Potter Clarkson

Overview

Potter Clarkson is one of Europe’s leading full-service IP law firms, focused on identifying, protecting, commercialising and enforcing the value of clients' ideas, brands and innovations. The firm combines legal, technical and commercial expertise and is known for deep specialist teams (many with scientific or industry backgrounds) that advise clients across sectors such as pharmaceuticals, automotive, food and drink, consumer goods and cleantech. Founded in 1889, the firm operates a European network of seven offices across the UK, Denmark and Sweden and employs 200+ co‑workers, including a large cohort of business services professionals supporting a technical IP practice.

• Founded: 1889
• Offices: 7

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Intellectual Property
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Technology & Digital
• Commercial Contracts

Geographic Focus: The firm is strongest across the UK, Denmark and Sweden, operating a European network of seven offices and advising clients across Europe. It positions itself to support cross-border IP work and collaboration across its offices in London, Nottingham, Aarhus, Copenhagen and Stockholm.

Training Contract

Graduates enter a structured graduate scheme recruiting trainee patent and trade mark attorneys and trainee solicitors. Training combines formal courses and substantial on-the-job learning; trainees are assigned a mentor at partner or senior associate level and work closely with senior colleagues, including issuing work to clients and receiving internal and external study support to prepare for UK and European attorney examinations.

• Academic Requirements: Trainees will have, as a minimum, obtained a degree in a relevant field.

Seat Options

• Biotechnology
• Chemistry
• Trade Marks
• Technology, Engineering and Designs
• Litigation and Licensing
• Formalities
• Renewals
• Secretarial and Paralegal

SQE Support

Trainees attend internal and external training courses to help prepare for the exams needed to qualify as UK and European attorneys; the firm states it has a strong record of supporting trainees through their professional examinations.

Mentorship

Each trainee is assigned a mentor at partner or senior associate level. The firm highlights mentoring, secondments and internal opportunities as part of career development and provides induction information in advance of starting roles.

Apply on the Potter Clarkson website →

Programmes & Schemes

What Potter Clarkson Looks For

Key Competencies

• Technical / scientific background (for patent roles)
• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Attention to detail
• Ambition and client focus
• Respectful communication
• Commitment to professional development

Evidence Signals

• A degree in a relevant scientific/technical field for trainee attorney roles
• Practical IP-related work experience or internships
• Demonstrable commercial awareness and sector interest (pharmaceuticals, cleantech, consumer goods, automotive etc.)
• Participation in mentoring, relevant clubs or pro bono work
• Willingness to engage in internal and external training for professional exams

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Hybrid working arrangements (role- and team-dependent)
• Formal induction booklet provided in advance of starting
• Mentoring and structured training support for professional qualifications
• Wellbeing Working Group
• Mental health ambassadors and a wellbeing information hub
• Subsidised gym memberships (and a wellbeing benefit in Denmark and Sweden offices)
• Career development opportunities and internal secondments
• Large business services function supporting flexible career paths

Wellbeing

The firm operates a Wellbeing Working Group, has mental health ambassadors and an information hub to promote open, empathetic conversations, subsidised gym memberships and wellbeing benefits in Denmark and Sweden; it states an ongoing commitment to improving health and wellbeing support.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm is focused on improving diversity across the firm and maintaining a culture where everyone can be themselves; it is working on policies, embedding best practice and updating training to reflect new developments, and aims to create pathways into the IP profession for young people from all backgrounds.

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme (dedicated EDI page)
• Wellbeing Working Group
• Mental health ambassadors

Pro Bono

The firm describes social responsibility activity that includes creating pathways into the IP profession for young people from all backgrounds, mentoring the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs, championing innovation across Europe, upholding ethical standards and reducing environmental impact. Employees are encouraged and supported to get involved in these initiatives.

Innovation

Potter Clarkson emphasises proximity to technology and brands and employs specialists with scientific and industry backgrounds; innovation is embedded through cross-disciplinary collaboration across technical and legal teams. The firm highlights working with clients on technologies in pharmaceuticals, cleantech, space exploration and other advanced sectors, though no named proprietary legal‑tech tools are listed on the career site.

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise a relevant scientific or technical degree and concrete examples of how you applied that knowledge — the firm recruits trainee patent and trade mark attorneys who must have a degree in a relevant field.
• Reference the firm’s values (Collaboration, Ambition, Respect, Excellence) and give specific examples of when you demonstrated those behaviours in team settings or client-facing tasks.
• Show commercial awareness in the sector you target (e.g. pharmaceuticals, cleantech, consumer goods) and explain how IP protection creates value for clients in that sector.
• Highlight experience or interest in cross-border or collaborative working — the firm operates seven offices across the UK, Denmark and Sweden and emphasises cross-office teamwork.
• If applying for early opportunities, mention willingness to be flexible on location and to engage with ad hoc work experience placements; submit a tailored covering letter specifying preferred department, dates and location.