Trainee Solicitor - Vacation scheme Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the vacation scheme. I was able to experience a wide range of the work that TW undertakes, I was made to feel valued and not at all like a burden and at no point was I bored. Everybody was really friendly and easy to talk to and the other vac schemers were a really great group. The external events organised by the firm were very enjoyable and varied, and we even had the opportunity to attend the biannual firm party.

I definitely felt useful to the firm during my time there, and while what I was able to do was of course limited by my experience and qualifications, I did undertake real work with a genuine impact. While the vac scheme was an assessment, the firm also made a lot of effort to demonstrate that it was somewhere we would want to work.

The support during the vac scheme was excellent. Both of my trainee buddies were brilliant and the supervisors were always available and more than happy to answer any questions I had. We were given a lot of independence to work things out on our own, which was an enjoyable challenge, but there was always someone who was willing to help out or just have a chat.

The opportunity to be in a professional environment and practising the type of behaviour and communication necessary was a very valuable experience. Having a full week in two different departments will also help inform my eventual decision regarding which area of law into which I hope to specialise. I also got some very useful advice from current and former trainees regarding the GDL which I will be starting in September.

The 2 weeks were very well split between tasks given to us, talks put on by each department describing their business practice and other events. The timetable we were given for this was very clear and gave us enough time to complete our tasks but not so much that I had nothing to do - I was certainly kept busy!

The atmosphere was great - after some initial nerves on the first day, it was very quickly apparent that this was unnecessary and that there was nothing to be overly nervous about. Everyone in the firm was very welcoming and approachable, while I was encouraged to put in effort, I didn't feel constantly under pressure but was able to be myself, the other vac schemers were really friendly and good to be around and not at all competitive. Also, the social events were genuinely very enjoyable, especially the firm party.

We were given in depth explanations of the sort of work that each department undertakes. At several events, partners gave up their time to speak to us, lawyers were happy to spend time explaining legal and business concepts to me, and the networking events were a good opportunity to develop skills that will certainly be of use in the future. The pro bono exercise organised by the firm sounded really interesting but unfortunately I was not able to get a place on it.

The vacation scheme was an excellent mix of detailed information about the firm and its departments and hands-on experience in the firm's business itself. Everyone answered any questions I had about the firm honestly and candidly. Particularly from the research that we undertook in the group exercise, I was able to learn a huge amount about the firm's business, its strategy, its internal structures and workings and its goals.

Being exposed to so many different people within the firm, of varying seniority and roles, I was able to experience first hand the exceptional culture at Taylor Wessing. Everyone was very genuine, approachable and happy to answer any questions I had and it was obvious that people weren't simply putting on a show for potential future trainees.

The vacation scheme served to cement my intention of pursuing a career as a solicitor, particularly in the sectors in which Taylor Wessing operates. I was given excellent insights into all of the firm's departments which will absolutely inform my decision regarding which area of law I will eventually specialise into.

They pay was very good at £275 a week.

There were many opportunities to meet people throughout the firm. We had talks from each department and were encouraged to follow these up with questions for those who had presented so as to get an insight into each area of expertise within the firm. There were numerous social events, providing opportunities to speak to current trainees about the realities of the firm, as well as to more senior employees. The group exercise was also an opportunity to meet and speak to people from all over the firm.

They were genuinely enjoyable and varied and a lot of effort had clearly gone in to organising them. There was always a good ratio of employees to vac schemers and so there was always someone to talk to.

There seem to be quite a few social activities that are organised within the firm, especially sports teams. There are also good pro bono opportunities which sound very interesting and fulfilling.

Definitely. It offered a very well balanced mix of experiences, it was challenging without being overwhelming, and it was informative and interesting.