Nathaniel Guerreiro — Vacation scheme placement

Nathaniel studied Law at the University of Exeter. Having completed a two-week vacation scheme placement at Taylor Wessing, Nathaniel offers up some insight and advice

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

When I made my applications for law firms, I knew that I wanted a firm which not only had a prominent practice in my areas of interest of tech and IP, but also represented the values that were important for me personally as a first-generation state schooled individual.

From research, to application, to the vacation scheme itself, it became abundantly clear to me that Taylor Wessing would be the right fit for my aspirations. I knew that first and foremost; this was a firm which greatly appreciated diversity of thought and experiences in delivering towards its innovative client base.

What was the application process like?

It began with a that form heavily on linking your experiences back to Taylor Wessing’s core values, demonstrating how you represent them. It was clear throughout that Taylor Wessing takes their values seriously, looking for the qualities of excellence, respect, creativity, integrity, teamworking, and responsibility in every candidate.

Following a successful application was the assessment centre. It included interactive tasks, which let the firm not only delve into your abilities, but your personality. It was comprised of a critical thinking test, group exercise, commercial interview and a competency interview.

The early talent team and the Taylor Wessing interviewers all made the experience extremely comfortable and fair. Regardless of if you were speaking to a partner or a trainee, everyone was approachable and friendly, which really eased the pressure.

What did your vacation scheme involve?

The scheme was a fantastic two-week experience, which not only taught me about the firm and the work it does, but also solidified what I wanted in an employer.

I rotated between the Technology, IP and Media team and the Corporate Finance team for week one and two respectively. The firm were fair in trying to allocate everyone their desired seats and gave us a trainee buddy for each seat.

I saw how Taylor Wessing’s sector-focused approach has given the firm its respected standing. It was clear that the work done across the practice is always done with the client’s needs first. Even though we only sat in two seats, the early talent team organised a full spectrum of ‘Focus On’ sessions - talks that ensured we learned from every part of the practice and had the opportunity to ask questions.

I had countless opportunities to speak with enthusiastic trainees and partners about all the firm’s social mobility work. If they were free, they would happily grab a coffee with you in the firm’s rooftop restaurant. The scheme had great socials for us to get to know everyone better too, including mini-golf and dinner at the end of the scheme.

My vacation scheme showed me that not only would I get a chance to work in practice areas I was interested in, but that I would also be able to complete high quality work for high-profile clients alongside industry experts. After getting a taste of this during the vacation scheme, I cannot wait for the excellent learning opportunities in my training contract.

What were the highlights of your placement?

Highlights were the approachable culture, social mobility conversations, learning and getting to work on exciting matters, and being invited to the team social. Taylor Wessing is an incredible firm that is true to its marketing. I’d highly recommend anyone interested to apply.

Find out more

• Learn more about Taylor Wessing.
• Gain an insight into the law sector.