Winter Vacation Scheme Review

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

at A&O Shearman

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

Legal/Law

Spitalfields

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.

Lectures from professionals (usually 2-3 per day), as well as time with your trainer. Assigned to an individual department (they let you rank 4 overarching areas and then they assign you). Your trainer sets you tasks and gives you work to complete.

How would you rate the structure of the insight

5/5

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

It was great, very educational. Mix between structured time to understand the firm and personal time to meet with others and reach out to current employees to further understand the firm.

Please rate how insightful you found the insight

5/5

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

Yes, document drafting and close reading of law.

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, everyone was nice and always had time to spend on you.

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?

10/10.

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 and reimbursed expenses

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

Be yourself, do not try and be the person that you think the firm wants you to be. Also be confident and treat the scheme as a place to learn rather than a place to just try and get a return.