Graduate Programmes
A&O Shearman Consulting Graduate Programme
This programme is an exciting new global practice of A&O Shearman, specialising in regulatory and strategic consulting. You'll become a trusted advisor, help shape our consulting business, and develop your own consulting skills.
A&O Shearman Consulting Graduate Programme
Create solutions to drive evolution
What you’ll gain
As an analyst, you’ll join a talented team, advising on business decisions for some of the most exciting and innovative firms in the market. You’ll help them become more resilient, equipping them to face the challenges of today and thrive in an evolving business landscape, while earning a salary of £37,500 in the first year of the programme (increasing in the second year).
Work experience
Over the course of the two-year programme, you’ll be able to work with clients of all sectors and sizes, from agile start-ups to global firms, providing them with innovative, practical, and sustainable solutions. From day one, you’ll help shape our business, while developing your own consulting skills.
Growth and development
We offer exceptional professional and personal development – providing training, mentoring and practical support. In both years of the programme, you’ll have mentors and other dedicated points of contact to ensure that you receive the best pastoral care possible. With us, you will constantly be learning and growing.
Academic Qualifications
We’re able to welcome final- or penultimate-year students or graduates from all universities with any degree.
Personal Skills
Problem-Solving, Collaboration, Passion, Drive
Salary
Year one: £37,000 pa
Year two: £43,000 pa
Helpful Resources
What is commercial awareness?
Applications Dos and Don’ts
Situational Judgement Test: What is it and how to prepare for it
Programme Overview
Quite simply, you will learn how to become a consultant that businesses rely on by solving real, complex problems every day on a mix of client work and business strategy.
From day one, you will have the opportunity to help shape and grow our consulting business and to develop your own consulting skills. You will work on a number of projects at any given time and work directly with senior colleagues who will help you define your growth and career. Our graduates are an integral part of our team and you can expect a high level of responsibility and exposure right from the start.
Salary
£37,500 in the first year
£43,000 in the second year
Your pathway to success
If you have an inquisitive mind and find the prospect of working for a growing business, with the energy of a start-up and the backing of a prestigious law firm exciting, then starting your career in A&O Shearman Consulting could be your pathway to success. Investing in talent is a huge priority for us and we will make sure you have the resources and support you need to reach your true potential and make a real difference.
TRAINING
Your development and growth is central to our success. In addition to invaluable on-the-job learning during the programme, which will include working alongside and receiving mentoring from senior subject matter experts, we also provide a range of structured training and development opportunities to give you the right support to develop into a successful consultant.
As an A&O Shearman Consulting graduate you will have the option to undertake an industry recognised training and certification. Certification expenses will be covered by the firm and graduates will also be entitled to up to 10 days of paid study leave to support them in their training and development. Options include, but are not limited to, the CFA Investment Management Certificate, as well as CISI courses in Risk in Financial Services or Global Financial Compliance. On completion of the industry training or certification, graduates are also entitled to six weeks unpaid qualification leave at the end of the programme.
In addition, we deliver in-house training covering key aspects, including technical training on our areas of subject matter expertise – such as governance, corporate purpose and culture, regulatory strategy and risk management – as well as broader professional and business skills training. This helps you develop and embed these into your repertoire at an early stage of your career.
PROGRESSION
This could just be the start. During your two years with us, you’ll work directly with senior management both within the consulting team and at some of the most important companies in the world. The variety you’ll find here is unparalleled. From start-ups to global financial services companies, you’ll work on a combination of client delivery and strategic pieces that cover the most crucial challenges across multiple industries.
After two years, you’ll have experience and expertise across our core pillars; governance, corporate purpose and culture, regulatory strategy and risk management. That will give you a truly rounded set of consulting skills that offer a foundation to excel at every stage of your career.
When you finish the programme, our expectation would be that you would apply for a consultant role within our team.
What we look for
Academic qualifications
Our academic requirements are AAB (136 UCAS points) or equivalent at A-Level and on track for/achieved a 2:1 undergraduate degree. We do take into account mitigating circumstances, including those relating to a disability, which may have affected your grades either at school or university and there is a space on the application form to include these.
Skills to succeed
Below are the essential skills needed to thrive on this programme. From making meaningful contributions to our team and clients, to facing legal challenges, these skills will help you excel with us.
Problem-Solving
You have an ability to break down a problem and push yourself to find the perfect solution no matter the environment.
Collaboration
You enjoy working in a team to complete a task or achieve a shared goal.
Passion
We welcome applications from all graduates who are passionate about commercial law and innovation, regardless of the university they attended and the degree they earned
Drive
You’re prepared to tackle every challenge and overcome obstacles to achieve your goals.
Application Process
The application process is designed to give you a platform to show us what you’re capable of and to set you up for success at A&O Shearman.
1. Online Application
You should already be seeing this as an opportunity to stand out. We are interested in your journey to date and, in particular, why this role appeals to you. In this stage, you will answer one short essay question.
2. First-stage Interview
If your online application is successful you will be invited to a first-stage virtual interview. Before the interview, you will be sent a topic and asked to prepare a short ten-minute presentation. In the first part of the interview, our assessors will explore this topic with you and your understanding of it. In the second part of the interview, you will be asked various realistic scenario questions designed to cover the type of interactions you may encounter on the graduate programme.
3. Final-stage Interview
If you pass our first-stage interview, you will be invited to a final-stage virtual interview. On the day of the interview, you will be sent a small amount of information and be asked to return a written summary of it within a set time period. In the first part of the interview, our assessors will explore this topic with you. In the second part, our assessors will ask you for more details on your motivations for the role.
There are a number of websites purporting to provide free samples of A&O Shearman application forms and assessment questions, including our Situational Judgement Test. A&O Shearman takes cases of plagiarism and copyright extremely seriously. We strongly caution applicants against using, or paying for, unofficial sources claiming to provide information on the A&O Shearman application process. We encourage every potential candidate to review our website for details of our application process and a sample SJT.
If you have any further questions on the A&O Shearman application process, or if you wish to discuss or report such a website, please contact us at earlycareersuk@aoshearman.com. Please note, all applications will close at 5pm on the closing date.
Life Experience
At A&O Shearman, we value real life experiences just as much as work experience. It’s not something to shy away from on your application. It makes you who you are. Here’s how some of our people have brought their life experiences to a career at A&O.
These videos, originally produced under the A&O legacy, authentically showcase the experiences and opportunities synonymous with A&O Shearman.
Aastha
Aastha has supported to develop and nurture her passion for art at A&O Shearman. She believes being creative has helped her become a better lawyer.
Alexander
Growing up in a close-knit working-class area of London was a unique experience for Alexander. At 15, when developers threatened the area, his research saved the local community. That, in turn, meant he went on to study law.
Betty
A road traffic accident at a young age left Betty with a muscle condition and chronic pain. It’s made her who she is, and she brings that resilience to work every day.
Culture
Working here
We’re a firm investing in our people to excel in their legal careers while building a culture that harnesses our differences. Where you’re valued for who you are, as much as you’re valued for what you do.
We recruit the best and ask for the best of you, but that doesn’t come without support, mentorship, rewards and opportunities you couldn't find anywhere else.
If you’re looking for a first-class legal career, join us. And together we can excel.
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