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  4. Training Contract 2024/2025
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We pride ourselves on providing a learning experience that is genuinely distinctive. What defines that experience? Above all, we have an enduring commitment to the development of trainees because they are intrinsic to what we do and the future of our firm. It means your training contract at Macfarlanes will combine hands-on experience with a first-class education programme.

Seat rotation

As a trainee you will spend six months in four different practice areas, with most of our trainees completing a seat in corporate and M&A seat. You will have the opportunity to submit your seat preferences and we will do our best to ensure you get to work in the seats that most interest you. In each seat, you will be personally supervised by a partner or senior solicitor who will support you in your work.

Development

Once you begin your training programme you will follow an intensive schedule of seminars and lectures – these will mostly be presented by partners or senior solicitors from within the firm. The programme is 'front-loaded' to develop your knowledge and skills from the start. In some practice areas, you may even be asked to contribute to a seminar or to update the team on recent developments in a particular area of law.

Feedback and mentoring

Each of your seats will feature a mid-seat and end-of-seat review. This is an opportunity to help gauge your progress. You will be allocated a partner principal who is personally responsible for you for the duration of your training programme. As well as that, all our trainees are divided into small ‘constituency’ groups to give you direct and regular access to your own Trainee Solicitor Committee partner, who can discuss any issues you have. Six-monthly reviews will be held with both your partner principal and Trainee Solicitor Committee partner. All of these mechanisms are there to ensure you get the best and most appropriate experience during your first years. What may surprise you at the outset is how quickly you will become part of the team and how soon people at all levels in the firm will know your name and value your contribution.

Application

Applications for our September 2024/March 2025 training programmes are open from 27 September 2021 and close on 25 July 2022.

Assessment days for the training programme will run in August. 

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)

The firm has partnered with BPP to design a bespoke programme which goes beyond helping you to pass SQE assessments.

The 32-week course will include all elements needed to ensure that you are fully prepared to work in City practice. You will also complete modules which are bespoke to Macfarlanes. The programme combines classroom and digital learning to embed knowledge and uses business simulation exercises to help you to apply your knowledge in realistic practice scenarios. 

All elements (including the bespoke Macfarlanes modules) will be paid for by the firm. We will also continue to provide additional financial assistance in the form of a non-repayable grant during this time.

During the year when you are completing your SQE preparation course you will also attend regular seminars from the firm when you will hear from our practice areas. These sessions will help to build your legal knowledge and inform your seat choices. You will also be invited to attend social events at the firm so you can start building your network before joining us.

SQE Timeline (for training programmes due to commence in 2024/2025)

  • Spring/Summer 2022 – Receive your training programme offer from Macfarlanes.
  • Summer/Autumn 2023 – Begin studying for the SQE with BPP.
  • Autumn 2023 – Sit the SQE1 examination.
  • Spring 2024 – Sit the SQE2 examination.

You will then start your two years qualifying work experience in September 2024 or March 2025 after you have sat SQE2.

If you have completed a non-law subject at undergraduate level you will also be required to complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Law course (PGDL) at BPP. This will be completed in the year between receiving your training programme offer and commencing your studies for the SQE. For those applicants completing the PGDL you will need to achieve a commendation or above on the first sitting. As with the SQE preparation course, the firm will cover your fees and you will receive a non-repayable grant.