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A&O Shearman

Vacation scheme student Review

at A&O Shearman

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

Legal/Law

London

Review Submitted: April 2024

Overall Rating

4.8 /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!

5/5 - Overview of Experience
4.8/5 - Skills Development
4.5/5 - 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.
During my vacation scheme, each day was different, but I primarily focused on tasks assigned by my supervisor. These included researching recent legal updates and preparing PowerPoint presentations for upcoming workshops. I also had the opportunity to participate in client meetings, where I was responsible for note-taking. Alongside my assigned tasks, I engaged in coffee chats with various members of the firm to learn about their areas of expertise. My evenings were often dedicated to collaborating on group projects with other students or attending social events organized by the recruitment team
What was it like understanding all about the business and potential roles available?
I gained substantial exposure to the various departments within the firm through engaging directly with team members and attending informative workshops that covered specialties like capital markets and finance. I also had the valuable opportunity to interact with Legal Tech graduates who joined the firm via non-traditional routes. For future experiences, I would appreciate a deeper understanding of career progression within the business to better envision potential career paths and advancement opportunities in the legal field.
Please rate how insightful you found the insight
5/5
How would you rate the structure of the insight
5/5

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
Coming from a non-law background, I definitely gained substantial knowledge during my vacation scheme. The most significant skill I developed was time management. Balancing the workload from my supervisor, alongside scheduled coffee chats and attending educational workshops specifically designed for vacation scheme students, required careful planning and prioritization. This experience not only enhanced my understanding of legal practices but also improved my ability to handle multiple responsibilities efficiently. These skills have become invaluable as I continue to navigate both academic and professional environments.
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?
5/5
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
5/5

Company Culture

How would you rate business leader involvement during the insight
5/5
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
The company culture and general atmosphere at the firm were incredibly welcoming and open. Initially, I was a bit apprehensive, but every person I interacted with, especially the team in the arbitration department, was extremely supportive and eager to help me learn. It was particularly impressive to see a senior partner come down to engage with our cohort, showing genuine approachability and interest in our development. This experience truly made me feel like part of a close-knit community.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
4/5
How would you rate the networking opportunities?
4/5
Please rate how valued you felt during your insight?
5/5

Overall Experience

To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
This insight program was one of the best I've attended for several reasons. The work assigned to me was both academically and intellectually challenging, which I found very fulfilling. The flexibility to schedule chats and return to my work later added to my comfort and ease. The workshops were not only interesting but genuinely useful, as evidenced by my notebook being filled with notes! Additionally, the recruitment team did an outstanding job organizing social events. Overall, this experience made me truly feel like a trainee solicitor.
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 and reimbursed expenses

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
Definitely go for it and don’t hesitate! Make sure you prepare well for the assessment center. I did this by practicing competency questions, which helped organize my thoughts before the actual interview. Enhancing your commercial awareness is crucial, especially for the case study. I stayed updated with the news and read books by Chris Stoakes, which were very helpful. Also, consider checking out online practice case studies. I would strongly advise preparing ahead of time, as tackling all of this at once can be overwhelming.
In This Review
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