Training Contract - Singapore| A&O Shearman careers

Experience a career without limits

Our training contracts are designed to continually help you evolve and reach your full potential. At our firm, you’ll find your strengths, overcome challenges and bring out the best in yourself - all to become a first-class lawyer.

Programme overview

What you'll do

You will have two years of training where you will experience four six-month seats which cover a variety of departments of practice areas. Here, you can expand your knowledge in the areas that interest you while also discovering more about the areas of work we do that you weren’t as aware of. Over the course of the training contract, you’ll be able to find your strengths, overcome challenges, and bring out the best in yourself.

Seats are available across our practice areas and will help you discover the full range of work we do and the expertise we have in our teams. In each seat, you will sit with a partner or an associate who will supervise your professional and personal development, showing you how to excel as a successful commercial lawyer.

Our dedicated HR team will work with you to determine your seat choices. You will have the opportunity to express your preferences, so you can spend time in the areas that suit you best (subject to business need). Our core areas of expertise are Finance, Corporate, Disputes and ENRI (Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure). In your third or final seat, you will experience an international secondment to our London office, which will give you the chance to grow and strengthen your network.

Training and support

One of the things our trainees value most about being at A&O Shearman is the award-winning training they receive. Your development is one of our key priorities and you’ll see that every day you are with us.

In addition to learning practical skills such as drafting, transaction management, research and legal and office procedures, the experience you gain as a trainee will develop your professional conduct, particularly with respect to negotiation and communication with clients and colleagues.

Alongside your departmental work, you will have the opportunity to work side by side and learn from some of the world’s top lawyers. As well as regular departmental training and updates (specific to your seat), you can attend client seminars delivered by our partners and associates on the most cutting-edge issues affecting our industry. You will also attend wider skills training and a range of seminars and talks on matters essential to A&O Shearman, which include mental health and well-being and inclusion.

Training does not stop at qualification. We are proud of our position as pioneers in the legal industry and our commitment to continuous learning is a key part in maintaining it. At key points during your associate career, you will become eligible to attend the different stages of our bespoke global associate development program, where you will be joined by colleagues from around the world. These sessions are run by internal and external experts, focusing on developing your strategic and commercial awareness and your ability to work effectively and with resilience. As you progress, the focus on managing client relationships and building a practice increases.

Secondment opportunities

International secondments are enriching experiences that provide you with an awareness of cultural and regional differences, which is especially important as the majority of the work we do is cross-border and international. Your A&O Shearman Training Contract will be based on four six-month rotations. Three of the four seats of the Training Contract will be based in Singapore. During your third or final seat, you will have the opportunity to experience an international secondment to our London office.

Programme details

Academic qualifications

We expect individuals to be on track for a 2:1 degree (or equivalent) and to have at least 136 UCAS points (AAB) at A-level (or equivalent).

Personal skills

We seek candidates who demonstrate strong personal skills alongside academic ability. These include communication, problem solving, teamwork, time management, attention to detail, and adaptability. Evidence of these skills, whether from academic, extracurricular or personal experiences, is valued in our vacation scheme applications.

Application window

Kindly note that we recruit our trainees via our Summer Vacation Scheme. We do not offer direct Training Contracts in Singapore

Tips, insights and advice, direct from our team

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The anatomy of a deal

We’ve produced a number of videos to explain more about A&O Shearman and the industry we are in. Here is just one great resource that breaks down the complexities of a transaction to show how all the parts fit together for corporate lawyers.

Hervé Ekué

Hervé shares three of the cases that have shaped his journey, from specializing in debt capital markets and derivatives through to becoming global managing partner of the firm. Hear the cases that define a hugely successful career in global law.

Belong. Excel.

Discover what it means to be part of A&O Shearman.

How to apply

Candidates interested in a Training Contract with us in Singapore should apply to the Summer Vacation Scheme, as this provides the primary opportunity to gain insight into our work, culture and training, and is the pathway into our trainee intake. We do not offer direct training contracts.