Vacation scheme
The vacation scheme at Macfarlanes 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 firm's culture and our work. You might draft a letter and then work through the draft with a solicitor or trainee; or you might do some research on a live issue for a client. Alternatively, you may be taken to client meetings or to meet counsel.
You will spend each of your two weeks with us in a different practice area, working alongside a partner, solicitor or trainee. At the same time, you will undertake a mock transaction that will run for the duration of your placement.
Away from the work, the scheme has a strong social component. As well as the organised events, softball with our trainees for example, or lunch with our partners, there are many opportunities to get to know people throughout the firm and to find out if Macfarlanes is right for you.
The dates of our 2012 vacation schemes are as follows:
Easter
10 April to 20 April
Summer
25 June to 6 July
9 July to 20 July
To apply for the vacation scheme you will need to be in at least the penultimate year of your degree.
Why Macfarlanes?
Find out what a vacation scheme at Macfarlanes really involves from two of our recent students.
Matthew Collins →
Iona McCall-Judson →
"I applied for a place on Macfarlanes’ Easter vacation scheme hoping to find out whether working for a successful mid-sized firm could provide a viable alternative to the Magic Circle.
I certainly gained a real insight into the firm, especially from the close contact with trainees and a meeting with the Senior Partner. Macfarlanes was keen to be challenged by the vacation students, which provoked some astute questions that were answered frankly. "
Gregory Talbot
2010 Vacation scheme student
Joins: As a trainee in Sept 2012
Education: History, University of Durham
"For me, the real value of the vacation scheme was the chance to talk to a wide range of people at the firm, including trainees, solicitors who have joined the firm after spending time elsewhere, as well as partners who have trained and been at Macfarlanes for a long time. Asking questions and witnessing the “typical” workload was a good way to confirm what I had read about Macfarlanes, as well as clarify some of my misconceptions. It was also an opportunity to get a feel for the culture of the firm – for me, it was important to find somewhere I would feel comfortable, but also somewhere I knew I would be challenged to continually improve."
Iskra Doukova
2011 Vacation scheme student
Joins: As a trainee in Sept 2013
Education: Law, University of Cambridge