First Year Programme
A&O First
A&O First
It’s time to see the bigger picture.
If you think a career in commercial law might be for you and are keen to find out more, then A&O First is a great place to start.
A&O First is much more than just work experience. It’s a programme with various touch points over the year and gives you access to a global support network designed to give you all the information, contacts and experience you need to decide whether a legal career at A&O is right for you.
The programme is packed full of insights, experiences and exposure to the work we do through work-shadowing and networking. During the scheme, we look to boost the skills we look for in future trainees such as technology and commercial awareness.
As part of the scheme you will have:
- Access to our graduate recruitment team for advice and guidance
- One-day workshops in April and September (depending on Covid restrictions the programme is either run virtually or in-person) where we will immerse you in the firm and all of our offerings, including Advanced Delivery & Solutions.
- Ongoing support from a trainee buddy
- Peer support – you will get to know students from other universities and degree disciplines also on the scheme
- The opportunity to be fast-tracked to interview for either a Vacation Scheme or Training Contract
Eligibility
Students in their first year of a three year course or second year of a four-year course of an undergraduate degree from any degree discipline.
Application window
10 January 2022 - 10 February 2022
Maaya Sachdev
Current Trainee
I wasn’t one of those people who always knew what they wanted to do. But when I started my Law degree and began to develop my legal skillset it became clear that a career in the legal profession was the right choice for me.
I like problem-solving and analytical thinking – and working in a team. These were the things I enjoyed when I was studying English at A-level and presenting arguments in my university’s mooting society. In fact, it’s these experiences that sparked my interest in a legal career. I’m looking forward to using these skills to help clients during my training contract. I can’t wait to apply everything I’ve learnt to real-life deals.
Looking back at university, I’m glad that I embraced a diverse range of opportunities not only because they enhanced my learning experience, but they also helped me to develop a clearer understanding about the kind of work that would interest me. I knew that I wanted a career where I could make a real impact – I didn’t just want to pick something that would look good on my CV.
When I looked into commercial law and A&O specifically, I knew it was what I wanted to do. Working on complex deals in a fast-paced environment suited my skillset and taking on big cases for well-known clients matched my interests.
Click here to join our talented team and start your journey with us.
Maaya
Rebecca Daramola
Future Trainee
Even though I enjoyed my Biochemistry degree, I knew that I didn’t want to pursue it after university. It was only when my laboratory supervisor suggested I look into a career in law that I considered it a real option. At first, I thought that the skills I’d learned from my STEM background might not be relevant to law, but I quickly realised that wasn’t the case. I’ve already seen the benefits that my analytical research skills can bring to clients.
During my Vacation Scheme, I worked on an urgent restructuring deal for a client in financial distress. The deadline was short and the workload was high, but that’s when my research skills came into play; despite the pressure, I was right in my comfort zone. I quickly completed the case law research and contract analysis, making sure that the client had exactly what they needed. Without a doubt, it was the skills from my STEM training that got me the results.
I was excited to see my skills applied to work outside of scientific research. That’s one of the reasons that I’m so excited to start my Training Contract: the variety. Across four different seats, I’ll get to try different practice areas and see where my skills are most well-suited.
I think lots of STEM students are simply unaware of the opportunities they have in the legal profession. As an ambassador for Aspiring Solicitors, an organisation that works to increase diversity in the legal profession, I’ve seen how valuable it is to support people from a non-law background through the application process. STEM students are an example of just one group of candidates who could bring so much to our firm. I’m so glad that I am part of a firm that values the unique skills that STEM students bring to the table.
Click here to join our talented team and start your journey with us.
Rebecca
Jonathan Cooper
Future Trainee
When I was looking into potential careers, I knew I wanted something that was going to be fulfilling, enjoyable and promising for the future. It was a long process: I considered journalism, medicine and several other careers, but it was my time on the A&O Vacation Scheme that made me decide to apply for a Training Contract.
My experience on the Vacation Scheme was unconventional, but it was exactly what I needed to help me decide my career path. I sat within the Corporate team, and at the time they were very busy with an urgent deal. Because of this, I ended up having four different supervisors over two weeks. This gave me the chance to get involved with different projects, meet people across a variety of areas and even spend time working alongside a Partner.
The best thing about it was getting a real sense of what it would be like to work here. I saw everything that goes into successful transactions, from researching legislation and drafting documents to proofreading contracts and handling administrative tasks. I knew about that before the Vacation Scheme, but seeing it first-hand helped me understand what it’s really like.
Choosing a career is about planning ahead. On the Vacation Scheme, I got to see how much A&O invest in the future, whether it’s developing software to optimize structured transactions, continuing their international expansion or diversifying their workforce. Having spent a year working for Rare Recruitment who partner with A&O, I’ve seen how the firm is striving to recruit top talent from all backgrounds by making their hiring process more inclusive.
I’m confident in my decision to join A&O – it’s an exciting first step towards a fulfilling career.
Click here to join our talented team and start your journey with us.
Jonathan
What we look for
We’ll be looking for your drive and commitment for a legal career, alongside curiosity to find out more about the firm, the clients we work with and sectors we operate in.
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.
Application Process
1. Online Application
The online application form is your first opportunity to stand out, so be sure to pay attention to detail and think about the examples you use and whether they are demonstrating the skills & attributes we are looking for.
You will then be prompted to complete an immersive video based Situational Judgement Test (SJT) which includes verbal and numerical reasoning items. The test is untimed and should take around 30-40 minutes. The SJT is designed to provide a realistic preview of what you may experience as a trainee at A&O.
View sample Situational Judgement Test Question
2. Telephone Interview
If your application is successful, the next stage will be a telephone interview, which should take no longer than 30 minutes and will include a brief commercial case study. Following this we will be in touch to let you know if you’ve secured a place on the scheme.
