My path to Intellectual Property started with studying it as an optional course at university. I overheard a lecturer saying to a distressed student during course election sessions that IP is difficult even for clever people. What could be so difficult that would make a law lecturer fret?

Having worked in IP for about 2 years now (in 2024), I have come to realise that, like many things, Intellectual Property is only difficult if you are afraid of it (as many people understandably are, especially if, like me, you do not have a science background). Once you sit down and have the curiosity to explore it, from the most intricate legal points to the most technical ones, IP reveals itself as perhaps the most diverse and certainly (in my biased view at least) the most entertaining area of civil practice.

Having discovered IP in my studies, when it came to deciding on an area of law to pursue further, the choice was easy. I wanted to practise as a barrister in an area of civil law which was commercial without being monotonous, which offered opportunities for oral advocacy whilst at the same time allowing plenty of time for preparation and written submissions, which allowed even the most junior barristers to manage cases both alone and as part of a larger team, which combined arts with science without necessarily requiring a specialised degree in one or the other. IP combined all of these elements, and since then I haven’t had a single day when I didn’t learn something new. You can become an expert in any area overnight, from anti-coagulant medication to clothing and insurance for pets, from artificial intelligence to songwriting and fashion design. Indeed, it is almost impossible to describe a day in the life of an IP barrister, as no two days are the same. And when I am not in court, I spend most of my time drafting opinions, skeleton arguments or statements of case, doing research and speaking with solicitors and clients about how best to assist their case and help their businesses thrive.

Personally, there is also another aspect of IP which drew me to this career, which is that it rewards creativity and inventiveness. As an IP barrister, most of the time, your job is to help your client either protect the works they have created and reap the rewards of their artistic or technical efforts, or, on the other side, continue to trade unencumbered by unjustifiable monopolies. You are, in essence, policing theft of perhaps the most valuable goods one can own – their own intellectual creations.

My advice for anyone wanting to become an IP barrister is don’t let yourself be pushed back by what you think (or what you are told) are drawbacks in your background. As long as you are genuinely curious and prepared to learn and improve, and you know how to make the most of your qualities and experience, there is a place in IP for you. One of my favourite instances of “mentoring” was meeting a mini-pupil (work experience student) in Chambers who told me that seeing my profile on LinkedIn gave them hope that people from a similar, non-standard, non-STEM background can have a future at the IP Bar. I remember how distressing it was for me to navigate this legal path without much representation and feeling that I don’t quite match the profiles and experience of those more senior, but if there is one thing that prospective barristers need to learn is that there is no such thing as “standard” at the IP Bar.

IP Barrister / 11 South Square