Vacation scheme student Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the week-long vacation scheme. Due to Covid-19 this took place virtually however the quality and enjoyment of the scheme was not decreased. The scheme consisted of focus on sessions which were great insights into the different practice areas Taylor Wessing offers as well as networking and social activities spread over the week which really highlighted the firm's collaborative and welcoming culture. It was an intense week however I really feel that I got a realistic image of life as a trainee at Taylor Wessing during that time.

I felt extremely valued and welcomed throughout the week, from the graduate recruitment team to my practice area. Whenever I reached out to members of the firm they were never too busy and managed to find the time to have a chat with me which illustrated the firm's collaborative and welcoming culture very well. Also, I was included in meetings and given work to complete by the team. However, they always checked if I was able to complete the work and considered how busy my schedule was, which made me feel valued from the offset.

I received a great deal of support from the offset. During the run up we received weekly emails from graduate recruitment to help us set up IT or even organise a social to get to know the other schemers. Throughout the week, whenever I had a query it was answered quickly and efficiently. Also, my supervisor and buddy were very approachable and they offered friendly yet professional support about the tasks I was set and also dealing with my busy schedule and ensuring I had a good work-life balance over the week!

I developed many soft skills over the week including networking and expanding my inter personal skills. Also, the vacation scheme illustrated the importance of developing professional skills which I am sure the LPC will further explore. Feedback I received on my tasks highlighted certain areas to develop and improve. Also, the skill and focus on sessions were so insightful and I gained a real insight into the practice areas Taylor Wessing offers to trainees for their seats and the types of work you would do.

The scheme was very well-structured, especially given that it was virtual! Our time table was packed full of focus on sessions, skill sessions, socials and networking. It was intense at times however I enjoyed being busy and I could always check the timetable if I was unsure of timings and deadlines etc.

I was worried that the atmosphere would be lacking given it was virtual however it was welcoming, supportive and friendly throughout the whole week from both those working at Taylor Wessing and the other vacation schemers. Everyone was really approachable. There was not a competitive environment from the other students and it really felt like we all wanted each other to do well, which was so refreshing and lovely!

The firm really invested in me and the other schemers from the outset, from the thoughtful goodie bag to the tech set up with the IT team before the week commenced. The firm really invested in the development of new skills by setting us assessed tasks and hosting focus on and skill sessions which encouraged us to ask questions and discuss topics with other students.

The buddy system helped a lot in this respect as I had a daily catch up with mine where she answered any questions I had and also described her life as a trainee and daily tasks she would be set. The work set by my supervisor also helped me to understand typical trainee tasks. Also, the focus on sessions all had a section where 'life as a trainee' was discussed which illustrated the things you could get involved with within the practice area. All of the above definitely gave me a great insight into life as a trainee at the firm.

The firm's culture was one of the main reasons I applied there for a vacation scheme. The week solidified this for me. I thought I knew about it's culture through research beforehand however the scheme really highlighted how collaboration, communication and support is at the heart of everything they do. The culture of Taylor Wessing is therefore still one of the reasons I would love to work there as I now have a greater understanding of how it's culture underpins not only it's work but also the everyday life of it's employees.

The vacation scheme not only solidified why I have chosen law as my career path but also illustrated to me how much I would love my future to be with Taylor Wessing. Also, I started the week with a strong idea of where my interests lie however the focus on sessions demonstrated the different practice areas and how important it is to keep my options open as I really enjoyed areas I did not think I would!

I did not expect to be paid when I first thought about applying for the vacation scheme because I was so just excited to learn about the firm and practice areas, however we were definitely paid more than adequately for the experience!

There were no networking sessions built into the timetable however it was encouraged throughout the week to organise our own chats with members of the firm, which I really made the most of! Most of my spare time was spent networking. Also, every day I had catch ups with my buddy and supervisor who also encouraged me to network with others and even gave me names of people I could contact based on my interests, which I really appreciated!

As I said above, there were no built-in networking opportunities however we were really encouraged to use our initiative and reach out to people within the firm, who were never too busy to find time for a chat! There were two social events throughout the week; one on the first day with the other schemers which helped us to get to know each other better and another which was a Responsible Business Quiz with the trainees where we had the chance to ask them questions!

We had many opportunities to talk to current trainees about the things we could get involved with on the social side. Also, built into the timetable was a session about the legal clinic which trainees are encouraged to take part in. Also, we received insight into the committees that the employees can get involved in, such as the LGBTQ+ committee. I would have liked to find out more about other pro bono initiatives however I came away from those sessions feeling encouraged to get involved with as much as I could if I was to train at Taylor Wessing.

Definitely! This was my first vacation scheme and I can honestly say it exceeded all of my expectations! It was fun and insightful; a really brilliant week where I was constantly learning and developing my skills. I was encouraged to use my initiative and felt like I had a good amount of responsibility regarding the tasks set. I loved the networking opportunities as these were invaluable to learn more about the firm and also build relationships with others. I felt valued, supported and welcomed throughout the whole week which really added to the full experience of the scheme and also solidified my reasons of why I would love to work at Taylor Wessing.