I enjoyed studying biochemistry at university but knew that laboratory life was not for me. I worked on several projects alongside my degree, including a magazine about the science behind beauty products and a mobile app, which piqued my interest in intellectual property. After graduating I worked as a policy advisor to the Government Chief Scientific Advisor, and particularly enjoyed projects on health, emerging technology, and data. I knew I wanted to continue working in this space, and Bristows stood out to me as having a sector focus that matched my interest.

“The people are approachable regardless of seniority, the work is interesting and challenging, and the small trainee intake makes for a supportive and social experience.”

I applied for the summer workshop and came away feeling Bristows would be a great fit for me given the IP work and friendly culture (and the snacks). The training contract application process was straightforward and the interviews felt more like discussions rather than a grilling. The reality at Bristows very much matches the sense I got before joining: the people are approachable regardless of seniority, the work is interesting and challenging, and the small trainee intake makes for a supportive and social experience. I am currently in Patent Litigation and look forward to experiencing a mixture of contentious and non-contentious seats in the rest of my first year.