From Paris to Patents: My Journey with Cohn, de Vries, Stadler & Co.

My name is Elinor Sitruk Marciano , and in October 2020, I arrived in Israel from France at the height of COVID as part of the MASA Stagerim Program—a program that helps foreigners find work placements in Israel for two to six months. What was meant to be a short-term experience turned into a life-changing journey.

After a six-month internship at Infralab in Haifa, I made Aliyah in May 2021. My Hebrew was still a work in progress, but my passion for law remained strong. With a Law degree and a Master’s in International Law, I was determined to work in the legal sector. However, I was repeatedly told that Israeli law was too different from the French system and that finding a role in a patent office would be nearly impossible for someone like me.

Then came Cohn, de Vries, Stadler & Co.

They gave me a chance—not just to work, but to grow. I joined Cohn, de Vries, Stadler & Co in October 2021 as an IP Administrator, and today, I’m a Paralegal Trainee, managing client files and working closely with patent attorneys and associates.

Working in IP law in Hebrew is still a challenge, but it’s also deeply rewarding. Patents require a deep understanding, keen attention to detail, and a mindset of innovation—qualities I witness daily in our team’s professionalism and dedication.

Nearly four years in, I’m proud of how far I’ve come—and excited for what’s next. To anyone starting over in a new country, a new language, or a new field: don’t let doubt have the final word.