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Macfarlanes

Macfarlanes is an independent law firm headquartered in London, with a Brussels office and a New York representative office. Its principal strengths include private capital, private wealth, M&A and disputes. The New York office provides market intelligence and does not provide legal services.

London, United KingdomOfficial website (opens in new tab)

Firm overview

At a glance

A clear starting point for understanding the firm, its opportunities and the information students should check before applying.

Head office London, United Kingdom
Locations 6 office records
Practice areas 12 listed

Available routes

How can students join?

Student opportunities

Opportunities

Vacation schemes, training contracts, apprenticeships, insight programmes, work experience and other application routes.

United Kingdom - upReach Professional Experience Week

Type: Work Experience

Location: United Kingdom: London

  • Programme dates: Ongoing support or partner-controlled dates.
  • Duration: Programme specific
  • Status: variable

Published application and programme dates

  • Programme: Ongoing support or partner-controlled dates.
  • Who can apply: Eligible upReach students from socially mobile backgrounds
  • Eligibility: audience: Eligible upReach students from socially mobile backgrounds disability specific: false positive action: true
  • Academic requirements: Programme-specific social-mobility, disability or application-stage criteria apply.
  • Application process: Application stages are not published for this route unless stated below. Use the current firm or partner route
  • Assessments: Assessment details are not published for this route unless stated below.
  • Progression: Supports later legal applications.
  • Funding: No separate financial award. note: No programme-specific funding is inferred where Macfarlanes has not published it. status: not_published_or_not_applicable
  • Expenses: Underlying programme rules apply.
  • Right to work: The underlying paid programme or employment route controls right-to-work requirements.
  • Disability support: Adjustments can be requested.
View United Kingdom - upReach Professional Experience Week official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Spring Vacation Scheme - Scheme Two

Type: Vacation Scheme

Location: United Kingdom: London

  • Applications open: 2026-09-01
  • Closing date: 2026-10-30
  • Application timing: Applications open 1 September and close 30 October 2026.
  • Programme dates: 12 to 23 April 2027.
  • Duration: 2 weeks
  • Places: Approximately 55 Vacation Scheme places per year across all sittings.
  • Status: open

Published application and programme dates

  • Applications open 1 September and close 30 October 2026.
  • Programme: 12 to 23 April 2027.
  • Who can apply: Students from penultimate year onwards from any degree discipline
  • Eligibility: all degree subjects: true graduates and career changers: true penultimate year or later: true
  • Academic requirements: Open from penultimate year onwards in any degree discipline. Macfarlanes usually looks for a 2:1 or equivalent and considers extenuating circumstances.
  • Application process: Online application form; online scenario assessment within seven days; online job simulation; in-person assessment day; vacation scheme; consideration for the Training Programme.
  • Assessments: Situational judgement Critical reasoning Job simulation Business case study and competency interview Written exercise Group negotiation exercise
  • Progression: Potential Training Programme offer.
  • Funding: Paid at £525 per week. Accommodation and participation support may be available through the Macfarlanes Bursary.
  • Expenses: Travel expenses are reimbursed for in-person events and assessment days.
  • Travel support: Reasonable travel reimbursement for assessment days.
  • Accommodation support: Eligible socially mobile students living outside London may receive the Accommodation Grant.
  • Right to work: Paid scheme participation is subject to UK right-to-work requirements.
  • Disability support: Individual adjustments are available for online assessments and the in-person assessment day.
View United Kingdom - Spring Vacation Scheme - Scheme Two official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - First Year Insight Scheme

Type: Insight Programme

Location: United Kingdom: London

  • Applications open: 2026-11-02
  • Closing date: 2027-01-15
  • Application timing: Applications open 2 November 2026 and close 15 January 2027.
  • Programme dates: Monday 28 June to Friday 2 July 2027.
  • Duration: 5 days
  • Places: Approximately 25 places per year.
  • Status: upcoming

Published application and programme dates

  • Applications open 2 November 2026 and close 15 January 2027.
  • Programme: Monday 28 June to Friday 2 July 2027.
  • Who can apply: First-year students on three-year courses and second-year students on four-year courses
  • Eligibility: first year three year degree: true law and non law: true second year four year degree: true
  • Academic requirements: First year of a three-year degree or second year of a four-year degree. Any degree subject is accepted.
  • Application process: Application Situational judgement and critical reasoning assessment Telephone interview Offer Online application form Macfarlanes online assessment within seven days Short telephone interview with Early Careers Offer
  • Assessments: Scenario-based situational judgement Critical reasoning Telephone interview
  • Progression: Supports later Vacation Scheme and Training Programme applications.
  • Funding: Paid scheme. Eligible students may also receive accommodation support through the Macfarlanes Bursary.
  • Expenses: Travel expenses are reimbursed for candidates attending in-person events or assessment days.
  • Travel support: Reasonable travel reimbursement for in-person events or assessment days.
  • Accommodation support: Eligible socially mobile students living outside London may receive the Macfarlanes Accommodation Grant.
  • Right to work: Paid scheme participation is subject to UK right-to-work requirements.
  • Disability support: Applicants may request individual adjustments by disclosing on the form or contacting Early Careers.
View United Kingdom - First Year Insight Scheme official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Technology Grant

Type: Scholarship / Bursary

Location: United Kingdom

  • Application timing: Usually opens once a year around the first university semester; the official page does not identify the year for its displayed 7 October to 1 November dates.
  • Programme dates: Usually opens once annually around the first university semester.
  • Duration: Annual
  • Status: variable

Published application and programme dates

  • Usually opens once a year around the first university semester; the official page does not identify the year for its displayed 7 October to 1 November dates.
  • Programme: Usually opens once annually around the first university semester.
  • Who can apply: Undergraduates at any UK university requiring technology support
  • Eligibility: grant type: Technology Grant social mobility or financial need: true uk undergraduate: true
  • Academic requirements: Undergraduate status and the relevant financial, social-mobility, geographic or lost-income criteria apply.
  • Application process: Application stages are not published for this route unless stated below. Complete the Technology Grant application form Explain technology requirements Explain how the support enables a legal career
  • Assessments: Assessment details are not published for this route unless stated below.
  • Progression: Reduces technology barriers.
  • Funding: Support for laptops, WiFi, devices and accessories needed to pursue a legal career. exact amount published: false grant type: Technology Grant
  • Right to work: No work-authorisation requirement applies to a standalone grant, but underlying paid programmes have their own rules.
  • Disability support: Application support and alternative formats can be requested.
View United Kingdom - Technology Grant official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Spring Vacation Scheme - Scheme One

Type: Vacation Scheme

Location: United Kingdom: London

  • Applications open: 2026-09-01
  • Closing date: 2026-10-30
  • Application timing: Applications open 1 September and close 30 October 2026.
  • Programme dates: 30 March to 9 April 2027.
  • Duration: 2 weeks
  • Places: Approximately 55 Vacation Scheme places per year across all sittings.
  • Status: open

Published application and programme dates

  • Applications open 1 September and close 30 October 2026.
  • Programme: 30 March to 9 April 2027.
  • Who can apply: Students from penultimate year onwards from any degree discipline
  • Eligibility: all degree subjects: true graduates and career changers: true penultimate year or later: true
  • Academic requirements: Open from penultimate year onwards in any degree discipline. Macfarlanes usually looks for a 2:1 or equivalent and considers extenuating circumstances.
  • Application process: Application and first online assessment Second-stage job simulation Assessment day Vacation Scheme Training Programme decision Online application form First online scenario assessment within seven days Second online job-simulation assessment In-person Vacation Scheme assessment day Vacation Scheme Training Programme consideration
  • Assessments: Situational judgement Critical reasoning Job simulation Business case study and competency interview Written exercise Group negotiation exercise
  • Progression: Potential Training Programme offer.
  • Funding: Paid at £525 per week. Accommodation and participation support may be available through the Macfarlanes Bursary.
  • Expenses: Travel expenses are reimbursed for in-person events and assessment days.
  • Travel support: Reasonable travel reimbursement for assessment days.
  • Accommodation support: Eligible socially mobile students living outside London may receive the Accommodation Grant.
  • Right to work: Paid scheme participation is subject to UK right-to-work requirements.
  • Disability support: Individual adjustments are available for online assessments and the in-person assessment day.
View United Kingdom - Spring Vacation Scheme - Scheme One official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom - Macfarlanes Legal Academy

Type: Work Experience

Location: United Kingdom: London

  • Applications open: 2026-09-28
  • Closing date: 2026-11-27
  • Application timing: Applications open 28 September 2026 and close 27 November 2026.
  • Programme dates: 15 to 19 February 2027 in London.
  • Duration: Main work-experience week plus mentoring and workshops across Years 12 and 13.
  • Status: open

Published application and programme dates

  • Applications open 28 September 2026 and close 27 November 2026.
  • Programme: 15 to 19 February 2027 in London.
  • Who can apply: Sixth-form and college students from less advantaged backgrounds.
  • Eligibility: Applicants must attend a state-funded, non-fee-paying school or college and meet at least one of the published social-mobility criteria. Parent or guardian permission is required.
  • Application process: Complete the official application form; shortlisted candidates are invited to a telephone interview.
  • Expenses: Travel and lunch are covered during the work-experience week.
  • Travel support: Student travel is covered during the work-experience week.
  • Accommodation support: Accommodation, including breakfast, is provided for students who are not within a commutable distance of London.
View United Kingdom - Macfarlanes Legal Academy official opportunity page (opens in new tab)

United Kingdom support

UK Visa and Funding

UK qualification funding, maintenance support and published visa-sponsorship or right-to-work information for joining the firm in the United Kingdom.

Areas of work

Practice areas

The legal services and capabilities listed by the firm.

Banking and Finance

Banking, leveraged finance and structured finance.

Competition and Antitrust

UK and EU competition, merger control and regulatory advice.

Corporate and M&A

Public and private M&A, corporate advisory and governance.

Disputes and Investigations

Complex litigation, arbitration and investigations.

Employment

Employment, incentives and workforce matters.

Financial Services and Markets

Financial regulation and products.

Investment Management

Funds, asset management and sponsor advice.

Private Client and Wealth

Private wealth, tax, trusts, estates and family offices.

Private Equity

Private equity transactions and portfolio matters.

Real Estate

Commercial and residential real estate.

Tax and Reward

Corporate, funds, private-client tax and reward.

Technology and Digital

Technology, data, lawtech and digital solutions.

Offices

Locations

Office locations and the student opportunities available in each location where confirmed.

Career paths

Roles

Early-career routes, legal careers, knowledge and innovation roles, legal support and specialist leadership titles.

Trainee Solicitor

Two-year training contract, ~33 seats/year, London only

Business Services

Professional support roles

Access and inclusion

EDI

Recruitment adjustments, disability support, disability-specific programmes, mentoring, networks, partnerships and wider inclusion work.

Community and legal access

Pro bono

The firm’s published pro bono work, community projects, access-to-justice programmes and official partnerships.

Verified information for this section is being checked.

Firm research

Firm highlights

Published awards, sectors, notable work, clients and other information that helps students understand the firm.

Verified information for this section is being checked.