What makes a successful application to Macfarlanes

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.

We are a distinctive London-based law firm with a unique combination of services built and shaped around the needs of our clients. 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. While many of our practice areas can be found at other firms, the mix cannot.

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.

We recruit people to build careers for the long term. We know each other personally which means we work together with more cohesion, and less formality. Our culture is thoughtful, challenging and supportive, and we are a place where everyone, at whatever level, can thrive. 

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. While we don’t have a set list, we look for candidates who have the core skills below, which are tested through the assessment day and interview stages:

• Well rounded candidates who will make the most of our varied seat rotations
• Great teamwork skills, which include being kind and considerate
• Leadership skills
• Strong academics
• Commercial awareness
• Resilience – that is a grit and ambition to take on real responsibility
• Brain power – clever people who can think on their feet

We really see our trainees as the future of our firm and are proud to have a consistently strong retention rate.

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. These include a talk by our senior partner and a dinner with a number of partners from around the firm. We also run a practice area open day where you can meet representatives from every practice area.

Joining the law societies – These societies have access to many city firms and will often host events that enable you to meet the firms in person and gain essential insights into the sector.

Get in touch with the Early Legal Careers team – That’s what our team is there for, we can answer your questions and give you guidance with your application.

Join Bright Network and Aspiring Solicitors – Make sure you are aware of our opportunities and on-top of all the deadlines by joining these careers service organisations. Make the most of their events and skills building workshops.

Read the Financial Times and The Economist – An excellent way to develop your commercial awareness - be sure to consider how these major events may have a practical, commercial impact in the legal sector.

For the online form it’s essential that you have really researched our firm – consider why you want to build your long-term career at Macfarlanes specifically. It’s really important that your application isn’t just generic if you want to make it through to the interview stage.

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). Ask around for advice and support and practice for the interview stages as much as possible. When discussing your application really consider what you have learnt and the skills you have developed. Do not feel pressured to respond too quickly, but take time to give considered answers.