Greta Markert

“Ultimately, we are lawyers giving legal advice.”

This was said by Lucy Coe, a Partner at Mewburn Ellis, on the very first day of my internship. It stuck with me. As someone who has always thought of themselves first and foremost as a scientist with an interest in intellectual property, that sentence marked a subtle but important shift in perspective.

I came into the internship with curiosity about the intersection between AI and patents. I left with a much deeper appreciation for what it really means to be a patent attorney, especially in a fast-moving, complex field like artificial intelligence.

A Crash Course in IP, AI, and Advocacy

The week began with a solid grounding in patent fundamentals: novelty, inventive step, sufficiency, and industrial application; setting the stage for what was to come. Our cohort was a diverse mix of eight students and early-career researchers: from undergrads to MSc graduates to myself, handing in my PhD thesis in a bit more than a month. What we all shared was a technical background and an eagerness to learn how that expertise might one day translate into a legal career.

One of the highlights was watching a live-streamed UK Supreme Court hearing on whether artificial neural networks could be considered “a program for a computer […] as such,” and therefore excluded from patent protection. It was a moment that showed how the legal system is actively grappling with questions that are critical to the future of innovation.

The Art of Precision

Throughout the week, we tackled lots of complex aspects of the profession. On Tuesday, we explored the tricky business of patenting software-related AI inventions. I learnt just how important it is for patent attorneys to frame an invention in a way that highlights its technical contribution.

On Wednesday, we got hands-on experience drafting responses to office actions, essentially arguing for a patent’s validity in the face of prior art. This required balancing technical accuracy with legal strategy. That evening, we had the chance to meet more of the Manchester office over a relaxed social, which really highlighted the firm’s welcoming and collaborative culture.

Thursday’s sessions were equally illuminating. We heard directly from current trainees and associates and got a candid, behind-the-scenes look at life at the firm and the application process. We also had an excellent workshop on post-grant proceedings, which continued into Friday with a challenging case study. As someone who once attended an EPO hearing where Mewburn Ellis was involved in a successful litigation several years ago, it was exciting to take part in a mock analysis of a post-grant scenario.

Beyond Patents: The Bigger Picture

What surprised me the most during the week was how forward-thinking and modern the firm is not just in its legal work, but also in its approach to technology, sustainability, and business development. Mewburn Ellis uses advanced tools to streamline the work of patent attorneys, and there’s a real emphasis on understanding the broader strategic context in which patents operate. I hadn’t realised before how much time and thought goes into client relationships, marketing, and even branding.

It’s clear that Mewburn Ellis is serious about sustainability and inclusion. The team we worked with was diverse, with many women in senior roles, and the firm has retained over 30% of its clients for more than 20 years. That kind of loyalty speaks volumes.