Uptree

Placement details

Overview

Location: London - Bishops Square

If you're unable or do not want to travel to London, you can apply for Smart Applications. 

Start date: July 2026

Application Criteria:

You’ll need to:

• Be in Year 12
• Have always attended a state-funded or non-fee paying school
• Be a UK national or EU national with settled status in the UK by the time they apply for university.

You’ll also need to meet at least one of the following additional criteria:

• Come from a household where no parent or guardian has attended university
• Receive, or have previously received free school meals, Pupil Premium, Education Maintenance Allowance or a 16 to 19 Bursary Fund
• Be or have been in local authority care
• Be or have been a full-time or part-time young carer
• Come to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker
• Come from a household where a parent or carer has served in the regular armed forces
• Be attending a school or college with:
  • below average A level or Scottish Highers points score, and/or
  • a low rate of progression to higher education.

Students who meet more than one additional criteria are more likely to receive a place on the programme.

Key skills:

• Ambition: you’re determined to achieve a first-class legal career and tackle challenges along the way.  

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

• Drive: you’re prepared to tackle every challenge and overcome obstacles to achieve your goals. 

Applications open: to be confirmed

Application Deadline: to be confirmed

How to Apply: Applications are not yet open. Find out more now, and regsiter your interest, by clicking 'apply' at the top of this page! 

 

About the opportunity

Smark Start Week is helf at A&O Shearman's London office in July each year. It's open to Year 12 or equivalent students who meet their criteria. Over the course of five days, you will take part in workshops and tackle challenges based on the Skills Builder Universal Framework. You'll be supported by A&O Shearman colleagues, volunteers from their commercial clients and Smark Start Week alumni. 

What you get: 

• 1:1 calls to discuss your application, provide support and answer any questions (hosted by Causeway Education) 
• Insight into careers at an international law firm
• Avdice on drafting personal statements and how to make job applications stand out
• Development of eight essential skills
• Lunches and refreshments provided free of charge during the week and travel costs reimbursed 
• A completion certificate from A&O Shearman and, for those students who meet the City & Guilds benchmark, a certificate from City & Guilds, as well as digital credential
• Access to Causeway Education's UCAS support platform, OSCAR

 

About the company

Since the two legal powerhouses – Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling – joined forces in May 2024, A&O Shearman has proven to be an unparalleled combination: a new type of industry leader with truly global capabilities. With over 4,000 lawyers, across 48 offices in 29 countries, you will be able to 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, A&O Shearman continue to break new ground, working with companies, organisations and governments on the most complex legal issues and building strong and enduring client relationships.

Next steps

Find out more and register your interest by clicking 'apply' at the top of this page!