Our track record of innovation is second to none. We're the only firm to have won the Financial Times Innovative Law Firm Awards six times. From our expansion into new jurisdictions, flexible working, and our alternative resourcing options such as Peerpoint and aosphere, we are setting the standard for what a global law firm should look like.
We offer a supportive and collaborative environment, dedicated to delivering an exceptional standard of work for our clients. We're ambitious and future-focused, committed to growing our business and meeting the future head-on. In this year alone, we have promoted 29 new partners around the globe and 45 counsel. We're not afraid of change – we embrace it, together.
We're proud to have the resources, the passion and the collaborative mind-set to build solutions for the future, whatever it may hold.
Of course, ambition and drive are vital to succeeding in our competitive landscape, but we also acknowledge that it's important for our people to have the time and space to relax and enjoy themselves outside of work by dedicating time towards other commitments.
We encourage everyone at the firm to pursue their interests, whether they are passions outside the office, or at the firm's activities and events. In addition, the firm's commitment to pro bono and community investment work also offers our people the chance to experience and contribute to our inclusive culture.
Application Process
Our vacation placement scheme is held in June and July each year and you can apply for our 2022 vacation placement scheme from 1 September 2021 by completing our online application form.
Applications are welcomed from penultimate to final year law or final year non-law students from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and other common law jurisdictions. Australian students who are successful in our interview process, will be invited to participate during their term break in July.
You will complete the online application form by answering a few questions about yourself, your work experience, and academic transcript. There will also be questions regarding your desire to work as a lawyer at Allen & Overy.
Once you submit the application, you will be asked to complete an immersive video based Situational Judgment Test (SJT), which should take approximately 20 minutes. The SJT is designed to provide a realistic preview of what you may experience as a trainee at A&O. Instructions will be provided once you start the SJT.
If your application is successful, you will be invited to an interview. The first interview will assess your skills, knowledge, and motivation for a legal career at Allen & Overy. In addition, you will be asked a series of questions based on scenarios you may encounter as a trainee. The second part of the assessment process will be a Partner case-study interview.
Please be aware that we look at applications and schedule HR interview on a rolling basis.
Selection Criteria
We look for the same skill set in each of our practice areas. In all cases, we look for evidence of
Health & wellbeing
Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme
Medical, life, health and accident insurance
Time out
22 days leave annually
Birthday leave
Six weeks of unpaid qualification leave
Financial security
PCLL fees reimbursed in full
A maintenance grant of HKD60,000 towards your living costs during the PCLL year
Future trainees who achieve a first-class LLB degree and/or an overall distinction of the PCLL will receive a cash award for HKD6,000 for each
Enrolment in our rental reimbursement scheme
Cash reward
Current salary for first year trainees: HKD576,000 (HKD48,000 per month) plus discretionary bonus for trainees, totalling approximately HKD52,000 per month
We review our starting salaries on an annual basis – these numbers offer a guide only and will be confirmed before you join us. 2nd year trainee salary will be reviewed at the end of the first year of your training contract and an increase may be awarded at this point
We take your training very seriously at A&O. When you join us, you may have some idea of where you want to specialise, but we believe it is important to give you as broad an exposure to our business as possible. The standards and expectations are high but you will be well supported by professionals who recognise that it is people like you who represent the future success of our firm.
Your A&O training contract will usually be based on six-month rotations – known as 'seats' – in four of our core practice areas – Banking, Corporate, Dispute Resolution, International Capital Markets, and Regulatory. Shortly before you start your A&O training contract, we will ask you to identify your 2 most preferred seats and you are guaranteed to sit in at least one of those during your training contract, and most people sit in both. Furthermore, one of your seats will take the form of a six-month secondment to our London office.
This London seat will help you to develop a broader perspective on the work of a lawyer and prepare you for life as a qualified solicitor so it's no surprise that 100% of our trainees take advantage of this opportunity. London secondments typically take place in the penultimate or final seat.