Withers & Rogers

Frequently asked questions

  • I have a Maths degree – can I train as a patent attorney?

    While your mathematics degree does count as a technical degree in the sense that you would require only the shorter qualifying period for becoming a European Patent Attorney (three years instead of the six years for non-technical degree subjects), Withers & Rogers will invariably require a degree in science or engineering - ideally as a first degree, but possibly as a second - for someone training as a patent attorney. Other patent firms may have different policies

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  • I have a PhD – do I have to complete all the exams?

    Doctorates and other academic qualifications unless in law, do not provide exemptions from the training process. A number of universities (e.g. Queen Mary, London; University of Manchester) provide courses in IP Law which, if passed, gain an exemption from the foundation examinations. Withers & Rogers, however, generally prefers its trainees to go through the foundation examination system.

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  • I have been to QMUL – how should I apply?

    While passing the QMUL MSc or Certificate in IP Law, or one of the similar courses from other universities, means that you are exempt from the foundation examinations, Withers & Rogers will generally assess such candidates as part of its graduate entry – in other words, against those contemporaries who will go through the foundation examinations. We may even suggest, or possibly require, any successful applicants to do the foundation examinations as well, as we feel that this gives a more practical basis to your career as an attorney.

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  • I only have a third class degree - is it worth me applying?

    Patent and trade mark work is intellectually demanding, and we do generally prefer candidates with a good degree -a First or Upper Second. If you didn’t achieve that, other aspects of your CV will have to compensate, and you can expect to be questioned even more thoroughly on your academic ability and technical knowledge.

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  • I cannot speak French or German – does this matter?

    The ability to read French or German is no longer essential for the European examinations. That said, knowledge of any foreign language is useful in a career as a patent attorney so it is advantageous if you already have abilities in either of these languages. German is particularly useful (see below) to the extent that we often visit Germany to conduct European Patent Office proceedings. We also provide German language lessons at our offices.

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  • I can speak Norwegian, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Arabic – is this an advantage?

    While fluency in any foreign language may be useful, German is the most useful European language for patent attorneys. Most hearings at the European Patent Office are held in Munich (although many are now also held in the Hague, and others occasionally in Berlin), and most non-English European Patent applications are in German rather than in French.

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"Withers & Rogers’ clear advice and swift action was invaluable in securing Intellectual Property protection for our improved clamp and we are confident that this protection will be a major commercial advantage as the new standard is adopted."

P&B Weir Electrical logo Geraint Evans, Managing Director, P&B Weir Electrical