Patent work
This page has been designed to give a starting point for those looking into careers in patent work.
What is patent work?
A unique area of work, operating on the interface between law, science and technology. It's a specialist area of law that protects intellectual property rights. Related fields include trade-marks, registered designs and copyright (Targetjobs). A patent attorney is a member of a profession of around 1,500 members who have a particular expertise in the field of intellectual property (CIPA). Intellectual property (IP) can allow you to own things you create in a similar way to owning physical property (Patent Office). To start with, all patent attorneys need a scientific or technical background. Nowadays, this usually means a science or engineering degree from a university or similar institution that confers eligibility for both UK and European qualifying examinations.
(CIPA).
Prospects
Prospects is a graduate careers website with profiles on the following jobs:
Patent agent
Patent examiner
Regulatory affairs officer
Trade market attorney
Target Jobs
Jobs in patent law.
targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/patent-work
Inside Careers
In-depth and structured information and advice about entering the patent attorney profession.
www.insidecareers.co.uk
Chartered Institute of Patent Agents
How do I get into it?
The Institute of Trade Market Attorneys
'A career as a trade market attorney'
Intellectual Property Office
Finding a job or employer in this sector
The small numbers of vacancies that occur each year attract strong competition. Opportunities are advertised via the internet, in newspapers and in scientific/technical publications such as the New Scientist, Chemistry in Britain, The Official Journal (Patents),and the monthly supplement to the CIPA Journal.
CIPA
has an online 'Directory of patent attorneys' and a 'Register of patent attorneys'.
FJ Cleveland
Mewburn Ellis
Further Information and Useful Links
Chartered Institute of Patent Agents (CIPA)
The website contains information on careers in intellectual property, including courses available and what sorts of work patent agents do.
www.cipa.org.uk/pages/home
European Patent Office (EPO)
Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys
www.itma.org.uk/the-institute/index.htm
PATLIB UK
Part of the British Library, the Patent Information Network is a group of 13 public and academic libraries which aims to supply regional access to the technological and commercial information available in patent documentation.
www.ipo.gov.uk/business-patlib
Intellectual Property Office