Winter Vacation Scheme Review

The winter vacation scheme was very well structured, and each day involved various activities, meaning the week provided a wide breadth of insight into Allen and Overy. Activities on a day-to-day basis included: talks from the Global Managing Partner, pro bono representatives, HR, Fuse, and graduate recruitment; work with an associate; and a group project. Between this, there were plenty of opportunities to meet trainees, socialise with lawyers, and get to know fellow vacation schemers.

While shadowing and completing work for an associate, I was fortunate enough to attend various meetings alongside my tasks, which developed my time management skills. Alongside this, we were assigned a group project which was an opportunity to hone my teamwork and presentation skills. More generally, during the winter vacation scheme we were presented with lots of information and content. This meant I had to think on my feet and critically analyse, further developing this skill.

I gained a lot of clarity on the various business units and roles available. However, even more importantly, I was able to experience and observe first-hand the culture of Allen & Overy, which cemented my desire to work at the firm.

Allen and Overy was very inclusive, welcoming, and no question was a silly one. I felt immersed into the firm, despite the vacation scheme only being a week long, which is testament to the positive culture and atmosphere of Allen & Overy.

I would recommend Allen and Overy to any individuals interested in working at a top quality, outstanding, innovative, and inclusive law firm. I had a fantastic time during my week and feel confident that the firm is the right ‘fit’ for me.

Yes

Ensure you stay up-to-date with commercial issues, thoroughly look into the firm, and I would recommend the Allen and Overy podcast, ‘The Allen & Overy Podcast’. For the assessment centre, I would suggest being yourself and giving some prior thought as to how you align with the firm’s values.