Becoming a patent attorney: Nicole Ade on her training and the chance to take part in the Candidate Support Programme

It actually came about by chance. To complete my Master’s degree at ETH Zurich, I also had to earn a certain number of credits in subjects outside my main field of study. So I chose a class on patent and licensing contract law. I found it very interesting. Later, I started working in the research and development department of a medical technology company and soon took on 50% of the duties of the outgoing IP manager. I really liked it right from the start. 

As a trainee patent attorney, I analyse technologies holistically to identify specific aspects worthy of protection and potential legal risks. I support innovations from the initial idea right through to market launch. This process requires close collaboration with the development department, which I find very rewarding. I’m also fascinated by the wide range of topics in the field of IP. At Roche, complex diagnostic systems are created as a result of the interplay between a wide range of disciplines, such as robotics, fluidics, optics and software, and the chemical substances used. There are always new challenges, and no two days are the same.

A key part of my work is gathering ideas from our inventors and assessing their patentability. I then draft the patent applications and discuss them with my mentor before they’re filed with the patent office – in the case of initial applications, this is usually the EPO. I also handle the prosecution – that is, the examination process through to the granting of the patent – and assist with the defence and enforcement of patent, design and trade secret rights.

I also assist with freedom-to-operate searches. This involves conducting searches on the new aspects of our developments and then assessing whether or not we have the freedom to operate. If existing patents are a barrier, I help the project teams to find technical workarounds, challenge the existing patents or explore alternative approaches. 

Finally, I share responsibility for IP awareness at Roche and organise training sessions for the research and development teams to help them understand the importance and workings of IP.

My goal is to expand my prospects in the field of IP and to take responsibility for the entire life cycle of an invention. In my previous role as an IP manager, my work was often complete as soon as the invention had been identified and the invention disclosure had been drawn up. However, I felt a desire to take a more active role in this process: to independently guide applications through the examination procedure and to provide expert support on patent law issues. In the medical technology sector in particular, innovations involve substantial investment and are of great strategic importance, so they have to be professionally managed and protected.

Three years ago, while I was still working as an IP manager, I completed the two-year part-time preparatory course for EQE candidates at the Centre for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI) in Zurich. This course gave me a solid theoretical foundation.

In 2025, I joined Roche as a trainee and deepened my specialist knowledge through weekly discussions on patent law with my mentor, Isabelle Gundel, and other in-house patent attorneys.

From September, I worked systematically with the guidelines of the European Patent Convention (EPC). I also completed an (excellent!) six-month online course at the European Patent Academy and a five-day intensive course at the CEIPI to prepare for paper F, the first module of the EQE. The CSP then got underway at the end of October with a kick-off event at the EPO in Munich.

Every participant is assigned a coach. I worked with my coach, Axel Pérez from Barcelona, for around two hours online every week. We went through all the exam topics and focused specifically on the more challenging ones. In December, we starting working through practice exams. As Axel also coached candidates from Norway and Finland, we had valuable joint training sessions at the weekends.

The programme also covers all examination fees and the cost of training materials.

The CSP has been a huge help to me in many ways: firstly, the one-to-one coaching, which allowed me to prepare in a personalised and structured way. The discussions with the other candidates in my group were also very enriching. Unlike me, they work in law firms, so we were able to learn a lot from one another. And, of course, I also appreciate the financial support.

It was very intense. I was also working full-time. It became particularly challenging in the months leading up to the exam. Studying late every evening and on Saturdays and Sundays was the norm. The learning curve at that stage is very steep.

The structure of the EQE changed in 2025. That made it difficult to prepare because I didn’t know what the focus would be on. Looking back, I found some parts more difficult than I expected. While my day-to-day work at Roche is heavily focused on practical application, some of the exam questions had a more theoretical focus.

You need to be aware that you can’t easily do the EQE in your spare time. The training and exams are very demanding, and the preparation takes a lot of time. It takes at least three years to qualify as a professional representative; if you have to resit an exam, it takes even longer. It requires perseverance and a high level of motivation.

But before I put anyone off – being a patent attorney is really cool. I would recommend it to anyone who finds technology fascinating but doesn’t want to focus on one single area. The profession combines an understanding of the natural sciences with legal issues and interdisciplinary, strategic thinking. Every day brings new challenges, and there’s plenty of scope to shape things yourself. I find it to be an incredibly varied and fulfilling job.

Since the interview, Nicole Ade passed paper F with a very good grade. Congratulations, Nicole, and thank you very much for speaking to us!