Taylor Wessing Trainee Profile

Ryan Lysycia

Who are you and what is your current role?

My name is Ryan Lysycia, a trainee solicitor at Taylor Wessing currently in my third seat. I've had the opportunity to experience diverse practice areas through my rotations in Employment, Disputes and Investigations, and Real Estate. This variety has given me invaluable insight into different aspects of legal practice and helped me understand how various departments interconnect to serve our clients' needs.

What is your educational background?

I completed an undergraduate LLB in Law and American Studies, with an intercalary year abroad in Arizona. Studying the connections between US and UK legal systems was fascinating, though I quickly learned that American legal dramas bear little resemblance to actual practice (it is not all like Suits). Beyond the legal aspects, I explored the history, politics, culture, and literature of the Americas. The year abroad gave me invaluable perspective on different legal cultures and confirmed that good coffee is universal to a lawyer's survival.

Why did you choose a career in law?

I chose law because I'm genuinely passionate about solving complex problems; I like taking them apart and reconstructing them into clear, actionable solutions. Every client comes to us with unique challenges – whether it's a corporation navigating regulatory compliance, an individual facing employment issues, or a property developer structuring a complex transaction. The work has real commercial implications and helps people achieve their goals while protecting their interests.

How did you come to join Taylor Wessing?

Before securing my training contract, I worked as a corporate paralegal at Taylor Wessing, which gave me an insider's view of the firm's culture and values. I was immediately drawn to Taylor Wessing's personable culture. It's a place where you can work on challenging, high-quality matters for prestigious clients without the intimidating hierarchical atmosphere you might find elsewhere. People genuinely invest time in your development: they don't just ask "how are you?" in passing but wait for the answer.

How do you maintain work-life balance?

Honest communication is key. When I'm at capacity, I say so. Taking on more work when you're already stretched helps nobody. I also make sure to fully enjoy quieter periods and weekends – these moments of respite are crucial for maintaining long-term performance. For me, having a sport or hobby is essential; it completely takes my mind off work and helps me relax.

What three qualities are most important for a successful legal career?

1. People Skills - law is fundamentally about people. Regardless of academic achievements, you're working with people, representing people, and making decisions affecting people's lives. Being personable and persuasive matters whether you're gauging client concerns or negotiating with opposing solicitors. The ability to connect with people and understand their motivations often determines whether clients follow your advice and whether you can reach favourable outcomes in negotiations.

2. Creativity - the most successful lawyers combine logical analysis with creative problem-solving. The best solution isn't always the most obvious one, and to truly serve clients' interests, you often need to think outside conventional approaches. Creativity is what transforms good lawyers into exceptional ones.

3. Resilience and Self-Confidence - the legal profession demands resilience from day one. Don't be discouraged by the competitive training contract process or inevitable challenges. Have confidence to apply (and reapply if necessary), always seeking feedback. Use setbacks as development opportunities. This resilience will serve you throughout your career, helping you navigate complex cases, difficult clients, and the demanding workload that comes with the territory – challenges that ultimately reinforce your commitment to this rewarding profession.

Ahmad Alattas

What degree/qualifications did you study and where?

I studied a Bachelor of Laws in Global Law at Queen Mary University of London where I completed a year abroad at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. I then studied for a Master of Laws in Legal Practice (SQE1&2) at the University of Law. 

Why did you decide on a career in law?

As a naturally curious individual, a career in law allows me to delve deep into various sectors, industries and demographics within the global economy and throughout various jurisdictions and societies. 

Why did you choose to train with Taylor Wessing?

The firm's Sector Focus, variety of highly ranked teams/practice areas, as well as a collegiate culture which creates an ideal training experience. 

Tell us about your training contract. What did/does this involve?

The Training Contract at Taylor Wessing involves 4 seat rotations across different departments that each last six months. So far, I have completed two seats, the first being in Contentious Construction and the second being in Private Client. It is designed to give us a range of experience in a variety of tasks and insight into different practice areas in which we may specialise moving forward. 

What kind of tasks do you complete on a typical day?

In my current seat within the Private Client team, there is no such thing as a typical day. I perform a range of tasks on a daily basis which include, drafting Wills and Deeds, performing research into topics like Islamic inheritance law, football contracts and tax law as well as correspondence with clients and HMRC. 

What do you enjoy being a solicitor?

I enjoy being able to encounter a diverse range of clients, each with their own unique issues and cultural nuances that make each piece of advice radically different and at times, force me to be creative in the work that I do. 

What are the challenges?

The biggest challenge for me is maintaining a good line of communication with the various stakeholders you work with, especially clients and colleagues as well as keeping abreast of what is happening throughout all my matters so that I can be proactive. 

How do you strike a healthy work/life balance?

By ensuring that I maintain hobbies outside of work, especially something that focuses on my fitness. Also, taking the time to socialise with others, be it colleagues or friends, outside the confines of the office. 

What three qualities are important for a career in law?

Resilience, Diligence and Trustworthiness

Can you debunk a myth about working as a solicitor?

It is a myth that law firms are hierarchical. At least at my firm, I feel that I have access to all members of the team, especially those who are most senior, who usually have time to answer any questions and give me background into the matters that they require my support in. 

What are your views on diversity in the legal sector. How can it better reflect the society it serves?

As personal and business advisors, having diverse lawyers is important to be able to cater to a diverse client base with a variety of cultural considerations which may not be obvious to some. 

Tell us about an issue that is currently affecting the law sector/your firm.

As a trainee, one issue is balancing the use of AI to help us in our work versus learning the relevant skills ourselves to ensure that we can properly scrutinise the output produced by AI tools. 

What are your career ambitions?

To be a lawyer that is seen as top advisor in the Middle East, not only for clients who are from the region, but also for clients seeking to invest, do business or migrate to the Middle East.

What advice can you give to other aspiring solicitors?

Although you may have preconceptions and ideas about certain areas of law, you owe it to yourself to make the most of the opportunities you get to learn about and work in various practice areas so that you can make the most informed decision about your career trajectory.