What does a lawyer do?

We know that it can be surprisingly hard to understand what you'll actually do if you become a lawyer.

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Lights, Camera, Hired: Mastering the Video Interview

Our video interview questions are designed to give candidates an opportunity to showcase their potential beyond what can be captured on paper. Here are our top tips for success.

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Bertrand Nzabandora

After three years in A&O Shearman’s London office, Bertrand Nzabandora moved to the firm’s San Francisco office. As an associate in the corporate team, find out about Bertrand’s expertise, what makes the magic circle firm a great place to work and more in this Meet the Lawyer profile.

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Resources to help aspiring lawyers hit the ground running

There are a lot of resources out there for aspiring lawyers including our other blogs. These can really help you build up your knowledge, put yourself in the best position to ace applications or hit the ground running as a trainee. We’ve collated a few of the resources we frequently recommend when asked by candidates how they can start learning more about the world of law.

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Matt Maciejewski

Matt Maciejewski, an associate in A&O Shearman’s private equity and M&A team, speaks about the important role non-legal work experience had on his legal career, the work/life balance at the leading London law firm and how to find out if a legal career is the right choice for you.

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A Parent’s Guide to Solicitor Apprenticeships

Whether you’re new to apprenticeships or simply curious about what it could mean for your child’s future, this guide contains everything you need to know as a parent or guardian.

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Built to Bounce Back: The Power of Resilience

Resilience is vital for success in any workplace. It helps you to adapt, overcome any challenges and keep moving forward. And it’s a skill you’ve probably already been working on throughout your life so far. But what does it mean in the context of being a trainee at A&O Shearman and how can you prepare?

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Isabella Lewis

I made the decision to become a solicitor while I was at university and spending a lot of time studying alone. It made me realise that I really wanted a team environment and I felt that becoming a solicitor would be the best way for me to achieve this. Of course, barristers can work as part of a team too, but I’ve found working at A&O Shearman gives me the collaborative environment that I was looking for.

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Making law accessible to all

Find out more about our partnership with Aspiring Solicitors and how we’re breaking down barriers to the legal profession.

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How to use AI responsibly in the application process

Explore A&O Shearman's cutting-edge use of AI in the legal profession and its implications for recruitment strategies.

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Solicitor Apprenticeships: An alternative path into law

Find out how you can take the apprenticeship route into a legal career from one of our first year Solicitor Apprentices.

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What is Commercial Awareness?

Commercial awareness is important to becoming a successful lawyer. Here are some tips on how you can build yours.

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Setting yourself up for success

Whether you’re applying to A&O Shearman or another law firm, there are many things you can do during summer months to set yourself up for success.

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Application Dos and Don’ts

Whatever programme you’re applying for, we want to help you understand what’s best to put in your application, so you can move closer to your dream law career.

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The Assessment Framework

Our Assessment Framework details the set of attributes and skills we look for in our candidates, read more to see how this can help you with applying.

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Situational Judgement Test: What is it and how to prepare for it

The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is used to see whether you’d be a good fit for the firm you’re applying to. Here are some preparation tips.

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First-round motivational interviews: how to prepare

We know first-round interviews can feel intimidating, so here’s some advice on how give confident answers and ask the right questions.

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Assessment days: What to expect and how to prepare for them

Every firm runs assessment days a little differently, but here’s our breakdown of how we do them at A&O Shearman.

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Your pre-interview routine

Interviews can be nerve-wracking, but we’re here to help you prepare ahead of time to make sure it goes smoothly.

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What to do if you are unsuccessful?

Sometimes, results may not be what you were hoping for, but that doesn’t mean you should stop trying. Here’s some advice on how to pick yourself back up.

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