First Year Insight Scheme Review
at A&O Shearman
Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
Corporate Law, Commercial Law
London
Review Submitted: May 2025
Overall Rating
5 /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
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Overview of Experience
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
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Company Culture
5/5
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Overall Experience
5/5
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Recommendations and Advice
Overview of Experience
Please give an overview of the insight and what was involved on a day-to-day basis.
We had a lovely welcome and then proceeded upstairs. We talked with fellow attendees and the Early Careers Team. After breakfast, we all went to our allocated seats and proceeded to the initial sessions. These included the anatomy of deals, what it is like to be a trainee at A&O Shearman as well as their pro bono work and every other important aspect of the firm including their own AI platforms. Towards the end of the first day there was a fantastic social too. Overall, it was an incredibly insightful experience.
What was it like understanding all about the business and potential roles available?
I would say that you certainly understand a lot more about the firm. You understand their main differentiating points, their increasing focus on AI for example. As for roles, I would say that it is quite straightforward. There is a pretty linear path in the corporate law industry but it was definitely interesting to find out about the different departments you can specialise in, secondment opportunities and the different ways in which the firm operates and acts to maximise values for its clients.
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?
I would day that you develop all of your existing skills to an extent. In order to be admitted onto the programme you must be able to demonstrate a degree of commercial awareness. However, there was an admittedly large discrepancy between the levels of commercial awareness of a trainee and a first-year. I certainly believe that the main skill I developed was my commercial awareness and ability to analyse and approach the news through a much better framework.
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?
5/5
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?
Everyone is incredibly friendly and helpful. I have had a lot of experience at A&O Shearman, having taken part in their Smart Applications and Accelerate programmes. Even post-merger, the friendly culture of the firm really has not changed. I would say that the firm definitely feels a lot larger than before, but it never feels like you’re a cog in a machine. There is a lot of cooperation between the team and trainees which has really impressed me about A&O Shearman.
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 walked away feeling like I understand corporate law to a much better extent. I now understand how deals work, what the responsibilities of solicitors are, what their expectations are and how they conduct themselves. Furthermore, you are also fast-tracked to an assessment centre for a vacation scheme which certainly eases the pressure of picking it up from scratch in Year 2. Overall, it has been a fantastic experience that was really insightful into corporate law and their modus operandi.
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 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
The most useful tip is to utilise their assessment framework. A&O Shearman published their frameworks on their websites and the key skills that they are looking out for in a trainee solicitor. I would recommend that you read it in great detail and think about situations where you have demonstrated these skills too. They do not have to be law related, so do not worry! Lastly, it is also never too late to apply. I applied two days before the deadline and I still got in so do not be disheartened by the approaching deadline.
