A&O First intern Review
at A&O Shearman
Internship (1 Month+)
Legal/Law
London
Review Submitted: September 2021
Overall Rating
4.9 /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 Role
4.5/5
-
Skills Development
5/5
-
Support and Guidance
5/5
-
Company Culture
5/5
-
Overall Experience
5/5
-
Future Career Prospects
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.
Received presentations from representatives of different practice groups and teams within the Firm. Had the opportunity to ask questions and to meet with trainee buddies to get an insight into all aspects of Allen & Overy.
Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?
The scheme consisted mainly of presentations, meaning personal responsibility was not really demanded. However, a "bingo challenge" was set over the summer which required interns to take responsibility for carrying out a number of tasks in teams.
Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was
5/5
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?
Commercial awareness has improved through various presentations on subjects such as "How to do a deal in banking". Also learned a lot about important ESG initiatives and how the legal sector is adapting to achieve targets such as the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
5/5
How would you rate your development of industry-specific skills during the experience?
5/5
How would you rate your development of personal / soft skills during the experience?
3/5
Please rate how these skills have helped you in your career development
5/5
Support and Guidance
How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?
Interns are assigned a trainee buddy who acts as a key contact point with the Firm. My buddy always answered my emails and was more than happy to have a video call to chat about my questions. He also offered to point me in the direction of his colleagues who were able to help when he wasn't best placed to answer certain questions.
How would you rate the support and guidance from your line manager?
5/5
How would you rate the support and guidance from the wider team?
5/5
Company Culture
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
The Graduate Recruitment team organised some social events to help all the interns to get to know each other. The bingo challenge over the summer also encouraged us to work together and make great connections in the process. Every member of staff I spoke to was welcoming and keen to help. We were also made aware of the various D&I initiatives the Firm supports, encouraging an inclusive environment for all.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
5/5
How would you rate the social opportunities?
5/5
How would you rate the diversity initiatives?
5/5
How would you rate the charity, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives?
5/5
Overall Experience
To what extent did you enjoy your placement / internship?
I thouroughly enjoyed getting to learn about all aspects of the Firm, from its wider culture to the structure of individual practice groups. The buddy programme really helped to feel like I was a part of the Firm and everyone I spoke to was more than willing to help.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship
5/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
5/5
Future Career Prospects
Please rate the future employment prospects at A&O Shearman
5/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend A&O Shearman to a friend?
Yes
What advice would you give to others applying to A&O Shearman
Make sure to understand Allen & Overy as a Firm. Research its culture and ethos, as well as key sectors and clients. Keep up to date with developments in the news in these fields. General awareness of processes such as acquisitions and key commercial transactions is helpful. Don't be afraid to let your personality come across in interviews as the Graduate Recruitment team are interested in finding out who you are as a person.
