Online interview after virtual assessment. Interview asked two questions and had a minute to respond to each. Also had a minute to prepare for each question. Overall was relatively simple process
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Why do you want to be a commercial solicitor at A&O
The first stage of the application, alongside the online form, involves video interview with unlimited time to prepare and 2 minutes to answer question. No retakes available. Also involved a critical thinking test.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
When have you faced a difficult problem and how did you solve it?
I applied online. I interviewed at A&O Shearman (London, England) in Oct 2025
Interview
Very challenging. Case study interview with in depth commercial questions, followed by a written exercise and then an HR interview. Questions around the SPA, very client-focused. HR interview was competency based.
I had my interview online. The interview consists of three main parts: a case study, questions on the experiences of the candidate, and a written test. The atmosphere was good.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Follow-up questions on the case study on things not given in the documents, mainly testing your commercial awareness.