What does a typical day as a patent trainee look like?
/career
One of the aspects I enjoy most about being a patent trainee is the variety. No two days are ever quite the same. As mentioned in my previous articles, the work spans all aspects of IP including patent drafting, prosecution, oppositions, and freedom-to-operate matters.
While every day brings something different, below is an example of what a typical day might look like as a patent trainee.
9:00 am – Planning the day
I arrive at the office and review the to-do list I prepared the previous day. After checking my inbox for any urgent instructions or deadlines that may have arisen overnight, I update my priorities and plan the day accordingly.
9:30 am – European patent prosecution
I begin work on a response to a European Search Opinion. This involves reviewing the client’s proposed claim amendments, ensuring they have basis in the original application, and developing persuasive arguments to address the Examiner’s objections. I get to work preparing the response in a clear and comprehensive format in preparation for filing at the European Patent Office.
11:00 am – Client portfolio meeting
Even as a trainee you have the opportunity to attend client meetings alongside your supervisors. Today, I attend a portfolio review meeting to discuss the status of pending patent applications, progress on new drafting projects, and ongoing advisory activities. I take notes throughout the discussion to ensure that any agreed actions are easy to review after the meeting.
1:00 pm – Lunch
Our London office is surrounded by excellent places to grab lunch, and it’s always a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues from across the firm, particularly those in other teams.
2:00 pm – Following up on client actions
After lunch, I prepare a detailed set of meeting notes summarising the key discussion points and action items from the client call.
2:30 pm – Finalising prosecution work
The remainder of the afternoon is spent refining the draft response to the Search Opinion. Before sending it for review, I carefully check the response and supporting documents in full. Any issues requiring further consideration are highlighted for discussion with the supervising partner.
5:00 pm – Wrapping up
Before finishing for the day, I complete my time recording and prepare a task list for tomorrow.
I hope this provides those considering a career in the profession with a small insight into what a day as a Patent Trainee can look like.
You can find out more about careers as an aspiring attorney at Boult here.
