Careers in Ideas is looking for new volunteers to get involved as mentors for aspiring recruits for the IP professions.
The Careers in Ideas Mentoring Hub was launched in 2021 and has been highly successful in supporting a diverse range of future IP professionals. The mentoring scheme provides recruits with an understanding of the potential careers in the IP sector and the requirements for entry into the sector.
Like everything else related to Careers in Ideas, our ultimate aim is to attract a more diverse range of recruits into the IP professions. We aim to help people access these fantastic careers when they might not have otherwise been able to.
Ahead of the next Summer of IP in 2026, we want to expand the scheme to include even more mentors from across the IP sector.
If you think you can spare a little time to help would-be recruits, particularly those from groups and backgrounds that are typically underrepresented in IP, we’d love to hear from you.
Further information on the mentoring scheme is provided below and can be found on the Careers in Ideas website.
If you would like to know more about the scheme or to volunteer as a mentor, get in touch with [email protected]
Introduction to the Careers in Ideas Mentoring Scheme
Careers in Ideas (“CinI”) is an IP Inclusive initiative that was created for anyone considering – or who might consider – a career in the world of intellectual property, and for those who support them in their choices: careers advisers, teachers and parents (for more information see https://careersinideas.org.uk/ and https://ipinclusive.org.uk/).
Why did we set up the mentoring scheme?
Through our outreach work, we have observed that some individuals considering a career in the IP professions, possibly due to their socio-economic or educational backgrounds, often lack information and guidance on the application process. Our objective is therefore to support talented people from groups that are underrepresented, for instance, in terms of ethnicity, gender, socio-economic background, or disability, or who face significant barriers to employment, in entering the IP professions. This further serves to make our profession truly reflect and engage broader society.
What do we need from you?
Our current set of volunteers comprises professionals from various sectors of the IP professions, including patent and trade mark attorneys, paralegals, trainees, IP solicitors and barristers, partners from law or IP departments, and in-house counsel.
We need more volunteers, however, to fully serve the demand we anticipate from the Summer of IP in 2026.
Do I need a qualification to be a volunteer mentor?
No qualification is required – just a willingness to give of your time and advice. We will provide you with an initial induction to ensure you understand the expectations. You will also receive a walkthrough of the mentoring platform that we will be using for our mentee-mentor relationships.
What training and support do you provide?
We provide training and support for all mentors on the platform that the scheme runs through (MentorLoop), as well as on general mentoring techniques and the support and safeguards available through IP Inclusive.
We have two short introductory videos that are viewed online. The first of which introduces IP Inclusive, Careers in Ideas and the formal requirements of volunteering. The second video provides an introduction to mentoring, outlining the kinds of things that are expected and not expected from mentors.
After viewing these, you will be asked if you wish to commit to being a mentor. If so, you will be invited to a more in-depth, interactive training session covering the MentorLoop platform and basic mentoring skills. The next interactive training session will be held in January/February 2026.
There will be occasional mentoring skills update sessions, and ongoing support is available from the mentor trainer throughout your time as a volunteer mentor.
I am interested – what’s next?
If you are interested in volunteering as a mentor, please get in touch with us at [email protected]. We will then provide you with more information on the training, including access to the initial online videos, which you can view before committing to becoming a mentor.
Thank you for your interest. We look forward to welcoming you as a mentor to our mentoring scheme.