Allen & Overy brochure 2018/19

Allen & Overy brochure 2018/19

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M A D E F O R M O R E

I T ’ S T I M E

A career in Law aograduate.com

As an A&O Trainee, I know that everything I do for the client has an impact, in one way or another, and that’s what motivates me every day.

J O C E L Y N H O

M A D E F O R M O R E

Look around. The world is changing and we need to change with it. At Allen & Overy, you’ll benefit from the support and opportunities you need to become a lawyer of the future. By combining new ways of thinking with your knowledge of the evolving world, you can help crack the industry’s changing climate and cultivate a career that counts. If you’re made for more, A&O want to hear from you.

W E L C O M E

Our industry is changing more quickly now than it has done at any time since I qualified – and this means that the skills lawyers need are changing too. Technical excellence, curiosity, creativity and raw intellect are as important as they’ve ever been, but a willingness to embrace change and to understand the opportunities that it brings are vital too. At Allen & Overy, we’re looking for people who can adapt positively to new environments, making use of emerging technologies to shape the way in which we deliver services to clients across the world over the next decade and beyond. So my advice to anyone considering a career in commercial law is simple: think about your own skills and personal attributes. What is it that makes you suited to being a commercial lawyer and how will you adapt to the challenges that the future will bring? We are interested in more than qualifications and achievements; we want to know about the skills that have helped you develop, and the extent to which they can promote the success of our business and that of our clients in the face of change. This is a firm in which intelligent, forward-thinking people who relish challenges, will flourish. If you think you could be one of them, we could have the opportunity here for you to shine.

Claire Wright Graduate Recruitment Partner & Training Supervising Principal

W E L C O M E

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We’ll give you an outstanding legal and business grounding within a culture that supports your development, values

your individuality and enables you to excel.

C L A I R E W R I G H T

O U R F I R M

06 SETTING PRECEDENTS

10 FORWARD THINKING

Y O U R O P P O R T U N I T Y

12 YOUR ROUTE

14 A&O FIRST

15 VACATION SCHEMES

18 LAW SCHOOL

20 WHAT’S NEXT

A P P L Y

22 APPLICATION

24 WHAT WE OFFER

25 GET IN TOUCH

26 THE A&O INDEX

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S E T T I N G P R E C E D E N T S

As international commercial lawyers, we offer more than just legal advice. At A&O, we deliver insight and use the law as a way to address commercial challenges and drive results for our clients. The practice of law is constantly evolving, and we’re determined to not only be at the forefront of new developments, but to set the pace and lead the way. We’ve already focused on a range of innovative delivery methods, including Fuse, our Project Management Office, Margin Matrix and aosphere. While providing an outstanding foundation for a career in law, our training gives our people licence to be pioneers in the industry, to challenge ways of working rather than follow them. We foster a culture in which diversity is valued and our people are free to be themselves; one that recognises and rewards those who can apply fresh approaches to familiar problems, and embrace every challenge as an opportunity. In every sense we’re one global team: 73% of our work involves two or more of our offices, and 55% of our transactions involve three or more jurisdictions. We’re supportive and collaborative, ambitious and driven. Our capacity to combine these qualities and provide a setting in which all of our people can thrive is what makes Allen & Overy different. W O R K A T T H E C U T T I N G E D G E

Learn more about how we operate at aograduate.com

4x 87%

Winner of the Financial Times Innovative Law Firm Awards.

In the last year, we worked for 87% of Forbes’ top 100 public companies.

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M A D E F O R M O R E

F U T U R E L A W Y E R

D A N I E L L E H Y D E

If you’re going to be a lawyer of the future, you have to innovate and push boundaries. Whether that’s challenging out-dated processes or applying the latest technology to a case, as an A&O Trainee, you can be the driving force behind that evolution. This is a lifestyle, not just a job. Investing time to develop these forward-thinking skills on top of your daily projects is what will give you an edge. To stay driven, I’d say it’s really important to take a break from law and use your down time to expand your mind. I visit galleries and museums with friends, try new food markets and attend spinning class at the gym. Using my spare time to do both independent and social activities helps me come into work every day open-minded and focused.

Find out more at aograduate.com/

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F O R W A R D T H I N K I N G

F O R W A R D T H I N K I N G F U S E

Fuse is our tech innovation incubator, designed to bring forward-thinking tech companies together with clients and A&O experts to develop practical solutions to legal, regulatory and deal-related issues. We’re creating solutions to some of the most intractable challenges faced by companies, financial institutions and law firms today. We’re proud to have the resources, the vision and the mind-set to build solutions for the future, whatever it may hold. I regularly visited Fuse throughout my first seat and helped with the development of a document review tool for a large bank. The specialist screens were particularly useful in trialling the product, as well as the support of the IT specialists that work there. It was obvious that a number of the products being developed in Fuse were going to change the way lawyers (and particularly trainees) work.

Robert Steele – Trainee, International Capital Markets

Allen & Overy has recognised that the legal market needs to embrace technology, not be disrupted by it. To adapt to this change of pace, Fuse (through the appointment of a cohort of visionary experts) is targeting three core areas: • legaltech: utilising technology to support in-house legal functions • regtech: exploring how technology can support regulatory compliance • dealtech: using technology to transform how companies and financial institutions negotiate deals and transact with each other The knowledge we are gaining through Fuse will better equip us to engage with clients in all sorts of situations, where technology can be part of the solution to the challenges they face. Jonathan Brayne – Chairman of Fuse and head of A&O’s Innovation Panel Assisted by A&O, Nivaura completed an industry first. It successfully issued a fully automatic cryptocurrency bond that’s also cleared, settled and registered on a public blockchain infrastructure. As the first company invited to work in Fuse, Nivaura team members are now helping to guide other tech companies working in the space by sharing advice and business experiences, while continuing to develop themselves. Industry 1st

E N G A G E M E N T

5,500+ internal and external visitors (September 2017-February 2018)

Breakdown of types of companies which have applied for cohort 1 (%)

10

19

22

23

26

Breakdown of types of companies which have applied for cohort 2 (%)

3

19

40

10

25

Document management

regtech

Platforms

Intelligent documents

Workflow

Learn more about how we’re shaping the future of the legal profession: aograduate.com

F I N D T H E P A T H F O R Y O U

We’re more interested in where you’re going than where you have been. Around half of our trainees studied a non-law subject for their undergraduate degree, including science, languages, arts and humanities. As the role of the lawyer evolves, this diversity of perspectives becomes increasingly valuable. Regardless of your degree subject, there are a variety of opportunities that you can explore as part of your journey to joining us as a trainee. There is no such thing as a typical A&O candidate. We welcome people who are driven, adaptable and innovative; people who aren’t afraid to go beyond their comfort zone and want to work at the forefront of their profession. You should be ready to embrace change, champion technological solutions and develop broad commercial awareness. We’re looking for individuals who can demonstrate strong academic performance – we expect you to be heading for at least a 2:1 degree (or equivalent), and to have at least 136 UCAS points (AAB) at A-level (or equivalent).

Y O U R R O U T E

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Undergraduate Student

A&O First

Vacation Scheme

Vacation Scheme

A&O First

A&O Training Contract application

A&O Training Contract application

A&O Training Contract application

A&O Training Contract application

Law School

I’m a non-law student

I’m a law student

A&O’s accelerated LPC with LLM course

A&O’s accelerated LPC with LLM course

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

Trainee

Two-year A&O Training Contract

Qualify as a Solicitor

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A & O F I R S T

S T A R T I N G O U T

A&O First is our work experience programme for first-year undergraduates and second-year undergraduates on a four-year degree course. It provides actual work experience in one of our practice areas alongside soft skills sessions, and networking opportunities to help you build on your commercial awareness, legal expertise and employability. You’ll also be paired with an A&O Trainee who will provide support throughout the scheme and beyond. We also offer further training and support in your second year to help guide you through the recruitment process. Our goal is to help you decide if A&O is the right place for you. At the end of the programme and dependent on your performance throughout it, you’ll have the opportunity to be fast-tracked to an assessment centre for a Vacation Scheme or A&O Training Contract.

The support network that I experienced enabled me to feel included in the firm and truly reflects the collaborative and supportive culture that the firm has. Fiona Joe Sin Yeoh – current LPC Student & Previous A&O First participant. As one of the world’s biggest international law firms, we have a large global network, so it’s important that our people have a global mind-set from day one. On the programme you’ll meet other work experience students from our global offices and this is why we offer students attending A&O First the opportunity to apply for additional work experience in one of our international offices. This global experience is an invaluable insight into how our teams collaborate across the globe. International A&O First

Learn more about A&O First: aograduate.com/aofirst

V A C A T I O N S C H E M E S

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Explore the future you’ve always wanted.

Don’t just take our word for it. As soon as I joined Banking, they invited me to be part of the department’s football team. I loved having the chance to speak to trainees in an environment where they were able to be honest about their experiences. Chris Watkins – current Trainee and previous Winter Vac Schemer. International Vacation Scheme Cultural awareness, teamwork and a global mind-set are skills that are vital to your success as a lawyer here. Our lawyers frequently work in multijurisdictional teams and we encourage them to work overseas at least once during their career. This is why we offer the opportunity to apply for an International Vacation Scheme to those who have been on our London Vacation Scheme, giving them the chance to apply for the opportunity to spend an additional week in one of our international offices, such as New York and Hong Kong. Learn more about our vacation schemes: aograduate.com/vacationschemes

Differentiating firms can be difficult. For this reason, we recommend a vacation scheme as a great way to experience our work and culture first-hand. Students can join us on one of two schemes that take place in the winter and summer. These are available to students in their penultimate or final year of undergraduate study and graduates. On our vacation scheme, you’ll immerse yourself in a specific practice area, developing valuable expertise and contacts. Before you join, we’ll ask you to choose the area that most interests you. However, during your time with us you’ll also be exposed to other areas, giving you a better depth of knowledge to know exactly what practice area you want to pursue. We encourage you to network as much as possible when you’re here, so we organise socials and informal opportunities for you to meet people from across the firm. Following the completion of a vacation scheme, each student will then be considered for a training contract.

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M A D E F O R M O R E

F U T U R E L A W Y E R

N E E L S A P A T

As an A&O Trainee, grabbing every opportunity available to you is the best way to grow. The work here will always push you, but taking those chances to do more – meeting clients and volunteering for bigger projects, that’s what will make you stand out. Pro bono work and charity projects are what I’m most passionate about. I’m involved in mentoring and networking sessions for underprivileged students who can’t see a clear route into law. I’m also taking part in a trek to Jordan with colleagues around the globe to raise money for War Child – A&O’s Global partner charity 2016-2018. Sure, it can be intense sometimes. That’s why every single lawyer here has an outlet; something they do in their spare time to clear their head. Mine is golf. Whenever I get the chance, I head down to the driving range in Greenwich and practice my swing. Focusing on something completely unrelated to law is a way to take a step back, breathe, and bring that same level of energy and focus to work everyday.

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L A W S C H O O L

T A K E A B R E A T H . S T E P F O R W A R D .

Before you practise law in England and Wales, you must pass the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at an accredited law school. If you have not completed a degree in law, you will also need to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) before taking the LPC.

We have selected BPP as our law school partner for both qualifications* to ensure that you arrive here with the best possible foundation in legal knowledge and skills, and are ready to start working with our clients. Graduate Diploma in Law The Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) is a one-year compulsory qualification for all UK graduates who have studied degrees other than law. It provides a comprehensive grounding in all the relevant technical aspects of commercial and criminal law. We prefer that GDL students study at BPP in Waterloo, London but do allow students to study at other BPP locations if there are extenuating circumstances. A&O’s accelerated LPC with LLM qualification All future trainees are required to take A&O’s accelerated LPC with LLM qualification course at BPP in London. This bespoke, seven-month accelerated course has been designed to give you both the technical skills and the commercial awareness to be able to start working for our clients from your very first day at the firm. Alongside the standard technical modules, you’ll undertake projects on business finance, business management and strategy that will give you real insight into the kinds of issues our clients are facing.

We work closely with BPP to develop course content that accurately reflects the work of a City law firm and features materials and examples drawn from our client work. For information on the introduction of the SQE, please see our website. Financial support If you accept our offer of an A&O Training Contract, we’ll provide financial support during your GDL and LPC studies. For candidates studying for the GDL, we’ll provide an annual maintenance grant of GBP9,000 in London. We’ll also provide a maintenance grant of GBP10,000 while you take A&O’s accelerated LPC with LLM course. In addition, we award a GBP500 prize to future trainees who achieve a first-class degree and/or a distinction in every module of the LPC. You can also apply for an interest-free loan of up to GBP2,000, to be repaid by the end of your period of training. This can be used as additional financial support while you’re undertaking your studies or for something that will contribute to your development, such as a language study course or to undertake a pro bono or community initiative. * In the event that you’ve already completed the GDL or LPC with another provider, we’ll recognise these qualifications and refund your tuition fees.

Find out more about the support available during law school: aograduate.com

I’ve been encouraged to get involved in as much as I can, to take responsibility and to stretch my intellectual abilities, but at the same time to challenge ways of doing things to see if things can be done better.

S A M E M M E T T

W H A T ’ S N E X T ?

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F I N D O U T W H A T ’ S N E X T

When you join us, you may have some idea of where you want to specialise, but we believe it’s important to give you as much exposure to our business as possible. You’ll sit with a supervisor – a partner or senior associate – and actively contribute to the day-to-day operation of that department; working on transactions and cases and gaining plenty of client exposure. As you gain experience, your level of responsibility will increase. The standards and expectations are high, but you’ll be well supported by professionals who recognise that it’s people like you who represent the future success of our firm. Your A&O Training Contract will consist of four six- month rotations – known in the legal profession as ‘seats’. You’ll spend a minimum of 12 months in at

least two of our three main transactional practice areas (Corporate, Banking and International Capital Markets) for which you can express your preferences. Your professional development is a continuing priority for us and we’ll deliver training and support in a variety of ways, including mentoring from your supervisors and department-specific courses. There is a good balance between support, supervision and being encouraged to work independently. Whatever your future holds, your A&O Training Contract will give you a platform of skills and experiences on which to build a long-term career.

Find out more about the opportunities available: aograduate.com/training-contract

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A P P L I C A T I O N

Apply

Your interview

The first stage of the process is an online application, which will take approximately 90 minutes to complete. As part of this, you’ll be asked to submit your academic history, provide details of your work experience and answer three short essay questions. Once you submit the application, you’ll be prompted to complete an immersive video based Situational Judgement Test (SJT), which should take 20 minutes. The SJT is designed to provide a realistic preview of what you may experience as a trainee at A&O. For each scenario, you’ll be presented with four possible options, and you will be asked to select the best course of action in your view. Detailed instructions will be provided prior to starting the SJT. • Understand our requirements – prepare some examples to show that you have the skills we’re looking for • Make the most of your experience – highlight what you’ve gained from your experiences • Be commercial – show an interest in the legal industry, and what’s going on in the business world and how it might affect us and our clients • Be innovative – show an interest in how technology is shaping the future of the legal profession, and an ability to harness this to drive solutions • Be accurate – attention to detail is a fundamental skill of a lawyer Top tips for your application

If your application is successful, the next stage will be an assessment day comprising two one-to-one interviews. The first interview is based on a commercial case study and you’ll be given time to prepare a short presentation to deliver to your interviewer. In the second interview you will be asked a series of questions based on scenarios you may encounter as a trainee at A&O. In addition to this your skills, knowledge, and motivation for a legal career at A&O will be assessed. • Revise and prepare – re-read your application form; we’re going to ask you about it • Stay up-to-date – track business and world events, form opinions and be prepared to discuss them • Make the right impression – be confident, self-assured and enthusiastic • Ask us pertinent questions – it’s a two-way process, so ask insightful questions that will help you to decide if we’re the right firm for you Top tips for your interview

Offer

After your interviews, your application will be discussed in detail by partners in the firm. We will share our decision with you as quickly as possible. Regardless of the outcome, we are committed to providing constructive feedback on your performance at interview. This will help you to understand our decision and also help you to refine your interview technique and preparation for any future applications. Of course, if it’s good news, the Graduate Recruitment team will be on hand to support you in your decision-making and with the next steps.

What we look for

Critical thinking

Innovation

Intellect

Adaptability

Intellectual curiosity

CHANGE AGILITY

MENTAL AGILITY

Numeracy

Collaboration

PEOPLE AGILITY

Organisation

SOLUTIONS AGILITY

Emotional intelligence

Technology awareness

Resilience

Drive & motivation

MENTAL AGILITY

CHANGE AGILITY

PEOPLE AGILITY

SOLUTIONS AGILITY

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