Step into Law Scheme

Ignite your enthusiasm.

What you’ll gain

This programme enables year 13 students from less advantaged social backgrounds to explore routes into the legal sector. At A&O Shearman we recognise that our social background frames our life experiences and that’s why we created our Step into Law Scheme. During the course of this programme, you will understand more about the legal sector, enhance your employability skills, identify your strengths and learn how to excel at applications, assessment centres and interviews.

Work experience

This programme is packed full of insights and experiences. Over the course of four sessions across two weeks in July and August, you’ll become part of a small working group with a dedicated mentor from A&O Shearman. The first 3 sessions will take place online and the final session will take place in person in the A&O Shearman London office. You’ll have opportunities to network and ask questions in an informal and relaxed setting, too. You’ll see first-hand what it’s like to be part of our supportive community, get a sense of what is expected from everybody here, and what we can help you achieve when you join us.

Growth and development

This is your opportunity to learn and grow. We offer exceptional professional and personal development – providing training, mentoring and practical support. You’ll have a mentor and other dedicated points of contact during the Step into Law Scheme, to ensure that you receive the best pastoral care possible. You will also have the opportunity to share learnings and network with firm employees and fellow partcipants.

Post-programme, all Step Into Law participants benefit from upReach support, facilitated through A&O Shearman’s partnership with upReach. This includes a tailored programme of career and employability support for three years, with acceptance subject to upReach’s eligibility criteria.

What we look for

This programme gives you the opportunities you need to expand your skills and an insight into the culture of the firm. Whether you’re ambitious, curious, or open-minded; whoever you are, this programme is a chance for you to start your journey early and develop your legal expertise.

Eligibility criteria

You’ll need to:

• Have always attended a state-funded or non-fee-paying school
• Come from a household where no parent or guardian has a qualification from a UK university
• Be a UK national or EU national with settled status in the UK by the time you apply for university

You must also meet one of the following criteria:

• Receive, or have previously received free school meals, Education Maintenance Allowance or a 16 to 19 Bursary Fund
• Have parent(s)/guardian(s) who receive income support or housing benefits
• Be or have been in local authority care (for at least three months)
• Be or have been a full-time or part-time young carer
• Come to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker

Academic qualifications

Our academic requirements are AAB (136 UCAS points) or equivalent at A-Level. We require 7 GCSEs at grade 6 or above (including Maths and English). 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.

Skills to succeed

Below are the essential skills you need to thrive on this programme. From making meaningful contributions to our team and clients, to facing legal challenges, these skills will help you excel with us.

Curiosity

You want to find out more about the firm, our culture, the clients we work with and the sectors we operate in.

Ambition

You’re determined to achieve a first-class legal career and tackle challenges along the way.

Organisation

Your ability to keep on top of your work and focus on the details helps you keep projects on track and succeeding.

Collaboration

You work well with others and have an open mind to different ideas and new perspectives.

Application Process

The online application form is your first opportunity to show us what you’re capable of, so be sure to pay attention to detail and think about the examples you use and whether they demonstrate the skills and 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 Shearman.

We will be in touch to let you know if you’ve secured a place on the scheme.

There are a number of websites purporting to provide free samples of A&O Shearman application forms and assessment questions, including our Situational Judgement Test. A&O Shearman takes cases of plagiarism and copyright extremely seriously. We highly caution applicants against using, or paying for, unofficial sources claiming to provide information on the A&O Shearman application process.

If you have any further questions on the A&O Shearman application process, or if you wish to discuss or report such a website, please contact us. Please note, all applications will close at 5pm on the closing date and you must have submitted your online application and completed the Situational Judgement test by this deadline.