Have you ever considered a career in intellectual property?

3 min read

As our world continues to shift and new ideas emerge every day, intellectual property professionals are increasingly in high demand. A large part of finding success in this career path is fully understanding where it can lead and knowing exactly how to get there.

At IE University, our Talent & Careers team is ready to help guide you every step of the way. If protecting intangibles sounds like something you’re interested in, we’ve laid out some guidelines about what this career path might look like.

Where do I start?

If you’re ready to pursue a career in IP, one way to get a foot in the door is by taking a graduate training program, such as that organized by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). The Pan-European Seal Professional Traineeship Program (PES) is jointly promoted by EUIPO and the European Patent Office (EPO), and works with 102 strategic partner universities, including IE University.

The PES is a year-long paid traineeship which gives graduates the opportunity to undertake work experience at the EUIPO headquarters in Alicante. Its aim is to bridge academia and the labor market in various knowledge fields including corporate governance, human resources and IT and law. All trainees undergo a thorough orientation program and are then integrated into the work of their respective departments.

As part of the Intellectual Property & Technology Law specialization within the Master of Laws (LL.M.) at IE Law School, students are given the chance to participate in the selection process of a 12-month traineeship program with EPO or EUIPO. IE Law School is an official academic partner of the PES program, and this agreement allows our students to stand out from the rest when stepping into the world of IP.

Why choose a graduate training program?

So what are the advantages of participating in a program like the PES after graduation? First, it gives you hands-on experience of working in your chosen field—which is especially important if you’re moving into a new sector. Nuria Martínez, learning and knowledge management specialist at EUIPO, points out that, in addition to law and IP law roles, there are positions available in several other areas such as linguistics, economics, political science and IT.

Additionally, working at the EUIPO offers a fast-paced, multicultural work environment that houses five working languages and trainees from 36 countries.

What comes next?

This graduate training program also boosts your career prospects. As well as the option of an exchange program at the EPO in Munich, PES alumni have access to the Talent Bank, an online platform providing traineeships and job opportunities. And there’s a hosting program whereby PES trainees can spend three to six months at a national IP office (NIPO), thus gaining experience across varying work environments and enhancing knowledge-sharing within the offices.

Andrea Flores, head of global recruitment at IE University, describes the program as “outstanding” and says it allows companies to find the kind of talent they are looking for. Graduates of the program agree: Jan Dohnal says the program “fosters potential employment for the future” while Adriana Matkowska praises the Talent Bank as “the platform that allows us to get to where we truly want to be in life and look for the next opportunity.”

Interested in doing something similar with your career? Don´t hesitate to learn more about the Master of Laws (LL.M.) program and start your journey today!