Dublin has always been on my list of places to visit but for some reason or another I have never managed to get round to it. So, when we started seeing a significant increase in recruitment from our Irish based clients, I jumped at the chance to make the journey and see what this fantastic city has to offer our candidates.
I flew from Manchester and found the entire journey incredibly straightforward. I left home and was settled in my hotel in less time it would take me to travel to London (I’m in West Yorkshire). The city centre is easily accessible from the airport, with the option to travel either by bus, coach, or car. It’s easy to see why firms here can offer flexible working options for overseas patent attorneys travelling to the office infrequently. The centre itself is also set up incredibly efficiently to accommodate pedestrians, cars, and cyclists alike; with dedicated cycle lanes, pedestrianised areas, and trams aiding speedy travel across the city.
The architecture offers a real meld of old meets new. Ancient churches juxtaposed against modern glass fronted offices, and quirky ‘insta friendly’ hangouts nestled within beautiful Georgian buildings. I spent a lot of the day admiring my surroundings and how it seamlessly changed from bustling city to quaint canal walks, and high-end shopping to up and coming docklands developments. Everything was easily accessible on foot and, although a lot of patent attorneys working in the city choose to live further afield and commute in, it would be a fantastic place to both live and work with so much diversity on your doorstep.
There’s a real investment happening in the city centre, so it’s no wonder spinouts, startups, and innovators all call it their home. The presence of industry giants is also inescapable, with LinkedIn, Indeed and Amazon amongst others all highly visible across the city. This demonstrates how Dublin is a thriving spot for innovation but can also prove an obstacle for private practice looking to recruit. The generous starting salaries can be hard to compete with, however working in private practice also has a lot to offer. Working closely with a huge variety of diverse clients throughout the entire IP lifecycle, less risk of being pigeonholed as a small cog in a big machine, and the opportunity to have a say in how your career develops with more options of how your future could look.
And it’s not just the city itself that has a lot going for it. The boutique firms I met are all recognised and respected names in IP, with plenty of interesting work, friendly and relaxed office environments, and a young Partnership driving the future of the European IP profession.
If you think Dublin could be a focus of your next career move, whether it be full time or taking advantage of a fully remote opportunity and travelling there just couple of times a month, have a look at some of the roles we’re recruiting here.
Check out our latest video here to take a closer look at our trip to Dublin!
– Phillipa Holland, Principal Consultant