Easter Vacation Scheme Review

Great socials (paid for, of course) and support throughout made a week of pretty solid work that much more relaxed.

Everyone at the firm makes an effort to know you, and are really appreciative for all the work you do.

At Taylor Wessing there is always a support network behind you - the trainee buddies, supervisors, and graduate recruitment staff all take an active approach to how you're finding the work and how you can improve.

Practical experience of time management and the importance of paying close attention to detail will no doubt assist in degree studies. Preparing and delivering a presentation is also really valuable for tackling assessment centres.

The insight was certainly well structured, and constant updates and notifications of room and time changes (an inescapable part of commercial law) meant everybody knew what they were doing. Obviously the amount of work you undertake varies on how busy your department is - with disputes maintaining a consistently high level of work and corporate being slightly more fluctuated.

Everyone takes an interest in you, so there's no need to make awkward partner-impressing small talk. Your input is greatly appreciated, and usually your work will actually get used. How busy you are and how varied your work is depends on contextual, external factors affecting the department - although there's never a moment where you don't have something to be doing. Any free time will inevitably be spent working on the team-presentation (which is delivered at the end of the week to a panel of fee-earners). To an extent the amount of actual work you accept is dictated by how much presentation work you have under your belt; but given how essential teamworking skills are (and how closely the team-presentation resembles that of the assessment centre...) it would be foolish not to have it. Trainees organise fantastic socials, and there is something scheduled in for pretty much every night. Misinterpreting these socials as assessments in themselves is a mistake; the trainees take a genuine interest in vac schemers and the socials should be experienced accordingly (although getting completely hammered is an obvious no-no). Good chances to talk with partners (especial grad recruitment, the ones who really matter) over drinks, meals, and generally. Finally, the vac schemers are all brilliant too!

From my personal experience I found the firm to take more of a back seat approach to training and development, letting you work things out for yourself and ask questions when stuff gets too complex. Personally I think this approach works best; arguably being spoon fed isn't a good way to develop skills. That being said, more training in the I.T. system would not have gone amiss.

With the exception of the team-presentation, your time at TW is spent almost exclusively working as a fee-earner would. You sit with a fee-earner, and are trusted to undertake work that at times is significantly important. For some this more hands-off approach was met with unease, but personally I think it gave a much more realistic indication of life at the firm.

You're constantly exposed to fee-earners on all levels, and will attend numerous presentations focusing on the firm's sector approach, and a particular Lawyer Magazine quote...

For at least 70% of the experience you are doing the kind of work trainees undertake daily, in the exact same setting. Making a decision about becoming a commercial solicitor based on this week would certainly be an informed one.

£250 p/w

It would be daft to attend one of these schemes without aiming to woo as many people as possible. This is something the firm knows too. Subsequently there are loads of opportunities to meet and chat with fee-earners from all levels of the firm. Be it at drinks, during work, or during organised meals.

Again, great stuff and hats off to the trainees for organising these events. The only problem with these events is that nobody wants to be the first to leave (if not for enjoyment then certainly for appearances) despite being absolutely exhausted from the working day. The best way to handle these opportunities is to be as relaxed as possible without doing anything overtly stupid (see earlier point re: getting hammered)

Numerous charity events, e.g. Blackfriars CAB stuff. While we were there a cohort of fee-earners were prepping for a london-paris bike ride as well. There are dozens of things to get involved with outside work, and this is something you'll find out through presentations and just chatting to people.

If you're thinking about TW - yes. If you're thinking about commercial law - yes. If you enjoy good food and good company - yes. If you wilt at the thought of interacting with lovely people - no.