Taylor Wessing is a global law firm that serves the world's most innovative people and businesses. Deeply embedded within our sectors, we work closely together with our clients to crack complex problems, enabling ideas and aspirations to thrive. Together we challenge expectation and create extraordinary results.

Specialising in technology, media and communications; life sciences and healthcare; real estate, infrastructure and energy; and private wealth, we act for the world's biggest brands, most innovative start-ups and unicorns, and wealthiest families. 

We have more than 1,250 lawyers in 17 jurisdictions across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, who advise clients on their corporate, IP, disputes, and other matters. Working at the forefront of new areas of law, we help our clients by introducing them to new people, new markets, and fresh perspectives to help them flourish. 

Collaboration is key to our success. We believe different backgrounds bring different interests and skill sets, enhancing and diversifying the service we provide to our clients. Many of our lawyers joined the profession from different backgrounds and we welcome applications from both law and non-law students.

Spring and summer vacation schemes 2026

Our award-winning scheme lets you experience what it's like to be a trainee solicitor in a fast-paced international law firm. You’ll spend two weeks immersed in two different practice areas, gaining first-hand experience under the supervision of our approachable associates and partners. You'll also be involved in socials, networking opportunities, pro bono work and more, so you'll end the scheme with invaluable experience and a clear sense of career direction. 

To be eligible to apply for our spring or summer vacation schemes you'll need to be in the second year of your degree or beyond.

Applications for our spring vacation scheme open on 1 September 2025 and close on 31 October 2025. Applications for our summer vacation scheme open on 1 September 2025 and close on 28 November 2025. 

Taylor Wessing Inspiring – virtual work experience

Immerse yourself in the Taylor Wessing trainee experience as you complete a series of challenges throughout the lifecycle of a six-month seat at the firm.

Test your performance against various key competencies and get feedback on your performance. Find out if you’ve got what it takes to join Taylor Wessing as a trainee solicitor!

Explore some of the firm’s key practice area, including: real estate, private client, patents and pro bono.

For more information and to take part please visit here.

Taylor Wessing taster week (open days) 2025

As part of our taster week, taking place in October 2025, we invite you to a series of open days designed to provide you with valuable insights into our firm. During these events, you will have the opportunity to connect with our senior lawyers and trainee solicitors, who will share their experiences and expertise. You'll need to complete our short application form to secure your place. 

Applications open on 4 August 2025 and close on 1 October 2025. 

The open days are taking place on the following dates: 

20 to 24 October 2025

Monday 20 October: virtual open day 

Tuesday 21 October: virtual STEM open day

Wednesday 22 October: virtual open day

Thursday 23 October: virtual open day workshops

Friday 24 October: virtual open day, underrepresented groups 

Webinar week

Throughout webinar week, which runs from 29 September to 3 October 2025, we will host a series of online events to highlight the various sectors we specialise in and provide guidance from our early talent team. During our sector spotlight series, you’ll hear from our senior lawyers about the pivotal role of each of our sectors. You’ll also have opportunities to engage with the early talent team and our trainees through online sessions designed that offer insights into life at Taylor Wessing and the application process. 

Registration opens on 4 August 2025 and the deadline to sign up is 19 September 2025. 

Monday 29 September 

Real estate, infrastructure and energy sector spotlight webinar

SQE explained: future trainee insights 

Tuesday 30 September

Technology, media and communications sector spotlight webinar

STEM to law: insights from Taylor Wessing trainees 

Wednesday 1 October

Life sciences and healthcare sector spotlight webinar

Making a difference: pro bono in action

Thursday 2 October

Private wealth sector spotlight webinar

Building commercial awareness: trainee tips and techniques 

Friday 2 October

Private equity sector spotlight webinar

Secrets to application success: insights and tips 

First-year opportunities

In April 2025 we'll be hosting our two-day first-year insight scheme in London and Cambridge, where you'll get the chance to learn more about the firm, network and think commercially. The first-year insight scheme is a great step to ensure you're ready to apply for the 2026 vacation scheme.

The first-year insight scheme will take place on 22 and 23 April 2025.

To apply for our 2025 first-year scheme, you'll need to be in the first year of your degree (studying any subject) and complete an application form to attend.

Applications open on 1 December 2024 and close on 1 February 2025.

Limitless year 12 programme

Limitless is designed to introduce year 12 students to the world of law. Featuring monthly upskilling workshops, networking opportunities, and a two-day work shadowing opportunity, Limitless will let you experience what it's like to work in a leading law firm. We'll introduce you to the skills you'll need for a career in law and help you kickstart your career as a solicitor.

Applications to Limitless are open to students in year 12 from low socioeconomic backgrounds and/or Black heritage. To take part in the scheme, you must have achieved seven GCSEs at grade 6 and above, including at least a grade 7 in maths and English. You'll also need to be available to attend all the monthly sessions and the two in-person work shadowing days in October 2026.

Within a small intake of around 20 graduates, you'll find the support you need to flourish throughout your training contract while benefiting from the experience you need to become a brilliant lawyer. 

Across our two-year training contract, you’ll move through four six-month seats in different practice areas. All trainees complete a seat in either corporate or finance, and at least one seat must involve contentious work. On the remaining two seats you’ll be able to follow your own interests. We offer client secondment opportunities, which provide a real and meaningful insight into the sectors in which we operate. We also offer short relationship-building international secondment opportunities to our international offices. 

We offer training contracts each year in London and Cambridge. Wherever you are based, you will benefit from comprehensive training designed for your professional development.

Before starting your training contract you will undertake SQE1 and SQE2 examinations. We have partnered with The University of Law for this course, which will enable you to gain a breadth of knowledge before commencing these examinations. Additionally, you will also undertake an SQE Plus course to provide you with further legal knowledge ahead of joining the firm, which includes a master's.

Ahead of commencing the course, you will meet with the early talent and talent development teams to learn more about the course and our expectations and be provided with support throughout the year long course.

By completing the course and examinations ahead of your start date, you will be able to hit the ground running and gain your two years qualifying work experience through our training contract.

Solicitor apprenticeship

We don’t believe there's a set path in law – university isn't for everyone, and we appreciate that. Our six-year Solicitor apprenticeship programme offers school leavers with an interest in law an alternative route to qualifying as a solicitor. 

As a solicitor apprentice, you’ll join our inclusive culture that allows you to be yourself, with support to help you become who you want to be. We want to support talent from the outset, so we’ll also offer you support as you transition from school to joining the firm. 

Our six-year programme has been designed to help you hit the ground running from day one. You'll work towards an LLB (Hons) Law degree and a Solicitor Level 7 Apprenticeship. Each week you'll spend four days working in a practice area on client cases, with one day studying with our training provider, The University of Law (ULaw). We'll pay for your apprenticeship tuition fee and during your apprenticeship you'll be eligible for our benefits.

Pro bono initiatives

Each year, our pro bono programme creates social value by providing access to justice to some of society’s most vulnerable people. We also proudly support charities and not-for-profits with social impact missions that align with our responsible business focus areas: inclusion, supporting the arts, and environment. 

We set an aspirational target for each of our lawyers to record 25 pro bono hours annually. As a result, our lawyers collectively provide thousands of hours of free legal advice to our communities.

Diversity and inclusion 

We’re committed to delivering an inclusive culture and progressive environment where we empower all of our people to lead, learn, and grow. We recognise that the legal sector has much to do to improve diversity and that we are responsible for making progress for our people, aspiring legal professionals, and the wider legal community. 

Nurturing a diverse, inclusive culture allows all of our talent to flourish. It sparks creativity amongst our people. It powers innovation for our clients.

Our Inclusion networks drive inclusivity, peer support, active allyship, and collaboration across the firm. They connect individuals with shared identities and values who are passionate about promoting diversity, equity, and belonging for all colleagues. We each have a responsibility to shape our culture, and our trainees are involved in the committees of all our Inclusion networks.

Read on to find out more about our Inclusion networks' annual highlights.

Balance in Business network:

The Balance in Business network celebrated International Women’s Day and International Men’s Day with storytelling events involving the themes of ‘invest in women’ and ‘positive male role models’. In response to feedback from the network, they also brought women together to hear from senior women leaders on the power of networking, which created a forum to put their networking skills to the test and develop relationships across teams and practice areas. Building on previous menopause awareness campaigns and events, the network launched the Menopause Cafe, a support group for colleagues impacted. This has proven to be a significant milestone in the firm’s commitment to supporting our people in all life stages.

Cultural Diversity network:

The Cultural Diversity network started the year by revisiting the topic of anti-racism, and they hosted an informative and educational webinar in April in collaboration with the equaliTW network and myGwork. The network also embarked on a storytelling journey with colleagues of different religious and cultural backgrounds as we marked significant occasions. Finally, this year saw the inaugural meeting of the Black Heritage group in response to feedback from network members, which aims to centre and amplify the voices of Black colleagues.

equaliTW network:

The equaliTW network has continued to engage with colleagues in moments of celebration and education during LGBTQ+ History Month, Pride Month, and other key observances across the year. We heard from MindOut, the national mental health charity for the LGBTQ+ community, on the importance of mental health support and safe spaces. Emily Garside also delivered ‘Talking Pride’ sessions in our London and Liverpool offices, sharing insights on history, flags, labels, and representation. We celebrated Pride across all of our UK and Ireland offices, including an enlightening discussion with client panellists on authentic Pride support in our London headquarters and some memorable march moments from Cambridge, Dublin, and Liverpool’s local Pride parades. Our partnership with myGwork continued to flourish this year. We sponsored WorkPride, took part in WorkFair for the second year and supported their global inclusion campaigns. We continue to support the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre as a corporate sponsor, ensuring its longevity as a vital hub of services and support for the LGBTQ+ community. We also took part in National Student Pride in early 2025.

Wellbeing network:

Our Wellbeing network continues to bring colleagues together to drive conversations and actions across the firm that can better support the wellbeing of our people. Maintaining a positive approach to physical and mental wellbeing is of huge importance to us. Central to this is a commitment to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and ensuring that our people are well supported and equipped to deal with any mental health challenges. We promote mental and physical wellbeing, recognising the importance of our people being happy and healthy.

Social Mobility network:

The Social Mobility network has continued its robust support for social mobility outreach programmes, engaging with schools and building connections with universities to provide insights into legal careers, networking opportunities, and offer practical workshops. The dedication of network members to mentoring Year 12 and 13 students exploring a career in law has proven invaluable once again, with 100% of student mentees reporting they felt motivated to work harder in school, felt more confident about different career pathways, and felt like they can succeed in a professional environment like Taylor Wessing. The network has also supported the firm’s collaboration with the 93% Club through their flagship Social Mobility Factory event and engagement with 93% Club university societies.

Family Matters network:

The Family Matters network has created forums for colleagues to discuss family-related topics, including navigating divorce and separation, neurodiversity, and managing a high-performance career. The network has also developed support groups that have brought together colleagues experiencing similar events or phases within their families, including elder care, single parenting, parenting neurodivergent children, and returning parents. Additionally, the network’s committee members were influential in developing the firm’s new Family Leave Policies that increased paternity leave to 12 weeks and introduced neonatal and carer leave for our people.

Environment 

We believe there is an urgent need to address global warming in accordance with the Paris Agreement on climate change. The climate and biodiversity crises present risks and opportunities to businesses. The legal sector has a key role in supporting businesses through that transition, and we are committed to playing our part in our firm and in the advice we provide to our clients. 

Our Executive Board has committed to having a science-based target and reducing our carbon footprint. Setting and verifying a target with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a key priority for us. We align with the UK’s ambition to be Net Zero by 2050.

To read more about our progress on our environmental agenda, read our latest Responsible Business Impact report.

Outreach

Aspiring Solicitors: 

We have partnered with Aspiring Solicitors for several years supporting the objective of increasing social mobility within the legal profession. More recently we have built a Head Start programme with Aspiring Solicitors which enables us to provide support and guidance, reducing any barriers, at all stages of the career, from joining our Vacation Scheme to qualifying with the firm.

myGwork:

We've partnered with myGwork, the largest global business community of LGBTQ+ professionals, graduates, inclusive employers, and allies who champion workplace equality. It empowers the LGBTQ+ community by providing a safe space where members can connect with inclusive employers, discover jobs and participate in training and events. We also participate in WorkFair and regularly contribute to blogs and webinars and promote our opportunities on the myGwork jobs board to further establish Taylor Wessing as an LGBTQ+ friendly employer.

MyPlus Consulting:

We have an open dialogue around disabilities from the start; whether that involves addressing concerns related to our recruitment process or working environment. In partnership with MyPlus Consulting, we embed disability confidence throughout our student recruitment strategy, from attracting candidates through to assessment and onboarding. Through our engagement with the MyPlus Students' Club, we promote opportunities to students with disabilities, long-term health conditions and neurodiversity.

10,000 Black Interns:

We continue to partner with the 10,000 Black Interns Foundation to build a strong trainee pipeline of black heritage talent, aiming to break down the systemic barriers preventing ethnically diverse talent from entering the legal sector.

Rare:

Not every candidate’s achievements look the same on paper. That’s why we use Rare Recruitment's Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) to consider every student's achievements in context, helping to identify those with the greatest potential, from all backgrounds.

93% Club: 

We are proud to partner with the 93% Club, supporting state-educated students through initiatives such as their flagship Social Mobility Factory event and active engagement with university 93% Club societies nationwide. Our involvement helps empower young people from diverse backgrounds to realise their potential in the legal sector

Uptree:

We work with Uptree to support their mission of increasing access to professional careers for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. We run insight days and mentoring programmes, including CV writing workshops, mock interviews, and building your brand workshops.

The Sustainable Recruitment Alliance: 

We have a duty to protect our planet and the responsibility to preserve the environment for the early talent we recruit. That is why we have been proud signatories of the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance since its inception. Our focus is to be mindful during early careers processes to reduce the amount of merchandise, travel, food, and onboarding materials that are used and wasted. We also prioritise ethics – ensuring we are working with suppliers that protect people involved in our supply chain, as well as the environment.

We will pay your tuition fees for both the PGDL and SQE, to be studied at The University of Law London, our chosen law school provider. During your studies, you will also receive a maintenance grant from us. Before commencing your training contract with the firm, you must complete the SQE1 and SQE2 examinations. We have partnered with The University of Law for this course, which will enable you to gain a breadth of knowledge before commencing these examinations. Additionally, you will also undertake an SQE plus course to provide you with further legal knowledge ahead of joining the firm, which includes a master's.

• Real estate, environment & planning
• Construction & engineering
• Banking & finance
• Private equity
• Emerging companies & M&A
• Corporate real estate
• Private client
• Employment, pensions & mobility
• Tax & incentives
• Disputes & investigations
• Restructuring & insolvency
• IP, regulatory & digital
• Patents

• Corporate & Commercial
• General Commercial

• 27 offices in 17 jurisdictions

• Cambridge
• London

• Lawyers Volunteering for the Arts
• Mary Ward Legal Advice Centre

• Aspiring Solicitors
• Bright Network
• Future First
• PRIME
• Social Mobility Foundation