Spring Program Attendee Review

by A&O Shearman

Best Student Employer

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

4.3/5
  • About You
    4.3
  • The Company
    4.3
  • Everything Else
    4.4

    About You

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
  • I enjoyed the A&O First program greatly. It was an excellent opportunity to see the firm, talk to lawyers, and find out more about the world of commercial law. There were a diverse and meaningful range of activities throughout the program to keep me engaged. Those activities also helped me develop skills like teamwork and resilience.

    5/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued during your time at the company or firm?
  • I felt the strong collegiate environment at Allen & Overy. Everyone I spoke to was friendly and ready to share their perspectives on working at the firm. I was assigned a buddy trainee, and I shadowed him for half a day. He went the extra mile to show me the work he does and involve me in trainings he was attending.

    4/5

  • 3. How much guidance/support did you receive during the insight?
  • There was a structured program of events that provided me with a holistic view of the firm and commercial law. As someone new to commercial law, I appreciated the high level of guidance and support provided. The activities also provided me with a taste of commercial law, and helped me understand what I needed to do to better prepare for a career in commercial law.

    4/5

  • 4. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and information you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • There were workshops on teamwork and resilience building. Those have proved useful in student life. Additionally, this program helped me understand what key skills are required of commercial lawyers - commercial awareness, attention to detail, and an ability to learn quickly. This has helped me understand what I should do at university to prepare myself for a career in commercial law.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 5. How well structured was the insight?
  • The insight was extremely well structured. There was a seamless sequence of events that kept me engaged. Activities were also arranged in a way that mixed seminars with more hands-on workshops, helping to keep up our attention spans. Even though the program was only 2 days, I felt like I attended a wide variety of activities that provided me with a holistic view of the firm.

    5/5

  • 6. How was the general atmosphere during your insight?
  • The environment was collegiate and open. I was able to speak to people comfortably and seek their frank opinions on any questions I had about the firm or commercial law. I bonded with the other participants on the program and I believe everyone enjoyed the experience greatly. I would definitely recommend this firm to my peers.

    4/5

  • 7. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • The whole program was geared around providing us with a better understanding of the firm and commercial law. It was apparent that Allen & Overy believed in investing in personal training and development. The activities I attended helped me gain useful skills such as teamwork and resilience that I have managed to put to use in my student life.

    5/5

  • 8. To what extent did the insight help you to understand what it would be like to have a full time role with the company or firm?
  • I was given many opportunities to speak and interact with lawyers at varying levels of seniority at the firm. I was given many perspectives on life at the firm, and I believe the insight program has done an excellent job of helping me understand what working at Allen & Overy would be like.

    5/5

  • 9. How much did the insight help you in understanding the company culture?
  • Because the program was only 2 days, it is naturally hard to develop a real understanding of the company culture. However, I was able to talk openly to trainees and junior associates, and my interactions with them have convinced me that Allen & Overy has a great company culture that emphasises personal development and openness.

    4/5

  • 10. How valuable was the content in helping you to decide on your future career path?
  • The insight program confirmed my interest in commercial law. Through this program, I found out more about commercial law through the lens of an elite international law firm, and this has helped me decide that I would like to pursue a career in commercial law because it aligns with my interests and strengths.

    5/5

    Everything Else

  • 11. Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?
  • I was reimbursed travel expenses, and was provided accommodation at a hotel within walking distance to the office.


  • 12. Were there opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company or firm?
  • Yes, there were many networking opportunities during meal times and after work, at drinks.

    5/5

  • 13. How were the networking/ social event opportunities?
  • I enjoyed the networking opportunities. Everyone was friendly and willing to share their perspective. In particular, the drinks at the end of the first day was a great opportunity to talk to people in a more informal, causal environment. The networking opportunities helped me realise that Allen & Overy has a welcoming company culture.

    5/5

  • 14. Did you find out about activities that employees can get involved in outside of work?
  • Yes, there were sharing sessions about clubs that employees can join outside of work.

    4/5

  • 15. Would you recommend this insight to a friend?
  • Yes, I would definitely recommend this insight to anyone interested in finding out more about Allen & Overy or commercial law.

    5/5

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Details

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

London

October 2018


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