A&O Shearman
Early Careers Recruitment Specialist
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We have an exciting opportunity for an Early Careers Recruitment Specialist to join our Human Resources team, based in A&O Shearman's London Office.
Early Careers Recruitment Team - London
The Early Careers Recruitment Team within HR has responsibility for the attraction, selection and recruitment strategies for entry-level lawyers including the marketing campaigns and our brand management at our key target schools. The firm's focus on broadening access to the legal profession is supported by the work of this part of HR.
Role Purpose
The Early Careers Recruitment Specialist will be responsible for the delivery of A&O Shearman's vacation schemes, first-year programme and the recruitment and selection of candidates for our solicitor apprenticeship programme. They will support the firm's schools and university engagement strategies, campus recruitment activities, interviews, widening access initiatives and stakeholder engagement, helping to attract, engage and recruit high-quality early careers talent across the UK.
What You Will Do
Programme Management
- Lead the project management and delivery of the London and Belfast Vacation Schemes.
- Lead the project management and delivery of the First-Year Insight Programme.
- Support the delivery of the firm's schools engagement strategy and manage the recruitment process for the Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme.
- Act as a subject matter expert on early careers recruitment within the wider team and business.
- Represent A&O Shearman at internal and external events.
- Monitor programme conversion rates and evaluate return on investment across early careers programmes.
Campus Engagement
- Work closely with the Early Careers Recruitment Manager to develop the annual university engagement strategy and lead its delivery across the academic year, working in partnership with the wider team.
- Take ownership of the planning, coordination and execution of campus engagement activity, ensuring delivery against agreed objectives and targets.
- Organise and attend campus events throughout the year, including careers fairs, presentations and skills workshops, acting as a key A&O Shearman representative.
- Deliver presentations and skills workshops both on campus and in A&O Shearman offices.
- Support the Early Careers Recruitment Manager with the development of annual attraction and marketing campaigns, leading the implementation and delivery of agreed activity.
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Selection
- Conduct interviews for early careers programmes.
- Review applications throughout the recruitment cycle to ensure consistency and fairness in selection decisions.
- Deliver constructive feedback to candidates where appropriate.
Other responsibilities
- Support the firm's inclusion objectives through recruitment and outreach initiatives.
- Contribute to ad hoc early careers projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Provide oversight and guidance to junior team members where applicable.
What you will have
- Experience of successful volume entry-level recruitment is essential, ideally within the legal sector and certainly within professional services.
- Strong knowledge of the UK Graduate and Early Careers Recruitment market and Higher Education.
- Evidence of strong university relationships in the UK would be beneficial.
- Interest in the broadening access agenda.
- Understanding all aspects of an Applicant Tracking System including tracking, processing candidates, search and reporting capabilities.
- Interest in technology, AI and utilising new systems.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a hybrid work environment.
- Excellent communication skills, both in writing and orally and excellent presentation skills.
- Strong analytical skills.
- High levels of attention to detail and commitment to excellence.
- Ability to build rapport with candidates quickly.
- Strong time management skills.
- Flexibility with regard to working hours as role requires evening working and overnight stays.
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What we can offer you
To learn more about the culture and benefits available at A&O Shearman, please visit: [Culture and benefits | A&O Shearman careers](Culture and benefits | A&O Shearman careers)
Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.
We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.
Our approach to hybrid working seeks to combine and maximise the benefits of effective remote working with the benefits of being in the office. Our current hybrid working arrangements require office based working for a minimum of 60% of your time (i.e. three days per week for a full time role) in accordance with our hybrid working policy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE - A&O Shearman does not accept unsolicited CVs. For further information, please see our [UK Recruitment Agency Policy](UK Recruitment Agency Policy) and our commitment to direct sourcing here.
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