What to do if you are unsuccessful | A&O Shearman careers

It’s natural to feel disappointed if your application is unsuccessful. But if you don’t receive an offer, it’s important that you pick yourself back up and try again.

Getting to any point in a legal application process is a huge achievement, and often many of our unsuccessful candidates come back and try again.

Take a moment to acknowledge that the result isn’t what you were hoping for. Then, let go of that disappointment and start to think about what you can gain from the experience. Reflect on each stage and think about what you can learn from each part of the process.

Here’s some advice from our recruiters and lawyers - including those who were previously unsuccessful and are now part of the firm:

“I was really disappointed not to be asked for an interview when I applied for a Training Contract at A&O Shearman. Having read so much about the firm, I felt that it would be a place where I would thrive, learn and be happy. However, I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and maybe it was better for me to train elsewhere and then work as an in-house lawyer before I finally joined A&O Shearman as it meant I came to the firm with more experience, a better understanding of what I could offer and also what I wanted from the firm. That enabled me to hit the ground running when I arrived (almost five years qualified) so much so that 18 years down the road I am still here, still thriving, still learning and still having fun!” - Sarah Henchoz, Partner

“I applied three times before I was successful. There is always something to learn from the previous TC cycle, so it’s good to reflect on your answers in your application and see how you can take conscious action to improve your application for the next round. For example, getting experience from a different business sector, going out and meeting more people at law fairs, trying different work experiences to show how your skills would translate into a career in law. There are always active ways to improve your application and you need to make sure you use the time in between application cycles to actively improve.” - Saranya Barthe, Associate

Your A&O Shearman application

If you reached the assessment day stage of the application process and were not successful, our team will reach out to offer you feedback.

This is a meeting where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive an in-depth review of your performance, with advice for the future. Make sure you take notes during the meeting and that you use it as an opportunity to understand what you need to do differently next time in order to increase your chances of success. Keep an eye on any communications you receive from us so you don’t miss out on this opportunity.

"Keep going, reflect on your performance, ask for feedback and focus on proving your personality is a good fit for the firm next time round - for instance everyone has good grades, so make sure you focus on something more personal."
Max Brankin Associate

Cases that made me

At A&O Shearman, you will have the opportunity to be part of a global community of world-class lawyers and work on building enduring relationships with clients, rewarding assignments and career-defining cases. Hear from our people as they tell us the story of their career through the cases that challenged them, marked new levels of responsibility or were just exciting to be a part of.

Hervé Ekué

Hervé shares three of the cases that have shaped his journey, from specialising 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.

Jan Skuhravy

Jan, a partner in Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure, was always interested in how the law intersected with the tangible realities of life. Listen to Jan share what he’s learnt throughout his career.

Sarah Henchoz

At A&O Shearman, you work on cases that define the world. Sarah walks us through some of the most complex and exciting cases of her career, including a reality TV star’s employment, a high-stakes poaching case, and a large-scale discrimination case.