Application FAQs
When do applications open for the 2025 Vacation Schemes?
Applications for our 2025 Vacation Schemes are now closed.
When are your Open Days?
During Taster Week, we will be running a series of Open Days and skills sessions, please see below for the dates and details: 21 to 25 October Monday 21 October: Open Day (London office) Tuesday 22 October: Virtual Open Day Wednesday 23 October: STEM Open Day Thursday 24 October: Virtual Open Day Workshops Friday 25 October: Open Day (Underrepresented groups) 11 to 15 November Monday 11 November: Open Day (London office) Tuesday 12 November: Virtual Open Day Workshops Wednesday 13 November: Brunel University Open Day Thursday 14 November: Cambridge Open Evening Friday 15 November: Virtual Open Day To attend one of these events, you need to be in the first year of your degree or beyond.
I am a first-year student, how can I meet the firm?
Our two-day First Year Insight Scheme takes place in April 2025.
First Year Insight Scheme: 22 and 23 April 2025
Applications open 1 December 2024
To apply to our First Year Insight Scheme you'll need to be in the first year of any degree.
I didn't achieve both a 2:1 and AAB, is it worth me applying?
We do accept mitigating circumstances so if this is the case, please clearly explain why you didn't achieve the marks you were expecting so we are able to take this evidence into consideration. We'll also review your grades via Rare's Contextualised Recruitment System, which enables us to view your performance and grades in context.
We read each application form fully before making a decision, so we advise candidates who may not have performed as well as they had hoped to academically to highlight their motivation, skill set and attitude to succeed in their application.
When do you hold your assessment centres?
We will be holding various assessment centres between January and March.
I'm a career changer, can I apply?
We welcome applications from candidates from a variety of experiences and backgrounds, from undergraduate level to those who have embarked on a career before their entry into law. Different career backgrounds bring different interests and skill sets, enhancing and diversifying the service we provide to our clients.
I am an international student, am I eligible to apply?
As an international law firm we are able to sponsor work visas.
We welcome applications from international students and appreciate that academic equivalents are not always easy to calculate.
Therefore, we advise candidates to complete the academic achievement section on the application form with as much detail as possible as this enables us to benchmark this appropriately. We pay particular attention to ensuring fairness in all our recruitment processes so we will be in touch directly with any questions we have.
Can I apply to more than one Vacation Scheme?
Please only apply to one scheme per academic year.
What are the eligibility criteria to apply for the Vacation Schemes?
To be able to apply for our Vacation Schemes, you'll need to be in the penultimate year of your degree or beyond.
Regarding academic ability, we do look for AAB at A Level and a 2:1 in any degree discipline. If you do not meet the AAB requirement but are able to demonstrate strong academic performance elsewhere and have the motivation, skill set and attitude to succeed, please reach out to one of the team to discuss your application.
We want to recruit top talent for our relatively small intake, and we know that academics aren’t the only measure of success and appreciate diversity of experience. We do not automatically reject applications based on academics and screen the whole application form before making a decision.
Therefore, we will review your performance across all areas of the form before making a decision, for example; interests and achievements, work experience, overall communication and answers to commercial and career-focused questions.
I don't have any legal work experience, am I at a disadvantage?
Relevant experience is helpful, but we recognise that everyone has to start somewhere so don't worry if you haven't worked in a law firm previously. Ensure you include other experiences that can support your motivation to work in law, ie attending Open Days to show your commitment to a career in law.
Do you recruit on a rolling basis?
We screen applications on a rolling basis, but all of our assessment centres are organised after the deadline to ensure all applicants have the opportunity to apply. We do encourage applicants to submit their application ahead of the deadline.
When are your Vacation Schemes held?
The dates of the Schemes for 2025 are:
7 April to 11 April 2025 (Spring)
9 June to 20 June 2025 (Summer)
30 June to 11 July 2025 (Summer)
Are you able to make adjustments to the recruitment process?
We are a disability confident organisation. As part of our wider diversity and inclusion strategy we ensure all candidates are supported and able to perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. If you require support during the recruitment process, please feel free to get in touch with the Early Talent team to discuss.
If offered a training contract, which qualification route will I follow?
All sponsored future joiners will complete the PGDL, if they do not have a law degree, and the SQE through the University of Law. This will involve the SQE 1&2 preparation courses, along with a bespoke Taylor Wessing SQE Plus programme, including a firm-specific project. We will pay for any tuition fees during this period, as well as a maintenance grant.
Can I gain experience in the Cambridge office?
Yes, we are offering 2 places on the First year Insight Scheme in the Cambridge office in April 2025. This scheme is open to any student in the first year of their degree and considering vacation schemes in 2026.
Can I apply for a vacation scheme in Cambridge?
We are not offering vacation scheme placements in Cambridge for 2025. Opportunities for placements will be available in 2026, for those seeking a training contract to commence in 2028.