Vacation Scheme Participant Review
at A&O Shearman
Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
Legal/Law
London
Review Submitted: January 2022
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
5/5
-
Skills Development
4.8/5
-
Company Culture
4/5
-
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.
I attended an insight which involved plenty of activities, from case workshops to networking. This was an introduction to the firm and to the legal sector in general. The insight focused on giving us an understanding of the different practices the firm is involved across and what it specialises in, particularly commercial law. Those who networked well were also given an opportunity to interview for a trainee solicitor role, while those who missed out still got a good insight into the company.
What was it like understanding all about the business and potential roles available?
There were numerous presentations and networking events throughout the day and I was assigned a mentor who has since supported me in my application to the firm. I was also encouraged to ask any questions about the firm and the legal sector - which is always a welcome sign. I was also able to gain an insight into the non legal roles available at the company, including HR, finance and audit, which legal firms are increasingly involved in.
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?
Not too much academically as the theory of the law is very difference from its practice. However, from a professional viewpoint I have learnt some basic rules on how to conduct myself in the legal sector, and what steps I need to take to submit a successful application for a training contract. There were also networking skills that I developed which will serve me well both when applying for contracts and during my career in general.
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
4/5
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
Good but competitive - a lot of attendees gave me the impressive that they viewed others as competition. This created a hostile environment among some, although the majority were very friendly. The staff worked hard to create a positively-themed insight day despite the high numbers in attendance, and gave us plenty on support prior to the day itself. They emphasized the differences between themselves and other law firms, and the insight also included more information on the company than other insight days I have attended.
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?
It was good but not excellent - the insight scheme was designed to give us additional information on how to break into the legal sector. I enjoyed being advised on how to make my future applications stand out, but I got the impression that other people on the insight were overly competitive. The fact that there were so many of us however, diminished our individual significance as it was like being a small fish in a big pond.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on the insight
4/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
4/5
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
Try and read up on how Allen & Overy differentiates itself from other law firms. Read up on someof the cses they have won - particularly commercial cases, as this is what the company prides itself in. Try and secure connections with alumni at your university to name-drop them in application forms. Law firms can seem quite rigid and hierarchical at times, which is why it is important to show that you have made an effort to speak to people within the firm.
