Any insight would be appreciated! The amount is reviewed annually and is within market range. Restructuring and insolvency lawyers are necessary when a company, individual or other organisation is in financial difficulties. I interviewed at Macfarlanes (London, England) in Jan 2021. The first exercise was a group negotiation exercise. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. The examination comprises two stages: SQE 1 and SQE 2. We want to recruit the best candidates regardless of their background or where they were educated. Our inclusion team regularly share invitations to firmwide religious and cultural events, and they created a document called Working with colleagues of different faiths. We accept applicants from all UK and international universities. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. We take extenuating circumstances seriously and would encourage you to be as open with us as you feel you can. To find out what it's like to undertake a placement at Macfarlanes read the firm's Vacation Scheme Insider report. A time you changed your approach A vacation scheme at Macfarlanes is a two-week snapshot into life as a trainee. The one-on-one partner interview involves the usual competency, motivation, and strengths based questions. Read through the documents quickly but try to highlight the key problems. We do not recruit on a rolling basis for our early legal careers opportunities, so will not screen applications until after the deadline. Commercial property lawyers work on a wide range of transactions including offices, retail developments and infrastructure projects. Solicitor | Macfarlanes Profile Highlights: State school educated Ethnic minority First generation lawyer Contact Me To contact me, please login or register Profile: I am a Solicitor at Macfarlanes LLP having qualified in September 2017. Should I apply for a vacation scheme first or just apply for the training programme now? Training programme assessment days consist of the following assessments: All assessments on the assessment day are application blind except for the application interview. Through which entry route would I be more likely to be successful in getting a training programme place via a vacation scheme or applying directly for the training programme? Our early legal careers team works closely with external diversity organisations, such as Aspiring Solicitors, Rare and upReach. How many first year scheme participants do you recruit each year? The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. 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Everything you need to know about becoming a solicitor, Search for a training contract at nearly 1,000 organisations, A comprehensive list of training contract deadlines, A comprehensive list of law firms' vacation scheme deadlines, Read how today's lawyers went from student to qualified lawyer, Advice from recruiters on acing your applications and more, Get a sense of what firms' vacation schemes are really like, Your essential first step in identifying the firm for you, Hear from solicitors working in specific practice areas, Everything you need to know about becoming a barrister, Search for a pupillage at nearly 200 barristers' chambers, A comprehensive list of pupillage deadlines, Hear from barristers working in specific practice areas, Find out more about the different types of chambers, This hub covers all aspects of legal education and training, Identify the right law school for you with these prospectuses, Find out about sources of funding at each stage of the qualification process, Find out about what you learn and where to study, Find out what the LPC involves and whether you're eligible, Find out about the course required to qualify as a barrister, Find out about the brand-new SQE preparation courses, Articles from law firms designed to get you thinking commercially, These are designed to increase your knowledge of the profession, Insights from LCN and contributors from the world of law, Advice on issues from funding your studies to getting experience, Kickstart your legal career with the latest content in our newsletter, Discover key stories from the legal world, Our videos feature interviews and webinars on careers in law, Hear from the experts via The LawCareers.Net Podcast, Hear from your peers about their journey into the profession, Macfarlanes are a distinctive London-based law firm with a unique combination of services built and shaped around the needs of their clients. Initial greeting with HR (claim to fame or claim to shame icebreaker), then a group exercise, a talk from a trainee and an NQ and a written exercise. We spoke to the early legal careers team at Macfarlanes to gain some key insights and top tips on how you can stand out to this leading law firm. We also have a firmwide religious and cultural events calendar that highlights important dates throughout the year to promote awareness and understanding. We plan to continue to run assessment days for vacation schemes and training programmes in-person in 2023. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. Yes, you can. I achieved lower grades at A level than I had hoped for. Yes, we have four inclusive staff network groups: Each network has a steering group committee of partners, associates and business services staff who meet regularly to discuss the strategy of the group and to arrange events. We know each other personally which means we work together with more cohesion, and less formality. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Tech and the future of legal services: implementing change. Real Estate. Practise a simulation here . Learn more about diversity and inclusion at Macfarlanes LLP. Copyright The Student Room 2023 all rights reserved. Baker McKenzie has become the latest firm to reinstate newly qualified (NQ) lawyers salaries to pre-pandemic levels, after a reduction of 3% last June. Where any NQ places are not filled by qualifying trainees you will be able to apply if you have suitable experience and where there is a business need. Biomedical Science: 2023/24 Applicants Thread. Each year we recruit 33trainees with the aim of training them to be the future partners of the firm. Maintenance allowance for PGDL students, 13,000. Saw the below headline today in The Lawyer. Intellectual property is an umbrella term for a variety of different rights which protect intellectual creations, such as inventions, brands, designs, and literary and artistic works. This 32-week course includes everything you need to ensure you are fully prepared to work in commercial practice. Sponsored by Mills & Reeve LLP. Our DAWN network focuses on ensuring the whole firm is more confident in its understanding of disability. All content 2023 Macfarlanes LLP. Weinvite up to 15% of applicants to attend one of a series of assessment days held at the firm's office to assess them for a place on one of our vacation schemes. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions that you might find useful. For the vacation scheme and training programme, you need to complete an online application form. I applied online. There were three elements. Keep up to date with our free weekly newsletter, 2.1 anticipated or achieved (mitigating circumstances are taken into account). Do you cover the cost of travel for candidates? Sponsored by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. We reimburse reasonable travel expenses for candidates who attend an assessment day for our vacation scheme or training programme. The programme combines classroom and digital learning to embed knowledge and uses business simulation exercises to help you apply your knowledge in realistic practice scenarios. As a trainee you could be working on major corporate transactions or commercial litigation, and then working for private clients on their most sensitive affairs. Written exercises: Attention to detail, true or false logic, and conditionality I graduated some years ago. Interview + case study They kept dragging out the time before they sent me the assessment, and then decided not to hire me. We understand that not every candidates achievements look the same on paper, and we are a firm that believes in fairness and diversity. The Pupillage Interview/Acceptance/Rejection Thread 2023 Watch, Got offered Clifford Chance interview etc and don't know what to do lol. Do you only accept applicants from certain universities? Many of our trainees and associates applied for our programmes after they graduated. A time you changed your approach We recently published a firmwide video on our intranet to raise awareness and understanding of neurodiverse conditions such dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism in the workplace. 2023 The Corporate Law Academy. I wrote my letter to the wrong person and I think this was the single biggest challenge to my chances of success. See what employees say it's like to work at Macfarlanes. Before this we had fifteen minutes to read over a scenario involving the ethics of coming across inside information and whether or not to use it. Lunch, then work shadowing with an interview scheduled at some point in the afternoon. Who can apply for the training programme? Several had other careers first. Law firms in profit despite pandemic; firms reinstate NQ pay. Can I send in a copy of my CV and a covering letter instead of completing an application online? To understand more about how we use cookies or to change your cookie preferences, click on Showsettings. This involved looking at what was promised, the conditions that the customer experienced etc. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Sponsored by Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP. What advice would you give to future applicants for the Macfarlanes interview? This depends on your degree subject. Assessment Centre: 1 partner interview - standard interview, cv and commerciality based. Do you accept applications from people like me? Find out about the work she gets up to on a daily basis and the early responsibility on offer in this practice area. About us Diversity and inclusion Facts and figures We are a distinctive London-based law firm with a unique combination of services built and shaped around the needs of our clients. Honesty, friendliness and a polite attitude make it a far more pleasant experience for the partners. No. Commercial lawyers focus on trade, from commercial agreements about supply, manufacture and distribution to identifying the best routes to market. 806 8067 22 Registered Office: Imperial House, 2nd Floor, 40-42 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XB, Taking a break or withdrawing from your course, Border Force Apprenticeships September 2022 campaign, Official University of Glasgow 2023 Applicant Thread, What is the benefit of going to an 'elite' university, Transferring after completing of Loughborough Foundation year, Official: King's College London A100 2023 Entry. They can be invaluable in helping you decide whether a career in law is right for you. We recruit 55 participants across our three vacation schemes annually. If you gain a place on one of our assessment days, you will find out more about the firm during the day. Pleasant. Interested in a future career as a lawyer? To save you time . What you'll be working on during a work placement at Macfarlanes LLP. Opens the Fishbowl by Glassdoor site in a new window. It was good to relax us a little bit before things started. Interview. Large listed and private companies, trustees and start-ups turn to Macfarlanes LLP for assistance with the design, implementation and operation of employee share plans and incentive . What kind of technology are you interested in most? The actual exercise is not difficult usually it is based on an M&A scenario, and you will just have to negotiate the terms of the agreements. "Why law/Macfarlanes? Summer/autumn 2024 begin studying for the SQE with BPP. LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards 2020: the results. Yes, we accept applications from applicants who studied any subject, whether at a UK or overseas university. You are divided into sub teams of two or three and given 15 minutes to prepare for the negotiation. 2nd stage interview, a presentation on legaltech followed by a Q and A. ", Opens the Fishbowl by Glassdoor site in a new window, motivations for law, about you, and competency on resilience. This part of the day is not assessed, but we encourage you to have questions prepared. The qualities we look for in our lawyers include strong interpersonal skills, an ambitious commercial approach, drive, motivation and resilience. What to expect from Macfarlanes LLP training contract. I interviewed at Macfarlanes (London, England). Candidates applying for Summer Vacation Scheme had the quickest hiring process (on average 1 day), whereas Associate roles had the slowest hiring process (on average 61 days). However, you will need to complete the Professional Skills Course (PSC) during your qualifying work experience. JavaScript is disabled. Vacation scheme assessment days consist of the following assessments: All assessment exercises during the assessment day are application blind, so your assessors will not have seen your application form. If successful at the screening stage, we will invite you to an assessment day. During your SQE preparation course you also attend regular seminars from the firm, where you hear from associates in our practice areas. All other questions have a limit of 300 words. SQE timeline (for training programmes due to start in 2025). For those candidates completing the PGDL, you need to achieve a commendation or above on the first sitting. Litigation and Dispute Resolution. The scheme will comprise of skills workshops, work shadowing and presentations. Around 15% of direct training programme applicants are invited in for an assessment day, which lasts from 9am until 2pm. While we dont have a set list, we look for candidates who have the core skills below, which are tested through the assessment day and interview stages: We really see our trainees as the future of our firm and are proud to have a consistently strong retention rate. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. My interviewer was very friendly and put me very much at ease when I was very nervous going into it. How will Brexit affect lawyers day-to-day work? The dates of our 2023 vacation schemes are as follows: Applications open on 26 September 2022 andare online via our website. Candidates interviewing for Trainee Solicitor and Insight Day rated their interviews as the hardest, whereas interviews for Associate and Associate Lawyer roles were rated as the easiest. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. My partner is letting her friend sleep in her bed, am I overeacting? Our spring vacation scheme often takes place during Ramadan, so this is something we consider when organising the programme of events. Nice experience, the interviewers were very friendly and willing to help with any questions I had. Firms reinstate NQ pay and tell staff they can choose how and when to work. Thanks a lot in advance! There were quite a lot of applicants together on the same day. A long application followed by an assessment centre with a case study, partner/associate interview and written exercise. We want to recruit the best candidates regardless of their background or where they were educated. I submitted my application but forgot to mention something. We only accept applications through our online application system. It is not a win lose situation, be cooperative and collaborate with your team mates. We have opportunities for qualified lawyers, trainees and business services who are looking for outstanding career development. This employer has not claimed their Employer Profile and is missing out on connecting with our community. We're delighted to announce the launch of the Macfarlanes' trainee experience, allowing you to complete mock trainee tasks whilst gaining an insight into our unique culture. A. Thoughts on Wilson Elser? Quite standard Then prepare the usual motivation questions, competency, but the interview went very quickly. What is the interview process like at Macfarlanes. Together we support and attract diverse talent to the legal industry, as well as provide support. We are a distinctive London-based law firm with a unique combination of services built and shaped around the needs of our clients. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Has anyone here used upwork or other similar sites to initially get work to start your own firm? Insurance and reinsurance is an integral part of commercial activity throughout the world. Be the first to find this interview helpful, Why Law Why Macfarlanes Describe a time when you overcame an obstacle, "Are you resilient?" For the online form its essential that you have really researched our firm consider why you want to build your long-term career at Macfarlanes specifically. Lawtech. They will ask you about your motivations for pursuing a career in commercial law at Macfarlanes, how you work with others and your commercial awareness; and. Got a case study or group exercise coming up? A long application followed by an assessment centre with a case study, partner/associate interview and written exercise. Private Equity. I interviewed at Macfarlanes Interview The assessment centre consists of roughly 3 exercises if I remember it right: written exercise, negotiation, and interview with partner and associate. Sponsored by Gowling WLG (UK) LLP. Thoughts on Wilson Elser? If I choose an alternative route to qualify than the training programme will the firm pay for the cost of me sitting the SQE? Balance is a forum for all staff managing careers and home lives. Lawyer Rankings London > Employment > Employee share schemes (Leading individuals) Robert Collard - Macfarlanes LLP. We also continue to provide additional financial assistance in the form of a 13,000 grant during this time. The firm will reimburse SQE costs for anyone who is successful in securing a place on the training programme. 13 years ago. You then come back to the main room for the negotiation with the other sub team. Anyone here in-house with Disney or know anything about the company? We will set measurable targets against our three strategic priorities. Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund takes on first SQE cohort. Please detail these circumstances in your application for us to consider. Coming up with solutions to current legal issues was a bit tricky. In addition, our litigators are able to offer strategic and tactical advice to best protect our clients in the event of a dispute arising. Please note blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. We do, however, give feedback to candidates who attend an assessment day. Will going to a Macfarlanes event help my application? What are your thoughts about xyz? Aimed at school and college students, mainly years 12 and 13, it provides guidance, materials and interactive exercises designed to help build the skills needed if you are considering a career in law. Restrictions on winding-up petitions: beginning of the end. That said, everyone is encouraged to keep business attire at the office in case they need to attend an event or meeting where dress down would be inappropriate. General introduction - interview with partners - written exercise - group negotiation, Find a Great First Job to Jumpstart Your Career, Stand Out From the Crowd With the Perfect Cover Letter, How to Prepare for Your Interview and Land the Job. For the commercial case study manage your time equally across all 3 segments as the partner will ask you about all 3. The partners make no attempts to intimidate or cross-examine you. Macfarlanes trainee experience. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Our first-year insight scheme is aweek-long event designed to provide students with an insight into City law. Anonymous Interview Candidate in London, England, I applied online. The case study was very interesting to read it through and discuss with the partners. The process took 1 day. Assessment Centre: 1: Group Negotiation - Testing communication skills largely 2: Written Exercise - time pressured - right or wrong answers - bit of basic maths 3: Interview - mostly competency - some commercial awareness. The hiring process at Macfarlanes takes an average of 20.2 days when considering 24 user submitted interviews across all job titles. Are vacation scheme and insight scheme participants paid? If I am employed as a paralegal and complete the SQE and QWE independently, will the firm pay for my practising certificate once I am qualified? Come to a consensus with your team together and consider multiple opinions, To echo the above, it's not about prior legal knowledge but knowing what is usually involved in this kind of deal might be really helpful, as it was for me, You can show your commercial knowledge in the negotiation by mentioning the value of the deal in brand/reputation terms, For the partner interviews, your opinion might be pushed at times. What kind of technology are you interested in most? This combines the knowledge you gain from a law degree or law conversion course in the fundamental principles of law with the knowledge you gain from the Legal Practice Course (LPC) in the basics of legal practice. We sat around in a conference room and there were ice-breakers. For the negotiation exercise, just be yourself ensure you speak and make valid points as they assess everything you say. Its really important that your application isnt just generic if you want to make it through to the interview stage. We know each other personally which means we work together with more cohesion, and less formality. Was very interesting . Capital markets lawyers work with transactions involving the issue of debt or equity securities to the public or investors. I am a career changer. Apply. 1 written exercise - drafting a memo to a partner and a letter to a client to resolve a complaint. The exercise was really short, ten mins on a case study you are given to read beforehand which is based on assessing your commercial awareness, and the interview is really a conversation about that, and then ten mins of questions about you. Cookies enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Any insight would be appreciated! There is just a brief description on their website and nothing on wikijob at all, so I was wondering if anyone has been to one? Resilience - that is a grit and ambition to take on real responsibility. Private Client. Has anyone here used upwork or other similar sites to initially get work to start your own firm? Commercial awareness. The associate may ask some follow up questions about the negotiation. Continue Reading Interview Questions Q: Why you choose Macfarlanes? We recruit people to build careers for the long term. The scheme is a great opportunity to find out whether Macfarlanes is right for you. Reply 1. Not automatically. If you are unsuccessful at an assessment day, you should discuss reapplying with a member of the graduate recruitment team. It is not a comprehensive list of religions, but we designed it to include thosewith practices thathave direct implications in a work setting. What is Macfarlanes doing to become a more sustainable and environmentally friendly business? On the whole there wasnt really a way you could have prepared for it though. Explain how a current issue affects our firm. And in June 2020 we adopted an ambitious new environmental policy. Are you allowed to take tracing paper into the Maths GCSE? Sponsored by Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. How would you implement a process. Well rounded candidates who will make the most of our varied seat rotations. What I would say is so make sure you finish the letter, even if it isnt your best! The coordinators were really helpful and gave me a prep call before so I knew what to expect from it. Market-leading perspectives and understanding, Responsive advice in a fast-changing world. If I am undertaking the SQE independently, will the firm sign off my QWE? As with the SQE preparation course, the firm covers your fees, and you receive a 13,000 grant. Partners and Graduate Recruitment were both friendly and made sure that I felt comfortable on the day. Please ensure you re-familiarise yourself with your application before the day. a networking session with our trainee solicitors. Why do you want to be a lawyer, specifically in the City, when were you resilient/determined. 2nd stage interview, a presentation on legaltech followed by a Q and A. Time management is key for this; I only just finished in time. Yes, we do. If successful at the screening stage, we will invite you for a telephone interview. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. For instance, we were a lawyer and a client was asking for advice, but we werent qualified in that area. Meanwhile, Irwin Mitchell is expecting to open its 15 offices at 50% capacity from 21 June. Several law firms, including Clifford Chance and Macfarlanes LLP, have launched a leadership-led, cross-firm collective developed to improve the representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups in the UK legal profession. For the first year insight scheme application form, the interests and achievements question has a maximum word count of 500 words. I understand that Macfarlanes future trainees undertake further study at BPP in Holborn. Assessment day comprised of talks from NQ's and grad rec, a negotiation group exercise, a written exercise, an unseen scenario interview and an interview with a partner. The firm is known for the quality of its work; not just in dealing with the full range of corporate and commercial matters, but in advising clients on their private affairs as well. Qualified Lawyers Assessment QLA (Re-qualifying in Scotland), Norton Rose Fulbright - Business and Legal Operations Graduate Scheme, Starting new training contract, I need all the advice possible, MOJ Trainee Legal Advisor - Magistrates Court - 2022, Law career advice for 2nd year LLB student with a flimsy CV. Yes, we run a first year insight scheme annually in the spring. Glassdoor users rated their interview experience at Macfarlanes as 87.5% positive with a difficulty rating score of 3.38 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty). We want the best talent at Macfarlanes. Anonymous Interview Candidate in London, England, I applied online. Our culture is thoughtful, challenging and supportive, and we are a place where everyone, at whatever level, can thrive. We have no minimum requirements for A level results. First commercial case study with 3 parts, then a partner interview on the case study followed by a group presentation task to a partner, a one-on-one partner interview and a written exercise (a letter responding to a claimant who is suing your client). Hey, I did one last year and I'm not sure if it has changed or not, but this is how . Make sure you keep an eye on the time, though the other people in the exercise made a big show of checking their watches and announcing how long we had left, clearly trying to earn points with the assessors. Please contact the graduate recruitment team. If you would like to apply for both, we suggest applying for the vacation scheme first, wait to hear the result of your application and then apply for our training programme if necessary. Partners and Graduate Recruitment were both friendly and made sure that I felt comfortable on the day. He is a member of the Society of Construction Law, the Adjudication Society, the Property Litigation Association, the Young International Arbitration . Our unrivalled blend of expertise, agility and culture means we have the flexibility to meet their most challenging demands and adapt to the changing world around us. What is it like? What do employees say about pay and career opportunities? I was put in a group with 6 people including myself. How do I add it to my form? I attended the assessment center, which consisted of one timed written exercise, one group exercise focused on negotiation, and one commercial case study with a partner and senior associate followed by the .