Having completed a Masters and PhD in Mechanical Engineering (specialising in biomedical engineering), I was faced with the decision about what to do next. I was considering doing a law conversion course, when a family friend who was a solicitor asked whether I’d considered becoming a patent attorney. Given that I hadn’t even known such a profession existed, my answer was “no, but what is one of those?”

After a discussion with the family friend I did some more research and thought that it might be a job I would enjoy. I was fortunate that a couple of patent attorneys agreed to chat to me about what the job entails, how to enter the profession and so on. I then began applying for jobs, and started in the profession in 2000.

I work in a private practice firm, the same one I started at back in 2000, and the work I do is varied and challenging, as well as being extremely rewarding. A few years after qualification I reduced my hours significantly so that I could balance bringing up very young children with work; my firm was very accommodating in this respect. In time I moved back to working more days (I’m now full time) and into a management role (alongside my patent prosecution work) – where I support our team who deal with grant and validation of European patents. Management was certainly a new challenge, but one I love. I became a partner in 2017, another steep learning curve, but one where I’ve been supported! During the pandemic I found my own way of doing business development and marketing, and that’s now another important part of my role, and includes regular trips both to the US and around Europe.

In short, in this profession I feel that I am always learning new things, be those technical/legal/management or personal, and that there is always the opportunity to learn and experience more. That is exactly what I wanted from my career.

Patent Attorney / Boult Wade Tennant

Last Updated: October 30, 2024