A&O First Participant Review

I found A&O First incredibly enjoyable. The preparation that went into organising the interesting and informative talks and sessions really made the scheme a really engaging and fun experience. The use of group activities also removed the awkwardness of meeting new people, and by the end, there was a really fluid and pleasant atmosphere, which really bolstered the enjoyment I was able to have.

The A&O Graduate Recruitment team supported me prior to applying, throughout the application, during the scheme itself, and in the aftermath. Any questions I had were answered in a friendly and informative way, and I felt that the team were really investing into me as a person, which made me feel really valued as an individual. My trainee buddy also gave me work which really made me feel as if I was helping her with her workload, which was seen by her to be a good asset.

As mentioned, any question I had was answered quickly and fully. During the office visits themselves, the workshops on public speaking and the application process has made me feel much more at ease as to the process I am involved with, giving me greater self- confidence that I can achieve my goals!

Having just been given my material for the new academic year, there are growing opportunities for public speaking, so the presentation on that at A&O will give me great confidence in providing good talks to by colleagues on the topics in question. The emphasis on Commercial Awareness will also allow me to become more aware of the current issues when organising the newly created Commercial Awareness Society I have helped launch.

Prior to arrival, we always new what events we would be involved in, and this gave us the opportunity to plan and think of good questions relating to the events which would, in turn, maximise what we could get out of them. Everything ran as expected, and I didn't feel leaving that there was a section I felt I wasn't able to get the most out of.

With the use of social media, the participants were able to keep in touch with each other, as I have, and this meant we all were able to get along really well. Equally, the GR team were always really friendly and laid back, making them fully approachable at any time. I haven't even mentioned the really positive atmosphere generated from the table-tennis social event, which early on helped to promote a really friendly atmosphere.

The A&O team were terrific in preparing us for the process later, investing great time and effort into allowing us to ask questions and be sure as to what we would need to demonstrate to hopefully be a successful member of the A&O team in a few years!

The two afternoon sessions with our trainee buddies really allowed us to get a taste of the typical afternoon of a trainee at A&O. If I was to make one other comment, perhaps an entire day or so committed to working alongside our buddies may give a more applicable and useful flavour of a trainee's day.

From the booklets, to the speakers, there was always a visible culture of ambition, togetherness and drive to delver the best quality of work for both employees and for clients. These elements together are, in my option, not matched in every section at any other firm I have witnessed up to now.

The content of the days reaffirmed my desire to drive for a career in commercial law, and aspire to become a member of the A&O team in the upcoming years!

For a three day scheme, reimbursing expenses seemed perfectly reasonable, given the length of the scheme.

Throughout! At any time, wither trainee's, Graduate Recruitment, or associates were at hand to ask questions and get a flavour of their experiences of the firm.

Excellent! From the get go, we were able to engage in social activities with other members of the scheme, as well as our trainee's and other associates and partners in the afternoon sessions.

Yes, we were given a good flavour of the availabilities of employees to get involved with Pro-Bono work and upholding CSR, no more evident than in the work of A&O employees to Warchild, and now Hope and Homes for Children.

Absolutely! I have already mentioned this to a number of my friends doing Law, attracting them to the firm. Equally, my non-law friends, thinking of a career in law, have really been convinced as to making that move based on the experiences I have told them I had of a global firm like A&O.