“Dedicating time in your first year to a firm shows great commitment”: how a First Year Insight Scheme at Taylor Wessing can kickstart your career

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Apr 01, 2025

Written By Billy Sexton

The first year of university is stereotypically associated with making new friends, enjoying student life and settling into your new life, potentially living away from home. Your first year is also the time to be considering your career choices and how you can get ahead.

Taylor Wessing’s First Year Insight Scheme is a great way for those interested in a career in law to learn more about the firm’s innovative nature and the application process for training contracts. We caught up with Jas Hepple, who runs the scheme, to discover exactly why the First Year Insight Scheme is an amazing opportunity.

Explain in a few words what the First Year Insight Scheme at Taylor Wessing is all about.

Insightful, encouraging, productive and fun!

Our First Year Insight Scheme is a unique opportunity to learn more about us as a firm; who we are, what we do, and the values we live and breathe. This is accompanied by learning how to stand out throughout the application process with our hints and tips, plus our group task to build those skills ahead of vacation scheme assessments.

How can attending the First Year Insight Scheme help a student with their future applications and development as an aspiring solicitor in general?

When applying to a firm's vacation scheme or training contract it's important to know and display your motivations for wanting to be a trainee there. Our First Year Insight Scheme is the first step in discovering if Taylor Wessing is the right place for you. An insight into the sectors the firm works within, our clients and our people are pivotal factors in deciding whether to apply. You will also gain a strong understanding as to each stage of the recruitment process, meaning when you are eligible to apply in October you will be confident in the process and what is required to be successful.

The First Year Insight Scheme provides an opportunity to expand your network. It also not only gives you an idea of what a summer vacation scheme will be like, but it gives you the chance to network with people from all different areas of the firm. Practising this skill at an early stage in your career will stand you in good stead as you progress through the application season.

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How does the First Year Insight scheme assist with developing commercial awareness and understanding Taylor Wessing’s specialist sectors?

You will not become commercially aware overnight. Therefore, any head start you can have in developing this essential skill will help build you into a successful lawyer. During the Insight scheme we provide lots of hints and tips on how to continually build on your commercial acumen, as well as enabling you to shadow a trainee solicitor – putting all those skills to the test when observing real client work.

How important do you think it is for first years to get ahead and interact with firms?

There are many different types of firms as well as routes you can take within a legal career, and it will take time to work out where you want to be, but it's important that you spend time deciding. Attend as many law fairs are you can, reach out to people you have met to ask follow up questions, develop on your research and attend First Year Insight schemes – these actions will help you work out where you want to be. Once you have cracked the who, what and where, you will be ahead of the game and can start focussing on developing in depth knowledge of those specific firms you are targeting and tailor your application to them – this will help you stand out in the application process.

Do you think people who interact with firms and get ahead earlier gain a competitive advantage when it comes to applying for vacation schemes and training contracts?

The legal industry can be competitive, there is no denying that. Through interacting with Taylor Wessing from an early stage you are going to know a lot about us, as well as why you want to work here. Following the scheme you then have the summer to build on your new found knowledge, keep track of the firms activity (helping to build on your commercial awareness) and be ready for applications to open. There will be a space in your application form to note that you attended the scheme which will help highlight your motivation and dedication to us and be a great talking point throughout your interview.

What advice would you give to someone considering applying for the First Year Insight Scheme?

Apply! The First Year Insight Scheme provides you with amazing exposure into Taylor Wessing at an early stage of your career. Dedicating time in your first year to a firm shows great commitment and initiative. The best way to discover the right route for you is from real life experience, and we hope that the Insight scheme will show why Taylor Wessing is the place for you!

To apply to Taylor Wessing's First Year Insight Scheme you will be in your first year of your degree (any discipline).

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