Job description
Vacancy: Trainee Solicitor
Discipline: Patent Litigation
Preferred Minimum Level of Qualifications: 2:1 Degree / STEM Graduates / Masters / LPC / SQE
Term: 2 years
Working arrangement: Full-time
Start date: September 2023
About EIP
EIP is an award-winning specialist patent firm with offices in Europe and the US and combines patent attorneys, litigators, and commercial IP lawyers to provide clients with a seamless service. EIP has an impressive global client base from SMEs to multinational blue-chip companies and includes telecoms owners, major software developers, pharma and biotech companies, medical device manufacturers, aerospace and logistics companies.
EIP has been recognised for its expertise across legal directories and awards. Since its launch in 2019 EIP has been ranked in the FT's list of Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms and in 2021EIP received gold ranking in all six technical categories. In 2022 EIP won European Patent Contentious Firm of the Year at Managing IP Awards EMEA, after winning UK Patent Contentious Firm of the Year for four years from 2018 to 2021.
Diversity is an intrinsic part of EIP’s business culture. We are proud to support the IP Inclusive initiative and we are a signatory to the IP Inclusive Charter. EIP actively engages in diversity efforts and is committed to developing an attitude of openness for the benefit of all those working in the IP profession.
About the litigation team
Our multi award-winning patent litigation practice is highly successful and highly ranked in the legal directories. Our cross-border team of patent litigators sits in Germany and the UK thus allowing us to service clients in two of the key European patent litigation jurisdictions.
Our innovative combination of experienced specialist patent litigators and the wide variety of technical specialties of our patent attorneys provides an invaluable combination of professionals to work with to evaluate the fine detail of any case both technically and legally.
As borne out by our long line of client successes in the court room, this combination gives EIP and its clients an invaluable tool for the early identification and preparation of the most suitable case for our clients’ needs, and the progression of that case through to trial.
The litigation team has offices in London and Dusseldorf. The position is for the London office and we currently have 5 partners, 3 managing associates, 9 associates and 3 trainees.
We have been awarded UK Firm of the Year for patent litigation four years in a row.
About the vacancy
We are looking for a trainee solicitor to join our leading litigation department who will gain direct experience working closely with the solicitors and partners on complex patent cases.
- Client care
- Practice support
- Case management
- Oral presentation
- Communication skills
- Business development
Skills, experience & qualifications
We would be interested to hear from STEM graduates (or from graduates in other disciplines who can demonstrate an interest and aptitude in hard IP) who are currently completing or have already completed their Legal Practice Course (LPC) / Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). An academic background in IP law and/or a STEM subject is desirable but not essential. Candidates may have but are not required to have an MSc or a PhD qualification in a scientific subject.
- An appropriate professional attitude (personable, well prepared, flexible and enthusiastic)
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Ability to express complex ideas clearly and concisely, and the ability to structure a precise and coherent argument
- Ability to deal with a variety of people at different levels
- Ability to balance knowledge of intellectual property law against commercial requirements
- Ability to work under pressure
- Excellent research and presentation skills
- Meticulous attention to detail, and an analytical mind
- Initiative and the ability to act independently
Our Trainees receive a competitive salary and enjoy several benefits:
- Discretionary bonus
- 25 days of holiday, excluding bank holidays, increasing with length of service
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave
- Hybrid working
- Private medical health care
- Free eye tests
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Electric vehicle scheme
- Group personal pension plan
Equal opportunities
EIP is an equal opportunities employer that values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious practice or any other perceived differences.