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. On Fishbowl, you can share insights and advice anonymously with Macfarlanes employees and get real answers from people on the inside. During each seat you will receive a schedule of seminars to develop your knowledge and skills at an early stage in each seat. Sponsored by Gowling WLG (UK) LLP. Macfarlanes is unlike any other law firm. The process took 2+ months. We look for candidates who want to build a long-term career at the firm and who have the skills to thrive under the responsibility we will give them. My partner is letting her friend sleep in her bed, am I overeacting? Partner and associate are friendly and very nice. The Race Fairness Commitmenthas been adopted by 17 top law firms in partnership with Rare Recruitment as part of their long-term strategies to help recruit, retain and develop black, Asian and minority ethnic talent within the legal profession. Your choices regarding cookies on this site. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. What exercises can I expect at a vacation scheme assessment day? Do I need to have completed a vacation scheme when I apply for the training programme? 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. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves. Make sure to give clear advice and really watch the time. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. 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. The amount is reviewed annually and is within market range. 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. Hey, I did one last year and I'm not sure if it has changed or not, but this is how . Sponsored by Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP. Applications open on 26 September 2022 online via our website and will close on 27 January 2023. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Law firms have raised more than 600,000 to support 65 hopeful social welfare lawyers through theSolicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). Vacation Schemes 2021 - Macfarlanes | Bright Network 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. You will also be assigned a partner who will act as your mentor throughout the training programme. a written exercise where you are expected to read a source text and complete two written pieces. When is the deadline for the vacation scheme? I have had a bad experience in the past and feel it is safer not to disclose my disability. We will set measurable targets against our three strategic priorities. Macfarlanes Interview Questions (2023) | Glassdoor Leadership skills. Last year our work involved over 75 jurisdictions. Please contact the graduate recruitment team. You cant go too wrong if you finish on time. Macfarlanes Interview Questions | Glassdoor Applications will close on 6 January 2023. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. Explain how a current issue affects our firm. The firm has partnered with BPP to design a bespoke programme that goes beyond helping you pass SQE assessments. Private client solicitors looks after the affairs of individual clients and trustees, managing all aspects of their personal wealth. Does Macfarlanes have any staff network groups? I know it consists of a negotiation exercise, interview, and written task, and would appreciate any details. Learn more about diversity and inclusion at Macfarlanes LLP. They lead the client relationship management and advise clients on a range of issues, from housing to employment. No. Overall good questions ! Winding-up petitions: whats the impact on companies and creditors in financial distress? The scheme will comprise of skills workshops, work shadowing and presentations. Corporate tax involves involves advising clients on the tax risks associated with acquiring, selling or restructuring assets. The second element was an interview with a partner about competencies. The written exercise focussed on drafting a partner memo and a client complaint response. We want the best talent at Macfarlanes. Summer/Autumn 2023 - Begin studying for the SQE with BPP. Macfarlanes LLP - True Picture - Chambers Student Guide We are members of the Business Disability Forum and work closely with the Forum to ensure our processes remain accessible and fair to all candidates. We do not recruit on a rolling basis for our early legal careers programmes so will not begin screening applications until after the deadline. Make sure you have convincing answers to questions like why law, why Macfarlanes, why haven't you done vac schemes, what other firms have you applied to, how have you demonstrated resilience etc. Macfarlanes is a distinctive London-based law firm, focused on its clients and on delivering excellence in the international legal market. When is the deadline for direct training programme applications? Why do you want to become a solicitor? Maintenance allowance for PGDL students, 13,000. The scenario was an acquisition of an airline. To apply you will need to be in the first year (and second year on a four-year course) of your undergraduate degree. The opportunity to experience Macfarlanes begins with our vacation scheme assessment days. We welcome applicationsfrom candidates with either a law or non-law background with outstanding academics, including apredicted 2.1 degree or above. This employer has not claimed their Employer Profile and is missing out on connecting with our community. Private Client. 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. Remember that a lawyer can only give advice on things they have expertise in or they will face liability for incorrect advice. Please visit the Apply page on our website to watch avideoabout our training programme assessment day. We advise on procurement strategies, development agreements, building contracts, professional appointments, warranties, guarantees and bonds, risk and project management and dispute avoidance. No. 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. We recruit 55 participants across our three vacation schemes annually. For the negotiation exercise, just be yourself ensure you speak and make valid points as they assess everything you say. Written exercises: Attention to detail, true or false logic, and conditionality 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. We know each other personally which means we work together with more cohesion, and less formality. The day involved a 20-minute exercise with a partner, a written exercise and a group exercise. It is not a comprehensive list of religions, but we designed it to include thosewith practices thathave direct implications in a work setting. 1 written exercise - drafting a memo to a partner and a letter to a client to resolve a complaint. The scheme is a great opportunity to find out whether Macfarlanes is right for you. Competition and regulatory work includes merger control, regulatory and court proceedings, issues arising from sector-specific regulation and utility procurement issues. Investment Management. Macfarlanes Training Contract Interview Questions | Glassdoor I submitted my application but forgot to mention something. Several had other careers first. The firm will do this as part of its bulk renewal process. Summer/autumn 2024 begin studying for the SQE with BPP. Sponsored by Milbank LLP. 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. More than 90% of UK law firms that responded to a survey by accountancy network MHA said they had made a profit since March 2020. Robert Collard > Macfarlanes LLP > London > England | Lawyer Profile All Rights Reserved. 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. The maximum word count for each of these questions is 300 words. Our HR team liaise with third party occupational health and other medical professionals. A big thank you to the graduate recruitment team for delivering such a memorable Assessment Centre and . It was a different kind of awards ceremony last night as hundreds of viewers stayed at home to watch the 17th annual LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards streamed live on Facebook and Instagram. Vacation schemes are designed to give you as much experience as possible within a law firm. Sponsored by Charles Russell Speechlys LLP. The programme has been developed in-house, and all tasks have been modelled on real work and created by our associates and trainee . We talked to the person next to us and then relayed to the rest of the room. good questions and very good structure . Our culture is thoughtful, challenging and supportive, and we are a place where everyone, at whatever level, can thrive. The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We take extenuating circumstances seriously and would encourage you to be as open with us as you feel you can. If I choose an alternative route to qualify than the training programme will the firm pay for the cost of me sitting the SQE? Interviewers were polite and asked not too hard questions. Our spring vacation scheme often takes place during Ramadan, so this is something we consider when organising the programme of events. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. 1 negotiation exercise - group work based exercise with a partner. Agreed - very useful going forwards! We are committed to reduce any negative environmental impact from our business operations and to continually improve our environmental performance. 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. Biomedical Science: 2023/24 Applicants Thread. Comp and culture? They discuss adjustments required by our employees and ensure these are implemented. REACH (race, ethnicity and cultural heritage) is a forum for networking and peer support. Diversity Schemes. Immigration lawyers deal with all legal matters relating to immigration and nationality. Are you supportive if they have forgotten their point/are being brutally questioned by the other side and do you bring in quieter members of the group if they are struggling? Thanks! 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. The form is designed to give you every opportunity to tell us about yourself and show your interest in Macfarlanes. I am an undergraduate student in my antepenultimate year (first year of a three-year or second year of a four-year course). These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Our first-year insight scheme is aweek-long event designed to provide students with an insight into City law. The associate may ask some follow up questions about the negotiation. ", Opens the Fishbowl by Glassdoor site in a new window, motivations for law, about you, and competency on resilience. The second half of the interview assesses whether you possess some of the important skills needed to be a successful trainee. If I complete my SQE independently will I be reimbursed for the costs of the exams? 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. Macfarlanes Career: Working at Macfarlanes | Glassdoor Macfarlanes is big on resilience, which is difficult to think about on the spot so make sure you prepare specific situations and structure your answer well. We had to read a situation and respond to it with what we would do in an interview with a partner. Do you have a multifaith prayer room at your office? You will have the opportunity to meet trainees, solicitors and partners within the firm. Please note blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. All relatively straight forward. Any thoughts on working at Twitter as counsel? We are now a dress down firm, so yes. What support can you give to those observing religious holidays, for example, during the vacation scheme? We are Macfarlanes LLP, the City of London based, international law firm, and entities controlled by Macfarlanes LLP through which it carries out its business ("Macfarlanes", "we", "us" or "our"). Body language and speech are important: don't slouch or mumble and avoid verbal tics such as 'like', 'you know' and 'sort of'. Is there a dress down policy at the firm? Make sure you complete the exercise in the time available, and just be clear in giving your advice. On the whole there wasnt really a way you could have prepared for it though. How do I add it to my form? There were quite a lot of applicants together on the same day. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. Firms reinstate NQ pay and tell staff they can choose how and when to work. Official LSE Undergraduate Applicants thread 2023, Official: University of Sheffield A100 2023 entry, Official King's College London 2023 Applicants Thread, TSR Community Awards 2022: Most Helpful in Universities- VOTING OPEN, Official Cambridge Postgraduate Applicants 2023 Thread. Macfarlanes LLP | Training contracts, vacation schemes and - Lex 100 Yes, if the work experience is applicable. 7 things that make Macfarlanes 'meaningfully different' Sponsored by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. We have contemplation/multifaith prayer rooms, and these are accessible to all. The Ultimate Job Interview Preparation Guide. 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. Corporate finance lawyers advise companies on all aspects of the buying and selling of whole businesses or business assets. Our clients come from a range of backgrounds and cultures and our people do too. Most of our assessment processes for both our vacation schemes and our training programmes are scored application blind. The coordinators were really helpful and gave me a prep call before so I knew what to expect from it. A number of our current trainee cohort and associates had another career before applying to our training programme. Commercial lawyers focus on trade, from commercial agreements about supply, manufacture and distribution to identifying the best routes to market. 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. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. I applied through a recruiter. We take extenuating circumstances seriously and would encourage you to be as open with us as you feel comfortable. Anyone here in-house with Disney or know anything about the company? You can detail this on your application form. We are a distinctive London-based law firm with a unique combination of services built and shaped around the needs of our clients. Be the first to find this interview helpful, Why Law Why Macfarlanes Describe a time when you overcame an obstacle, "Are you resilient?" How many trainees do you recruit for the training programme annually? Macfarlanes - Macfarlanes International students looking to apply for our first year insight scheme and vacation schemes must ensure that the dates of the scheme are outside term time. When discussing your application really consider what you have learnt and the skills you have developed. Pretty straightforward, nice talking to the recruitment managers. Our REACH network celebrates a number of religious holidays, such as Eid al-Fitr, Purim and Diwali. If you are studying law, you can apply in your penultimate year and onwards for both a vacation scheme and the training programme. Charities lawyers advising the not-for-profit and social enterprise sector cover a vast area of legal ground, from wills and trusts to commercial and real estate law. 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. 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. There is an about you section in both the vacation scheme and the training programme application forms, each with four questions. 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. The firm will reimburse SQE costs for anyone who is successful in securing a place on the training programme. We do, however, give feedback to candidates who attend an assessment day. There was minimal technical hiccups and I felt welcomed at the firm. We sat around in a conference room and there were ice-breakers. To save you time . Our culture is thoughtful, challenging and supportive, and we are a place where everyone, at whatever level, can thrive. 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. Private Equity. Additional support and extenuating circumstances, Meeting Macfarlanes Campus events, workshops and fairs, Your choices regarding cookies on this site. 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. 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. How long does the application form take to complete? What kind of technology are you interested in most? The day on the whole is quite, usually from 9-4:30- but the rest of the activities are not assessed so it does allow you to relax and meet the trainees! The Pupillage Interview/Acceptance/Rejection Thread 2023 Watch, Got offered Clifford Chance interview etc and don't know what to do lol. Please note this in the additional information section on the application form or include the module in the education section and list TBC in the grade column. "Why law/Macfarlanes? 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. Interview. Pride is a forum for LGBTQ+ staff and allies. Yes, we do. "Why law/Macfarlanes? What advice would you give to future applicants for the Macfarlanes interview? Great teamwork skills, which include being kind and considerate. Opens the Fishbowl by Glassdoor site in a new window. Construction and Engineering - Home - Macfarlanes I understand that Macfarlanes future trainees undertake further study at BPP in Holborn. Pensions and Pensions De-risking. Its very difficult to prepare for the quick scenario to discuss, but think about privileged information and codes of ethics for solicitors. See what employees say it's like to work at Macfarlanes. . The case study was very interesting to read it through and discuss with the partners. You should therefore not worry about applying to us as soon as the applications open. Commercial litigators represent and advise commercial clients when disputes arise from joint venture projects, civil fraud, commercial and banking transactions, corporate governance, financial services regulation and professional negligence. We understand that not every candidates achievements look the same on paper, and we are a firm that believes in fairness and diversity. 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. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I interviewed at Macfarlanes (London, England) in Jul 2022, Introduction Brain power - clever people who can think on their feet. Application blind and contextual recruitment. 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. 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. Large projects involve lawyers specialising in finance, construction and corporate law. Anonymous Interview Candidate in London, England, I applied online. How would you implement a process. All future trainees complete the SQE preparation course with their cohort of Macfarlanes trainees at BPP University, Holborn campus. My final seat was in the Corporate and M&A department. To apply for a vacation scheme you will need to be in at least the penultimate year of your degree. 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. Priority for NQ places is given to those who have completed the firms training programme. You can apply for the training programme in your penultimate year and onwards if you are a law student, or in your final year and onwards if you are a non-law student. We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture throughout the firm, from entry level to partnership. These include a talk by our senior partner and a dinner with a number of partners from around the firm. Working at Macfarlanes | Glassdoor And in June 2020 we adopted an ambitious new environmental policy. Yes. The driving force behind the firm is an absolute commitment to delivering the right advice in the right way to our clients. 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. Has anyone here used upwork or other similar sites to initially get work to start your own firm? Upon successful completion of the SQE and QWE will I be able to apply for an NQ role at the firm? The second exercise was a written exercise: a letter to a client advising on whether they had grounds to sack some employees. 1 negotiation exercise - group work based exercise with a partner.