Winter Vacation Scheme Student Review

Item: Winter Vacation Scheme Student at A&O Shearman
Rating: 5
Author: Anonymous

at A&O Shearman

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

Commercial Law

London

Review Submitted: December 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 - Overview of Experience

5/5 - Skills Development

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.

Most mornings of the scheme we had sessions/ workshops around different areas of the firm. These were hosted by the lawyers who work in those areas.
We were also sent daily tasks from the Markets Innovation Group that involved using the firms AI tools for a project. Additionally, my supervisors would send me some work to complete whilst I was at my desk.

How would you rate the structure of the insight

5/5

What was it like understanding all about the business and potential roles available?

The firm made it really easy to understand what the role of a trainee is. The workshops revolved around different practice areas within the firm so you had the opportunity to gain a real insight into each area.

Please rate how insightful you found the insight

5/5

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

One new skill I learnt was how to use legal AI tools. This was something I had never done before and was very insightful to understand how they were used by lawyers.

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

What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?

Very friendly culture. Everyone was very supportive and willing to give you their time to answer questions or have a chat. There was a genuine commitment to D&I - those from ethnic minority background were given an option to have an additional buddy who was from a similar background.

How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?

5/5

Please rate how valued you felt during your insight?

5/5

How would you rate business leader involvement during the insight

5/5

How would you rate the networking opportunities?

5/5

Overall Experience

To what extent did you enjoy the insight?

I really enjoyed the vacation scheme and it was quite fun.

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

Recommendations and Advice

Would you recommend A&O Shearman to a friend?

Yes

What tips or advice would you give to others applying to A&O Shearman

In terms of the application form, make you work experience section really detailed. Use it as an opportunity to demonstrate the skills you developed instead of just listing out what you did. Also demonstrate you’re a well rounded person i.e. show you’ve been involved in societies/ volunteering/ part time work etc.