FAQs

It's definitely not a must to have a law degree. Your application will be judged on its merits so transferable skills such as commercial awareness, analytical ability, team working and communication will be just as important as your degree.

About 50% of our trainees are from a non-law background and our Patents practice group particularly welcomes science graduates and engineers. All trainees start their training contract on an equal footing; law school will have given you all the academic grounding you need and then it's all about learning on the job.

For our vacation scheme it's the end of January, while the application deadline for a training contract is the end of July. However, we advise that you apply early as we offer interviews on an ongoing basis to suitable candidates.

No. Vacation schemes are certainly a good way of getting an insight into the law and Taylor Wessing, and last year about half of our trainee solicitor intake completed a vacation scheme. It’s important when applying for a training contract to consider the transferable skills you've picked up from your work experiences – regardless of where and what they were.

e will require you to study the GDL and or LPC at BPP Law School in London, with whom we have an exclusive relationship. That means that we can have more contact with you during your time at law school and greater input into your law school training.

Because of the nature of our firm's work, graduates must choose at least two electives from the following list:

• Private Acquisitions
• Equity Finance
• Debt Finance
• Corporate Finance 

You may also choose to study all three of the first three electives on this list which are known as the ‘City Electives’.

Alternatively, you may choose one further elective from the following list to combine with two of the electives from those above:

• Advanced Commercial Litigation
• Advanced Commercial Property
• Employment Law
• Intellectual Property and Commercial Law
• Private Client (Wills, Probate and Estate Planning)

We recruit around 20 trainee solicitors each intake. This is a relatively small number for a firm of our size, but this means we're able to give every trainee solicitor the attention and support they need – plus plenty of responsibility, client contact and hands-on work right from the start.

The process is the same whether you are applying for the vacation scheme or a training contract. Initially, you'll need to complete our online application form. If we like what we see on paper, you may be invited to attend one of our assessment centres. We've designed our assessment centres with you in mind – a short half-day event (morning or afternoon – whatever is easiest for you) to minimise your time out of your studies or working day.

On the day, you'll participate in a group exercise and an interview. We will be looking for your ability to work in a team, present to a panel and debate as part of the group exercise. In your interview, a partner and a member of our Human Resources team will question your academic record, work experiences, interests and hobbies, and challenge you on a few commercial questions. Throughout the recruitment process, we look for a whole host of attributes, skills and behaviours. Take a look at 'Who we look for'.

If you're invited to an assessment centre, we will usually tell you within a week whether you've been successful.

Possibly. We look at each case on an individual basis, so talk to our Graduate Recruitment team if you're thinking about deferring. We'll want to know what you hope to gain out of a deferred entry and how this fits in to your overall career plan.

Not particularly. We've found that postgraduate study isn't the most reliable indicator as to whether you have what it takes to succeed at a firm like ours – see 'Who we look for'. That said, if there is an area you're particularly interested in, we'll consider it alongside all the other criteria.

We welcome applications from people with a disability. As an equal opportunities employer, we have systems in place to ensure all applicants are treated on the same basis and judged exclusively on their merits and suitability for the job.

Ask our people and they’ll give a resounding ‘yes’. When you join us, you'll usually sit with either a senior associate or a partner. This may seem daunting from the outside, but all our partners and associates are very accessible – there’s no "them-and-us" philosophy at Taylor Wessing. You'll also be allocated a trainee buddy who has already done a seat in the practice area you are starting in, who'll be an invaluable source of support and guidance.

Our trainees are a very sociable group and meet up regularly for things like lunches, sports matches and drinks in the local pubs. Plus there are plenty of events for the whole firm and individual practice group areas.

Research is a crucial element of our work and it's usually the trainee's job to do it; how much you do depends on the practice group you're working in and its workload at the time. It's possible to go for months without doing any research, but then spend an entire week camped out in our information centre. The information centre staff are extremely helpful and friendly. If in doubt, always ask – they will always do their best to point you in the right direction.

Research is the basis of the advice given to the client, so it is very important. And once you have done the research, you'll be the resident expert on the subject, often imparting your specialist knowledge.

A lot. Exactly how much will depend on things like the practice group you're in, the type of work involved, and your own ability and willingness to undertake it. However, we pride ourselves on offering our trainees more responsibility in a range of different practice areas than is common in larger firms at such an early stage of a legal career.

Again, this depends on the practice group and type of work you are doing, but because of our size and the range of our practice groups, you might be surprised just how much client contact you get at an early stage. Of course, you'll need to prove that you can deal with clients in a confident and personable way – and we’ll look for these qualities at your assessment centre. You could also spend time in-house with a client through secondments.

They can vary - it depends on the practice group you're working in and how busy it is at the time. We're all expected to work long hours when necessary, but no one wants you to stay in the office just for the sake of it.

Definitely. We're committed to playing a responsible and positive role in the communities where we work, and our Charities Committee organises and develops charity and pro bono projects within the firm.

Our range of legal pro bono projects includes an advice clinic recently established with the Blackfriars Settlement, a local community assistance initiative. Trainees and associates provide legal advice at the weekly clinic for those who would not otherwise be able to access it or afford it. Our community partnerships extend to local schools and hospitals.

Join us as trainee solicitor or take part in our vacation scheme and we'll be pleased to hear your suggestions for developing our community and pro bono work.

There’s football – our men play football in the London Legal League and there is a women’s 5-a-side league team. Both teams competed in Europe this year. If football's not for you, there’s the annual Law Society Rugby Sevens tournament in Richmond, a very successful netball team (which has in the past clinched the Golden Lane Netball League), a mixed hockey team and cricket against clients. Then there are also always people mad enough to organise entrants for various fun runs or even just pound the pavements at lunchtime.

Taylor Wessing offers new trainees top-quality work in a supportive environment that enables them to progress their careers faster. Trainees are encouraged to take on as much responsibility as they can cope with, but there is always someone available to support and guide you. You'll be involved in cross-border work and may have the opportunity to work internationally once you have completed your training.

All trainees do a six-month Corporate or Finance seat, and you'll also need to get some contentious experience. Beyond that, it's up to you. Our Graduate Recruitment team will meet with you during the LPC to discuss your early preferences for practice areas. Halfway through your first seat, we'll meet again to check you're still happy with your choices. We'll do our best to give you the seats you want, but you'll need to be flexible.

Yes, you'll have a formal appraisal halfway through and at the end of each seat, but we also believe strongly in ongoing feedback from your supervisors to ensure you're on the right track.

Yes. We are accredited to run the full PSC in-house, which is provided through internal and external trainers. You'll complete three core modules on finance and business skills, client care and advocacy. This will be supplemented by at least 24 hours’ extra training on these topics, known as electives.

At Taylor Wessing, we see your professional development as a continuous feature of your time with us. As a newly qualified associate, you'll have a comprehensive training programme to give you all the skills you need at this early stage in your career. You'll learn how to manage a practice effectively and develop successful client relationships, as well as gaining an understanding of our financial and management processes.

Our Skills Training Programme has a big part to play in your development during and beyond your training contract. It will equip you with the skills you need as your career progresses, such as technical skills, client relationships and team management. You’ll probably identify skill areas you want to develop outside the Skills Training Progamme; our Learning and Development team will be on hand to help you find the programme that’s right for you.

This structured approach to training and professional development continues from four to six years' Post Qualification Experience (PQE) to our Senior Associate Programme. We'll work with you to identify your own development needs and interests, and there is a wide range of courses, workshops and e-learning packages to help build your skills and awareness.

You'll be encouraged to get involved in some of the many marketing/business development events we hold to develop client relationships, such as seminars, client drinks’ receptions, games evenings, discussion lunches and formal dinners.

Our aim is to keep on all trainees who successfully complete their training contract. After all, we've invested a great deal in finding, recruiting and training the people we think will be the long-term future of our firm. Some trainees move on after qualification, perhaps if they're unable to secure the practice area of their choice, but a high proportion of our trainee solicitors have gone on to develop long and successful careers here. In 2010, 19 of our 24 trainees were retained on qualification; in 2009, 16 of our 24 trainees secured roles, despite the tough market.