Training Contract at Allen & Overy
Application guide, insider tips, and SQE funding details for 2026.
About Allen & Overy
Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman following its 2024 combination with Shearman & Sterling) is one of the original Magic Circle firms. It is particularly renowned for its banking and finance, capital markets, and cross-border M&A practices across more than 40 countries.
The firm has a reputation for high intellectual standards and a demanding but supportive trainee environment. Following the combination with Shearman & Sterling, the firm has an increasingly transatlantic focus. Pro bono and social mobility initiatives are prominent.
Training contract at a glance
Allen & Overy funds SQE preparation - A&O Shearman funds SQE preparation in full, including course fees and SRA exam registration fees. Use our SQE Cost Calculator to understand what you may still need to cover personally.
Preferred provider: BPP University Law School
What Allen & Overy looks for
Academics
A 2:1 degree or above in any subject. The firm funds GDL/PGDL conversion for non-law graduates.
Core values they screen for
Experience
Vacation scheme experience at A&O is strongly preferred. Commercial work experience of any kind is valued.
Application timeline
Primary TC pipeline - apply for the summer vacation scheme first.
Verbal reasoning, situational judgement, and a video interview.
Group exercise, written exercise, and a partner interview.
TC offers typically made at the end of the scheme.
Application tips for Allen & Overy
Read Financial Times coverage of cross-border deals and be able to discuss them fluently - M&A and finance are the firm's heartland.
Reference specific practice areas you want to sit in; the firm expects candidates to understand its structure.
Post-combination with Shearman & Sterling, the firm is building a more US-facing culture - international ambition is valued.
Note on the SQE: Some firms view positively candidates who have already passed or are actively preparing for SQE1. It signals commitment to qualification. SQE explained →
Interview & assessment format
Process stages
- 1Online application
- 2Online assessments (verbal/SJT)
- 3Video interview
- 4Assessment centre (group, written, partner interview)
Interview tips
- •Prepare STAR examples for commercial awareness, teamwork, and resilience.
- •The partner interview includes a case study - practise structuring commercial analysis.
Insider tips
Observations from those who know the firm well.
The firm has a particularly strong capital markets practice - candidates interested in this area should reference it explicitly.
International secondments are a genuine feature of training - demonstrating language skills or international experience helps.
SQE funding at Allen & Overy
A&O Shearman funds SQE preparation in full, including course fees and SRA exam registration fees. A maintenance grant is provided during study. The firm uses BPP University Law School as its appointed provider, though candidates should verify current arrangements as these can change post-combination.
Preferred SQE provider: BPP University Law School
The full qualification journey
TC + SQE - here's the complete path from application to the roll.
SQE1 and SQE2 steps link to live pass rate data. Full SQE explained →
Got your TC? Now plan your SQE.
Your firm covers a lot - but you still need to pass SQE1 and SQE2. Here's where to start.
Ready to apply?
Applications are submitted directly via Allen & Overy's official graduate recruitment portal.
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