Vacation Scheme Student Review

I enjoyed the Taylor Wessing vacation scheme very much. The vast majority of Taylor Wessing employees and vacation schemers were extremely personable. The scheme itself included a variety of activities and social events as well as time spent in our respective departments which helped give me a rounded view of both the firm and life as a trainee solicitor. It would have been great to have more time in our departments to engage with the team more often, but the firm was exceptionally busy for the summer period.

I did feel valued during my time at Taylor Wessing. Both graduate recruitment and the department supervisors made a concerted effort to ensure that we were occupied at all times with tasks or activities and were always on hand if we had any questions, queries or concerns. Some of the tasks we were given were felt slightly irrelevant at times, but I understand this was part of the assessment to test our research capabilities. Overall, the scheme was very accommodating which made it clear that the firm wanted us to feel valued.

I received plenty of guidance and support from my supervisors throughout the scheme. Although sometimes they had other commitments, they always made time available if we had any questions regarding the tasks that we were asked to undertake. Additionally, once we had completed our respective tasks and come to the end of our time in our departments, time was set aside to give us detailed feedback on our tasks and performance in general.

In terms of my degree studies, the research skills I developed on the scheme will definitely help with the legal aspect of my course. Additionally, the ability to write clearly and concisely will most definitely serve me well throughout my degree and beyond. In general, the ability to be effective in the environment of a law firm cannot be understated and it is this which will assist me greatly in any future career

The insight was exceptionally well structured. It balanced time in our departments, workshops and talks very methodically. We had the opportunity to get an insight into all the different departments offered by Taylor Wessing as well as completing exercises to give us an idea of the kind of work they undertake. The scheme also included number of social which helped vacation scheme students get to know each other from the beginning of the scheme.

The general atmosphere of the scheme made it a very enjoyable experience. The vacation scheme students, trainees and supervisors all bought into the scheme with great enthusiasm and made a great effort to get involved as much as they could. The atmosphere was also very open as opposed to being overly competitive and so it was also a good opportunity to make connections for the future.

While there were few formal examples of personal training and development, the workshops conducted by the firm allowed us to receive the information and ask the questions that we felt were necessary for our own development. Furthermore, when we were sat at our desks, there were several opportunities to ask questions about the type of skills necessary to be a successful trainee solicitor.

The vacation scheme helped me understand exactly what it would be like to be a trainee solicitor at Taylor Wessing. We spent plenty of time getting to know our teams and supervisors and so the tasks we were given had a reasonable level of integration in the wider scheme of things. Furthermore, the close working relationship we had with the current trainee solicitors meant that we could find out all the information about life at Taylor Wessing through them in both a formal and informal environment.

The insight offered the best possible insight into Taylor Wessing's culture we could have had within two weeks. We met a wide variety of people from across the firm and had the chance to converse with them in both formal and informal environments. Furthermore, sitting in two different departments gave us the opportunity to see what the culture was in a genuine work environment as opposed to just face value.

The content of the scheme was incredibly valuable in helping me decide on my future career path. Experiencing day-to-day life in a commercial law firm gave me a real insight into the type of environment a law firm is and the type of work they undertake. Furthermore, the talks and workshops allowed me to understand what happens away from the desk and how law firms interact with their clients which was definitely worth experiencing.

I felt I was paid adequately for this experience; however, having undertaken two other vacation schemes, the payments seem to be below the market rate for a firm of Taylor Wessing's size. That being said, the payments exceeded all expenses during the scheme. Additionally, there were several non-monetary rewards and the scheme definitely had a significant amount of money put into it which countered the lower weekly payments.

There were plenty of networking opportunities to meet other employees of Taylor Wessing during the vacation scheme. There were several lunches and evening drinks where we had the opportunity to talk to individuals from the firm who were from different departments than our own. Additionally, there several partners and senior associates at such events which showed Taylor Wessing's commitment to us as a group.

The aforementioned networking and social event opportunities were great fun and a valuable asset to the scheme. Through placing them at the beginning and the end of the scheme it allowed us the opportunity to get to know each other in a more informal environment. Furthermore, the socials themselves were a lot of fun and a good chance to enjoy ourselves after extended periods of time in the office.

I personally had the chance to find out about the activities that employees can get involved in outside of work. We had the opportunity to write about ourselves in a booklet which was circulated around the firm. As a keen rugby player, I was invited to play for the Taylor Wessing touch rugby teams with some other vacation scheme students. Other students also took part in five-a-side football. The activities were listed on the intranet for all the students to see.

I would most definitely recommend this scheme to a friend. It offers a great insight into life as a solicitor in a commercial law firm in an exceedingly friendly and non-intimidating way. Furthermore, for a two-week scheme, it offers the chance to experience the type of activities that a trainee solicitor might undertake as well as offering information more widely about what law firms do and the type of challenges they are facing in the modern world.