Student Review

The Talent team were very welcoming throughout the scheme, as were the vast majority of people at the firm. The buddy system allowed participants to be introduced across the department and meet with a variety of people at different stages of their careers. The social events provided were well-organised and diverse.

The supervisor system generally worked well, and allowed participants on the Scheme to undertake real work on live deals. This inclusion facilitated wider conversations with other people on the same deal, and helped participants feel included. Both of the associates I sat with were very welcoming and friendly, with many of the conversations diverging from strictly law-related topics!

The Talent team were on hand or contactable at all times to help with general queries regarding the Scheme. The buddies and supervisors were good at providing sufficient guidance to complete the task, but ensuring that a certain level of intuition and initiative was used. This generally worked very well.

The wide range of legal issues and documents that I was tasked with competing during the Scheme has provided me with a set of skills commonly used in practice. These are not always taught at the university level, despite being widely used in the day-to-day life of practitioners, and I will take them with me in pursuing my legal career.

The Talent team and Trainee Solicitor Council were able to create a very well-structured Scheme which operated very smoothly. Participants were responsible for ensuring that they attended various events, and for their time-keeping more generally. This gave participants a good level of individual autonomy, and prevented the Scheme from feeling like a field-trip.

The general atmosphere was very positive, with a sufficient amount of work to keep participants busy while not over-loading them. Some of the ‘Focus On’ sessions could have been presented in a more engaging fashion, but how interesting can you really make tax law? The social events gave participants the opportunity to relax away from the office, and were diverse and enjoyable.

The supervisor/buddy system generally worked very well and ensured that participants were introduced to skills and tasks often undertaken by trainees. One got the sense that the firm was genuinely concerned about each individual’s development during the two weeks, and enjoyment of the Scheme more generally. There was strong dialogue between employees and participants throughout the Scheme, and some strong foundations for working relationships were established.

The structure of the Scheme allowed participants to be exposed to an overview of most departments through ‘Focus On’ sessions. We were encouraged to speak to as many people as possible, asking questions about life in practice, different seats and the general ‘culture’ of the firm. People were generally very happy to talk about the firm and all spoke of the friendly feel that Taylor Wessing has fostered.

See above.

The Scheme was structured in such a way that participants were able to experience different departments and gain an insight into other practice areas from those in which they were sitting. These were very helpful and gave a broader overview of legal practice, not just in the firm but across the City.

Employees were very happy to meet for a coffee and discuss any questions participants on the Scheme had regarding the firm or practice more generally. The buddy and supervisor system allowed participants to be introduced across the department and network with employees of all roles. This generally worked very well.

The networking opportunities were well-organised and structured, without being too formal. They had a more relaxed air about them than many others I have attended, which I believe facilitated better discussions.

While there are many activities employees do after work, including team-building events and sports, these were arguably undersold. One of the attractions of Taylor Wessing is the range of opportunities they provide outside strict legal practice. However, on the Scheme there was little mention of these activities, which was a little disappointing.

The structure of the Scheme had clearly been very well thought-through and planned by the Talent team. The socials were well-timed and organised, with many trainees attending. The people at the firm were very friendly and welcoming, and gave a good picture of what life at Taylor Wessing is like. I would highly recommend this Scheme to anyone looking for a great international firm that respects the need for a good work-life balance.