Students and graduates

At A&O, we invest in you so you can develop your skills early in your career through a variety of training programs and resources. As an entry level associate, you and your entire U.S. first year class will usually start with a week of training in New York before traveling to your respective office. Your first week of orientation will include the following programs:

• Multi-day intensive course specifically for new associates
• Lectures on legal developments by partners and associates
• Department-specific training sessions
• Special courses on topics such as the art of communication, legal writing, risk management, law firm economics and more!

Most of our U.S. offices offer a practice area rotation system for entry-level associates. If you join without a permanent practice group placement, you’ll rotate through two departments for six months during your first 12 months. You may opt out of the second rotation if you and the department decide to make your first rotation your permanent choice. For incoming classes, efforts will be made to ensure new associates are assigned to preferred groups during the rotation process.

Our 2L summer associate program will give you the opportunity to experience our cutting-edge work and inclusive culture, by working alongside future colleagues on top-quality projects in a variety of practice areas.

Summer associates may join our firm in any of our U.S. offices; New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Silicon Valley or Boston; as well as in London or Hong Kong. As part of the program, you’ll gain real and valuable experience from day one, working closely with associates and partners. You’ll also be offered formal training programs that will provide broad exposure to our practice areas and supplement your day-to-day work. Below are a few examples of the programs offered throughout the summer:

• Legal writing workshops
• Adopting a Service Provider Mindset
• Working with in-house Counsel panel
• Practice area presentations
• Substantive workshops with our affinity groups

Summer associates are not assigned to a particular practice area, so you’ll have the opportunity to work across all areas of interest. Associates across nearly every practice group are there to oversee and manage your work assignments, and you’ll meet with them regularly so they can provide feedback, and ensure you’re experiencing a wide variety of projects.

But it's not just about the work you do. Your well-being and having the opportunity to socialize outside of work are equally important. You'll have plenty of opportunities to engage with other summer associates, lawyers and partners – broadening your knowledge of the firm, building your network and becoming an integral part of the team.

Every year, Allen & Overy also seeks 1Ls with technical backgrounds or STEM degrees to join our Intellectual Property Litigation teams. 1L fellows will work for and learn from A&O attorneys on real legal matters, and participate in all aspects of A&O’s US summer program, including training sessions, networking opportunities, and mentorship programs. Successful 1L Fellows will be invited back for their 2L summer.