Job Description

Job description
A&O Shearman is a global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 28 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world's most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.
We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world's leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.
Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.
What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.
Application Process
You will be required to submit an online application which details your work and education history.
You will then be sent an email which will contain a link to complete an interactive assessment. The assessment will include verbal and numerical reasoning items and two short motivation questions to complete via video. The interactive assessment is untimed and should take around 45 minutes. The interactive assessment is designed to provide a realistic preview of what you may experience as a trainee at A&O Shearman as well as give us an insight into your motivations. All parts of the assessment must be completed and submitted by the deadline.
Please note that you can only make one application per recruitment cycle.
Overview
Your training will be based on four six-month rotations across a number of departments or practice areas. The two-year training contract will help you to discover the full range of work we do and the expertise we have in our teams. In each seat, you will sit with a partner or an associate who will supervise your professional and personal development. You can expect to take on real responsibility from day one and have the opportunity to apply for secondment in your final 6 months.
Benefits:
Gain hands-on experience in an industry-leading law firm
Course fees and maintenance grant
Dedicated HR support throughout law school and the training contract
Access to award winning training
Requirements:
Education - applicants should be graduates from any degree discipline. We look for excellence in academics and our minimum entry criteria is AAB (136 UCAS points) or equivalent at A-Level and on track for/achieved a 2:1 undergraduate degree. We also require 7 GCSEs at grade 6 or above (including Maths and English). Mitigating circumstances, which may have affected your grades will be considered.
We're able to welcome applications from Law Graduates eligible to start their SQE studies in Spring 2026 or Non-Law Graduates who have completed / completing their PGDL and will be eligible to start their SQE studies in Spring 2026.
Skills - We look for individuals with potential: open-mindedness, innovation, collaboration and critical thinking. These are the skills that will set your application apart and set you up for success in a high-performing, industry-leading firm like ours. More information on the attributes we look for can be found on our Law Career Guide.
Applications open on 29 September 2025 and close on 17 November 2025 (5pm GMT).
Please be advised that we do not recruit on a rolling basis. All applications will be reviewed after the deadline, and you should expect to hear from us after this. Our Assessment Days will take place the week commencing 8th December 2025.
Inclusion at A&O Shearman:
We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
Area of expertise
Human Resources
Office
London - Bishops Square
Working arrangement
Office based role

Skills Required