Allen & Overy Open Days & Careers Fairs

Open Days

On an open day you will get the opportunity to meet a number of partners, associates and trainees who work in various departments.

Your day will includes talks and workshops which provide details about specific practice areas, Allen & Overy's clients, the Allen & Overy training contract, and skills you will need to develop and improve, if you are to become a successful commercial lawyer.

You will also have the opportunity to spend some time in one legal department, where you will spend time shadowing a trainee.

There will also be time to socialise with other students and graduates who are interested in applying for a Training Contract at Allen & Overy and various opportunities to take coffee (and probably a nice lunch or sandwiches, cakes and biscuits) with members of the Allen & Overy graduate recruitment team and some lawyers.

Open Day Dates

Open Days take place from November to August. Candidates are able to choose the dates most suitable to them. Applications are welcome from 1st October 2008.

Careers Fairs

Trainees, Associates, Partners and Human Resources personnel attend career fairs and specialist law fairs throughout the year. You should aim to meet as many different people as possible but tailor your questions so that they are relevant to the person you are talking to. For example, ask trainees about the work/life balance. Ask partners about the length of time it took them to reach partner status.

You should spend as much time as possible talking to trainees, as these people will provide you with the most honest and accurate information about what it's like to work in an entry level position at the company.

Spend 5 to 10 minutes talking to each law firm at a careers fair. Law fairs are a forum allowing candidates to have quick chats with key members of staff, many of whom will provide you with their contact information to email/call at a later date if you need more information.

Be professional throughout the day, wear a suit if you have one and treat every conversation with staff as a mini-interview. Give a firm handshake, make good eye contact and smile!

Take a note of all the people you speak to during the day, or if you can exchange business cards.

Since 2007 Allen & Overy has started using its very own double-decker bus to attract graduates at law fairs in the UK. The bus is decorated in the same style as the firm’s Bishops Square headquarters. Students are able to board the bus for a 15-minute drop-in session with a selection of Allen & Overy’s graduate recruitment team and trainees. There may even be a chance to pick up A&O branded goodies.

Questions to ask Allen & Overy at Recruitment Fairs

• Allen & Overy have made good headway in addressing staff attrition and promoting a more realistic work/life balance in recent years. Ask staff whether this has affected the firm, and if so how. Furthermore, find out if there are any future plans to take this further.
• Ask trainees about the departments they've worked in; which ones were particularly good and which ones will be best for your long-term career.
• Ask staff whether it is more important to demonstrate commercial experience or to actually have commercial awareness?