Learn more about A&O Shearman

About Us

Since the two legal powerhouses – Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling – joined forces in May 2024, A&O Shearman has proven to be an unparalleled combination: a new type of industry leader with truly global capabilities. With over 4000 lawyers, across 48 offices in 29 countries, here you’ll be able to work on the most interesting, high-profile legal work, helping the world’s leading businesses to grow, innovate, and thrive. In today’s ever-changing world, we continue to break new ground, working with companies, organisations and governments on the most complex legal issues and building strong and enduring client relationships.

We also know that to excel, we must nurture an environment where our people are truly supported and feel that they belong. Whatever defines you, we ask you to bring your whole self to work to grow our dynamic and inclusive culture. We have a powerful commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, which means you’re cared about for who you are, every bit as much as you’re valued for what you do. Together, we work as a team, listening and learning from one another to achieve results we could never achieve on our own.

We’re here to rewrite the rules of the legal industry – developing and delivering innovative solutions that push our clients and industry forwards. We’re proud to have the resources, the vision, and the mind-set to equip our people to operate in the legal landscape of the future. With us, you’ll be constantly learning and growing, benefitting from exceptional professional and personal development. For trainees, this means an in-house training programme characterised by flexibility and choice. In each of your seats, you’ll support a senior associate or partner with exposure to work that crosses departments and borders. A lot of the firm’s work involves two or more jurisdictions, and our trainees also have the chance to spend six months in one of our international offices, or on secondment to one of our clients.

This is a global career with unique opportunities that you won’t find anywhere else. We will help you develop into an exceptional lawyer and learn to perform at the highest possible standard – whether or not you have a degree in law. Challenge the status quo with us, and you’ll find a career where you can really excel. This is your chance to find your start and change things for the better.

Benefits

Working at A&O Shearman offers an exceptional range of benefits, including season ticket and cycle-to-work loans, a health and wellbeing centre including in-house GP, physiotherapist, and dental plan, an on-site fitness centre and sports hall plus in-house beauty and wellbeing therapies, as well as access to a wide range of discounted goods and services. In the UK, we currently provide access to support through our employee advice line and private medical insurance. And all trainees globally have free access to our health and wellbeing apps (Headspace, Help@hand and Unmind.)

Training contract

Our training contract is designed to help you evolve your skills, discover your strengths and bring out the best in yourself as you become a first-class lawyer. This is your chance to learn from exceptional professionals in a leading law firm, with the best support around you.

You’ll have two years of training, with four six-month seats, that immerse you in a variety of departments and practice areas. You’ll expand your knowledge of areas that interest you and explore areas that are new to you, as you discover more about the work we do.

In each seat, you’ll sit with a partner or associate who will supervise your development and show you how to excel in your role. You’ll be supported by our early careers HR team to determine which seat choices would be best suited to you and the firm. You will also explore the possibility of spending time on an international or client secondment.

Your training and development are important to us. Alongside your departmental work, you can attend client seminars, wider skills training and a range of talks on matters essential to A&O Shearman, including mental health and wellbeing. You will also have a wide support network of fellow trainees to swap learnings and share the experience with.

You’ll earn a salary of £56,000 pa in the first year, £61,000 pa in the second year and £150,000 pa as a newly qualified solicitor.

We welcome anyone to apply if they achieved AAB at A level (or equivalent) and are on track for/achieved a 2.1 undergraduate degree. We do consider mitigating circumstances, including those relating to a disability, which may have affected your grades and there is a space on the application form to include these.

Our application process begins with an online application, interactive assessment and video response to two short motivational questions. If your application is successful, the next stage is an assessment day, with two one-on-one interviews and one written assignment.

At A&O Shearman, we recruit the best and ask for the best of you. We’ll invest in you to excel in your legal career and you’ll be valued for who you are as much as for what you do. With us, you’ll enjoy challenge, support and opportunities you couldn’t find elsewhere.

Belong. Excel.

Eligibility

Students currently in penultimate or final year of study, and graduates across all degree disciplines.

Application window: 30 September 2024 – 18 November 2024. Applications closed.

Please note that you may only make one application for either a vacation scheme or a training contract per recruitment cycle.

Summer vacation scheme

Experience what it means to be empowered.

Our vacation schemes are a great way to experience our cutting-edge work and collaborative culture, as it can be difficult determining which firm will provide the right environment for you to succeed in.

From day one on this scheme, you’ll gain real and valuable skills you’ll use and develop throughout your career, working with industry-defining clients and industry-leading colleagues on live deals and cases.

You’ll be able to attend events and presentations where you’ll learn about key elements of our practice while developing the skills you need to perform at the highest level and become a successful international commercial lawyer. 

There will be time for you to engage with our early careers recruitment team, lawyers and partners as well as other participants on your scheme so you can broaden your knowledge of the firm and start building your network.

We offer the flexibility of two schemes across winter and summer, with students joining us in their penultimate or final year of undergraduate study or after they have already graduated. An opportunity across both schemes is participation in our REACH Buddy Scheme. This is a mentoring scheme that is run by A&O Shearman’s Race & Ethnicity network. It offers mentorship during the scheme and beyond and is focused on improving the experiences of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities within the firm. The scheme is also deeply committed to enabling social mobility regardless of racial or ethnic background to ensure every one of us excels to our full ability.

You’ll earn £500 per week, and financial assistance for travel and accommodation will be discussed, if required, when you receive an offer.

Our summer scheme will take place in our London office. If your hard work, passion and ability shines through, you‘ll be considered for a training contract at the end of your placement.

With high expectations and high performance, this is an environment where you can constantly learn and grow. We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. In return, you’ll enjoy challenge, support and a place where you can belong and excel. 

Belong. Excel.

Eligibility

Students currently in penultimate or final year of study, and graduates across all degree disciplines.

Application window: 9 September – 28 October 2024. Applications closed.

Please note that you may only make one application for either a vacation scheme or a training contract per recruitment cycle.

Solicitor Apprenticeships 2025

Welcome to the future of law.

At A&O Shearman we believe talented and ambitious people will always thrive with the right investment and support. With our solicitor apprenticeship programme, we are giving you the opportunity to gain the qualifications and experience to excel in a leading law firm, while earning a salary of £25,000 in the first year of your apprenticeship (increasing every year).

Programme overview

Over six years, you will immerse yourself in the world of law, with your time divided between working with A&O Shearman colleagues and focused study time. The programme is designed and balanced to provide everything you need for a successful career in law. 

Four days of each week will be spent working in practice groups on real projects, live deals, and interesting cases for clients. Throughout the programme you will move between teams and departments within the firm to gain valuable insight into all the services we provide. This will give you the perfect platform for you to gain an unmatched understanding of everything we do, learn, expand your knowledge and ability as a solicitor, and show what you’re capable of at the highest levels.

One day per week will be spent studying with our training provider, BPP University, where you will work towards an LLB (Hons) Law and Legal Practice and a Solicitor Level 7 Apprenticeship. We will cover your entire tuition fee and you will also earn a salary during your training.

Reasons to join

You will receive training not only from BPP University, but also first-class training from industry-leading experts across every sector at A&O Shearman.

By exploring many areas of our practice, you will discover brand-new career options and be able to tailor your path to achieve your ambitions, whatever they may be.

Every single colleague at A&O Shearman knows the value of support. It’s defined all their careers, and wherever you work with us, you’ll have it. It could be from your mentor who will guide you through every challenge, from the lawyers and support staff you work alongside, or from our dedicated HR team.

As well as financial rewards, working at A&O Shearman offers an exceptional range of benefits including insurance a pension scheme; an interest-free season ticket loan; access to wellbeing apps and more.

What we look for

This programme gives you the opportunities you need to expand your skills across multiple areas. And the great thing is, there’s not one single type of person who succeeds here. Whoever you are, this programme is a chance for you to start your journey early and develop your legal expertise, while earning your qualifications without the burden of tuition fees – opening the door to people from all academic and social backgrounds. 

We require you to be on track to achieving AAB at A level or equivalent and have seven GCSEs at grade six or above (including maths and English). We do look at every form received and take extenuating circumstances into account for grades that do not meet our requirements.

Application window: 2 December 2024 – 19 February 2025. Apply now

Belong. Excel.

Law Tech and Operations Graduate programme

Innovation is the lifeblood of legal technology.

Technology isn’t just changing how we practice law, it’s revolutionising it. At A&O Shearman, we’re driving that revolution. From artificial intelligence to data visualisation, project management tools to data-driven decision making, we are transforming the way we service our clients and help tackle their toughest challenges. We are one of the world’s most digitally-led law firms, with innovation driving both the services we offer and the ways in which we deliver them. And by streamlining traditional law practices, we’re making legal representation more accessible to everyone.

This is where our law tech and operations graduate programme comes in. This programme sits at the heart of our firm, acting as the engine behind our digital transformation and helping us to redefine technology across the legal field. Through this programme, we recruit high-calibre graduates and train them to help design, drive and deliver technology solutions and services across our firm.

When you join us, you’ll get to see the bigger picture behind tech and legal operational expertise, rotating through areas. This way, you won’t just be learning from a range of experts, you’ll be helping us to innovative our solutions and service delivery from every angle. You’ll be able to share your newfound expertise to help us excel as a business, and you excel as an individual.

Eligibility

A levels – minimum AAB. Degree subject – various but ideally STEM or economics.

Application window: 16 December 2024 – 3 February 2025. Apply now

Belong. Excel.

A&O Shearman First Year programme

Exceptional begins here.

If you think a career in commercial law could be for you and are keen to find out more, there’s no better place to learn about the legal world than our A&O Shearman First programme, in our transformational global firm.

A&O First is much more than just work experience. It’s a programme with various touch points over the year and gives you access to a global support network designed to give you all the information, contacts and experience you need to decide whether a legal career at A&O Shearman is right for you.

The programme is packed full of insights, experiences and exposure to the work we do through work-shadowing and networking. During the scheme, we will help you boost the skills we look for in future trainees, such as technology and commercial awareness. You will see first-hand what it’s like to be part of our supportive community and get a sense of what we could help you achieve when you join us.

As part of the scheme you will have:

Advice and guidance from our early careers recruitment team

A two-day insight scheme in April followed by a one-day assessment centre masterclass in September where we will immerse you in the firm and all our offerings

Ongoing support from a trainee buddy

Peer support – you will get to know students from other universities and degree disciplines also on the scheme

The opportunity to be fast-tracked to assessment centre  for either a vacation scheme or training contract

Eligibility

We’re able to welcome students in their first year of a three-year (or second year of a four-year) undergraduate degree from any degree discipline.

What we look for

We’ll be looking for your drive and commitment to thrive in a legal career, alongside curiosity to find out more about the firm, our culture, the clients we work with and the sectors we operate in. If you’re prepared to tackle every challenge that comes your way, we’ll provide you with all the legal knowledge you need to excel.

Our academic requirements are AAB (136 UCAS points) or equivalent at A level and on track for/achieved a 2.1 undergraduate degree. We do take into account mitigating circumstances, including those relating to a disability, which may have affected your grades either at school or university and there is a space on the application form to include these.

Application window: 6 January 2024 – 10 February 2024. Apply now

Belong. Excel.

Black Student Lawyer Programme

Our Black Student Lawyer Programme provides talented Black students with access to A&O Shearman, levelling the legal playing field, breaking down barriers and setting you up for success.

By focusing on employability, we strive to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in the legal industry. This one-week programme is designed to provide you with mentorship and work shadowing opportunities across our practice areas, so you can find out what it’s really like to work at A&O Shearman, to learn and develop at your highest level.

High performing candidates will be fast-tracked to a summer vacation scheme interview following the completion of the programme.

This is your opportunity to learn and grow. We offer exceptional professional and personal development – providing training, mentoring and practical support. You’ll also receive comprehensive support from the early careers recruitment team and will be mentored through our REACH Buddy scheme, which is operated by our race and ethnicity network. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to attend networking sessions with our affinity group, BLAG (Black Lawyers Affinity Group).

Elegibility

We’re able to welcome students in their first year of a three-year undergraduate degree (or second year of a four-year degree) across any discipline. You should have attained a minimum of AAB (or equivalent) at A level and be on track for a 2.1 or higher at university. We also require seven GCSEs at grade 6 or above (including maths and English).

What we look for

This programme gives you the opportunities you need to expand your skills and an insight into the culture of the firm. Whether you’re ambitious, curious, or open-minded; whoever you are, this programme is a chance for you to start your journey early and develop your legal expertise.

Application window: 6 January – 17 March 2025. Apply now

Belong. Excel.

Smart Start Programme

Our Black Student Lawyer Programme provides talented Black students with access to A&O Shearman, levelling the legal playing field, breaking down barriers and setting you up for success.

At A&O Shearman, we recognise that Black talent has been historically underrepresented in the legal sector, and we’re committed to altering this narrative. That’s why we created the Black Student Lawyer Programme. We’ll help you enhance your employability skills and legal knowledge during your week with us. 

Smart Start is a unique work experience scheme designed to provide students from lower socio-economic backgrounds everything they need to kickstart a career in legal or professional services.

Every year, we offer high-quality work experience and skills training for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, as part of our flagship social mobility programme, Smart Start. Since its launch in 2009, it has supported and inspired 1,900 students. 

Smart Start Week is held at the A&O Shearman London office in July and is open to Year 12 or equivalent students. Over the course of five days, you’ll take part in workshops and tackle challenges.

Alternatively, in year 12 you can join us through Smart Start Applications, the virtual work-related learning programme made up of eight live evening webinars, including sessions on university and apprenticeship applications and how to develop your employability skills.

Throughout this programme, we strive to support you with exceptional professional and personal development – providing training and practical experience, so you can learn and grow at your highest level. 

Programme overview

Our social mobility programme Smart Start is run in partnership with Causeway Education. 

There are two experiences for you to choose from:

Smart Start Week, our in-person work experience for year 12 students or equivalent; or Smart Applications, our online programme for year 12 or equivalent students.

What we look for

This programme gives you the opportunities you need to expand your skills and experience what life here is really like. It’s the chance for you to start your journey early and develop your legal expertise.

Eligibility

We’re able to welcome year 12 students for Smart Start Week and Smart Applications. You’ll need to:

Be in year 12

Have always attended a state-funded or non-fee paying school

Be a UK national or EU national with settled status in the UK by the time they apply for university.

You’ll also need to meet at least one of the following additional criteria:

Come from a household where no parent or guardian has attended university

Receive, or have previously received free school meals, Pupil Premium, Education Maintenance Allowance or a 16 to 19 Bursary Fund

Be or have been in local authority care

Be or have been a full-time or part-time young carer

Come to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker

Come from a household where a parent or carer has served in the regular armed forces

Be attending a school or college with:

below average A level or Scottish Highers points score, and/or

a low rate of progression to higher education.

Students who meet more than one additional criteria are more likely to receive a place on either programme.

What we look for

This programme gives you the opportunities you need to expand your skills and experience what life here is really like. It’s the chance for you to start your journey early and develop your legal expertise.

Application window: January/February 2025. Applications closed.

Belong. Excel.

Step into Law Scheme

Our Step into Law Scheme is an interactive, inclusive, and insightful series of workshops and group mentoring sessions.

At A&O Shearman we recognise that our social background frames our life experiences and that’s why we created our Step into Law Scheme. We wanted to enable year 13 students from less advantaged social backgrounds to explore routes into the legal sector. During the course of this programme, you will understand more about the legal sector, enhance your employability skills, identify your strengths and learn how to excel at applications, assessment centres and interviews. 

This programme is packed full of insights and experiences. Over the course of four sessions across two weeks in July and August, you’ll become part of a small working group with a dedicated mentor from A&O Shearman. The first three sessions will take place online and the final session will take place in person in the A&O Shearman London office. You’ll have opportunities to network and ask questions in an informal and relaxed setting, too. You’ll see first-hand what it’s like to be part of our supportive community, get a sense of what is expected from everybody here, and what we can help you achieve when you join us.

This is your opportunity to learn and grow. We offer exceptional professional and personal development – providing training, mentoring and practical support. You’ll have a mentor and other dedicated points of contact during the Step into Law Scheme, to ensure that you receive the best pastoral care possible. You will also have the opportunity to share learnings and network with firm employees and fellow partcipants.

Post-programme, all Step Into Law participants benefit from upReach support, facilitated through A&O Shearman’s partnership with upReach. This includes a tailored programme of career and employability support for three years, with acceptance subject to upReach’s eligibility criteria.

Elegibility

You’ll need minimum predicted grades of AAB at A level or equivalent.

You’ll need to:

Have always attended a state-funded or non-fee-paying school

Come from a household where no parent or guardian has a qualification from a UK university

Be a UK national or EU national with settled status in the UK by the time you apply for university

You must also meet one of the following criteria:

Receive, or have previously received free school meals, Education Maintenance Allowance or a 16 to 19 Bursary Fund

Have parent(s)/guardian(s) who receive income support or housing benefits

Be or have been in local authority care (for at least three months)

Be or have been a full-time or part-time young carer

Come to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker

What we look for

This programme gives you the opportunities you need to expand your skills and an insight into the culture of the firm. Whether you’re ambitious, curious, or open-minded; whoever you are, this programme is a chance for you to start your journey early and develop your legal expertise.

Application window: 6 January 2025 – 28 February 2025. Apply now

Belong. Excel.

Solicitor Apprenticeships 2025

Our solicitor apprenticeships are designed to give school leavers the opportunity to become first-class lawyers without needing a degree.

This six-year programme offers the chance to gain the qualifications and experience you need to excel in a leading law firm.

Your time will be divided between working and studying. For four days a week, you’ll work in practice groups on real projects, live deals and challenging client cases. One day a week, you’ll spend time studying with BPP University, where you’ll be working towards an LLB (Hons) Law and Legal Practice and a Solicitor Level 7 Apprenticeship.

During the first four years of your apprenticeship, you’ll learn about the English legal system and different types of Law. You’ll have coaching and skills development training at BPP University and gain skills in a wide range of areas. In every year of your apprenticeship, you’ll have dedicated mentors and other professionals supporting you.

Alongside studying, you’ll be immersed in one of A&O Shearman’s legal departments, including banking, corporate, international capital markets and litigation. Your last two years of study will focus on SQE preparation and your exams. You’ll also have the chance to take on a secondment either to clients or within other A&O Shearman offices.

With our solicitor apprenticeship you can advance your technical knowledge and develop critical experience of the legal world; while growing the soft skills that will help you become a first-class lawyer. With exposure to departments across our firm, you’ll build a valuable network of colleagues who can support you in your future career.

You’ll earn a salary of £28,000 in the first year (increasing every year), with the addition of a £3000 sign-on bonus.

We welcome anyone to apply if they are on track to achieving AAB at A level (or equivalent) and seven GCSEs at grade 6 or above (including maths and English). If you’re ambitious, curious, resilient or passionate, these attributes can also benefit you. We look at every form received and take extenuating circumstances into account for grades that do not meet our requirements.

Our application process begins with an online application, interactive assessment and video response to a motivational question. If your application is successful, the next stage is an assessment day, with two one-on-one interviews.

At A&O Shearman, we recruit the best and ask for the best of you. We’ll invest in you to excel in your legal career and you’ll be valued for who you are as much as for what you do. With us, you’ll enjoy challenge, support and opportunities you couldn’t find elsewhere.

Belong. Excel.

To find out more, click here

Eligibility

Anyone with a minimum of AAB (or equivalent) at A level and seven GCSEs at grade 6 or above (including maths and English).

Application window: 2 December 2024 – 19 February 2025.

Learn more about diversity and inclusion at A&O Shearman.

Belong to a collective. Excel as an individual.

We know that when diverse organisations bring people and perspectives together, our solutions are stronger and more sustainable. But that doesn’t happen by accident. Equity and diversity require a truly inclusive environment. That’s why fostering a culture where our people are accepted for who they are and feel able to truly reach their full potential has been a priority for us for many years.

Being part of A&O Shearman means being committed to cultivating a diverse, inclusive culture for each other. We’re proud of our achievements for creating a work environment where our people feel that they can bring their authentic selves to work. This is a global priority for the firm, and critical to why everyone can truly belong and excel.

At A&O Shearman we go beyond hoping for a better future. We know that hope is not a plan. We actively foster an inclusive environment where people can be their true and authentic selves at work. We know that by listening, and encouraging challenge, that genuine inclusivity can be achieved and not just aspired to.

When you accept our offer of a training contract, we will provide financial support for your law school studies. For more information, click here.

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