Firm Profiles
Macfarlanes
Macfarlanes
A Silver Cricle Firm
A Silver Cricle Firm
Year 1 Trainee
£56,000
Year 2 Trainee
£61,000
Newly Qualified
£140,000
Macfarlanes is a leading Silver Circle law firm headquartered in London, with a distinctive blend of corporate, private client, and dispute resolution expertise. With over 600 fee‑earning lawyers and 96 partners, the firm prides itself on delivering agile, client‑focused service across high-value, cross-border matters.
TC Number
33
Seats
4
Secondments
No
Offices
2
Macfarlanes offers around 33 training contracts each year, with trainees completing four six-month seats across a range of contentious and transactional departments.
Macfarlanes does not offer international or client secondments during the training contract. The firm typically reserves these opportunities for associates post-qualification, partnering with independent firms in jurisdictions like New York, Jersey, or Brussels, to support trainee development through specific transactions .That said, trainees may occasionally travel abroad on certain matters, for example to Brussels, but aren’t formally seconded until later in their careers.
Rankings in Chambers
22
Category
Silver Circle
Known for a supportive and collaborative culture, Macfarlanes consistently ranks in UK Chambers & Partners 2025 with 22 ranked departments and 54 ranked lawyers, reflecting its broad strengths across key practice areas.The firm is an early adopter of legal tech, notably partnering with Harvey AI for legal workflows in 2023. The firm’s lawtech team was ranked in Chambers New Law 2025 for designing client-facing digital solutions.
Macfarlanes was named City Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2023, in recognition of its standout performance and continued impact across the London legal market. In 2024, the firm was also shortlisted for Best Talent & Inclusion Initiative at the same awards, highlighting its commitment to widening access to the profession through its scholarship and bursary programmes. Macfarlanes’ Lawtech team earned its first ranking in the Chambers & Partners New Law Guide 2025, reflecting its strength in client-focused digital tools and legal innovation.
The Application Process
Vacation Scheme Deadline
TBD
A-Levels Requirements
N/A
Degree Requirements
Degree Requirements
2:!
Application Writing
Applicants must answer 'Why Macfarlanes' and 'Tell us about yourself' in about 300 words. Applicants must also submit personal and academic information, including full breakdowns of university grades and any mitigating circumstances. The work experience section has no word limit, so applicants are encouraged to include all relevant experiences, whether legal or not, emphasising transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and resilience. Candidates should demonstrate a clear understanding of what makes Macfarlanes distinct, ideally referencing practice areas, events attended, or interactions with firm representatives.
Assessment Centre
The Macfarlanes assessment centre is fully application blind and consists of three core components:
Case Study and Skills-Based Interview
This is a two-part interview with a partner and a senior associate. It begins with a case study exercise, for which you’ll be given time to read and prepare commercial background materials before discussing your analysis. This is followed by a skills-based interview, covering your motivations, competencies, and general suitability for a career at the firm.
Written Exercise
You’ll be asked to review legal and commercial information and respond to a simulated client query. The task assesses your ability to communicate clearly and structure advice logically in writing.
Group Exercise
Working as part of a small team, you’ll review an M&A-style scenario and negotiate a set of commercial terms from either a buyer or seller perspective. Assessors observe how you contribute, listen, and respond under time pressure.
Interview Stage
Application Writing
Psychometric Testing
Applicants must answer 'Why Macfarlanes' and 'Tell us about yourself' in about 300 words. Applicants must also submit personal and academic information, including full breakdowns of university grades and any mitigating circumstances. The work experience section has no word limit, so applicants are encouraged to include all relevant experiences, whether legal or not, emphasising transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and resilience. Candidates should demonstrate a clear understanding of what makes Macfarlanes distinct, ideally referencing practice areas, events attended, or interactions with firm representatives.
After submitting your application, you’ll be invited to complete an online assessment within 72 hours. You’ll have seven days to complete it, so it’s important to apply at a time when you’ll be able to set aside the necessary time. Unless you have extenuating circumstances, no extensions will be granted. The test assesses situational judgement and critical reasoning across a range of legal practice areas. It offers a realistic preview of trainee life at Macfarlanes and is used in combination with your written application to determine progression to the next stage.
Psychometric Testing
After submitting your application, you’ll be invited to complete an online assessment within 72 hours. You’ll have seven days to complete it, so it’s important to apply at a time when you’ll be able to set aside the necessary time. Unless you have extenuating circumstances, no extensions will be granted. The test assesses situational judgement and critical reasoning across a range of legal practice areas. It offers a realistic preview of trainee life at Macfarlanes and is used in combination with your written application to determine progression to the next stage.
Interview Stage
Assessment Centre
The Macfarlanes assessment centre is fully application blind and consists of three core components:
Case Study and Skills-Based Interview
This is a two-part interview with a partner and a senior associate. It begins with a case study exercise, for which you’ll be given time to read and prepare commercial background materials before discussing your analysis. This is followed by a skills-based interview, covering your motivations, competencies, and general suitability for a career at the firm.
Written Exercise
You’ll be asked to review legal and commercial information and respond to a simulated client query. The task assesses your ability to communicate clearly and structure advice logically in writing.
Group Exercise
Working as part of a small team, you’ll review an M&A-style scenario and negotiate a set of commercial terms from either a buyer or seller perspective. Assessors observe how you contribute, listen, and respond under time pressure.
Firm Profiles
Macfarlanes
A Silver Cricle Firm
Year 1
Trainee
£56,000
Year 2
Trainee
£61,000
Newly
Qualified
£140,000
Macfarlanes is a leading Silver Circle law firm headquartered in London, with a distinctive blend of corporate, private client, and dispute resolution expertise. With over 600 fee‑earning lawyers and 96 partners, the firm prides itself on delivering agile, client‑focused service across high-value, cross-border matters.
TC Number
33
Seats
4
Secondments
No
Offices
2
Macfarlanes offers around 33 training contracts each year, with trainees completing four six-month seats across a range of contentious and transactional departments.
Macfarlanes does not offer international or client secondments during the training contract. The firm typically reserves these opportunities for associates post-qualification, partnering with independent firms in jurisdictions like New York, Jersey, or Brussels, to support trainee development through specific transactions .That said, trainees may occasionally travel abroad on certain matters, for example to Brussels, but aren’t formally seconded until later in their careers.
Rankings in Chambers
22
Awards
Category
Silver Circle
Known for a supportive and collaborative culture, Macfarlanes consistently ranks in UK Chambers & Partners 2025 with 22 ranked departments and 54 ranked lawyers, reflecting its broad strengths across key practice areas.The firm is an early adopter of legal tech, notably partnering with Harvey AI for legal workflows in 2023. The firm’s lawtech team was ranked in Chambers New Law 2025 for designing client-facing digital solutions.
Macfarlanes was named City Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2023, in recognition of its standout performance and continued impact across the London legal market. In 2024, the firm was also shortlisted for Best Talent & Inclusion Initiative at the same awards, highlighting its commitment to widening access to the profession through its scholarship and bursary programmes. Macfarlanes’ Lawtech team earned its first ranking in the Chambers & Partners New Law Guide 2025, reflecting its strength in client-focused digital tools and legal innovation.
The Vacation Scheme Application Process
Application Writing
Applicants must answer 'Why Macfarlanes' and 'Tell us about yourself' in about 300 words. Applicants must also submit personal and academic information, including full breakdowns of university grades and any mitigating circumstances. The work experience section has no word limit, so applicants are encouraged to include all relevant experiences, whether legal or not, emphasising transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and resilience. Candidates should demonstrate a clear understanding of what makes Macfarlanes distinct, ideally referencing practice areas, events attended, or interactions with firm representatives.
Psychometric Testing
After submitting your application, you’ll be invited to complete an online assessment within 72 hours. You’ll have seven days to complete it, so it’s important to apply at a time when you’ll be able to set aside the necessary time. Unless you have extenuating circumstances, no extensions will be granted. The test assesses situational judgement and critical reasoning across a range of legal practice areas. It offers a realistic preview of trainee life at Macfarlanes and is used in combination with your written application to determine progression to the next stage.
Interview Stage
Assessment Centre
The Macfarlanes assessment centre is fully application blind and consists of three core components:
Case Study and Skills-Based Interview
This is a two-part interview with a partner and a senior associate. It begins with a case study exercise, for which you’ll be given time to read and prepare commercial background materials before discussing your analysis. This is followed by a skills-based interview, covering your motivations, competencies, and general suitability for a career at the firm.
Written Exercise
You’ll be asked to review legal and commercial information and respond to a simulated client query. The task assesses your ability to communicate clearly and structure advice logically in writing.
Group Exercise
Working as part of a small team, you’ll review an M&A-style scenario and negotiate a set of commercial terms from either a buyer or seller perspective. Assessors observe how you contribute, listen, and respond under time pressure.
Vacation Scheme Deadline
TBD
N/A
A-Levels Requirements
Degree Requirements
2:!