Early Talent Assistant - 12 month industry placement

The opportunity for you

This is a brilliant industry placement designed for ambitious second‑year students who want to spend a year gaining hands‑on experience in a leading global law firm. As an Early Talent Assistant, you won’t just be observing you’ll be genuinely involved. You’ll support real projects, grow your confidence, and build skills that will give you a clear advantage when you return to university and as you start thinking about your future career.

Over the 12‑month fixed‑term contract, you’ll become a key part of our Early Talent team, helping to attract, recruit and support solicitor apprentices and trainee solicitors. You’ll work closely with colleagues in Liverpool and London, get involved in high‑profile recruitment events, and gain behind‑the‑scenes insight into how early careers programmes are run from start to finish.

This role starts in September 2026. 

During your placement, you’ll benefit from:

• Real responsibility from day one
• First‑hand insight into how a major international law firm operates
• Opportunities to build your network across the Talent team and wider business
• A fast‑paced, supportive environment where your ideas are genuinely valued

This is the perfect opportunity for students who want to apply what they’re learning at university in a professional environment, build experience that stands out on a CV, and explore whether a future in HR, recruitment, or the legal sector is right for them.

Key responsibilities

Attraction & Recruitment

• Support the planning and delivery of attraction events with schools, universities and diversity partners.
• Coordinate Open Days and First Year Insight schemes held in London.
• Assist with maintaining early talent content across social media channels and the firm’s website.
• Support the Summer Vacation Scheme and Solicitor Apprenticeship programme.
• Act as the first point of contact for student enquiries.
• Schedule and coordinate assessment centres and interviews, including room bookings.
• Manage onboarding administration and offer documentation.

Training Contracts & Apprenticeships

• Complete onboarding administration for trainee solicitors and apprentices.
• Administer appraisal processes and update HR systems to reflect seat moves and programme changes.
• Support qualification administration for trainee solicitors.

Operational & Administrative Support

• Maintain diversity and performance metrics across early talent programmes.
• Attend recruitment and Early Talent events, including inductions and social activities.
• Own and update all Early Talent administrative processes, ensuring accuracy across systems.
• Process invoices and track candidate expenses.
• Support calendar management for Early Talent team initiatives.
• Work collaboratively as an integral part of the wider Talent team.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Excellent team player with a positive, enthusiastic approach.
• Strong judgement and ability to think on your feet.
• High‑quality administrative skills with solid MS Word and Excel knowledge.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage and prioritise competing deadlines.
• Ability to remain calm and professional under pressure.
• Confident, approachable and committed to delivering exceptional client service.
• Resilient and proactive in supporting team initiatives.
• Interest or experience in social media content and platforms.
• Willingness to travel to London during key programme periods (Jan/Feb, April, June/July and October).

Benefits

Here are a select few benefits that Taylor Wessing offer; 

• Hybrid working (Offering the opportunity to work remotely, while maintaining a social boundary by working from our award-winning offices for 3 days a week) 
• Holiday (Our basic annual holiday entitlement starts at 25 days, with a further discretionary day of paid leave in December. You may also purchase up to five extra days each year (pro rata). 
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity leave (After one-year service, you are entitled to up to 26 weeks leave full pay if you or your partner give birth or adopt a child). 

Along with these there are many more benefits we offer, with the addition of a comprehensive flexible benefits package available. 

Our culture

Nurturing a diverse, inclusive culture allows all of our talent to flourish, sparks creativity and powers innovation.  We continue to build a team that exemplifies inclusivity and reflects the firm's core values: creative, excellence, integrity, responsible, respect and team.  We value and celebrate the differences in who we are, what we have experienced and how we think, so all candidates will be treated fairly regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender identity, marital status, neurodiversity, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and socio-economic background.

The way we work

At Taylor Wessing, we never settle for average. We're creative thinkers, problem solvers and continuous learners who excel at what we do and believe our best work is still ahead of us. We are a firm that's large enough for you to achieve your ambitions, but connected enough to be a true community.  

Taylor Wessing

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. By shaping the conversation in our sectors, we enable our clients to unlock growth, protect innovation and accelerate ambition. 

With 1250+ lawyers, 350+ partners, 26 offices and 16 jurisdictions we are looking to expand our Talent Acquisition  team, with the addition of a Early Talent Assistant - 12 month industry placement.

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