« I had the great privilege to carry out my traineeship first in the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich, Germany, and then an additional year, via the Pan European Seal exchange program, in European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain.

Traineeship at EUIPO is an amazing opportunity to not only gain a rare glimpse into the core internal functioning of an EU institution but also get submerged into the world of trademarks and designs.

As I was interested in data protection specifically, I was able to secure a spot in the Data Protection Office. With the guidance of my supervisor I got a very hands-on experience working on data protection throughout the whole organisation and connect with many other departments and core business. The skills and exposure I received during my stay were crucial for me to pursue my career in data protection after my traineeship.

Same as EPO, EUIPO provides their trainees with plenty of opportunities for personal development, via language courses, internal competitions, international career fairs, and courses on patents and trademarks.

I also got to meet incredibly interesting people with diverse backgrounds for countries but also studies. If anyone is looking to make connections with future IP lawyers all across the EU, EUIPO is where you meet them.

Outside of work, Alicante is also where you want to be during a traineeship, and I have yet to meet an alumni who didn't enjoy their year to the fullest. Between the amazing weather, the sea, and Spanish tapas, you truly get the best out of your time. »

« my time at the EPO in Munich has been a multifaceted and extraordinary journey. I am working in one of Europe’s leading international organisations, a pioneer on many aspects in the field of patent law, within a team that values my legal and linguistic skills. At the same time while, I am daily being pushed to improve myself on every level in, in my humble opinion, one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. All this to say that I am extremely grateful for the opportunity presented and look forward to continuing my journey at the EPO as well as applying the skills and knowledge I gained here in any future endeavour ».

« Pan European Seal traineeship at EPO is a good opportunity to get an insight about the patent examination procedure and observing the legal aspects. You can even have a chance to attend some oppositions. The office has multicultural environment where you can meet and work with professionals from various countries and exchange ideas. They provide many courses for individual development as well as language courses to learn or improve your German/French language skills. In this warm environment you can have a great time with your peers from various countries and different educational backgrounds. I would recommend young graduates to have this nice experience. »