Jiawei Xu (Management of Intellectual Property MSc, 2025)
Tell us about your background and what you did before your studies at Centre for Commercial Law Studies?
My name is Jiawei and I’m from China. I did a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture at Liverpool University in 2016-2020. Then I studied at SOAS for Masters in International Studies and Diplomacy. After completing my studies, I found it very challenging to find employment in my area of expertise. My wife who has an LLM Degree from CCLS and also some of my friends recommended that I look into careers in law. In order to do that and convert into a law profession I had to pass a SQE exam. I spent a year self-studying and preparing for it but unfortunately failed by 1 mark. In the meantime, I was also looking for jobs in the legal sector. I found a job in London in a law firm and worked there for 4 months but it wasn’t quite what I was looking for in terms of a career. Therefore, I kept researching for more courses and suitable career paths suitable to my academic background and career aspirations.
What do you study and how is your course going?
I’m doing MSc Management of Intellectual Property full-time. It is very busy and intense but I’m enjoying it a lot.
Why did you choose Queen Mary’s CCLS?
I was very fortunate to find CCLS and this course because it would provide me with a professional qualification at the end of it. As far as I know, no other law school offered a course similar to the Management of Intellectual Property MSc, and Queen Mary is one of the biggest and leading in the field of Intellectual Property.
In order to qualify as a Patent Attorney and Trademark Specialist I’ve had to pass 2 exams and gain 2 to 4 years of qualified work experience. The CCLS course gave an exemption from the first exam which is great.
I attended one of the Queen Mary Student Open Days and spoke to Dr Jasem Tarawneh (Senior Lecturer in Commercial and Intellectual Property Law at CCLS) where he told me all about the course. I had also spoken to another Chinese student taking this course, who was a patent examiner in China. He highly recommended it. This is when I realized that Management of Intellectual Property MSc would be perfect for me to compliment my architecture background.
How were things before you received the funding?
I actually got the funding after I got onto the course. This funding I am receiving will help me to do a lot of things I would like to do to progress my future career, like IPReg and SQE exams as they are all very expensive and the cost runs into thousands of pounds each. The funding will provide me with career flexibility and will allow me to obtain the professional qualifications that I need to become a Patent Attorney. It will also give me more chances to explore professional options available to me.
How did you feel when you heard you got the funding and has it made an impact for you? If so, in what way?
It was a big surprise as I didn’t expect it at all. I knew it is very competitive to get the scholarship. I spent a whole weekend preparing my CV and personal statement, so it was a great feeling to succeed. At the same time I was applying for a voluntary position with qLegal so it was a very busy time for me.
Do you think financial worries weigh heavily on students?
Yes, definitely. Students on my course come from different backgrounds and countries but from what I’ve heard finances are a big issue for everyone as London is so expensive. Accommodation, travel, food, are all a huge expenses in London. Without external financial support student life can be very hard and students might not have much time left to concentrate on their studies if they must work to support themselves. I’ve observed that most active students on my course have a scholarship.
What are your plans for the future?
I have already started applying for trademark and pattern attorney graduate schemes. I’m also applying now to law firms and looking for training contracts. My ideal case scenario would be to get a graduate scheme and do 2-3 years qualified work experience and then pass the Patent Attorney exam and become an Associate Attorney but I’m keeping various options open and remaining flexible.
What would you like to say to those that donated to provide these awards?
Students are the best potential assets for the law firms. CCLS courses increase the potential and value of students. If students have more scholarship funding, they will have more opportunities to improve themselves.
I’ve always believed that investing in the future is never a mistake. Students are the future of expertise, so it would be wrong not to invest in qualified individuals. Scholarships are a powerful motivator and an essential driver for personal and academic success.
As mentioned in previous discussions, financial challenges are a reality for many students who lack family support. A scholarship helps alleviate this pressure, allowing students to focus more on their academics and fully utilize university resources, rather than spending excessive time working to make ends meet. For instance, I used to work 20 hours a week at Caffè Nero, earning about £600 a month—just slightly more than the value of my scholarship. Now, thanks to the scholarship, I no longer have to be tied down to a café job. I can dedicate more time to courses like professional writing and presentation, engage in sports, and networking with others—activities that are far more valuable in the long run than a simple paycheck.
How you can donate to support future students
Your contribution, regardless of its size, and when combined with the generosity of others, will provide life-changing opportunities for future CCLS students. You can also sign up for regular giving to support CCLS regularly.