Taylor Wessing has and will always play a special role in my legal career. As a fresher, I was introduced to the concept of “commercial awareness” when I took part in Taylor Wessing’s First Year Insight Day.
After attending several introductory talks about the firm, networking with trainees and participating in a business case study, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the firm’s work and culture, which left a lasting impression on me. I went home knowing that this was the firm for me.
Hoping to join the firm as a trainee solicitor after I graduate, I decided to apply to the vacation scheme a year later. Shortly after I submitted my written application, I was invited to complete an online assessment. I was then invited to the assessment centre, consisting of a competency-based interview, group exercise, commercial awareness exercise and critical thinking test. After the assessment centre, I was offered a place on the vacation scheme.
The vacation scheme lasted for two weeks and I was placed in a different practice area each week. During my first week, I was placed in Corporate Real Estate & Private Capital. As this was a corporate seat, the work was very fast-paced and commerciality was a very important aspect of it.
Several tasks included drafting board minutes, attending client calls, creating a joint venture PowerPoint presentation for a partner and finally a proofreading exercise of a due diligence report. In contrast, my second week in Financial Services & Competition exposed me to more research tasks and the technicalities of the Financial Conduct Authority. I had the opportunity to attend a training session, research policies for a client and review an advice note.
Aside from the written assessment, group exercise and verbal reasoning test, another major timetabled activity was the “Focus On” sessions, where I learned about Taylor Wessing’s sector-focused approach and the different practice areas. These were very engaging sessions, providing me with insights into the work of each practice area and the opportunity to ask any questions. There were also socials in each week of the scheme, giving me some time away from the desk to get to know my fellow vacation schemers and current trainee solicitors.
Throughout my time at Taylor Wessing, my supervisors, buddies and everyone else I met were very welcoming and willing to chat or provide support whenever I needed! This reflects their culture and values, which I had the opportunity to experience first-hand. The biggest highlight of my scheme was definitely the legal experience I gained. Coupled with the detailed feedback my supervisors provided during my appraisal, I was able to learn and mature so much throughout the two weeks.
Despite two high intensity weeks, the Early Talent team provided me with a very well-thought timetable, giving me the flexibility to take charge of my own vacation scheme and manage my own time regarding what I want to do, when I should do them, how I should do them etc. It is precisely because of the support given and the firm’s emphasis on my personal and career development that I accepted Taylor Wessing’s training contract without any hesitation when offered.
To all aspiring solicitors looking for an innovative firm that provides so much support to the personal and professional development of trainees, I definitely recommend Taylor Wessing’s vacation scheme. Not only does it provide a lot of insights into the legal industry (especially through the lens of their sector-focused approach), but it also provides you with legal experience of a typical day of a trainee solicitor at Taylor Wessing.
Taylor Wessing was the firm where I was first introduced to the corporate world, and I can’t wait to return to the firm in 2025 to start my legal career!
