On the 23rd of July, we hosted our fifth annual taster day, offering an exciting opportunity for attendees to experience the intricate world of patent law. The taster day aims to inspire and empower the next generation of talented patent attorneys by offering a first-hand look into the intellectual property sector and the life of a patent attorney within a private practice firm.
Eight attendees from all corners of the country participated in a series of engaging practical exercises. These sessions were specifically designed to simulate real-world scenarios, allowing the aspiring attorneys to develop and apply skills crucial for client projects.
Working collaboratively, they tackled challenges that mirrored the analytical thinking, precision, and problem-solving required in patent law, providing invaluable hands-on experience in a supportive group environment. This collaborative aspect not only fostered teamwork but also allowed participants to learn from each other's perspectives.
(Pic BACK LEFT Top – Bottom) Will Caygill, Nicholas Johnson, Chloe Shilling, Ellie Dennis, Maddie Maskill, Zoe Barnard, Amelia Barrett, Libby Folkard. BACK RIGHT Top – Bottom) Jay Ruaux, Matthew Feuer, Eleni Nicolaou, Ella Hudson, Jacob Robertson.
Secerna Partner, Charlotte Watkins said: "The calibre of participants at our recent exploratory session was truly outstanding. We absolutely love hosting these taster days as they allow us to genuinely showcase the stimulating and rewarding career path that patent law offers to ambitious science and technology graduates.
Our ultimate aim is to foster the next generation of legal talent, and we're delighted to see such a clear and vibrant engagement with IP among these impressive students."
Student of Biochemistry at The University of Warwick, Zoe Barnard said: “Attending the taster day at Secerna gave me the opportunity to gain invaluable insight into the world of IP, for which I am extremely grateful. I thoroughly enjoyed the day, learning about the IP industry and Secerna as a firm. A highlight for me was completing the tasks, paired with the chance to discuss our ideas and opinions about the presented documents with a member of the team. I found this offered the unique opportunity to gain first hand experience of some of the major roles and responsibilities of a patent attorney, as well as developing an understanding of some of the key thought processes required in this field.
As well as this, talking with and asking questions to the current trainees about entering the profession, as well as their experiences as a trainee gave me a clearer picture as to the path of qualification. The entire day was extremely insightful, solidifying my interest in pursuing a career in the IP world and again I would like to thank everyone at Secerna for their considerable efforts.”
Student of Natural Sciences at Durham University, Will Caygill said: “It was so insightful to learn about the role as a Patent Attorney as has cemented my goals of a future career in this position. It was particularly interesting to look at mock patent applications, and compare them to both UK and European patent laws and decipher whether inventions can apply for different types of IP protection.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the patent applications and altering them to make them the most useful, broad yet unique. Thank you so much to the Secerna team for being so welcoming, answering all of my questions and reinforcing my admiration for my dream career. It was a truly insightful day and an honour to attend.”
Postgraduate Student at Durham University, Chloe Shilling said: "Thank you to you all for all of the effort and support during the taster day - I found the experience to be invaluable. The whole team were amazing.”
If you are interested in exploring a career in intellectual property or would like to participate in next year’s taster day, please visit https://www.secerna.com/careers/taster-days/.