Macfarlanes Application Process

Macfarlanes don’t have any preconceptions about their applicants, and were one of the first law firms to introduce application-blind assessments.

Stage One

If you’re applying for a vacation scheme or a training programme, you’ll need to complete an online application form. The form asks you to provide your education history, and complete answers to some short questions.

Stage Two - Vacation Scheme

Successful applicants will then be invited to attend an assessment day. The vacation scheme assessment days involve a group negotiation, a written exercise, an unassessed networking session with the firm’s trainee solicitors, and an interview with a partner and a senior solicitor. The interview asks you about a business case study you will have prepared for 15 minutes. The interviewers then assess whether you have the key skills to succeed as a trainee solicitor. All assessment exercises are application blind, so the assessors will not have seen your application form.

Stage Two - Training Contract

The assessment day for the training contract involves: a written exercise, an in-tray exercise where you’ll have to prepare three business case studies, an unassessed networking session with the firm’s trainee solicitors, and an interview with a partner and a member of the HR team. The interview will ask about why you are interested in law and Macfarlanes, and will assess whether you have the skills necessary to succeed in law. Except for the application interview, all assessments are application blind.

Apply now!