ENS
Senior Associate Attorney | Patents (South Africa)
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
A unique and exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced qualified patent attorney to join our fast-growing IP & Innovation Department in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The successful candidate will have a passion for intellectual property, be solution driven with excellent analytical and communication skills and a strong work ethic. This role offers a dynamic working environment and the opportunity to develop excellent patent abilities and exceptional technical skills. The work will be diverse and challenging and involve all aspects of patent and design law. The successful incumbent will be expected to work very closely with our clients and to work in a team environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Providing advice to clients regarding patentability of inventions
- Drafting and filing patent and design applications
- Prosecuting patent and design applications across a variety of jurisdictions
- Carrying out patent searches
- Researching law and drafting legal, freedom-to-operate, invalidity, and infringement opinions
- Drafting letters of demand, pleadings, undertakings and agreements
- Attending consultations with clients and Counsel
- General practice management, including diary and file management; providing guidance to support staff; liaising with Registrar of Patents, clients and counter parties; managing debtors’ book; invoicing
- Mentoring and training junior practitioners
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
SKILLS, ABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE
The candidate should be an admitted attorney to practice in South Africa with a strong academic record. In addition hereto the candidate should also possess the following:
- A minimum of 4 years’ PQE in patents
- Experience in mechanical, ICT, machine learning, artificial intelligence, telecommunication and/or electronic inventions is preferred
- Electrical / electronic / computer science / or software related qualification is preferred
- Strong work ethic
- A track record of providing innovative solutions to complex matters
- Strong analytical skills
- Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written)
- Drive, determination and ambition
- Excellent management skills
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
It is also essential that the candidate demonstrates the ability to understand the needs of clients and to communicate effectively with them, to manage client relations and manage a sizeable practice. In addition, the candidate must be ambitious, achievement-oriented, focused and able to work well under pressure in a team and deadline-driven environment.
This is a demanding but stimulating position which will require working outside of normal office hours, when necessary.
ENS is committed to transformation and achieving equity in its workplaces. Placement of a suitably qualified and skilled candidate will therefore be made in line with our Employment Equity objectives. The closing date for all applications is close of business on 21 July 2026.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location