Winter Vacation Scheme Review
at A&O Shearman
Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
Commercial Law
London
Review Submitted: April 2024
Overall Rating
4.6 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4.5/5
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Overview of Experience
4.3/5
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Skills Development
4.8/5
-
Company Culture
5/5
-
Overall Experience
5/5
-
Recommendations and Advice
Overview of Experience
Please give an overview of the insight and what was involved on a day-to-day basis.
On a day-to-day basis, I would work on tasks given to me by my supervisor, a senior associate in corporate, before joining the rest of the cohort for a Q&A from 10-11am. I would then continue with my supervisor for the rest of the day, whilst organising coffees with others in the team, and preparing with a small team of other interns for our presentation at the end of the week, before a brilliant networking event in the evening.
What was it like understanding all about the business and potential roles available?
The presentations were brilliant for this. With so many teams within the corporate or finance departments themselves, the presentations by Associates on their departments and their structure gave an insight into the variety of specialisms within one law firm.
Please rate how insightful you found the insight
5/5
How would you rate the structure of the insight
4/5
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
Absolutely. Technically, I amended agreements for the first time with brilliant feedback from my supervisor, and improved my legal research skills. And professionally, the willingness of team members to share their insights improved my listening skills, whilst the group project tasked my creativity and collaboration skills, as well as my ability to compromise in team situations.
How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
5/5
How would you rate the knowledge learned around industry-specific skills during the experience?
4/5
How would you rate the knowledge learned around personal or professional skills during the experience?
4/5
Please rate how the knowledge learned has helped you with regards to your career development
4/5
Company Culture
How would you rate business leader involvement during the insight
4/5
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
For such a large firm, I was very impressed by how friendly and collegiate it felt.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
5/5
How would you rate the networking opportunities?
5/5
Please rate how valued you felt during your insight?
5/5
Overall Experience
To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
I really enjoyed it - though you want to impress by producing high quality work in a competitive environment, that did not detract from how well the cohort got on in any way - in fact the atmosphere created by the Graduate Recruitment team meant that we were able to make genuine friends by the end of the week, which cannot be said about other experiences I have heard about from other firms.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on the insight
5/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
5/5
Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?
I was paid
Recommendations and Advice
Please rate the future employment prospects at A&O Shearman
5/5
Would you recommend A&O Shearman to a friend?
Yes
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to A&O Shearman
At the assessment centre, I would recommend being adaptable and willing to explain your thought processes, because they are looking for potential rather than fully-formed commercial and technical prowess. Also, try and create a rapport with your interviewers in the short time that you have - the firm works on excellent team work and a healthy culture so sell yourself as a good team member.
