Vacation Scheme Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my two weeks. Getting to know fellow vacation schemers and those who worked at Taylor Wessing, the work and extra-curricular activities were always good fun.

I felt that the work I completed for trainees, associates and partners was appreciated. Particularly in the second week, where I was able to get stuck in to some chunkier pieces of work such as drafting an agreement and board minutes, I felt that my contribution was valued. Everyone was very welcoming and made me feel at home quickly. People were conscientious and accommodating.

The support and guidance from buddies and supervisors was excellent. Whenever I asked questions, people were very happy to help and explained everything clearly and concisely. There was a good balance between allowing me to have a crack at something, but also giving me hints in the right direction and constructive criticism.

I think little details such as legal vocabulary and register when drafting were hugely helpful. I hope to take these forward as I head into my GDL. I also gained a far greater appreciation for office interaction, and learned some great tips for moving forward with my career. Other skills such as attention to detail and thorough but focussed research will help me separate essential information as I continue my studies.

The scheme was very well structured with departmental introductory talks each day, along with smooth transitions between the two weeks. The social events were well spaced allowing us time to ourselves, but also building friendships as the two weeks went along. Information packs and helplines meant the scheme was very efficient.

The general atmosphere was really positive. The entire office had a relaxed, but professional feel - in each department everyone was very welcoming. The atmosphere on the social events was really fun. A lot of effort had gone into making sure they were enjoyed, and they were certainly good fun.

I feel as though the company invested a lot of time into making sure we learnt as much as possible about the firm, its work and its practice areas. This did not just feel like a Taylor Wessing focussed exercise however, it also allowed us to gain greater insight into commercial law as a whole. Over the two weeks people were genuinely keen to make sure I learnt something valuable to take away. The exercises such as the final presentation was also designed to develop skills that in time will be necessary and I am sure will be very helpful moving forward.

Though some tasks did feel like "Vacation Student" work, I was pleased with the amount of things that I was asked to do that would have been normal Trainee work. This gave me good insight into what it might be like on a daily basis and also the standard of work that was required. Obviously everyone was very welcoming, but it did not feel as though it was put on especially for us, so I hope I got a good look at how colleagues treat each other, their attitude and their demeanour.

The two weeks put huge emphasis on the values and culture that the firm has. Almost every task had an angle where it was necessary to think about the firm's approach to the law and its culture. Certainly, just talking to as many people as possible and observing how they went about their business helped me understand the company's culture a great deal.

The content of the two weeks was certainly valuable in confirming my desire to pursue a career in the law. The tasks I was given was clearly full of the sort of work I would have to do as a solicitor and the information provided as all stages was informative and constructive. The talks and events all portrayed a clear picture of what a career in the law would look like.

I feel that the amount that I was reimbursed for the scheme was adequate and fair, especially in light of many free events that were put on for our benefit. Food was provided almost every morning and lunch, in addition to generous social events.

There were at least four pre-planned networking opportunities for those on the scheme, including and welcome drinks at the firm, farewell lunch and farewell drinks. The best opportunity for networking, however, was simply to walk around and introduce yourself to people and to have good conversations about their experience of the firm.

The opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company were significant. Whether in formal drinks at the firm with trainees and partners, or lunches, there were good moments to mingle and network. The more relaxed social events with the trainees was also a good opportunity to discover more about the firm on a casual level. On the whole, all of the events were relaxed and good fun.

Yes. When I asked questions about the extra-curricular activities people were very helpful in letting me know what was on offer. There was a good deal of information on the pro-bono in which the firm is involved. Furthermore, I was able to find out about the various sports teams, such as the football team and golf contingent, which seems like a good way to bond outside of the office.

I would definitely recommend this vacation scheme to a friend as it easily matched, or even exceeded my expectations. The work was both challenging and insightful, the employees were welcoming and friendly, and the office was fantastic. If you want to find out about how Taylor Wessing's values and culture is really reflected in its work, then you can only try it out and find out for yourself.