Trainee Solicitor Review
at A&O Shearman
Graduate Job
Legal/Law
London
Review Submitted: November 2025
Overall Rating
3.7 /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
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Overview of the Role
3.2/5
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Experience & Company Culture
5/5
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Recommendations & Advice
Overview of the Role
Overall, how would you describe your experience at A&O Shearman?
It's a great firm that genuinely cares about it's employees. The role is intense and high pressure, but the people are generally great and we are well supported and have some great benefits.
What are the main responsibilities of the role and which elements of the role do you enjoy the most?
Assistance with managing various transactions, reviewing and drafting various different legal documents, managing discrete workstreams (i.e. ancillary documents, trackers etc), liaising with clients and colleagues etc.
To what extent does your role give you the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and feel valued by your team?
4/5
How does your compensation package - including perks & benefits - fairly remunerate you for the work you do?
3/5
How well do you feel the role is preparing you for your future career?
5/5
How would you rate the extent to which you were developing new or existing skills through formal training and your day-to-day role?
4/5
Experience & Company Culture
How is the support you receive?
3/5
I've had some excellent supervisors that took the time to explain the background/context of the matters I was working on, why I was doing certain tasks and how my task fit into the wider transaction (which was great for my development and helped me to understand the bigger picture) and some supervisors that weren't at that same level. Support from HR has always been consistently good. There are some great Buddy and mentoring schemes that have been beneficial and I've had the opportunity to be a buddy myself which has been very rewarding.
How is your work-life balance?
2/5
What is the organisational culture, values and general atmosphere like?
4/5
How would you rate A&O Shearman initiatives when it comes to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility?
3/5
How would you rate A&O Shearman CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives?
4/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend A&O Shearman to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The hours can be tough, but the firm's great culture, good training and interesting work make it worthwhile.
How well did the role match your expectations based on the recruitment process?
5/5
When considering the recruitment & onboarding process, have you any specific tips or advice you would give to others applying to A&O Shearman?
Read all the information published by the early careers team and also engage in the social media content (i.e. Instagram stories/posts/reels) as there are some helpful tips on the application process.
Winter Vacation Scheme Student
at A&O Shearman
- Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
- Liverpool St, London EC2M 7PY, UK
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5
