You can find out more in our privacy policy at any time by going to the link in our footer. The benefit of this is two-fold. Rare Recruitment's Contextual Recruitment System (CRS), Applications for our 2023 Vacation Schemes opened on 1 November 2022. Closing Date Sun 31 Jul 2016. For more information about how we use cookies and how to change your cookie settings, please see our Cookies Policy. Given the different time zones, we often receive comments overnight. I leaned towards the Corporate team because of the breadth and latitude of its practice areas and its market-leading practice advising in complex cross-border transactions. Due to the high level of interest in our City in Law presentation last month we will be repeating our event on 25 January. We wanted to develop another way to reach talented students from non-Russell Group universities, says Catherine, and the Macfarlanes first-year skills development programme does exactly that. I share an office with my supervisor so when Im done reviewing the agreement and legislation we discuss my findings and schedule a call with the client for later this week. All rights reserved. Our Summer Vacation Scheme will run from 26th June 7th July 2023. 7:15am: I wake up and walk to the gym (my gym is, conveniently, between my flat and the office!). We spoke to Catherine Morgan-Guest, early legal careers senior manager at Macfarlanes, about how the firm is working to provide more opportunities to individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds. I then finalise my changes to the structure paper and send an email to U.S. counsel with our outstanding queries. Theres ample opportunity to do so during the training contract, both in an explicit and implicit context. What has been the best moment of your training to date? Macfarlanes is committed to removing financial barriers that can hinder students from accessing the legal profession. I do some initial research and spend an hour reading through various cases before we discuss my findings. Macfarlanes LLP | Training contracts, vacation schemes and graduate With the scholarship, we wanted to do our best to provide an accessible and fully-funded route into the profession, says Catherine. First Year Insight Scheme 2023 - Macfarlanes | Bright Network Trainees will typically be expected to undertake seats across our Corporate, Finance and Litigation practices. London Careers - Milbank LLP Careers - Macfarlane Group Macfarlanes application tips on Vimeo. That means there is always a different group of people in the office to chat to on my lunch break. Trainees currently receive a starting salary of 57,500 rising to 62,500 in their second year (this is reviewed annually). Trainees are given a large amount of responsibility early on and, as such, Im responsible for the initial review of the comments and, based on these, I update the structure paper. Graduate Recruitment & Trainee Development Assistant Macfarlanes Jun 2019 - Jul 2021 2 years 2 months. Log In. Catherine Morgan-Guest - Senior Manager, Early Legal Careers - LinkedIn Students from anywhere can download and access our app to do mock tasks they will be expected to do as a trainee, says Catherine. Summer vacation scheme one: Monday 26 June - Friday 7 July 2023. Contact Macfarlanes Graduate Recruitment Team. Our Graduate Recruitment Partner Committee consists of Tom Canning (Chair), John Goldfinch, Jacqueline Ingram and Sarbajeet Nag. Applications close on. 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. The application process therefore also includes an assessment day with a business case study, a written exercise and an interview, explains Catherine. Macfarlanes has launched a new training scholarship which provides financial support, mentoring and paid work experience to three Brunel University students each year. 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. In your first three months, I would encourage you to sign up to as many networks as you can. What youll 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. Summer/Autumn 2023 - Begin studying for the SQE with BPP. If you are interested in a career in law and would like to hear more from. We're delighted to announce the launch of the Macfarlanes' trainee experience, allowing you to complete mock trainee tasks whilst gaining an insight into our unique culture. Location London. To address socio-economic barriers that might discourage students from accessing the legal profession, Macfarlanes also has three types of grants available as part of its bursary, designed to address some of the financial demands of being a student. Ive also been able to contribute my ideas to the firms policies and attitudes regarding race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage. In order to achieve these aims, it operates differently to others. Training programme written exercise, in-tray exercise and application interview. Senior graduate recruitment and trainee development manager. For example, in tax and reward (as well as other practice areas in the firm), weekly education and training sessions are held at which trainees are given the opportunity to present on a topic in the group. 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. 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. Person in charge of recruitment: Catherine Morgan-Guest, Senior graduate recruitment and trainee development manager. It also wants to find, recruit and train individuals from all backgrounds, who it hopes will one day shape and lead the firm. On the vacation scheme, I saw how the firms collaborative culture allows trainees to take early responsibility and accelerate their professional development. 4.00pm: Ive now received the documents for the share acquisition I requested from our corporate team earlier today. The firm is very good at encouraging pro bono work and I have been enjoying helping out on a couple of different pro bono matters since joining Milbank last year. I chose to train to Milbank because the firm has a leading reputation for big ticket deals and a small trainee intake. These include: Banking and Leveraged Finance, Corporate, Competition, Islamic Finance, Litigation & Arbitration, Project Finance, Restructuring, Structured Finance and Securitisations, Tax and Transportation and Space. We are very conscious that we are recruiting potential partners for the firm and therefore our objective is always to find people who are capable of becoming lawyers of the highest quality. The talent at the firm today, and the excellence of legal advice and service that we set, offer our clients something quite exceptional. By clicking, I acceptcookies, you agree to our use of cookies. The dates for our first year insight scheme are: Monday 3 April - Thursday 6 April 2023 6.30pm: With work returning to normal following the pandemic, the team organises regular social events. Why did you choose this firm over any others? Read what this means for you. Throughout the programme, they will gain experience of artificial intelligence, collaborative technologies, process automation and robotics, expert systems, knowledge management systems, data visualisation, project management tools and a host of other legal technologies. The dates of our 2022 vacation schemes are as follows: Spring:Monday 4 April Thursday 14 April 2022 I catch up with my supervisor as we are working on a deal together at the moment we discuss what needs to be done and I crack on with my work for the day! By clicking "Got it" you agree to our Privacy Policy. Macfarlanes offers unique access to a A comprehensive range of benefits including 23 days holiday, private medical insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, dental plan and a season ticket loan will be confirmed when candidates receive their formal offer. Developed by the firms early legal careers and lawtech teams, the app lets students access mock trainee tasks from different practice areas, including corporate and M&A, private client, litigation and dispute resolution and finance. Summer One: Monday 27 June - Friday 8 July 2022 Summer Two: Monday 11 July - Friday 22 July 2022 Application To apply for the vacation scheme you will need to be in at least the penultimate year of your degree. Law Firm Training Contract Comparison Table. 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. A lot of us worked part-time while at university, reflects Catherine. We recruit people to build careers for the long term. Our vacation scheme dates are: Spring vacation scheme: Tuesday 11 April - Friday 21 April 2023. With an emphasis on practical legal advice and strategic thinking coupled with its lean and efficient teams, the Corporate team has also offered a dynamic, challenging and rewarding environment and many valuable learning opportunities. We pride ourselves on providing a learning experience that is genuinely distinctive. Trainees who are yet to complete the SQE will have their course fees paid in full and will also receive an annual maintenance grant of up to 17,000 per year. For some, and certainly in my case, starting your training contract will be unlike any other professional experience you may have had. Macfarlane Group is a family of growing businesses and we are a natural home for talented, imaginative and ambitious people looking to grow successful careers. There is also a participation grant available for students who may need to miss work to attend a firm-hosted event. 10am: We often have training sessions/team meetings at this time, so I walk downstairs to one of our meeting rooms and catch up with my colleagues. The programme involves mock negotiation and presentation exercises, as well as skills workshops addressing topics like commercial awareness. How would you rate the quality of work you are given? What has been the worst moment of your training to date? 1.00pm: I go to The Kitchen (the firms canteen) to grab lunch with colleagues who are in the office today. I take some notes on the call for my personal understanding as I learn the most when I write things down. 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. The first year insight scheme is designed to provide you with an insight into city law and to give you the opportunity to meet trainees, solicitors and partners within the firm. The vacation scheme at Macfarlanes is designed to give you an insight into life as a trainee over the course of two weeks. 6:30pm: We have team dinner & drinks today so I leave the office with my colleagues to grab something to eat! What were looking for in a trainee: 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. During your first three months, I would encourage you to prioritise building your network, and attending events that will help you do so. Autumn 2023 - Sit the SQE1 examination. At Macfarlanes, graduates are seen as more than just potential trainees. Macfarlane Packaging Distribution is the UK market leader . Some are necessary to help our website work properly and can't be switched off, and some are optional but support Bright Network in building and running the service that we provide to you. If you have any further questions, please dont hesitate to reach out the Macfarlanes graduate recruitment and trainee development team via email ([emailprotected]) or on Instagram (@macfarlanesgrad). Challenges arrive quickly because clients bring us their toughest and first-in-class deals and issues, confident that Milbank will apply not just legal knowledge, but also judgement. You will then start your two years qualifying work experience in September 2024 or March 2025 after you have sat SQE2. I listen to the latest FT News Briefing podcast on my walk (the podcasts are only 10 minutes long and quite interesting would recommend). We interview on a rolling basis so make sure you submit your application sooner rather than later! 10.30am: Macfarlanes has a broad corporate tax practice and tax is a very technical area so there is a lot of training, especially for trainees when we first join the practice area but also frequently for the group as a whole. One of our international clients is proposing a merger of some of the groups U.S. companies and they have asked us to advise on the UK tax implications for their UK shareholders. Paul Wray - Head Of HR Advisory, Recruitment and Graduate Recruitment Bird & Bird Graduates UK. Were looking for candidates who not only have strong academics but who also possess excellent interpersonal and problem solving skills. Macfarlanes is inclusive and supportive there is a collegiate culture, which really does exist! and the firm is small enough to be friendly, yet large enough to offer interesting work. Beetroot.com is developed by Studee Ltd. Explore our graduate training programmes HERE. Applications for the 2022 spring and summer vacation schemes are open from 27 September 2021 to 3 January 2022. We understand that not every candidates achievements look the same on paper and we want to recruit the best people, from every background. It demonstrates your enthusiasm and dedication to a legal career. The deals: Advised Legal & General on securing a 265m debt facility for its build-to-rent fund; advised Burtons Biscuits management on its sale to a Ferrero-related company; advised Ocado Group on its partnership with Oxbotica; advised the restructuring team of Deloitte on its sale to Teneo; advised Waterland Private Equity Investments on its acquisition of Priory Group. At Macfarlanes, graduates are seen as more than just potential trainees. Access to technology is a hurdle we witnessed first-hand while running our vacation scheme virtually during the pandemic, says Catherine. Some are necessary to help our website work properly and can't be switched off, and some are optional but support Bright Network in building and running the service that we provide to you. We have designed the bursary to account for the financial demands of being a university student and prospective trainee solicitor. Relationship with senior members of chambers, Training in Scotland and Northern Ireland, www.macfarlanes.com/who-we-are/inclusion-and-community/inclusion, Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax (Tier: 1), Corporate and commercial > EU and competition (Tier: 3), Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets small-mid cap (Tier: 4), Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious (Tier: 2), Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory (Tier: 5), Corporate and commercial > M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, 500m+ (Tier: 3), Corporate and commercial > Partnership (Tier: 4), Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions high-value deals (250m+) (Tier: 5), Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions - mid-market deals (up to 250m) (Tier: 1), Corporate and commercial > VAT and indirect tax (Tier: 3), Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil (Tier: 2), Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals) (Tier: 3), Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail (Tier: 3), Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium (Tier: 3), Dispute resolution > Competition litigation (Tier: 2), Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations (Tier: 2), Employment > Employee share schemes (Tier: 2), Employment > Pensions (non-contentious) (Tier: 3), Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans (Tier: 4), Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency (Tier: 4), Finance > Derivatives and structured products (Tier: 3), Investment fund formation and management > Fund finance (Tier: 2), Investment fund formation and management > Hedge funds (Tier: 3), Investment fund formation and management > Private funds (Tier: 3), Investment fund formation and management > Real estate funds (Tier: 3), Investment fund formation and management > Retail funds (Tier: 1), Private client > Contentious trusts and probate (Tier: 1), Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate (Tier: 1), Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers (Tier: 3), Real estate > Commercial property: development (Tier: 2), Real estate > Commercial property: investment (Tier: 2), Real estate > Construction: contentious (Tier: 3), Real estate > Construction: non-contentious (Tier: 3), Real estate > Residential property (Tier: 3), Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates) (Tier: 2). Getting a personal thank you from a senior partner for the work I did on a deal, completing a deal after working 26 hours in a row, working on a successful mediation and getting great feedback from the client and internally, being allowed to lead a client call, signing a big deal in my first month, What has been the worst moment of your training to date? After the call, I quickly catch up with our deal team (there are four of us working on this deal myself, my supervisor, a senior associate and a partner). Summer vacation scheme two: Monday 10 July - Friday 21 July 2023. I forward my draft to my supervisor so she can take a look at it before we share it with the partner on the deal. As Ive only started helping out on this deal recently, I ask him a couple of questions that I have on the overall structure of the deal and the latest updates I love knowing what the bigger picture of anything Im working on is as it helps give colour to what Im contributing towards in my work. This is why professional development and training, including the firms ground-breakingMilbank@Harvardprogramme, is a key priority. Many of the matters we work on have an international element and so we often work with multiple parties operating out of different countries. At Bright Network we use cookies and similar technologies to help deliver you the best possible experience. At Macfarlanes, curiosity is highly regarded. 1:30pm: I join a client call with my colleagues as we are discussing the next steps in the restructuring process of the deal that were working on. Some are necessary to help our website work properly and can't be switched off, and some are optional but support Bright Network in building and running the service that we provide to you. It advises national and multinational companies, business leaders and high-net-worth individuals in the UK and internationally across the full range of corporate and commercial matters as well as on their private affairs. We're looking forward to hosting the competition tonight at our offices at 7pm. At Macfarlanes, graduates are seen as more than just potential trainees. Will you be our next remarkable recruit? 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If you think about it in practice, Macfarlanes solicitors demonstrate curiosity all the time, for example, searching for a complex legal answer, integrating new legal technology systems or expanding their client base. All students who attend one of our vacation schemes will automatically be considered for a training contract. 5:00pm: We have another call this time with the clients financial advisers. If there are any topics that have particularly grabbed my attention from the team meeting, I make a note of them to research them further or to catch up on them with someone else from my team.