Smart Start Programme - London | A&O Shearman careers

Build your future

Smart Start is a unique work experience scheme designed to provide students from lower socio-economic backgrounds with everything they need to kickstart a career in legal or professional services.

Programme overview

Our social mobility programme Smart Start is run in partnership with Causeway Education.

There are two experiences for you to choose from:

Smart start week, our in-person work experience for year 12 students or equivalent; or smart applications, our online programme for year 12 or equivalent students.

What you’ll gain

Every year, we offer high-quality work experience and skills training for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, as part of our flagship social mobility programme, smart start. Since its launch in 2009, it has supported and inspired 1,900 students.

Work experience

Smart Start week is held at the A&O Shearman London office in July and is open to Year 12 or equivalent students. Over the course of five days, you’ll take part in workshops and tackle challenges.

Alternatively, in Year 12 you can join us through Smart Start Applications, the virtual work-related learning programme made up of eight live evening webinars, including sessions on university and apprenticeship applications and how to develop your employability skills.

Growth and development

Throughout this programme, we strive to support you with exceptional professional and personal development, providing training and practical experience, so you can learn and grow at your highest level.

Smart Start week

Smart Start week is held at our London office in July each year. It’s open to Year 12 or equivalent students who meet our criteria. Over the course of five days, students 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 our commercial clients and smart start week alumni.

What you’ll 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.
Advice 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 a digital credential.
Access to Causeway Education’s UCAS support platform, OSCAR.

Smart Applications

If you’re unable or do not want to travel to London, you can apply for smart applications. This virtual work-related learning programme takes place in June/July each year. It’s open to Year 12 or equivalent students who meet our criteria. Smart Applications is made up of eight live webinars and these include sessions on university and apprenticeship applications and how to develop employability skills. Like smart start week, Smart Applications is based on the skills builder universal framework.

You don’t have to join all webinars, but our most engaged students are invited to a celebration day at our London office in August.

What you'll get

Development of eight essential skills.
Insight into careers at an international law firm.
The opportunity to take part in mock interviews and get feedback.
Access to Causeway Education’s UCAS support platform, OSCAR.

This programme gives you the opportunities you need to expand your skills and to experience what life here is really like. It’s the chance for you to start your journey early and develop your legal expertise.

Eligibility

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, an 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 scores; 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 either programme.

Skills to succeed

Below are the essential skills needed 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.

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.

Programme details

Academic qualifications

We’re able to welcome year 12 students for smart start week and smart applications.

Personal skills

Ambition, curiosity, drive.

Application window

December 2026.

Scheme dates

July 2027.

Then and now

Our A&O Shearman lawyers all started from somewhere, from all kinds of backgrounds. Through every stage of their life, from personal to professional and the challenges along the way, our lawyers look back on the journeys that got them where they are today.

Ghazi

Growing up in Jordan with a genetic condition, Ghazi learned to live life despite limitations. With the grades, curiosity and interest, there was nothing to lose and everything to gain. His story shows anything is possible.

Jennifer

Jennifer has experienced a world, career and life that she never thought would be in her reach. Hear how a summer school for low-income backgrounds changed Jennifer’s perspective on what she could achieve.

Mitch

Born in Nigeria, Mitch believes nothing is impossible. Now a partner at A&O Shearman and mum of three, she has surrounded herself with the right people and has had support from her family every step of the way.

Application process

Online application

You need to first register for, and attend, one of several smart choices online sessions in March 2025. There, you’ll learn about the smart start week and smart applications and how to apply.

You can choose to apply for either programme or both. Places are allocated on a points-based system, depending on how many of the criteria applicants meet.

Offer

If you are successful in securing a place for the smart start week, you’ll need to attend a launch day at our London office during May half-term. There, you’ll meet fellow participants and hear more about the benefits of the programme. You’ll also hear from our volunteers and take part in activities such as a mock interview.