I studied Neuroscience at university, where I developed a strong interest in pharmaceutical and biotechnological innovations within the life sciences sector. I was keen to continue pursuing such intellectually stimulating scientific advancements while also gaining greater exposure to the commercial and strategic side of these industries. I therefore started researching careers in law, as the client-facing collaborative style of work appealed to me, and I was particularly drawn to the dynamic and scientific nature of intellectual property law.

I wanted to work on legal issues at the forefront of the pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors, so Bristows’ top-tier life sciences practice naturally stood out to me, as it offered the chance to work with industry-leading clients on cutting-edge technologies. I attended Bristows’ IP Workshop for STEM students, where I found that the Bristows’ partners – many of whom had a similar science background to myself – were all passionate and personable, and were genuinely excited about their work.

I completed an initial written application, a pre-recorded video interview, and then two further interviews with senior associates and partners, along with a written exercise. As you’ll frequently hear from Bristows’ trainees, the application process stands out as the interviewers’ are genuinely interested in who you are as a person, your background, and your wider interests. For example, upon starting my training contract, a partner who had interviewed me three years prior still remembered our interview discussions about my experiences playing polo.

My first seat was three months in Commercial IP, IT and DCL where I had the opportunity to get involved in deals for major pharmaceutical companies and observe partners skilfully resolve disputes to find amicable solutions for both sides. This was followed by a six month seat in Patent Litigation, where I really enjoyed working with a range of scientific experts to deep-dive into a product’s life cycle and learn more about the overarching strategy that is employed in litigation. I also had the opportunity to attend court proceedings at the High Court and Court of Appeal to live report on all the action (and the many twists and turns). I am now in the Brands, Design and Copyright team, where I am getting the opportunity to work with new clients across various sectors and expand my knowledge on other areas of IP law e.g. trade marks, copyrights, and passing off.

At Bristows, trainees are trusted with real responsibility from the start, allowing you to make meaningful contributions to fascinating work. Our department supervisors are genuinely invested in our training and development and will frequently ask me what work I am interested in getting involved in so that they can actively seek out opportunities for me to do so. There is also no shortage of pastoral mentors, which creates a very supportive learning environment. Outside of work, Bristows’ is an incredibly social firm with a wide array of committees to get involved in (or start your own!) and social events to enjoy. I’ve been involved in the Netball team, the Life Sciences Book Club, and recently took part in running the London Landmarks Half Marathon with other firm members to raise money for Bristows’ charity of the year, Alzheimer’s Research UK. There is no shortage of fun things to get involved in!