challenge me intellectually and give me the opportunity to continually deepen my technical understanding. It also provides a clear and structured career progression pathway, which I found particularly appealing.
For anyone with a science background who enjoys applying their knowledge to innovative technologies, I would highly recommend considering a career in IP.
