U.S. law students

Our summer program for 1L and 2L law students allows summer associates to work on cutting-edge work alongside a diverse group of partners and associates. Summer associates in our New York and Washington, DC offices will participate in our RotationPlus system. RotationPlus combines the best elements of both legacy firms’ assigning models. Summer associates will participate in two five-week practice group rotations. Each summer associate will be paired with a partner and associate mentor within the practice group who will help summer associates integrate into the firm both professionally and socially – and will be the summer associate’s primary means of work within the practice group. Summer associates can expect to have multiple substantive and social touchpoints with their partner and associate mentors each week.

The firm will host a Pre-Summer Orientation program in early 2025 where incoming summer associates will have the opportunity to learn more about and hear from each of the firm’s practice groups. Rotation assignments are based on each summer associate’s practice group rankings, which they will indicate during the onboarding process following Pre-Summer Orientation. To provide flexibility in exploring practice group interests and customization of the summer associate experience, the Law School Recruitment team will maintain a centralized assignment database that will enable summer associates to explore work outside of their two assigned practice groups. In our RotationPlus system, summer associates are getting the best of both worlds: the support, guidance, structure, and unmatched mentorship inherent to a rotation system – and the flexibility and customization of a centralized assignment system.

For specialty practice groups and offices outside of New York and Washington, summer associates will work primarily with their practice group of hire, but have access to work in other groups through the centralized assignment system (with mentor approval).

Some summer associates will have the opportunity to spend time in more than one firm office. For example, during our inaugural 2024 A&O Shearman Summer Program, some US summer associates split with an international office, while others split between two US offices. With more than 40 offices across six continents, there are many split possibilities at A&O Shearman. If you’re interested in splitting your summer, we encourage you to mention this at the outset of the interview process. Office placement decisions are based on the business needs of each office and the degree of summer associate interest, so a separate interview is not necessary.

By embracing and celebrating differences, we foster an inclusive environment where you can feel comfortable and confident.

Your unique perspective, attributes and experiences are valued at A&O Shearman. Our differences help to shape and inform the best collaborative solutions, foster rich and rewarding work environments and fulfilling working relationships, and provide valuable learning opportunities. Every day, we work to create an environment where everyone feels they can bring their authentic selves to work, and DE&I is a global priority that spans gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, neurodiversity and socio-economic status, along with the intersections among them. Being part of A&O Shearman means being committed to cultivating an inclusive environment for each other. 

We code DE&I into our culture:

• Our code of conduct promotes dignity, respect, and doing the right thing with integrity.
• We foster relationships based on trust, respect, and inclusivity.
• We encourage collaboration and value diverse perspectives.

We promote a sense of Community:

• Access to employee networks, including LGBTQ+, women in business, caregivers, people with disabilities, different races and ethnicities, and social mobility groups. These networks build relationships and help educate the firm about different groups.
• Global events and communication series encourage inclusivity, and international offices often collaborate on events, for example, Pride.

We provide training, education and resources, including:

• Global and local training to increase awareness, support, and allyship.
• Programs for women at different career stages and for people from different racial/ethnic minorities, to explore and address career challenges.
• Parental coaching and support for expanding families.