Case study

Fedellis Lim — Vacation scheme placement

Employer
Taylor Wessing LLP

Fedellis studied Law at the University of London. After completing a vacation scheme at Taylor Wessing she gained a training contract with the firm

Why did you choose to do a vacation scheme with Taylor Wessing?

Taylor Wessing has and will always play a special role in my legal career. As a fresher, I was introduced to the concept of commercial awareness when I took part in Taylor Wessing’s First Year Insight Day.

After attending several introductory talks about the firm, networking with trainees and participating in a business case study, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the firm’s work and culture, which left a lasting impression on me. I went home knowing that this was the firm for me.

What was the application process like?

Hoping to join the firm as a trainee solicitor I decided to apply to the vacation scheme. Shortly after I submitted my written application, I was invited to complete an online assessment. I was then invited to the assessment center, consisting of a competency-based interview, group exercise, commercial awareness exercise and critical thinking test. After the assessment center, I was offered a place on the vacation scheme.

What did your vacation scheme involve?

The vacation scheme lasted for two weeks and I was placed in a different practice area each week. During my first week, I was placed in Corporate Real Estate & Private Capital. As this was a corporate seat, the work was very fast-paced and commerciality was a very important aspect of it. Several tasks included drafting board minutes, attending client calls, creating a joint venture PowerPoint presentation for a partner and finally a proofreading exercise of a due diligence report.

In contrast, my second week in Financial Services & Competition exposed me to more research tasks and the technicalities of the Financial Conduct Authority. I had the opportunity to attend a training session, research policies for a client and review an advice note.

A major timetabled activity were the Focus On sessions, where I learned about Taylor Wessing’s sector-focused approach and the different practice areas. These were very engaging sessions, providing me with insights into the work of each practice area.

There were also socials in each week of the scheme, giving me some time away from my desk to get to know my fellow vacation schemers and current trainee solicitors.

What was the highlight of the scheme?

Throughout my time at Taylor Wessing, my supervisors, buddies and everyone else I met were very welcoming and willing to chat or provide support whenever I needed. This reflects their culture and values, which I had the opportunity to experience first-hand.

The biggest highlight of my scheme was definitely the legal experience I gained. Coupled with the detailed feedback my supervisors provided during my appraisal, I was able to learn and mature so much throughout the two weeks. Despite two intense weeks, the early talent team provided me with a very well thought out timetable, giving me the flexibility to take charge of my own vacation scheme and manage my own time. It is precisely because of the support given and the firm’s emphasis on my personal and career development that I accepted Taylor Wessing’s offer of a training contract without any hesitation.

What advice can you give to aspiring solicitors?

To all aspiring solicitors looking for an innovative firm that provides so much support to the personal and professional development of trainees, I definitely recommend Taylor Wessing’s vacation scheme. Not only does it provide a lot of insights into the legal industry, but it also provides you with legal experience of a typical day of a trainee solicitor.

Taylor Wessing first introduced me to the corporate world, and I can’t wait to return to the firm to start my legal career.

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