• Our approach to recruitment and training
• Careers as a patent or trade mark attorney
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Introductory careers information
• Career opportunities at Withers & Rogers
• Application forms and registration of interest

Withers & Rogers LLP - Organisation profile

Firm history and structure

Founded in 1884, the firm has grown steadily in recent years. It is now a group of limited liability partnerships, of which Withers & Rogers LLP, the professional practice, is the largest. The firm is based in four offices: London, Bristol, the Midlands and Sheffield. We operate in four principal practice groups: Electronics, Computing and Physics; Advanced Engineering; Life Sciences and Chemistry; and Trade Mark, which are represented across all of the offices. We also have a number of specialist practice groups including Higher Education, Clean Technology, Medical Devices and Aerospace & Defence.

Range of client services

We offer clients a full range of intellectual property services. Filing applications for patents and trade mark registrations is our core business, but registered design, design right, copyright, domain name registration and enforcement, due diligence and licensing work is also undertaken.

Professional development

Trainees are usually assigned to one partner specialising in their practice area, but can expect to work with other attorneys as well.

The firm runs an in-house training programme, from which regular, structured feedback is provided.  Our tutorial system is particularly extensive, with a programme of up to 32 tutorials each year.  The firm also provides extensive practical training, including on its bespoke case management system and digital dictation system, and extensive printed and electronic manuals and reference materials are available.  

We encourage trainees to attend appropriate external courses. There are further opportunities for training after qualification, for example, to achieve the LLM at Nottingham Law School to become a Patent Attorney Litigator. In-house German training is provided as required.

We also get trainees involved in the marketing process very early on, and encourage membership of networking organisations.

Withers & Rogers LLP - Trainee profile

Justin Wilson

As I was coming towards the end of my degree, I started to think about that eternal dilemma that faces most university students: What am I going to do with the rest of my life?  I had enjoyed my studies and had always had a fascination for science; I knew, however, that a PhD was not for me.  Then I came across the patent profession, which seemed a fascinating combination of science and law.

I started at Withers & Rogers in September 2005 working in the Life Sciences & Chemistry practice group.  We have a diverse range of clients ranging from sole inventors and small companies to universities and large corporations.  While specialising in life sciences, I get exposed to a large array of different technologies, ranging from basic mechanical inventions to complicated biochemical ones.  I have worked on patent applications for golf equipment, trainers, simple medical devices, vaccines and pharmaceutical drugs.  It is very enjoyable working on such a variety of different technologies since you regularly get to see interesting new inventions rather than doing the same thing day in, day out.  This also means that you are always having to learn about new technologies and to figure out how they work, which can be quite taxing.

My training at Withers & Rogers is largely experience-based.  Primarily, I am given work by two people although at one time or another I have worked with most attorneys in the office.  Working with different people helps as you are exposed to different aspects of the job and the different approaches of each person, although you also have to learn their idiosyncrasies as well!  Importantly, people in the office are always willing to lend a friendly ear for when you have those stupid questions to ask.  There are numerous in-house tutorials for trainees aimed at passing the UK and European qualifying exams and trainees are also encouraged to attend external tutorials, lectures and courses.  The training programme seems to work well as the exam success rate for trainees is relatively high.  At the time of writing, after just under four years in the profession, I have qualified as a Chartered Patent Attorney and am awaiting results of my European exams.

Withers & Rogers is a very friendly and sociable firm.  A number of events are organised every year including the Christmas and summer parties and you can always find people to go out with for lunch or for a few drinks after work.  There is also a good attitude within the firm to work-life balance.

If you have a background in science or engineering, an enquiring, analytical mind and enjoy finding out about innovations both from a scientific and legal viewpoint, the patent profession might well be for you.