How to get into IP

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Jane Lambert

Earlier today I uploaded to Slideshare a presentation that I gave in February 2023 to members of the University of St Andrews Law Society entitled A Career at the Bar of England and Wales.  I did so because I get a lot of enquiries on how to make a career in IP, as well as requests for work experience.  I had just come across a website called IP Careers which lists careers advice, courses, jobs and news.  Its only drawback is that it focuses on opportunities for patent and trade mark attorneys and openings at the Intellectual Property Office and European Patent Office but does not seem to have much for barristers or solicitors specializing in intellectual property.

A website that does cover all the intellectual property professions is Careers in Ideas which is managed by IP Inclusive, a great organization of which I am proud to say I am one of its earliest members.   I followed the link to the IP Barrister page which is fair and comprehensive.   I offer my presentation on Careers at the Bar of England and Wales and article on IP Services from Barristers (6 April 2013 NIPC News) to supplement Careers in Ideas's resources on IP barristers.

According to Careers in Ideas, there are 16 IP professions "[f]rom high-flying lawyers to super-efficient administrators, from innovative designers to international business people, there are many careers in ideas and intellectual property:"
  • formalities examiner 
  • IP barrister  
  • IP business support professional   
  • IP journalist  
  • IP legal secretary   
  • IP paralegal  
  • IP solicitor    
  • Paralegal to IP lawyers  
  • Patent attorney 
  • Patent examiner Europe  
  • Patent examiner UK   
  • Patent searcher/analyst   
  • Patent translator   
  • Tech transfer/knowledge exchange professional  
  • Trade mark attorney, and 
  • Trade mark examiner.
This is by no means a comprehensive list.   I can add IP strategist, patent valuer, brand valuer, IP tax accountant, trading standards officer, specialist private investigator and university teacher to the list from the top of my head.  There are plenty of opportunities in IP for all educational backgrounds and skill levels.

As for those seeking work experience, most chambers offer mini-pupillages.  These involve reading the papers, attending court and sitting in on conferences (meetings with clients).  These are a very good opportunity to choose an area of law, profession, type of work, region of the country and so on.  My chambers has a particularly good scheme which includes advocacy exercises, attendance at court and workshops every September.   Further information on the September 2026 scheme can be obtained from our senior clerk, Emily Martin on 020 7404 5252.

Henceforth, anyone seeking information from me about careers in IP  will be referred to the IP Careers and Careers in Ideas websites and those seeking work experience will be invited to apply for a mini pipillage through our annual competition which takes place every May.

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