Working at POF
We are proud to be a people-first firm and believe that by supporting and valuing our team members, our clients – and the communities in which we serve – will benefit.
We foster an environment built on engagement, innovation and collaboration, creating a workplace that is both sustainable and stimulating. We actively support, empower and encourage our people to be their themselves and to reach their full potential, both professionally and personally.
Our people
We attract, develop and retain some of the brightest minds in the intellectual property profession. Our people are talented, motivated and values-driven, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences to their work.
We believe that innovation is strengthened by diversity. Our inclusive approach is the foundation for everything we do and enables us to deliver thoughtful, considered and innovative outcomes that reflect the uniqueness of our clients, industries and communities.
What we do
We work with clients of all sizes across a broad range of industries and technologies, including multinational corporations, foreign and local government bodies, research and education institutions, as well as local businesses and individuals.
Our professionals are exposed to some of the most complex and intellectually rewarding IP challenges in Australia and internationally. Working at the forefront of innovation and technology, our people enjoy stimulating work with meaningful, real-world impact.
Employee benefits
We support our people to be their best by investing in their ongoing development and providing continued support and access to great opportunities and benefits. Below are some of the ways we do this.
Recognition & Reward
Our recognition and reward framework acknowledges both individual and team contributions through a range of initiatives, including a formal reward and recognition program, discretionary bonuses, and an employee referral program. We support our people to continue their growth through funded professional memberships, opportunities to travel overseas to attend conferences and build their professional networks.
Work–Life Balance
We understand that balancing professional commitments with family, personal interests and community involvement looks different for everyone. That’s why we offer flexible hybrid working arrangements, supported by policies that recognise changing needs over time rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Our people can access volunteer leave, public holiday substitution, domestic violence leave beyond the statutory minimum entitlement, and flexible non-gendered parental leave. We also provide additional superannuation contributions during parental leave and encourage connection through regular social gatherings, helping our teams stay connected while maintaining balance.
Where personal circumstances require flexibility, we also offer access to unpaid leave of up to four weeks each year, recognising that careers are long and life can be unpredictable.
Learning & Development
We are committed to supporting long-term career growth through structured, role-specific and firm-wide learning opportunities. Our in-house development programs span all career stages, including our Trainee Attorney Program, Legal Assistant Program, Attorney and Lawyer Core Skills Program and Leadership Development Programs.
We also offer comprehensive CPD/CPE programs to support ongoing professional registration and excellence in practice. Alongside formal programs, we actively support external training, conferences, seminars and professional interest groups – with funding and approved study leave available for recognised, work-related qualifications.
Health & Wellbeing
Our Health & Wellbeing program is designed to support our people both professionally and personally, offering access to a range of practical and preventative initiatives. These include life and salary continuance insurance, an Employee Assistance Program, annual influenza vaccinations, biennial skin cancer checks and access to trained in-house Mental Health First Aid Officers.
We also promote everyday wellbeing through healthy snacks in our offices and policies that support rest, recovery and balance, recognising that healthy people do their best work.
Graduate opportunities
At POF we are always on the look-out for high-achieving candidates and hire graduates on an occasional basis. While we don’t have a formal graduate program, we seek people with the following attributes to join our firm:
- A degree in science or engineering (usually at an Honours level)
- A law degree (not a pre-requisite but can be beneficial)
- A Masters or PhD may be advantageous
For more experienced professionals
We offer the opportunity to take the next step in your career to work closely with educated and highly experienced professionals to assist clients with their cutting-edge innovations and technologies. Working at POF, you will be at the forefront of leading inventions and developments – whilst enjoying a work life balance that is seldom found in this high performing profession.
About you
We look for candidate with the following important qualities:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Self-motivated with a pro-active and client focused approach
- Business acumen and commercial mindedness
- High attention to detail and quality
- Analytical and critical thinking skills
- Exceptional time management and prioritisation skills
- Affability with the aptitude to relate to and connect with a range of personalities
Career pathways
Becoming an attorney
To become a patent attorney, the Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trademark Attorneys requires you to first complete a science or engineering degree. It is also very helpful to have a PhD. We hire both qualified patent attorneys and people seeking this qualification.
Becoming an attorney requires a high level of integrity – you must be a person of good character and must not have committed an offence against Intellectual Property legislation in the last five years.
To qualify, you must study nine subjects related to intellectual property. These are usually undertaken via an ‘intensive’ course (over one week per subject) and are commonly completed through the select universities.
To register as a patent attorney, you must meet the above requirements and currently hold or previously held a position that provides experience in all areas of patent attorney work. Two years of experience in an intellectual property practice with exposure to several different skills is required to become a patent attorney.
Application for registration as a patent attorney is made to the Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys.
Joining our legal team
We usually hire lawyers once they have completed their articles or who have completed their Practical Legal Training at the Leo Cussen Institute or a similar organisation. While many of our lawyers hold dual law and science or engineering degrees, this is not a prerequisite. We take into consideration prior experience and interest in intellectual property and have previously hired lawyers with more general experience for our commercial law practice.
Lawyers can be hired directly into our legal team or can be transferred after gaining experience and qualifying as a patent attorney.
What our people say
At POF I’ve had the opportunity to pursue a career that builds on both my science and law background. The work has been diverse and I’ve had the opportunity to work in different teams within the firm. I have enjoyed working in the Chemistry team with clients on registering and protecting their patents. This has been really valuable in extending my experience and skill set.
Magda has been involved in patent and trademark litigation in the Federal Court and opposition matters before the Trade Marks Office and Patents Office. Magda is currently working within the Trade Marks team.