Trainee Patent Attorney
Withers & Rogers
Trainee Patent Attorney
Entry-levelSouth WestPosted September, 16, 2026
Trainee Patent Attorney
Applications Close: 6th October 2026
Context of the role
Withers & Rogers is one of Europe’s largest dedicated intellectual property law firms, with offices across the UK, Paris, and Munich. Established 140 years ago, we remain as passionate as ever about making intellectual property work to our clients’ best advantage. Today, our clients include many renowned, innovative organisations from across Europe, North America, and Asia.
We believe that our patent and trade mark attorneys, support, and operations staff have a breadth of expertise and a depth of specialist sector knowledge that is second to none.
Our purpose is building trusting relationships, and this permeates through everything we do, from working with each other to providing strategic advice to our clients.
This role is within our Advanced Engineering Group. The contractual base for this role will be Bristol; however, we are embracing hybrid working, and therefore you will have the opportunity to mix days in the office and home, as agreed with your line manager but there is an expectation that employees will attend the office as needed for their role.
Accountabilities
- Providing support with drafting patent specifications and analysing and responding to patent office communications.
- Corresponding with clients, patent offices and overseas attorneys as directed.
- Analysing prior art documents and developing creative and persuasive arguments against patent office objections.
- Supporting with analysing and amending patent specifications to overcome patent office objections.
- Researching the status, scope and validity of third-party intellectual property rights.
- Working towards qualification as a UK and European Patent Attorney, including attending relevant courses, lectures and tutorials.
- Engaging with business development activities, developing relationships with our current clients and building a network of contacts, with a view to converting contacts to clients and bringing in new business.
- Any other duties where necessary to ensure the needs of the business are met.
Knowledge and skills required
- A strong academic (2:1 or above at undergraduate level as a minimum) in the relevant discipline.
- Ability to grasp new technical concepts and express complex ideas clearly and accurately.
- Impeccable written English and the ability to structure precise and coherent arguments.
- Attention to detail and pride in work product.
- Ability to balance and prioritise workload, remain composed and level-headed during periods of particularly busy activity.
- A team-player with a proactive approach, first-rate communication skills and able to interact with all levels of internal and external contacts.
- The desire to learn and a willingness to become involved in the work.
Values and competencies
Our values are: Being Collaborative, Being Genuine, Being Passionate
Developing self and others Level: 2
- Takes personal responsibility for their own development, proactively seeks out development opportunities.
- Supports others to achieve their goals, gives timely and constructive feedback.
- Appropriately investigates problems, situations, or opportunities to enhance understanding.
- Seeks feedback and takes responsibility for mistakes
Open communication Level: 2
- Communicates useful information by anticipating the needs of the receiver.
- Proactively contributes at team meetings.
- Works co-operatively with others to deliver results.
- Offers and provides assistance to others.
Taking personal responsibility Level: 2
- Works confidently without needing constant supervision; escalates issues where appropriate and delivers identified solutions.
- Uses understanding and awareness of the structure of the firm to “get things done”.
- Is comfortable suggesting and implementing new processes and methods to achieve success.
- Applies expertise and knowledge to evaluate and solve a range of problems.
- Seeks opportunities to take on additional responsibilities.
Commercial thinking Level: 2
- Applies knowledge of GROW strategy to own work; demonstrates good understanding of their business area and how it operates in relation to the firm.
- Proactively ensures client needs are satisfied.
- Takes a commercial approach to delivery of projects and tasks.
Trust (building trust) Level: 2
- Positively engages with clients to agree commitments, is motivated to exceed expectations.
- Contributes to the W&R GROW strategy through building of networks, the sharing of information, encouraging cooperation and builds team spirit.
- Places team agenda before personal agenda, manages and resolves conflict.
For more information please visit the Careers page at Withers & Rogers - Careers
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