Mechanical Engineering Internship

Type: Intern
Region: North West

Marks & Clerk LLP is one of the world’s leading intellectual property law firms and one of the UK’s largest firm of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys. We work at the forefront of technology, across many different scientific fields, helping clients make the most of their inventions and grow their businesses. We work across the three key areas of Engineering & Physics, Software and Electronics and Chemistry and Life Sciences. We provide a comprehensive range of intellectual property services to a variety of clients, from multinational corporations to the latest start-up ventures, in all sectors worldwide.

As a business we value the different skills and experiences people bring to our firm and we embrace diversity. In 2022, we won an award from the mental health charity Mind for the wellbeing initiatives we have for our employees. Our offices run regular social events and we ensure that our trainees have a network of people to support them through their training and qualifications.

Who are you?

Working in conjunction with Black Talent and Leadership in STEM and an international engineering client, we are offering a one month paid internship in our Manchester office in September.

We are looking for students studying Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related subject, who have excellent communication skills, meticulous attention to detail and a natural curiosity to understand how things work. We are open to applications from students who are studying an undergraduate degree, Masters or PhD. This internship is most suited however, to those who are nearing the end of their studies, as for the right person it may lead to an interview for our graduate training academy. It is highly likely you have never considered a job as a patent attorney, so this is a great way to find out about a different career path.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, but are really keen to hear from people who are underrepresented in our sector. The IP sector has initiatives to support increased diversity and we hope our internship can play a part in this. Through our internships and wider diversity initiatives, we are actively trying to increase the representation of people from Black and Asian ethnicities and female and non-binary students studying engineering. If you’d like to find out more about Diversity & Inclusion at Marks & Clerk please visit page.

What will you do?

The internship is provided in conjunction with client, Cummins, Inc., a global leader in the power sector. Cummins designs, builds and distributes diesel and natural gas powered engines for on-highway and off-highway use, power generation equipment for use in a wide range of sectors including residential, industrial, mining and oil and gas, and new and emerging alternative power technologies, including electrified powertrains and fuel cells. At the heart of this organisation is a team of dependable, innovative thinkers who are extremely passionate about their company and the positive contribution they make to its success. Cummins’ core values include diversity and integrity, which have led to the creation of a diverse, inclusive and empowering environment present in every part of the globe.

We are offering a four week paid internship (paid at national living wage), based in our Manchester office. The internship will give you the opportunity to use your technical skills in a commercial and legal setting, so you should have not only a sound technical background, but also an interest in the law and a desire to understand how technology can be applied to solve real-world problems.

Most of the time will be spent with Marks & Clerk, but you will have the opportunity to spend some time with onsite with Cummins at their Huddersfield site, gaining hands-on experience with their engineers. You will also be able to visit their in-house legal team in Paddington, London.

During the remaining time you will work with Marks & Clerk attorneys, working on client patent work, including Cummins. You may be involved in discussing a new invention with an engineer, reviewing older designs to see if a new design is sufficiently novel and inventive to be patentable, helping to prepare arguments to send to a Patent Office examiner to explain why our client should be entitled to a patent for a new idea, or maybe all three! In addition, you may also help negotiate and/or prepare some agreements concerning the development or commercial exploitation of inventions. There will also be the opportunity to engage with our Training Academy.

The world of IP is ever changing. If you enjoy a challenge, this may be the internship for you.

How will you be supported?

As well as working with our patent attorneys and support teams, you will have a senior mentor throughout. Your mentor will be one of our international partners who has a wealth of experience they hope to share with you. Our Training & Development Manager will also be a point of contact to ensure you have everything you need for the internship and arrangements to visit Cummins are put in place. In addition, you will have a number of trainees in our Manchester office who will be able to act as buddies throughout your internship.

Location and date

The internship will be in our Manchester office, so you will need to be a commutable distance from Manchester city centre, or find suitable accommodation nearby. Travel and accommodation as part of visiting Cummins, will be paid for by Marks & Clerk.

The internship will be Monday to Friday, 2nd – 27th September 2024. We can flex the date slightly, but please make sure you are available around that time before applying.

How do you apply?

Please apply through our application link. Please note all initial applications will be handled by Black Talent and Leadership in STEM.

Applications close on 30 May 2024 and we will then invite people to interview. The interviews will be held in the first week of July and will be virtual. We will ask you questions about your degree, any projects or research you have done, what interests you about Marks & Clerk and Cummins, and why you would like to do the internship.