Allen & Overy’s Smart Start Experience provides young people facing socio-economic barriers with access to high-quality work experience in the world of business.
Allen & Overy, an international legal practice, want to inspire young people who are talented and ambitious but might not consider a career in law or business an option for them, or don’t know how to take the first steps on that career path.
Since its launch in 2009, the Smart Start Experience has supported over 1,800 young people and won prestigious awards for its commitment to promoting opportunity through social mobility, becoming the first, and only, work experience scheme in the legal sector to be City & Guilds Assured.
Smart Start Week
The Smart Start Week offers a prestigious, high-quality route to gaining experience and skills that are highly valued by employers and education providers alike.
Through a five-day timetable of workshops and group tasks, participants learn about the wide range of careers available within an international business like A&O and build on the skills necessary to succeed in a professional career, from problem-solving and creativity to leadership and teamwork. During the week, participants will generate a portfolio of insights and experiences to support future applications and progression, be set an overall challenge for the week and work through tasks based on professional scenarios at Allen & Overy.
The Smart Start Experience week progresses students in the Skills Builder Universal Framework, giving them the opportunity to practice and reflect on their use of the 8 essential skills in a professional setting. Participants will also understand the importance of networking through interacting with volunteers from A&O and their commercial clients plus their fellow Smart Start participants.
Smart Start Week 2024 is scheduled to take place at the Allen & Overy London Office in the week commencing 15 July. All successful applicants are required to attend a launch day at the Allen & Overy London Office on Tuesday 28 May or Thursday 6 June 2024.
“This experience is very challenging but also very rewarding. You will get a much better understanding of what you can expect in an international law firm or for any career, whilst also simultaneously developing and enhancing the transferable skills needed to succeed in any career.”
Smart Applications
Smart Applications allows young people who do not want/are not able to travel to London to still access a quality employer interaction and gain insights drawn from the Smart Start Experience, allowing participating students to gain a real insight into the world of work through the online programme.
Delivered entirely virtually, Smart Applications provides students the opportunity to gain interview experience, network with employees at a leading law firm and develop valuable employability skills.
Taking place across 8 webinars throughout June 2024, Smart Applications includes:
A&O insight sessions with volunteers from across the firm
Support for university and apprenticeship applications
The opportunity to receive individual feedback on an online mock interview
All Smart Applications students will also be provided with access to OSCAR, Causeway Education’s online platform that supports students with university applications and provides a step-by-step framework that helps them develop an outstanding personal statement.
Smart Applications is delivered as its own programme, separate to the Smart Start Week. Smart Applications participants will not be eligible for Smarter Futures and therefore will not be able to apply for the bursary or for support with upReach.
“The workshop gave me a clear view of the different skills that are applicable and needed when pursuing a career of law. This is also supported by hearing about the experience of A&O employees and their view of working in law firm. ”
Support beyond the Smart Start Experience
University application support and mentoring
All students who participate in the Smart Start Experience will be provided with access to OSCAR, Causeway Education’s online platform that supports students with university applications and provides a step-by-step framework that helps them develop an outstanding personal statement. They will be assigned an expert mentor on OSCAR, who will provide in-depth feedback and practical tips on their university applications. OSCAR is available to access right up to the final UCAS deadline in January 2025.
Smarter Futures
Students who complete the Smart Start Week will be invited to apply for Allen & Overy’s e-mentoring programme, Smarter Futures. To build on the momentum of Smart Start, this opportunity provides you with a mentor from Allen & Overy (or one of their commercial clients, usually an in-house lawyer). The programme will run for the duration of Year 13 and, as well as providing you with a greater insight into life in a City law firm, there will be guidance on supporting you into higher education or employment.
Bursary opportunity
For those students going on to study at university, Allen & Overy provides a scholarship programme to a select number of Smarter Futures participants who meet both Allen & Overy’s academic and social mobility criteria. Successful students will be awarded £15,000, paid in instalments of £5,000 over a 3 year degree. As well as the financial support scholars will receive a dedicated mentor and opportunities to exclusive events delivered by Allen & Overy’s Graduate Recruitment Team.
Careers support
Allen & Overy’s partnership with upReach will provide students attending university with a tailored programme of careers and employability support. Your place is fully funded by Allen & Overy for 3 years and acceptance on the programme is subject upReach’s eligibility criteria. Only students who have completed the Smart Start Experience week and Smarter Futures will be invited to apply.
Additional work experience with Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP)
Taking place 29 July - 2 August 2024, Smart Start students can apply to the SMBP Work Insight & Skills Experience and, if successful, will visit four different organisations and spend a fifth day with a professional sports club. Places on this opportunity are limited, and applications will be shared at Smart Choices events. During this week, students will get an in-depth overview of of each organisation, understand the role of an in-house lawyer, and learn about the psychology of resilience.
How to apply
In order to apply for the Smart Start Week or Smart Applications, applicants must meet our eligibility criteria. You can read more about this here.
Applicants are required to attend a Smart Choices event in order to be invited to apply for Smart Start Week or Smart Applications. Smart Choices events will be running in person in Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds and Nottingham, and will be hosted online, throughout March 2024. To find out more about Smart Choices, please click here.
Please note that Smart Choices events are now complete for 2024, and registration is now closed.
If you have any questions, or would like to find out more, please email [email protected].
