A&O tops ranks as best graduate employer

Rival magic circle firm Clifford Chance slipped down the ranks from 2nd to 4th place, while Linklaters, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May achieved 2nd, 5th and 3rd place respectively.

A&O graduate recruitment manager Caroline Lindner said: “This award really shows that our approach is effective with the people that matter - the students”.

“We spend a lot of time on campuses throughout the academic year, providing information to law and non-law students about the sector and how to navigate the recruitment process. By doing so, we ensure that individuals are making well informed decisions about their future career.”

New entries onto the list include Berwin Leighton Paisner, Farrer & Co, White & Case and the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Times decided which employer offers the best opportunities for graduates following face-to-face interviews with 15,331 final year students from 30 UK universities.

Elsewhere A&O has also achieved the highest spot in The Times top 100 graduate employers across all sectors survey above rival magic circle law firms, sitting at 31, compared to Linklters (43), Clifford Chance (45), Slaughter and May (49) and Freshfields (52).