First Year Insight Scheme Review

Day one involved a partner welcome and an introduction to the firm, an insightful talk about how to network with others most effectively, followed by a networking lunch. In the afternoon, we had trainee shadowing, practice area speed networking and then a networking social.
Day two involved a responsible business workshop, pro bono insights, an application advice session, a workshop by Aspiring Solicitors about how to use the insight scheme as a platform to further develop your personal brand and prepare for future applications, and another trainee shadowing session in a different practice area.
Throughout the two days we worked on group presentations which we presented on the second day, developing our research and commercial awareness skills.

In a graduate recruitment session, Taylor Wessing provided an invaluable insight into career progression; transitioning from a student to a trainee position. The firm talked about their vacation scheme, as well as a detailed discussion about their training contract, then about becoming a NQ solicitor.

The networking talk provided a useful insight into the skills required to network most effectively; including how to prepare for networking sessions, what you should aim to take from them and how to build connections across a wide network.
The two trainee shadowing sessions provided an invaluable opportunity to learn more about different practice areas; sitting in both a contentious and a non-contentious seat, this opportunity gave me a much clearer idea about what type of seat I would like to work in, and what practice area I might like to specialise in.
The group presentation projects required effective collaboration which developed my teamwork skills. Presenting in front of the other groups also improved my communication and presentation skills.
The workshop provided by Aspiring Solicitors gave a helpful insight about how to utilise and build on the benefits of the scheme most effectively.

Taylor Wessing has a deep sense of inclusion and community; a quality of the firm which I learned more about through a business development session, discovering Taylor Wessing's pioneering inclusion, community and environmental initiatives. Known for its friendly individuals with a common ambition to challenge expectation, this quality was visible on the insight scheme, since all the individuals I met from the firm were genuinely friendly, inviting and inclusive. I even had the opportunity to speak to a partner, who was very happy to take time out of their day to share their experiences of the firm and was interested in hearing about my own experiences.

I really enjoyed Taylor Wessing's insight scheme because of the level of engagement the firm had with us, immersing us in the firm's culture, learning more about the firm's initiatives and being able to shadow two trainees in different practice areas. Furthermore, I feel the various skills sessions have placed me in a much better position to realise my career ambitions.
The smaller cohort size of the scheme fostered a more personalised experience and allowed me to really connect with the other individuals in my cohort.
I have emerged from the scheme with a clearer understanding of what type of firm I would like to work for and with an idea of the practice area I might like to specialise in.
The insight scheme was very well structured, with two days packed full of invaluable insight sessions.

Yes