Macfarlanes is a distinctive London-based law firm, focused on its clients and on delivering excellence in the international legal market. The firm is known for the quality of its work; not just in dealing with the full range of corporate and commercial matters, but in advising clients on their private affairs as well.

We recruit 33 trainees annually and your training with us begins on the tailored SQE preparation course which you will complete with your cohort of Macfarlanes future trainees before your start your two-year training programme.

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 programme at Macfarlanes will combine hands-on experience with a first-class education programme.

As a trainee you will complete four six-month seats. Our seat rotation is designed with trainees in mind – we want to give you enough flexibility to shape your training programme and undertake seats that interest you. Support and guidance are, of course, vital and you will find your supervisor a valuable source of information and inspiration.

• Training programme applications open:  27 September 2022

• Training programme deadline 2024 start:  25 July 2022 

The vacation scheme is designed to give you a two-week snapshot of life as a trainee. You will be given as much hands-on experience as possible, enabling you to develop a real understanding of the firms’ culture and work. 

Macfarlanes offers an spring and two summer vacation schemes. Each scheme runs for two weeks and remuneration is £400pw. The firm welcomes applications from candidates who are in at least the penultimate year of their degree from any degree discipline, with a predicted 2.1 or above. If you have extenuating circumstances which mean that you do not meet these requirements, you may still apply and detail these circumstances in your application form for us to consider.  You can also arrange a call with the graduate recruitment team to discuss further. Applications are online via the website.

• Vacation scheme applications open:  27 September 2021 

• Vacation scheme 2021 deadline: 3 January 2022

For first-year students the firm offers an insight scheme to provide an overview of a City law firm. Macfarlanes welcomes applications from candidates with either a law or non-law background. Candidates need to be in either the first year of an undergraduate degree or second year of a four year undergraduate degree.

Applications are online via the website and close on 31 January 2022.

Future trainees receive a maintenance allowance during their Macfarlanes’ SQE preparation course in London and fees are paid in full.  For non-law students, we pay your Postgraduate Diploma in Law (GDL) fees and a maintenance allowance.

Salaries for our trainees are currently as follows:

Trainee year 1 - £50,000

Trainee year 2 - £55,000

Post-qualification salary: £100,000

Flexible benefits package including:

26 days’ holiday

Subsidised gym membership and onsite gym 

Pension scheme with company contributions

Private healthcare 

Discretionary performance related bonus scheme

Subsidised staff restaurant and coffee shop 

Season ticket loan

Life assurance

The first year insight scheme is open to first year undergraduates or second year undergraduates undertaking a four year degree from any discipline with an interest in City law.

Vacation schemes are open to those who are in their penultimate year of an undergraduate degree from any degree discipline, expecting to graduate or have graduated with a 2:1 degree or above. If you have extenuating circumstances which mean that you do not meet these requirements, you may still apply and detail these circumstances in your application form for us to consider.  You can also arrange a call with the graduate recruitment team to discuss further.

Our training programmes are conditional upon obtaining a 2:1 degree or above, and at least a Commendation in for the LPC and PGDL (if applicable).

All our applications are online at www.macfarlanes.com/graduates