A&O Shearman - Winter Vacation Scheme

Programme overview

What you'll gain

On this programme, you’ll be able to gain real and valuable skills you will use and develop throughout your career, working with industry-defining clients and industry-leading colleagues. You’ll have a diverse range of events and presentations at your disposal that will show you what it takes to excel as a successful international commercial lawyer.

Work experience

As well as gaining insights into the work we do, there will be plenty of time to socialise with our early careers recruitment team, lawyers and partners as well as the other students on your scheme - broadening your knowledge of the firm, building your network and giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself into the culture that will define your experience with us should you join as a trainee.

The schemes we offer

For our Winter 2026 Vacation Scheme, you will need to be in your final year of study in any degree discipline. Please note, this will be for a spring intake start date. For our Summer 2027 Vacation Scheme, you need to be in your penultimate year in any degree discipline. Please note, this will be an autumn intake start date. These schemes will give you an insight into who we are, what we do and how we can support you, while giving you exposure to the work we do and a taster of the responsibility you can have as a trainee.

Growth and development

With us, you will constantly be learning and growing. We offer exceptional professional and personal development - providing training, mentoring and practical support. Our REACH buddy scheme is also run by A&O Shearman’s race and ethnicity network, and is open to everyone taking part in our vacation schemes.

All those successful in gaining a vacation scheme place will be paid GBP500 per week and will be considered for a training contract.

Application process

Online application

• You will be required to submit an online application which details your work and education history.

Assessment

• You will then be sent an email which will contain a link to complete our online experience, which includes situational judgement questions, verbal and numerical reasoning items and two short motivation questions to complete via video. The online experience is untimed and should take around 45 minutes.
• You will need to complete your application and online experience ahead of the deadline.
• You can read our preparation tips on Situational Judgement Tests or take a practice test.

Interviews

• If your application is successful, the next stage will be an assessment day comprising two one-on-one interviews.
• The first interview is based on a commercial case study, where you’ll have time to work through a brief and prepare a short presentation to deliver to your interviewer. This will be followed by a discussion on the key points from the case study.
• In the second interview, you will be asked a series of questions based on scenarios you may encounter as a trainee.

Offer

• After your interviews, we will review your performance and aim to get back to you with a decision as quickly as possible.
• Regardless of the outcome, we’re committed to providing constructive feedback on your interview performance to help you going forward in your career.