A&O Shearman

A&O Shearman is a new type of legal industry leader. Formed via a merger of two leading UK and US firms in 2024, the firm is an unparalleled combination of truly global capabilities helping the world’s leading businesses grow, innovate and thrive. 

With over 4000 lawyers, across 48 offices in 29 countries, you’ll work on the most interesting, high-profile legal work, helping the world’s leading businesses to grow, innovate, and thrive. In today’s ever-changing world, we continue to break new ground, working with companies, organisations and governments on the most complex legal issues and building strong and enduring client relationships. 

We pride ourselves on nurturing an environment where every talented and driven trainee can excel. That means that whatever defines you, you can bring your whole self to work. We have a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion so you can be confident that you’ll be valued for who you are and have the runway to become an exceptional lawyer, no matter your background. Together, we work as a team; listening, learning and challenging each other to achieve extraordinary results we could not achieve individually. 

The merger has made the firm a completely unique proposition – we’re able to develop and deliver innovative solutions that push our clients and industry forwards. We have the resources, vision, and mindset needed to ensure our people operate in the legal landscape of the future. With us, you’ll never stop learning and growing, benefitting from exceptional professional and personal development. For trainees, this means an in-house training programme characterised by variety and choice – like the chance to take a litigation course alongside your rotations. In each of your seats, you’ll support a senior associate or partner and be exposed to work that spans across departments and borders. We are a truly global firm and so a lot of the work we do involves two or more jurisdictions, and our trainees also have the chance to spend six months in one of our international offices, or on secondment to one of our clients.

This is a global career with unique opportunities that you won’t find anywhere else. We will help you develop into an exceptional lawyer and perform at the highest level – whether or not you have a degree in law. Challenge the status quo with us, and you’ll find a career where you can really excel. This is your chance to hit the ground running and discover what you can really accomplish.

Benefits

Working at A&O Shearman offers an exceptional range of benefits, including season ticket and cycle-to-work loans, a health and wellbeing centre including in-house GP, physiotherapist, and dental plan, an on-site fitness centre and sports hall plus in-house beauty and wellbeing therapies, as well as access to a wide range of discounted goods and services. In the UK, we currently provide access to support through our Employee Advice Line and Private Medical Insurance. And all trainees globally have free access to our health and wellbeing apps (Headspace, Health@hand and Unmind.)