Derivatives and Structured Finance Law

Step into the role of a trainee at A&O Shearman and help deliver solutions on complex financing transactions.

Complete work that simulates life on the job. 3-4 hours and self-paced.
Stand out in your application to A&O Shearman. Show us you're a motivated candidate.

Why complete this Job Simulation

A risk-free way to experience work on the job with us at A&O Shearman. Practise your skills with example tasks and build your confidence to ace your applications.

Self-paced

3-4 hours

No grades

No assessments

Intermediate

A&O Shearman is one of the world’s leading international law firms, advising clients on complex and high-value transactions across global markets. Our lawyers work at the intersection of law, finance, and business, helping clients navigate legal frameworks and achieve their commercial objectives with precision and innovation.

During this programme, you will get the opportunity to step into the shoes of a trainee and complete tasks that replicate the work that our Derivatives & Structured Finance team does every day. You’ll learn key skills in legal drafting, regulatory analysis, client communication, and transactional problem-solving.

We hope this programme provides a great resource for you to upskill and strengthen your CV as you explore career options and a potential career at A&O Shearman.

Disclaimer: This programme is an educational simulation created for training purposes only. All content has been simplified to support learning and does not constitute legal advice. Participants engage in a fictional scenario and neither provide nor receive real client guidance.

How it works

Complete tasks guided by pre-recorded videos and example answers from our team at A&O Shearman. No live sessions, all self-paced.
Earn a certificate and add it to your CV and LinkedIn as an extracurricular activity.
Stand out in applications. Confidently answer interview questions and explain why you’re a good fit for our team.

Skills you will learn and practice:

Attention to Detail

Client Email Communication

Commercial Awareness

Communication

Documentation

Email Communication

Issue Identification

Legal Drafting

Legal Research

Professional Email

Introduction from A&O Shearman

Tasks

Intro & Scenario

Background context and your project team

Your role

You are a trainee at A&O Shearman, working within the Derivatives & Structured Finance team.
You’ve joined the team supporting a live financing matter involving a repo transaction and an interest rate swap.
You’ll collaborate closely with your supervising associate and senior associate, contributing to document reviews, drafting tasks, and internal updates.

Your goal

Your primary objective is to support the legal documentation and internal processes for this transaction.
You'll begin by reviewing key provisions in the Global Master Repurchase Agreement (GMRA) and progressively build toward more complex tasks, such as drafting a clause for the swap and tailoring a legal opinion with regulatory insight.

Intro & Scenario

Background context and your project team

Your role

You are a trainee at A&O Shearman, working within the Derivatives & Structured Finance team.
You’ve joined the team supporting a live financing matter involving a repo transaction and an interest rate swap.
You’ll collaborate closely with your supervising associate and senior associate, contributing to document reviews, drafting tasks, and internal updates.

Your goal

Your primary objective is to support the legal documentation and internal processes for this transaction.
You'll begin by reviewing key provisions in the Global Master Repurchase Agreement (GMRA) and progressively build toward more complex tasks, such as drafting a clause for the swap and tailoring a legal opinion with regulatory insight.