Application FAQs
When do applications open for the 2024 Summer Vacation Scheme?
Applications for our 2024 Summer Vacation Scheme open on 1 September 2023. The deadline for applications for the Summer Vacation Scheme is 1 December 2023.
When are your Open Days?
We will be running a series of Open Days, please see below for the dates and details:
17 October (online)
26 October (London office)
1 November (London office)
2 November (STEM)
16 November (Cambridge)
23 November (online)
To attend an Open Day, you need to be a first-year degree student and beyond. For the STEM Open Day, your non-law degree must be a STEM subject
Applications for our Open Days are now closed. Please check back in next year.
I am a first-year student, how can I meet the firm?
Our two-day First Year Insight Scheme takes place in April 2024.
First Year Insight Scheme: 8 and 9 April 2024.
Applications open – 1 December 2023.
Applications close – 1 February 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.
What are the eligibility criteria to apply for the Summer Vacation Scheme?
To be able to apply for our Summer Vacation Scheme, you'll need to be in the second year of your degree and 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?
Our Summer Vacation Schemes are held across two weeks in either June or July. The dates of the scheme for 2024 are:
June Vacation Scheme – 10 to 21 June
July Vacation Scheme – 8 to 19 July
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.