Survey Results - Trainee feedback on Macfarlanes

The lowdown - Trainees (in their own words) on Macfarlanes

Why did you choose this firm over any others? ‘For the ability to experience a top-rated corporate practice alongside an unrivalled private client practice. Where else in the City can you do that?!’, ‘the partner-led approach and what this means in terms of increased responsibility, ‘the nice/friendly culture (which was evident from the first interactions and permeated throughout the recruitment process)’, ‘great spread of work, good reputation, good training, decent pay without US-style hours’, ‘the culture at Macfarlanes was appreciably better than at any other firm with which I interacted’

Best thing about the firm? ‘The trainee intakes are very close-knit (both cohorts) and it really does make the difference’, ‘good training and approachable people’, ‘the free coffee’, ‘the people’, ‘quality of training and supervision’, ‘the investment in trainees and the quality of the training’, ‘the culture, particularly amongst my trainee cohort, is really great’, ‘the culture and the people I work with’

Worst thing about the firm? ‘Some departments are overdrive busy’, ‘my surface pro (laptop), and the dinner offering at 7pm’, ‘complaints are not heard – there needs to be more change implemented quicker’, ‘the lack of international/client secondment opportunities for trainees and more junior associates’, ‘the offices and the IT hardware are a bit run down and things are always out of order’, ‘the limited diversity; it’s obvious that there are lots of initiatives and it does genuinely seem like the firm wants to progress, but I think the focus now needs to shift more towards “retention” from the current mainly “recruitment”-focused approach’

Best moment? ‘Getting very positive feedback from a head of legal on the other side of a matter I was running with very minimal supervision in my first seat’, ‘being trusted with a presentation in the second week of my training contract and subsequently being recognised for my performance and the work I put into it’, ‘leading a client call on a matter I was running’, ‘the thrill of preparing a big case for trial, getting a good result for the client and being appreciated for that’, ‘working with high-profile clients whilst in the private client team and completing the Three Peaks Challenge for the charity of the year’

Worst moment? ‘Starting a new seat and being dazed and confused’, ‘sitting alone in the office on a Friday night running redlines’, ‘making daily lunch and coffee runs for a long trial!’, ‘looking for hard copy originals until 1am, whilst being chased by the associate on the matter, only to learn someone else had already scanned them in’, ‘any mistake of mine that has made it to the client’, ‘some unfortunate late nights’, ‘rude clients’, ‘long hours in corporate’, ‘a culture clash with a lateral hire’, ‘making terrible mistakes and feeling awful’

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Macfarlanes

Macfarlanes is ‘on an upswing and leaving the traditional competition behind’ thanks to its ‘unique dual specialism in both corporate and private client’. Across the board at the London firm, ‘work is unfailingly high quality and the team makes an effort to get juniors involved across all aspects of a matter’. Macfarlanes’ training programme has been ‘consistently recognised by legal awards and publications for its blend of hands-on training experience and formal classroom learning delivered by industry professionals’. As a result, trainees here always ‘prepared to start working in our seats’. There’s a ‘strong sense of support’ at the firm, with ‘questions always welcome, and feedback on trainee experience encouraged, particularly through the use of various partner-trainee committees and forums’. Macfarlanes’ ‘willingness to invest in trainee development and progression’ doesn’t go unnoticed. One frustration is that ‘the workload can be a bit uneven among trainees’, with respondents singling out ‘working all night in the office’ and ‘late night tasks with little guidance’ as worst moments. Other grievances are that ‘the culture between departments can be wildly divergent’, and that ‘the firm’s diversity and inclusion stats could still be improved upon’. Luckily, trainees feel that the high-quality, high-responsibility work they get involved in more than makes up for it. ‘Helping to prepare a report to HMRC: I assisted in the document review, the interviews and the drafting and I was the one to send off the finalised version’, and ‘the thrill of preparing a big case for trial, getting a good result for the client and being appreciated for that’ are such examples. For the ‘combination of excellent private client work and interesting corporate deals’ in a firm which ‘occupies a unique space in the market’, consider Macfarlanes.

About the firm

The firm: Macfarlanes is a unique firm: an unrivalled blend of expertise, size and culture means it has the flexibility to meet clients’ most challenging demands and adapt to the changing world around us.

Its aims are simple. Macfarlanes wants to form long-lasting relationships with clients and be entrusted with their most difficult and complex problems in the areas where it practises. It also wants to find, recruit and train individuals from all backgrounds, who it hopes will one day shape and lead the firm. In order to achieve these aims, it operates differently to others.

The clients: Derwent London, Improbable, Omnicom Group, Superdry, Virgin.

The deals: Macfarlanes

Managing partners: Luke Powell

Senior partner: Sebastian Prichard Jones

Other offices:   Brussels

Who we are: 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.

What we do:  Commercial, brands, IP and IT; competition/antitrust; construction; corporate and M&A; derivatives and trading; employment; finance; financial services and products; lawtech; litigation and dispute resolution; private client; private funds; real estate; reward; tax.

What we’re looking for:  We look for a rare combination of character, drive and intellectual curiosity, along with strong interpersonal skills, an ambitious and commercial approach, motivation and resilience.

What you’ll do: Across your four seats you will receive a combination of hands-on experience with real responsibility and challenge, with a first-class education programme and the support you would expect from a leading firm.

Perks: Flexible benefits package including life assurance, pension scheme and private healthcare, in addition to a discretionary performance-related bonus scheme, subsidised restaurant, season ticket loan and gym membership.

Sponsorship

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

This year long course includes everything you need to ensure you are fully prepared to work in commercial practice. You complete modules that are bespoke to Macfarlanes. The programme combines classroom and digital learning to embed knowledge and uses business simulation exercises to help you apply your knowledge in realistic practice scenarios. Macfarlanes future trainees are required to pass all SQE exams (including the Macfarlanes essential for practice modules) on the first sitting.

All elements, including the bespoke Macfarlanes modules, are paid for by the firm. We also continue to provide additional financial assistance in the form of a £17,000 grant during this time.

During your SQE preparation course you also attend regular seminars from the firm, where you hear from partners, associates and trainees in our practice areas. These sessions help build your legal knowledge and inform your seat choices. You are also invited to social events at the firm so you can start building your network before you join us.

If you studied a non-law subject at undergraduate level, you have to complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) at BPP. This will be in the year between receiving your training programme offer and starting your studies for the SQE. For those candidates completing the PGDL, you need to achieve a commendation or above on the first sitting. As with the SQE preparation course, the firm covers your fees, and you receive a £13,000 grant.

Seat options

Group A

  • Litigation
  • Private Client
  • Banking and Finance
  • Private Funds
  • Commercial

Group B

  • Corporate and M&A
  • Pensions and Insurance
  • CREG
  • Construction
  • PCPG
  • Tax
  • Reward
  • Financial services and products
  • Competition
  • Derivatives and Trading
  • Employment

Diversity and inclusion

Percentage of female associates: 57%

Percentage of female partners: 24%

Percentage of BAME associates: 21%

Percentage of BAME partners: 3%