On Fishbowl, you can share insights and advice anonymously with Macfarlanes employees and get real answers from people on the inside. 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. Pleasant. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. Because we respect your right to privacy, below you will find descriptions on the types of cookies used on this site and options to opt out where preferred. This was about due diligence and buying a company, so an awareness of what is important is good (debtors defaulting and guarantees, ongoing contracts). 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. Then we negotiated with the team opposite. Above all, we value a commitment to excellence, and an intuitive understanding of people. Our early legal careers team works closely with external diversity organisations, such as Aspiring Solicitors, Rare and upReach. If I have a disability or long-term health condition and need the application form in an alternative format, can you provide this? They didnt overtly say it would be about competencies but that was all it was, essentially. The scenario was an acquisition of an airline. Very friendly and relaxed. Written was the hardest as it was very time pressured but even though some of us didn't finish on time, still managed to get onto the scheme. SQE timeline (for training programmes due to start in 2025). Sponsored by Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. Some are necessary to help our website work properly and can't be switched off, and some are optional but support Bright Network in building and running the service that we provide to you. For those experiencing mental health conditions, we offer a confidential counselling service and regular firmwide seminars on looking after your mental health. We also continue to provide additional financial assistance in the form of a 13,000 grant during this time. Thoughts on Wilson Elser? Leading City firms adopt measures to combat obstacles faced by Black, Asian and minority ethnic lawyers. It is not a comprehensive list of religions, but we designed it to include thosewith practices thathave direct implications in a work setting. If you are unsuccessful at an assessment day, you should discuss reapplying with a member of the graduate recruitment team. Think about how you would structure a letter to a client, but otherwise its difficult to prepare for the written exercise as its just applying facts to the contract to see what can be done. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. There is a great deal that students can be doing while at university to position themselves as candidates that are serious about a career in law: Attend in-house events We have a real range of events that will allow you to meet our team, gain key insights into our work and build essential skills. Read through the documents quickly but try to highlight the key problems. They lead the client relationship management and advise clients on a range of issues, from housing to employment. Remember that a lawyer can only give advice on things they have expertise in or they will face liability for incorrect advice. 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 vacation scheme at Macfarlanes is a two-week snapshot into life as a trainee. Apply - Macfarlanes Will your assessment days be held in person or virtually in 2023? Assessment Centres - The Legal 500 Future Lawyers - Lex 100 For the first year insight scheme application form, the interests and achievements question has a maximum word count of 500 words. 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. for recruitment purposes, (including via virtual assessment centres and virtual trainee experiences); to promote our legal services, including . These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Yes, if the work experience is applicable. Our inclusion team regularly share invitations to firmwide religious and cultural events, and they created a document called Working with colleagues of different faiths. Spring 2024 - Sit the SQE2 examination. The process took 1 day. Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers. What to expect from Macfarlanes LLP training contract. As regards the former, in my case it involved basic questions such as tell me about a time you faced a challenge how did you overcome it and tell me about a time you showed initiative. We take extenuating circumstances seriously and would encourage you to be as open with us as you feel you can. Macfarlanes Interview Questions (2023) | Glassdoor Our selection process includes a range of assessments. It was about different categories of shareholders and shares, (apply the companys articles to a problem scenario) and needed a numerical answer for the value the company could recover (no calculator but very basic maths, e.g.dividing by 10). What exercises can I expect at a vacation scheme assessment day? Coming up with solutions to current legal issues was a bit tricky. Can trainees get involved in pro bono work at Macfarlanes? Macfarlanes First Year Skills Development Week 2023. Candidates can choose whether to join the evening social events, and we try and make sure that events are not centred on food or drink. Several had other careers first. Please note blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Make your points but be patient if anyone in the group doesnt quite understand the scenario. There is an about you section in both the vacation scheme and the training programme application forms, each with four questions. We structured it so that each of us in the group could start and make the point on one of the issues up for negotiation, and lead the negotiations for our side. DAWN (disability and wellbeing network) is a forum for networking and peer support between people who have direct experience of, or support others with, long-term health conditions. It was very well-structured but I feel the rather high number of applicants made it feel a bit more intimidating. Macfarlanes Career: Working at Macfarlanes | Glassdoor The driving force behind the firm is an absolute commitment to delivering the right advice in the right way to our clients. Apply. You can study the PGDL at any UK BPP university campus that offers the course. Found out from the recruiter that they hired the daughter of a friend of a partner instead - who had been interviewed, offered and accepted in the two weeks theyd been delaying on sending me the assessment. Can I send in a copy of my CV and a covering letter instead of completing an application online? Overall good questions ! In each seat you will share a room with a partner or solicitor who supervises and supports you. Anyone else 12 weeks behind with uni work? Yes, in 2021 we launched the Macfarlanes Legal Academy. I interviewed at Macfarlanes. If I choose an alternative route to qualify than the training programme will the firm pay for the cost of me sitting the SQE? Not usually, unless you fall into the category of experienced hires or foreign qualified lawyers described in our SQE policies. How does Macfarlanes support trainees with disabilities and long-term mental health conditions? Opens the Fishbowl by Glassdoor site in a new window. 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. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. It was relatively straight-forward. Our clients come from a range of backgrounds and cultures and our people do too. My final seat was in the Corporate and M&A department. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of the cookies explicitly. Industry: Legal. Macfarlanes LLP Training Contracts & Work Placements - LawCareers.Net The case study was very interesting to read it through and discuss with the partners. Resilience - that is a grit and ambition to take on real responsibility. 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. What is Macfarlanes doing to become a more sustainable and environmentally friendly business? Full instructions are given by the early legal careers team before the exercise; an interview with a partner and a senior associate. Upon successful completion of the SQE and QWE will I be able to apply for an NQ role at the firm? Common stages of the interview process at Macfarlanes according to 24 Glassdoor interviews include: Glassdoor has millions of jobs plus salary information, company reviews, and interview questions from people on the inside making it easy to find a job thats right for you. good questions and very good structure . I wrote my letter to the wrong person and I think this was the single biggest challenge to my chances of success. Please ensure you re-familiarise yourself with your application before the day. How long does the application form take to complete? Anyone here in-house with Disney or know anything about the company? As regards the written exercise, it was certainly the most difficult part of the assessment day (or open day as they call it), and involved basic calculations without a calculator. Any thoughts on working at Twitter as counsel? A time you changed your approach You will also be assigned a partner who will act as your mentor throughout the training programme. To understand more about how we use cookies or to change your cookie preferences, click on Showsettings. The second exercise was a written exercise: a letter to a client advising on whether they had grounds to sack some employees. Can I apply for both the training programme and a vacation scheme? Brain power - clever people who can think on their feet. Law firms launch initiative to address diversity issues in the profession. In 2023 we shall be running a spring and two summer vacation schemes, for which we are looking to recruit approximately 55 vacation students. Why Macfarlanes and what values resonate with you, Tax restructuring scenario for a group of companies. However, if you need additional support throughout the assessment process or there is anything else you wish to discuss, please contact the early legal careers team. We are committed to reduce any negative environmental impact from our business operations and to continually improve our environmental performance. Summer/Autumn 2023 - Begin studying for the SQE with BPP. The interview stage is comprised of two interviews (one with a partner who will have seen your application in advance and a business case study scenario to test your problem solving skills) as well as a group task and a written exercise (both application blind). Please get in touch with the Inclusion and CSR team if you have further questions. The exercise is about understanding the roles of lawyers and commercial awareness. Comp and culture? Partners and Graduate Recruitment were both friendly and made sure that I felt comfortable on the day. Most of our assessment processes for both our vacation schemes and our training programmes are scored application blind. They assess you on your contribution but also how you react to your team members. Well rounded candidates who will make the most of our varied seat rotations. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. Or for any questions feel free to contact us on +44 (0) 207 831 9222 or email us at earlylegalcareers@macfarlanes.com. Macfarlanes | The Corporate Law Academy Interviewers were polite and asked not too hard questions. The first was a written exercise which was a letter to a client, a holiday company, about a complaint they had received by one of their customers, with advice about their liabilities and what they should offer by way of compensation. Yes, but any training programme offer would be subject to your having the right to work in the UK for the duration of your training programme. Corporate tax involves involves advising clients on the tax risks associated with acquiring, selling or restructuring assets. Balance is a forum for all staff managing careers and home lives. Explain how a current issue affects our firm. We also use a contextual recruitment tool to understand each applicants achievements in the context they were gained. What happens if I have completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL)? We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. When discussing your application really consider what you have learnt and the skills you have developed. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Then you can start the Macfarlanes SQE preparation course alongside your cohort of Macfarlanes future trainees. The interviewer will point you to problems you have missed though, so dont worry if you dont get everything first time round. All future trainees complete the SQE preparation course with their cohort of Macfarlanes trainees at BPP University, Holborn campus. Macfarlanes trainee experience. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. About us Diversity and inclusion Facts and figures We hope you use the assessments as a chance to build your understanding of us and what makes us different, just as we see it as a chance to gain an understanding of you. If you have completed the Graduate Diploma in Law/Postgraduate Diploma in Law, the Legal Practice Course/Solicitors Qualifying Examinations or both, you are required to have achieved at least a commendation. When is the deadline for the vacation scheme? The dates of our 2023 vacation schemes are as follows: Applications open on 26 September 2022 andare online via our website. Vacation schemes are designed to give you as much experience as possible within a law firm. Click herefor more information on dates. No, we do not accept applications after the deadline has passed. 2nd stage interview, a presentation on legaltech followed by a Q and A. We have contemplation/multifaith prayer rooms, and these are accessible to all. Regarding the interview, this is split in two parts one focusing on personal experiences (mostly competency questions) and the other on a case study, which you will have already had the chance to read before the interview. The hiring process at Macfarlanes takes an average of 20.2 days when considering 24 user submitted interviews across all job titles. All content 2023 Macfarlanes LLP. They kept dragging out the time before they sent me the assessment, and then decided not to hire me. Where can I study the SQE preparation course? 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. Are there any programmes for me? There was a group negotiation task (nothing too complicated, just about showing you're a team player) followed by a written assessment (quite time pressured) and then an interview, half of which is a case study and the other half about you. What is it really like to work at Macfarlanes? We take extenuating circumstances seriously and would encourage you to be as open with us as you feel comfortable. I interviewed at Macfarlanes (London, England) in Jul 2022, Introduction Hey, I did one last year and I'm not sure if it has changed or not, but this is how . Following the UKs exit from the European Union, the covid-19 pandemic and various financial scandals, there is always lots going on in this area. REACH (race, ethnicity and cultural heritage) is a forum for networking and peer support. Keep up to date with our free weekly newsletter, 2.1 anticipated or achieved (mitigating circumstances are taken into account). FAQs - Macfarlanes a networking session with our trainee solicitors. No, not at all. "Why law/Macfarlanes? Anonymous Interview Candidate in London, England, I applied online. Even though I didn't get the offer I enjoyed the day and the feedback they gave afterwards was helpful. Unless the partner proves you're wrong, this is usually an opportunity for you to hold your ground and show your potential as a future lawyer, Written exercise suggested to be the hardest because of time constraints. Autumn 2023 - Sit the SQE1 examination. Construction and Engineering - Home - Macfarlanes Macfarlanes is pleased to announce that Stephen Ross joins the firm on 18 January as a partner in its investment management team. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Please visit theeventspage on the website to find out about our latest events. Copyright The Student Room 2023 all rights reserved. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. I applied through a recruiter. Some common areas that lead to applicants not passing the application stage include lack of research on the firm, poor spelling, grammar and punctuation, not meeting the minimum requirements, not fully articulating your motivations, needing more complete or more succinct responses to questions, poor example choices and repetition of ideas. Competition and regulatory work includes merger control, regulatory and court proceedings, issues arising from sector-specific regulation and utility procurement issues. We recruit 33 trainees who join us every September. Copyright The Student Room 2023 all rights reserved. Bar Course /BVS / BPTC 2023-2024 : what are everyone's plans? Anyone here in-house with Disney or know anything about the company? Please contact the graduate recruitment team. For instance, we were a lawyer and a client was asking for advice, but we werent qualified in that area. 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. Are vacation scheme and insight scheme participants paid? Was very interesting . All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. How do I add it to my form? A long application followed by an assessment centre with a case study, partner/associate interview and written exercise. Can I apply for the vacation scheme or training programme? Our culture is thoughtful, challenging and supportive, and we are a place where everyone, at whatever level, can thrive. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Litigation and Dispute Resolution. The written exercise is probably the most difficult (see below). You complete modules that are bespoke to Macfarlanes. 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. The examination comprises two stages: SQE 1 and SQE 2. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. The in-tray exercise is also difficult to prepare for, because its largely dependent on the situation before you. The format at the Assessment Centre was as follows: Negotiation exercise Presentation from trainees Written exercise Interview + case study Work shadowing For the negotiation exercise, just be yourself ensure you speak and make valid points as they assess everything you say. Your choices regarding cookies on this site. The maximum word count for each of these questions is 300 words. 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? Any insight would be appreciated! Macfarlanes Assessment Day. - The Student Room We have opportunities for qualified lawyers, trainees and business services who are looking for outstanding career development. Winding-up petitions: whats the impact on companies and creditors in financial distress? Insurance and reinsurance is an integral part of commercial activity throughout the world. JavaScript is disabled. 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 . For those candidates completing the PGDL, you need to achieve a commendation or above on the first sitting. 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?