A&O Shearman Solicitor Apprenticeships

Programme Overview

Over six years, you will immerse yourself in the world of law, with your time divided between working with A&O Shearman colleagues and focused study time. The programme is designed and balanced to provide everything you need for a successful career in law. 

Four days of each week will be spent working in practice groups on real projects, live deals, and interesting cases for clients. Throughout the programme you will move between teams and departments within the firm to gain valuable insight into all the services we provide. This will give you the perfect platform for you to gain an unmatched understanding of everything we do, learn, expand your knowledge and ability as a solicitor, and show what you’re capable of at the highest levels.

One day per week will be spent studying with our training provider, BPP University, where you will work towards an LLB (Hons) Law and Legal Practice and a Solicitor Level 7 Apprenticeship. We will cover your entire tuition fee and you will also earn a salary during your training. 

STUDYING

Years 1 to 4

• In years 1 to 4 apprentices study one day a week at BPP University learning about the English Legal System; Client Care; Contract Law; Legal Research; Tod Law; Land Law; one of Dispute Resolutbn, Property Practice or Commercial Practice; Public Law; Criminal Law; Company Law; Trusts Law; Wills and Administration of Estates. 
• Apprentices also have coaching and skills development training at BPP University, including Client Care; Legal Research; Professional Conduct and a Professional Practice Skills module at each stage of the programme; Working with People and Processes; Ethics and Professionalism; Research and Analysis; and Advocacy and negotiation. 
• In every year of the solicitor apprenticeship you have mentors and other dedicated points of contact to ensure that you receive the best pastoral care possible.

Years 5 and 6

• Years 5 and 6 at BPP University focus on SQE preparation and examinations. Most of the portfolio development takes place in Years 1 to 4, so that apprentices can focus on the SQE in years 5 and 6. The professional portfolio is signed-off in Year 6. 
• Your dedicated points of contact at BPP University will continue to support you.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Years 1 to 4

• In the first four years on your apprenticeship you will be a member of one of Allen & Overy's legal Departments, moving once a year. This means you will get to experience time in our Banking, Corporate, International Capital Markets and Litigation Departments. During each year you will work for different members of that Department to gain a wide variety of experience but with the security of a training principal to guide you. You will also spend time working with the Advanced Delivery & Solutions teams. Depending on which Department you are working in, this could be time in the Allen & Overy tech innovation hub. Fuse, or the Markets Innovation Group, Legal Tech, eDiscovery or Project Management teams. 

Years 5 and 6

• In years 5 and 6 of the apprenticeship, you will experience similar seat rotations as the graduate trainee population. We also aim to provide secondment opportunities (either to clients or other A&O offices) for our apprentices during the solicitor apprenticeship programme. 

Working here

Rotating through our practice groups, you will discover the full breadth of our offering to clients, and learn how we are constantly innovating and evolving our approach to law. A key benefit of developing this way is that you will simultaneously be advancing your technical knowledge, developing critical experience of the legal world, but also gaining the soft skills and attributes that will serve you well throughout your career in law. You will have the opportunity to discover, first-hand the challenges you will face as a lawyer, while also having the resources and support to overcome them as they arise.

Another great benefit is the ability to immerse yourself in our culture while you study and grow. We are committed to providing a culture that drives inclusion. Every day, we are working hard to create an environment where everyone feels that they can bring their authentic selves to work. To be comfortable and confident to be who they are in the workplace. To feel like they belong. To be All In. As you work with different teams across our practice groups, you will build a valuable and reliable network of talented colleagues who will always make you feel welcome and supported

Application Process

1. Online application
   You will be required to submit an online application which details your education history and any work experience you may have undertaken. This does not need to be legal experience. There will also be one short question to complete, where we will be looking at your motivations for joining our solicitor apprenticeship programme.
   You will then be prompted to complete an online immersive assessment which will test your adaptability, digital intelligence, applied intellect and creativity.  The assessment should only take 30 minutes to complete and there will be practice questions available.  You will be given 48 hours in which to complete the test. We therefore advise you submit your online application at least 48 hours prior to the deadline to give you time to complete both the online application and online assessment in time. 
2. Insight day
   If you are successful, you will pass through to the next stage which will be an Insight day.  This is an opportunity for you to experience the type of work you will be exposed to as a solicitor apprentice, in addition to this you will meet a range of people from the business and have first-hand experience of Allen & Overy’s culture.  
3. Interviews
   Following on from the Insight day, we will be inviting candidates to attend our assessment day, which will comprise of two one-on-one interviews.
   The first interview will be case study.  You will be asked to review some documents. This will be followed by a discussion on the key points from the case study. Ahead of the assessment day, we will be sending out a briefing video to help you prepare for the day.
   In the second interview you will be asked a series of questions based on scenarios you may encounter as an apprentice.
   We are assessing your potential on the day and don’t expect you know all of the answers. Our assessors will explore the topics with you and will guide you through the two assessments. 
4. Offer
   After your interview, we will review your performance across both interviews and aim to get back to you with a decision as quickly as possible.
   Regardless of the outcome, we are committed to providing constructive feedback on your interview performance.

A&O Shearman

Since the two legal powerhouses – Allen & Overy, and Shearman & Sterling – joined forces in May 2024, A&O Shearman has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, a new type of industry leader with truly global capabilities. And as our clients navigate an increasingly complex world, we continue to rise and meet that challenge.

With offices in a vast range of global locations, here, you’ll be able to work on the most complex, high-profile, interesting legal work for the world’s biggest businesses. We are the only firm with this strength and depth, giving you the perfect platform to learn, develop your skills and show what you’re capable of at the highest levels.

As your career develops with us, you’ll benefit from being part of our global community of world-class lawyers – with a shared culture that will support you to be your best and thrive wherever your career takes you.

This firm is built for the future of law, and for your future too.