I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at A&O Shearman (Hong Kong) in Nov 2024
Interview
Submit an online Cover letter and Resume. Afterwards you get a link to do the firm's version of the Watson Glaser test.
After passing their benchmarks, you get a link to an online assessment day centre with the Case Study and Interview.
The platform used is not very user-friendly and does not give any time alerts for how long you should be taking to read through the documents, when you should be hopping on the call with your interviewer on the website, and when you should start the Written Assessment. This lack of user-friendliness and minimal guidance from HR on how to navigate the platform is likely what made a lot of good candidates fall short. In spite of this, I had a good interview with my interviewer.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What are the qualities you think are important to lawyers and how do you display these qualities
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.