1875. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Has anyone here used upwork or other similar sites to initially get work to start your own firm? If I am undertaking the SQE independently, will the firm sign off my QWE? You will spend an afternoon work-shadowing one of our trainees as well as being assessed for a place on the vacation scheme itself. REACH (race, ethnicity and cultural heritage) is a forum for networking and peer support. If you are studying a non-law degree, you can only apply for a place on our vacation schemes from your penultimate year onwards. For instance, we were a lawyer and a client was asking for advice, but we werent qualified in that area. If you are studying law, you can apply in your penultimate year and onwards for both a vacation scheme and the training programme. The first half of the interview is the business case study exercise where you are asked about a case study that you will have had 15 minutes to prepare for before the interview. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Our spring vacation scheme often takes place during Ramadan, so this is something we consider when organising the programme of events. We had limited time to work out a company share buy out situation, and write a letter to the client. Sponsored by Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP. Spring 2024 - Sit the SQE2 examination. Why do you want to become a solicitor? How would you implement a process. 1 partner interview - standard interview, cv and commerciality based. 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. 1 negotiation exercise - group work based exercise with a partner. The coordinators were really helpful and gave me a prep call before so I knew what to expect from it. Applications open on 26 September 2022 online via our website and will close on 27 January 2023. Be the first to find this interview helpful, Why Law Why Macfarlanes Describe a time when you overcame an obstacle, "Are you resilient?" 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. Pretty straightforward, nice talking to the recruitment managers. Market-leading perspectives and understanding, Responsive advice in a fast-changing world. The coordinators were really helpful and gave me a prep call before so I knew what to expect from it. Group exercise: split intotwo parts, first all four int he group discussing a scenario with the assessor (speak up but dont dominate). The format at the Assessment Centre was as follows: We encourage you to take your time, come to as many events as you can and thoroughly research the firm before applying. You then meet a partner and a senior associate who ask you several questions about each case study. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Are vacation scheme and insight scheme participants paid? It is about recruiting, retaining and promoting all groups in the firm fairly, and we have invested in our processes to ensure everyone has the same chance to develop and advance. Nice experience, the interviewers were very friendly and willing to help with any questions I had. 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. 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. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Apply. Why Macfarlanes and what values resonate with you, Tax restructuring scenario for a group of companies. Technology, media and telecommunications is one of the fastest-developing sectors of the legal market. Do not feel pressured to respond too quickly, but take time to give considered answers. I interviewed at Macfarlanes (London, England) in Apr 2021. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. There were quite a lot of applicants together on the same day. The scheme will comprise of skills workshops, work shadowing and presentations. 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"). Immigration lawyers deal with all legal matters relating to immigration and nationality. Many of our trainees and associates applied for our programmes after they graduated. If your questions are not answered above, pleasecontact the early legal careers team. Tax. Brain power - clever people who can think on their feet. Macfarlanes is a leading independent law firm with a straightforward, independently-minded approach. It is not a win lose situation, be cooperative and collaborate with your team mates. Corporate tax involves involves advising clients on the tax risks associated with acquiring, selling or restructuring assets. To save you time . Cookies enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. I applied for a Training Contract directly. My partner is letting her friend sleep in her bed, am I overeacting? . 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. SQE timeline (for training programmes due to start in 2025). I am a career changer. 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. The hardest part of the day was definitely the written exercise. All content 2023 Macfarlanes LLP. Leadership skills. 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. My partner is letting her friend sleep in her bed, am I overeacting? The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Very intense, but shadowing a trainee in the afternoon (in Construction for me) gave a chance to see actual work and have a more informal chat about the firm. The day involved a 20-minute exercise with a partner, a written exercise and a group exercise. We always recruit trainees from both vacation schemes and direct training programme applications in each intake. However, the firm will provide study leave at the discretion of the practice area head. You are using an out of date browser. The vast majority of our graduate recruitment assessment processes are scored CV blind. This 32-week course includes everything you need to ensure you are fully prepared to work in commercial practice. Commercial lawyers focus on trade, from commercial agreements about supply, manufacture and distribution to identifying the best routes to market. The second half of the interview assesses whether you possess some of the important skills needed to be a successful trainee. Assessment Centre: 1 partner interview - standard interview, cv and commerciality based. Make sure you complete the exercise in the time available, and just be clear in giving your advice. What I would say is so make sure you finish the letter, even if it isnt your best! Biomedical Science: 2023/24 Applicants Thread. . What are your thoughts about xyz? Then we negotiated with the team opposite. If I have a disability or long-term health condition and need the application form in an alternative format, can you provide this? I did 4 partner interviews over a period of 6 weeks, only for them to suddenly ask me to do an assessment. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. 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. The written task was the hardest as there was a lot of time pressure. Industry: Legal. Leading City firms adopt measures to combat obstacles faced by Black, Asian and minority ethnic lawyers. Do you accept applications from people like me? Capital markets lawyers work with transactions involving the issue of debt or equity securities to the public or investors. Anonymous Interview Candidate in London, England, I applied online. Written exercise If you are interested in a career in commercial law and would like a career at Macfarlanes, we welcome your application. Any thoughts on working at Twitter as counsel? The first exercise was a group negotiation exercise. We run campus and in-house events during the academic year. 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. We also use a contextual recruitment tool to understand each applicants achievements in the context they were gained. . These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. 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. We have no minimum requirements for A level results. 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"). The exercise is about understanding the roles of lawyers and commercial awareness. Thoughts on Wilson Elser? Online application. How do I add it to my form? 19. 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. Please note blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. You will also be assigned a partner who will act as your mentor throughout the training programme. I achieved lower grades at A level than I had hoped for. This involved looking at what was promised, the conditions that the customer experienced etc. To understand more about how we use cookies or to change your cookie preferences, click on Showsettings. Most of our assessment processes for both our vacation schemes and our training programmes are scored application blind. You have 45 minutes to complete this exercise; a business case study exercise where you are given three business case studies to prepare in 30 minutes. A time you changed your approach 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. Please visit theeventspage on the website to find out about our latest events. Firm Profile . What is the interview process like at Macfarlanes. How would you implement a process. 31/03/2023 Mayer Brown . Do you only accept applicants from certain universities? Sponsored by Charles Russell Speechlys LLP. Application details and method of selection. See what employees say it's like to work at Macfarlanes. Commercial awareness. SQE 1 tests your functional legal knowledge through multiple choice questions. However, if you feel you have a good understanding of what life is like as an associate and have researched the firm well, you can apply directly for our training programme. When discussing your application really consider what you have learnt and the skills you have developed. Woven into every aspect of life at the firm is an enduring commitment to the development of trainees. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. 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). The case study focusses on a series of scenarios under tight timed conditions. Insurance and reinsurance is an integral part of commercial activity throughout the world. As a trainee you will complete four six-month seats in different practice areas. 2023 The Corporate Law Academy. They kept dragging out the time before they sent me the assessment, and then decided not to hire me. Macfarlanes interview details: 23 interview questions and 24 interview reviews posted anonymously by Macfarlanes interview candidates. If I have completed the LPC, will I still need to complete the Macfarlanes SQE preparation course? Time management is key for this; I only just finished in time. Its very difficult to prepare for the quick scenario to discuss, but think about privileged information and codes of ethics for solicitors. About us Diversity and inclusion Facts and figures Diversity Schemes. When is the deadline for the vacation scheme? I am worried that if I tell Macfarlanes about my disability this will be seen negatively. No, we do not currently use psychometric testing at any stage of the application process. Thanks for sharing Dan. Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers. The case study was very interesting to read it through and discuss with the partners. 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. We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. 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 examination comprises two stages: SQE 1 and SQE 2. General introduction - interview with partners - written exercise - group negotiation. Anyone here in-house with Disney or know anything about the company? Please describe the interview process at Macfarlanes. Our culture is thoughtful, challenging and supportive, and we are a place where everyone, at whatever level, can thrive. We take extenuating circumstances seriously and would encourage you to be as open with us as you feel you can. Generally, we progress applications from candidates who have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2.1 in their degree. All rights reserved. Strong academics. Why do you want to be a lawyer, specifically in the City, when were you resilient/determined. How would you deal with a disruptive associate when you are giving presentation ? Continue Reading Interview Questions Q: Why you choose Macfarlanes? Find out how Macfarlanes LLP is adopting the Solicitors Qualifying Exam. The scheme is a great opportunity to find out whether Macfarlanes is right for you. 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). How far before the deadline should I apply? Just really know what you are good and bad at. If successful at the screening stage, we will invite you for a telephone interview. Can I still apply? Any thoughts on working at Twitter as counsel? Can I send in a copy of my CV and a covering letter instead of completing an application online? 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. Read through the documents quickly but try to highlight the key problems. 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. 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). Is there a dress down policy at the firm? Please detail these circumstances in your application for us to consider. The written exercise focussed on drafting a partner memo and a client complaint response. You can detail this on your application form. We will set measurable targets against our three strategic priorities. I am studying a four year degree course, with a year abroad in my third year. Do you have a first year programme? This employer has not claimed their Employer Profile and is missing out on connecting with our community.