China - Hong Kong early careers

Our training program is meticulously designed and continually evolving to provide the foundations you need to find your strengths, overcome challenges and bring out your best self. 

Your training will be based on four six-month rotations (known as ‘seats’), through a number of departments or practice areas. Seats are available across our departments (Corporate, Finance and Disputes) and will help you to discover the full range of work we do and the expertise we have in our teams. In each seat, you will sit with a trainer (usually an associate) who will supervise your professional and personal development, showing you how to excel as a successful commercial lawyer.

You will have the opportunity to express your two seat preferences shortly before the start of your Training Contract. You are guaranteed to sit in at least one of those, and many trainees sit in both (subject to business need).

Your penultimate or final seat will typically involve a six-month secondment to one of our overseas offices, which will give you the chance to grow and strengthen your network. 

Our First Year Program is the start of your relationship with our firm. It’s a program of two insight days across the year designed to give you access to employability sessions, a global network, insights about the firm and all the opportunities you need to decide whether a legal career at A&O Shearman is right for you. You will also be offered additional work experience in Hong Kong. This global experience will give you an international outlook and the opportunity to see how our teams collaborate across the globe.

As part of the scheme you will have:

• Advice and guidance from our graduate recruitment team
• Workshop in April with the London office and one week work experience in August with the Hong Kong office
• Work shadowing to see the role of a lawyer first-hand
• Ongoing support from a trainee ‘buddy’
• Peer support – you will get to know students from other universities and degree disciplines also on the scheme
• Opportunity to be fast-tracked to an interview for a Hong Kong Vacation Scheme

We’re able to welcome students in their first year of a three-year (or second year of a four-year) undergraduate degree from any degree discipline at a U.K. university. Applicants should be on track for a 2:1. Proficiency in Chinese is preferable.

The application period typically runs from January to February. Please stay tuned for the announcement of the key dates for the 2026 application cycle.