Taylor Wessing is a global law firm that serves the world's most innovative people and businesses. Deeply embedded within our sectors, we work closely together with our clients to crack complex problems, enabling ideas and aspirations to thrive. Together we challenge expectation and create extraordinary results.

Specialising in technology, media and communications; life sciences and healthcare; real estate, infrastructure and energy; and private wealth, we act for the world's biggest brands, most innovative start-ups and unicorns, and wealthiest families. 

We have more than 1,200 lawyers in 17 jurisdictions across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, who advise clients on their corporate, IP, disputes, and other matters. Working at the forefront of new areas of law, we help our clients by introducing them to new people, new markets, and fresh perspectives to help them flourish. 

Collaboration is key to our success. We believe different backgrounds bring different interests and skill sets, enhancing and diversifying the service we provide to our clients. Many of our lawyers joined the profession from different backgrounds and we welcome applications from both law and non-law students.

Vacation scheme

Our award-winning scheme lets you experience what it's like to be a trainee solicitor in a fast-paced international law firm. You’ll spend two weeks immersed in two different practice areas, gaining first-hand experience under the supervision of our approachable associates and partners. You'll also be involved in socials, networking opportunities, pro bono work and more, so you'll end the scheme with invaluable experience and a clear sense of career direction. 

To be eligible to apply for our spring or summer vacation schemes you'll need to be in the second year of your degree or beyond. Our 2025 vacation scheme is the only way to be considered for a September 2026 or 2027 training contract position with the firm. 

Applications for our 2025 spring vacation scheme open on 1 September 2024 and the deadline is 1 November 2024. Applications for our 2025 summer vacation scheme open on 1 October 2024 and the deadline is 1 December 2024.

Taylor Wessing taster week (open days) 2024

As part of our taster weeks, taking place in October and November 2024, we invite you to a series of open days designed to provide you with valuable insights into our firm. During these events, you will have the opportunity to connect with our senior lawyers and trainee solicitors, who will share their experiences and expertise. We offer both in-person sessions at our offices and online options to accommodate your schedule. You'll need to complete our short application form to secure your attendance. Applications open on 1 August 2024 and the days are held on the following dates:

21 to 25 October 2024

Monday 21 October: open day (London office)

Tuesday 22 October: virtual open day (London office)

Wednesday 23 October: STEM open day (London office)

Thursday 24 October: virtual open day workshops

Friday 25 October: open day – underrepresented groups (London office)

11 to 15 November 2024

Monday 11 November: open day (London office)

Tuesday 12 November: virtual open day workshops

Wednesday 13 November: Brunel University open day (London office)

Thursday 14 November: Cambridge open evening

Friday 15 November: virtual open day

Webinar week

Throughout webinar week, which runs from 30 September to 4 October 2024, we will host a series of online events to illuminate the various sectors we specialise in and provide guidance from our early talent team. During our sector spotlight series, you’ll hear from our senior lawyers about the pivotal role of each of our sectors. You’ll also have opportunities to engage with the early talent team and our trainee solicitors through online sessions designed to offer insights into life at Taylor Wessing and the application process. 

Registration opens on 1 August 2024 and the deadline to sign up is 27 September 2024. 

Monday 30 September 

Real estate, infrastructure and energy sector spotlight webinar

SQE Essentials: What you need to know 

Tuesday 1 October

Technology, media and communications sector spotlight webinar

My journey into law as a STEM student

Wednesday 2 October

Life sciences and healthcare sector spotlight webinar

Beyond billables: embracing culture, training and responsible business

Thursday 4 October

Private wealth sector spotlight webinar

My journey into law as a career changer

Friday 5 October

The power of personal branding: How to stand out in a competitive market

Winning applications: key insights and practical tips

First year opportunities

In April 2025 we'll be hosting our two-day first-year insight scheme in London and Cambridge, where you'll get the chance to learn more about the firm, network and think commercially. The first-year insight scheme is a great step to ensure you're ready to apply for the 2026 vacation scheme.

The first-year insight scheme will take place on 22 and 23 April 2025.

To apply for our 2025 first-year scheme, you'll need to be in the first year of your degree (studying any subject) and complete an application form to attend.

Applications open on 1 December 2024 and close on 1 February 2025.

Limitless year 12 programme

Limitless is our new programme designed to introduce year 12 students to the world of law. Featuring monthly upskilling workshops, networking opportunities and a two-day work shadowing opportunity, Limitless will let you experience what it's like to work in a leading law firm. We'll introduce you to the skills you'll need for a career in law and help you kickstart your career as a solicitor.

Applications to Limitless are open to individuals who are in year 12, have a minimum of seven GCSEs grade 7 or above, and are of Black heritage 'and/or are from a low socio-economic background. You'll also need to be free to attend all the monthly sessions and the two in-person work shadowing days in October.

Within a small intake of around 22 graduates, you'll find the support you need to flourish throughout your training contract while benefiting from the experience you need to become a brilliant lawyer. 

Across our two-year training contract, you’ll move through four six-month seats in different practice groups. All trainees take on a seat in either corporate or finance, and at least one seat must involve contentious work. On the remaining two seats you’ll be able to follow your own interests. We offer client secondment opportunities, which provide a real and meaningful insight into the sectors in which we operate. We also offer short relationship-building international secondment opportunities to our international offices. 

We offer training contracts each year in London and Cambridge. Regardless of where you're based, we'll provide you with all the training and experience to help you succeed. 

Before commencing the training contract, students undertake the SQE1 and SQE2 examination. We have partnered with The University of Law for this course, which will enable you to gain a breadth of knowledge before commencing these examinations. Additionally, you will also undertake an SQE plus course to provide you with further legal knowledge ahead of joining the firm, which includes a master's.

Ahead of commencing the course, you will meet with the early talent and development team to learn more about the course and our expectations and be provided with support throughout the year long course.

By completing the course and examinations ahead of your start date, you will be able to hit the ground running and gain your two years qualifying work experience through our training contract.

Solicitor apprenticeship

Our six-year programme has been designed to enable you to hit the ground running from day one. You'll work towards an LLB (Hons) Law and a Solicitor Level 7 Apprenticeship. Each week you will spend four days working in a practice area, working on cases for our clients with one day studying with our training provider, The University of Law (ULaw). All your tuition fees will be paid for you, and you'll earn a salary whilst training and gaining your qualifications.

Pro bono initiatives

Each year our pro bono programme provides much needed access to justice to the communities where we live and work. Collectively our lawyers are generating social value in the form of thousands of hours of free legal advice to good causes and individuals. 

As a responsible business, we believe it's our duty to help those in need when we have the expertise and resources to do so. Our pro bono support aligns with our responsible business agenda. Projects are selected to provide access to justice for our communities, with emphasis on promoting inclusion, supporting the arts, and protecting the environment.

With legal aid provision diminishing across the UK, our lawyers do important work at regular legal clinics. Our trainee solicitors provide vital access to justice via legal advice clinics, where you'll experience the impact the law has on people in our local community whilst developing new skills and gaining valuable experience. We have a long-established clinic in Southwark that supports a huge range of people and provides legal advice on a variety of issues. We also run a specialist clinic supporting victims of the Windrush scandal and another for families seeking to resolve disputes. 

Diversity and inclusion 

We build inclusive and progressive workplaces and aim to have a positive impact in the legal world and broader society. We look after the health and wellbeing of our people and celebrate diversity in all forms, creating an environment where everyone can thrive. 

Nurturing a diverse, inclusive culture allows all of our talent to flourish. It sparks creativity amongst our people. It powers innovation for our clients.

Our trainees have the opportunity to join our inclusion networks. We have networks covering gender balance, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, racial equality, social mobility, and physical and mental health and wellbeing. 

Balance in Business network

Gender is one of our strategic inclusion priorities. Our gender plan aims to achieve better gender balance in our partnership and in leadership roles across the firm and was introduced to ensure everyone can thrive, irrespective of their gender. We engage our people, clients and alumni in the benefits of equity, allyship and equip our senior colleagues to be champions. We host discussions and client roundtables on issues that challenge expectation.  

Cultural diversity network 

Race and ethnicity is one of our strategic inclusion priorities. Our cultural diversity network was established as a safe space to learn about and celebrate the different cultures and religions that are important to the people in our firm. 

Continuing to create a positive workplace culture for people of all cultural backgrounds is at the core of the network, and we aim to encourage individuals from minority communities to enter and remain in the legal sector by improving the collective experience, removing the barriers people might face, and engaging with our clients and community to achieve shared aspirations.

equaliTW network

We're committed to providing a workplace where you can flourish and be yourself, no matter your sexual orientation or gender identity. Our equaliTW network was established to provide a forum for networking and peer support for LGBTQIA+ colleagues. 

We champion active allyship and equip colleagues with the tools to understand and support the LGBTQIA+ community. We support the LGBTQIA+ Centre and established the Freehold network for the property sector in 2011. Our partnership with myGwork helps showcase our firm as an inclusive firm for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Wellbeing network

Maintaining a positive approach to physical and mental wellbeing is of huge importance to us. Central to this is a commitment to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and ensuring that our people are well supported and equipped to deal with any mental health challenges. 

We raise awareness of disabilities (both visible and invisible), ensuring appropriate measures are in place to create an accessible, safe environment for all our colleagues. We promote mental and physical wellbeing, recognising the importance of our people being happy and healthy.

Social mobility network

Your potential, ability and talent – not your socioeconomic background or schooling – determine your success at Taylor Wessing. To open up opportunities in the legal sector and make talented people of all backgrounds feel welcome, we support a number of powerful initiatives.

We're proud of all of our social mobility programmes and the impact they have on participants and our firm. We support inclusive initiatives through partnerships with The 93% Club, The 30% Club, Future First and PRIME to help students build their confidence, increase their knowledge of the careers available in an international law firm and inspire them to reach their full potential.  

Family matters network

At Taylor Wessing, family matters. We’re supporting colleagues who care for others by reducing the barriers between balancing personal commitments with a thriving career. As a result, more and more of our people are taking advantage of flexible working, something we fully encourage.

We actively encourage all our working parents, including our Board members, to take parental leave.  This offer is fully inclusive, with maternity, paternity and adoption leave available on a shared basis.

After 12 months' service, our working parents receive enhanced parental leave. This is equivalent to six months' full pay, with flexibility over how the payments are spread out during their period of leave.

Environment 

Taylor Wessing is progressing towards net zero and has committed to having a near-term science-based target. We believe that we have a responsibility as part of the legal sector to support the transition to a low-carbon economy. We have taken a leading role in establishing the Legal Charter 1.5, and are active members of the Legal Sustainability Alliance and the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance.

In 2023 we received a 3* rating from RSGI's GreenPrint leaderboard. RSGI compared reports and data published by 180 major law firms to identify best practice in strategy, targets and reporting, and to confirm which law firms are starting to do what they advise their clients to do on the ESG agenda. Out of 180 law firms, only 22  made it onto this leaderboard. In addition to this, we have delivered training to our lawyers and Business Services teams regarding how climate change impacts the role of solicitors. 

We have an established ESG network, with client-facing representatives from every area of our business. Their role is to help drive increased collaboration on ESG services and engage with clients on all matters relating to our responsible business performance and ESG services. To find out more about our ESG services and case studies, please visit our website.

Contextual recruitment

Not every candidate’s achievements look the same on paper. That’s why we use Rare Recruitment's Contextual Recruitment System to consider every student's achievements in context, helping us to identify those with the greatest potential, from all backgrounds.

Disability confidence 

We have an open dialogue around disabilities from the start; whether it’s discussing concerns about the recruitment process or our working environment. We partner with MyPlus consulting to make disability confidence part of our student recruitment strategy, beginning with attracting candidates, through to assessment and onboarding.

Diversity outreach

Aspiring Solicitors: 

We have partnered with Aspiring Solicitors for several years, supporting the objective of increasing social mobility within the legal profession. More recently we have built a Head Start programme with Aspiring Solicitors which enables us to provide support and guidance, reducing any barriers, at all stages of people's careers, from joining our vacation scheme to qualifying with the firm. Each year we host events in collaboration with Aspiring Solicitors, share our success stories with other firms and take part in the professional ambassadors' programme which allows students to speak first-hand to our lawyers. Most recently, we have collaborated with Aspiring Solicitors on BASS, a Black Aspiring Solicitors Mentoring Scheme. 

myGwork:

We have partnered with myGwork, as the largest global business community of LGBTQ+ professionals, graduates, inclusive employers and anyone who believes in workplace equality. It empowers the LGBTQ+ community by offering individual members a safe space where they can connect with inclusive employers, find jobs, mentors, professional events, e-learning/training and news.

MyPlus:

We partner with MyPlus Consulting to make disability confidence part of our student recruitment strategy, beginning with attracting candidates, through to assessment and onboarding.

10,000 Black Interns:

We continue to partner with the 10,000 Black Interns Foundation to build a strong trainee pipeline of ethnically diverse talent, aiming to break down the systemic barriers preventing ethnically diverse talent from entering the legal sector.

SQE and PGDL fees sponsored. A maintenance grant is provided.

• Construction
• Banking & finance
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• Corporate real estate & private capital
• Corporate finance
• Employment
• Pensions & mobility
• Private client
• Tax & incentives
• Private equity
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• Patents
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• Corporate & Commercial
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• 28 offices in 17 jurisdictions

• Lawyers Volunteering for the Arts
• Mary Ward Legal Advice Centre

• Aspiring Solicitors
• Bright Network
• Future First
• PRIME
• Social Mobility Foundation