14/12/2023
Each year, we recruit a number of Trainee Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys to join our successful firm. Trainees join us as Technical Assistants and are allocated to our EES (Electrical, Electronics and Software), EMCP (Engineering, Materials and Consumer Products), LS (Life Sciences) and TM (Trade Mark) practice groups. To help our staff reach their full potential, we provide a comprehensive and structured training programme that is recognised as being one of the best in the profession. We invest time and resources in developing our talent, providing support from day one. Every new trainee will work closely with the partners of the firm, who will be responsible overall for training and development as the new joiners develop their role in the teams looking after our clients.
As a complement to this traditional learn by working training, we have developed a bespoke training programme for our new trainees, which is intended to bring them up to speed with some of the core concepts of intellectual property law, and to provide a degree of communal practical tuition. The training programme begins with a two-week intensive training induction (“Bootcamp”), introducing the basics of trade mark law, patent law and other intellectual property rights including design protection. The training induction also includes sessions dealing with important practical aspects of the job including, but not limited to “how to communicate with clients”, “effective marketing”, and “the role of a trainee”. The training programme then continues with weekly sessions devoted to practical training. Our trainees work through different tasks of increasing complexity each week, and their work is then assessed by a partner or qualified attorney. Both communal and individual feedback is provided as part of a group discussion. These practical training sessions ensure that all our new trainees are exposed to the same core practical examples, providing them with the tools to develop their skills together.
After this, new trainees will be supported through a 13-week part-time course leading to the Certificate in Intellectual Property Law (currently provided by Queen Mary, University of London). The Chartered Trade Mark Attorney qualification is through the part-time course at Nottingham, also known as the Trade Mark Practice, Professional Certificate. We want our trainees to have access to the best support they can get, so to support them through the formal qualification process, we offer on-the-job training, personalised in-house tutorials and access to external training courses. They are also encouraged to take advantage of courses and lectures provided by the Chartered Institute of Patent/Trade Mark Attorneys.
This year’s Bootcamp was a great success. A big thank you to all those involved in helping create a seamless and enjoyable programme of events.
Meet our 2023 graduate trainees and hear their reflections on the R&G “bootcamp” and training
“When considering the last two months of training, it is incredible to reflect on how much I have learned (… and how much there is to learn) about the patent and trade mark profession. Our bootcamp was a wonderful experience which introduced us to a wide scope of patent and trade mark basics, whilst bonding us as a cohort. As a cohort from our London and Cambridge offices we also have a training day every Monday, during which we get set a practical task and the opportunity to go through our (sometimes slightly off-kilter) answers with a qualified attorney. So far these tasks have involved search reports, examination reports, additional fee invitations and formal objections, to name but a few. Overall, I have enjoyed learning and developing so many new skills. It has been a steep, exciting and rewarding learning curve, as I have gained confidence in all things patent-y.” – Hannah Brace
“It’s hard to believe it has only been a few months since we started at R&G. Bootcamp was a fantastic environment to not only meet your fellow trainees, but a great chance to get to know members of the firm across a variety of technical fields in which your day-to-day work may not take you. As a life science trainee, I think it’s important to get to grips with the mechanical-style patents we will be wrestling with in our exams. Our weekly training tasks have been very useful for this, I can’t say in my day-to-day work I come across many wasp traps or tooth paste squeezers! Following on from bootcamp I’ve dived straight into drafting responses to patent offices throughout the world.
One of the most enjoyable and challenging aspects of the job has been to understand how complex a single patent application can be when it starts to be prosecuted from America to Europe, from Canada to Japan. One invention may lead to quite different granted patents in a range of jurisdictions because of different IP law frameworks. It has been fascinating to see how an attorney has to adapt their approach to ensure the client gets the best protection for their invention, wherever they want it.” – James Cartwright
“My first few months at R&G have given me a strong platform from which I can continue my training in IP. Bootcamp was a great way to learn the essentials of the trade and provided the opportunity to get to know my cohort and many members of the team. On the other hand, the continued Monday training sessions are useful in exposing me to specific tasks which are similar to the work I now do regularly. I find that the challenging parts of the job are also the enjoyable ones, especially working through technical arguments and putting into practise various aspects of the law which I have learnt so far. Overall, I have found my time both interesting and rewarding – I’m looking forward to learning more!” – Tim Higginbotham
“My time so far at Reddie & Grose started with an intensive two-week bootcamp where I got to meet and work alongside the other new trainees, as well as a variety of people at the firm. In this time, we were introduced to the fundamentals of patent law, and the work of Reddie and Grose, through a series of engaging talks and activities. The bootcamp experience eased my start into the role, getting to understand the work, and the people, from the very beginning. Since then, the ongoing training programme and hands-on casework has exposed me to the variety of work at R&G; from corresponding with clients, responding to examiners and plenty of reading about innovative technology. I have enjoyed the challenge so far of getting to grips with the legal side of the work, with a focus on complex technology, whilst balancing a client’s commercial goals, and I look forward to the rest of my training towards being a qualified Patent Attorney”. – Hannah Nagle
“The initial two weeks of training set the stage for what has turned out to be an incredible learning experience. Bootcamp equipped me with the essential knowledge to navigate the intricate world of Intellectual Property, and, since then, I’ve loved the challenge of getting to grips with a wide variety of fascinating cases. From laser machining to autonomous vehicles to medical devices, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed unravelling the crux of many cutting-edge ideas. The sociable atmosphere and welcoming community has made every day enjoyable, and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead!” – Sam Pfeffer-Matthews
“My first two months at Reddie & Grose have been thoroughly enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the first two weeks completing ‘bootcamp’ in London; it was a great opportunity to get an insight into life at the firm from the outset, understand the fundamentals of patent law and other areas of IP law, whilst also getting to know the other trainees in my cohort and integrating with the London Office. Everyone was so supportive, friendly and sociable!
Adjusting to a completely new subject area of law and way of working has been the most challenging aspect so far and the training sessions that have continued weekly have meant that we have managed to develop our skillsets quickly whilst being exposed to a broad range of legal and technical areas in such a short space of time. Getting used to the technical law language and then applying the teaching to real-life scenarios and clients in practice has been the hardest part. I like the fact that the learning is fast-paced and continues to challenge us. Whilst we are encouraged to independently think about the tasks, the training debriefs also allow us to get involved in informed discussions with our fellow trainees and are run by partners and associates at the firm which I think has been really beneficial to learn from each other, enabling us to get different perspectives on how to approach different cases and develop professionally by getting to know our colleagues.
If I was to give any advice to people thinking about entering the patent profession, it would be that the job is a challenging role, one which requires hard work, commitment, attention to detail and the ability to process large volumes of information, but also one which is extremely interesting and rewarding.” – Chloe Skidmore
“Joining Reddie & Grose straight from university, I found bootcamp to be highly beneficial in assisting my adjustment to the world of work. Bootcamp allowed me to get to know my cohort and existing employees as well as gain an understanding of core principles that I am now using on a day-to-day basis. It gave us new trainees the platform to discuss and develop this key knowledge. Bootcamp provided me with the confidence and skills to begin my official training. So far one of the most enjoyable aspects of the job has been being encouraged to get involved with a wide variety of work. Not only has this allowed me to be exposed to multiple areas of the job, but it also made me feel included in the team from day one.
I would encourage anyone looking to enter the trademark profession to consider the extent of commercial exposure available as this is not only interesting, but also valuable when applying the legal principles to the current market.” – Georgina Tanner
Our trainee recruitment cycle takes place from September – December each year, with a start date of the following September.
Following the initial screening process, successful applicants will be invited to a Teams interview with one partner and a member of the HR team. Shortlisted candidates will thereafter be invited for a face-to-face interview with further partners, and they will have the opportunity to meet with current trainees over a coffee.
Reasonable adjustments – when inviting candidates for their interview, we ask if they require reasonable adjustments and act accordingly.
Applications for our 2025 intake will open in September 2024. To find out more about becoming a trainee at Reddie & Grose, please visit our graduate page.
