An Unexpected Career

• Published date: 22 July 2021
• Subject Matter: Intellectual Property, Law Department Performance, Trademark, Performance, Management
• Law Firm: HGF Ltd
• Author: Ms Lauren Somers

Being a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney can be hard to explain, but how can you get into this rewarding profession? We asked HGF's Director of Trade Marks Lauren Somers to explain her path.

Being a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney isn't a common profession. I doubt that children at school, college or even young adults at university declare a desire to be a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney to their careers advisors. I certainly didn't.

It wasn't until, as a recent graduate browsing my university's career website, I stumbled across a job advertisement for the position of trainee Trade Mark Attorney.

Whilst I wasn't sure what the job entailed, something in the advert struck a chord. I realised afterwards that I wasn't the typical applicant.

I didn't study law - a BA Hons in Politics and Economics - and I don't have any lawyers in my family - so no footsteps to follow in. I was interested in business, commerce, supply, demand and what makes people spend money though (often brands!). It was enough to land me the job.

The qualification process takes time and effort. Two post-graduate courses plus two-three years in the role are needed before it's possible to make the transition from trainee to Chartered Trade Mark Attorney.

Going back to studying again after university and alongside a full time job is not easy, but the trips to London and Nottingham to complete the courses were a good chance to meet other trainees and have a weekend in the city.

My job now involves working with a range of businesses in all sectors: from university spin-outs offering innovative green energy solutions, to SMEs in health care, UK based firms producing power tools, right through to multinationals whose products are dotted around most homes.

I seem to have acquired varying levels of knowledge about most areas of technology; artificial intelligence and machine learning are hot topics, with many clients seeking to filter this wave of innovation in to their products or service.

When most people think about brands, they think of the big names such as COCA COLA and PEPSI. Brands go beyond consumer products though and are of equal importance and value in the scientific, technological and engineering sectors.

Alongside other forms of IP protection such as patents and designs, a...