Spring Vacation Scheme Review

I was given tasks within my seat which ranged from drafting legal documents to conducting research and doing a project for a partner on online safety for children. On top of this, we also had a group presentation which took place on our final day so we had to work on that throughout the week and effectively plan and liaise with our teammates. The group presentation was a unique opportunity to properly research a transaction Taylor Wessing had advised on and see how they effectively completed the deal. We also had several insight sessions on different practice areas as well as a pro bono workshop and a workshop with one of the firm's clients. There was also a social put on for us mid-week with trainees and on the final night after we had finished.

I developed my research skills and learnt a lot about new practice areas which I hadn't known much if anything about beforehand. My group presentation was on a venture capital deal which was something I did not have much prior experience or understanding of, but I really enjoyed getting to grips with this new area. I enhanced my teamwork skills through our work on the group project. I also feel as though I developed my communication skills as throughout the week I contacted a lot of different people throughout the firm to discuss my areas of interest. Furthermore, I kept my buddy and supervisor updated with my availability throughout the week by providing them with a plan of what I had scheduled at the beginning of every day.

It was hugely insightful and so much more enjoyable than I ever would have anticipated. Something which stood out to me was how much interaction there is between different sectors and practice in any one transaction. The firm's strong focus on relationship building both with colleagues internally and with clients externally was also something which I did not have much prior knowledge of and I really enjoyed experiencing that first-hand as everyone was so kind and eager to get me involved in the team.

There was a really strong company culture and everyone seemed to be very supportive of the vacation schemers. I didn't feel belittled or patronised by superiors but rather encouraged to be inquisitive and ask questions and get involved in the work. There was a very different feel to the firm than other law firms I have been to as it was much more diverse but people were also far livelier and charismatic.

As previously mentioned, the Vacation Scheme surpassed all expectations I had. I knew it was going to be hard work and a very busy week but I did not imagine I would enjoy it as much as I did. This is partly due to me being genuinely interested in the work Taylor Wessing does and particularly given the breadth in my seat, but also due to the fantastic company culture and atmosphere. I felt really supported, engaged and valued throughout the week.

Yes

Be yourself as I do think something which separates Taylor Wessing from other law firms is their focus on collaboration within the firm and creating an excellent work atmosphere. If you spend the whole time not being true to yourself it'll just make things harder if you end up there and don't feel it is a natural fit for you. I'd also encourage people to be open-minded regarding which practice areas they may be interested in. As a full service firm, Taylor Wessing has so much to offer and there are loads of different areas which you might not think you'd be interested in but you do actually enjoy.