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Interview Experiences 2019 - 2020 Cycle
Macfarlanes Interview 2019 - 2020
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<blockquote data-quote="Jaysen" data-source="post: 26427" data-attributes="member: 1"><p><strong>Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.</strong></p><p></p><p>February 2020</p><p></p><p><strong>Please specify what the interview was for.</strong></p><p></p><p>Spring Vacation Scheme 2020 but moved to Summer</p><p></p><p><strong>Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.</strong></p><p></p><p>I arrived early and made myself comfortable as I waited for others. It is advised you do this so you have a bit of time to calm your nerves before the day starts. Once people started arriving, it also helps to make conversations with everyone and get to know each other. This is especially key if there are group tasks or negotiations during the day. There were 15 of us.</p><p></p><p>Collected by graduate recruitment around 9-9:10am and taken to a fairly large room with a U shaped table arrangement. The grad rec started by congratulating everyone, assuring us all there are plenty of spaces left and what the day will consist of.</p><p></p><p>9:30am was when the first exercise began - the negotiations and group discussions. We were split into three groups of 4 or 5 people.</p><p>10:45/11am - written task</p><p>12:00 - lunch with associates</p><p>1pm - shadow a trainee in a group (our trainee just took us to the firm cafeteria and had a long chat about his experiences and answered our questions)</p><p>2:15/2:30 - 15 minutes reading before the final in-tray and interview with a partner and senior associate which lasted around 45 minutes.</p><p>Final talk with the grad recruitment and sorted out expenses.</p><p></p><p>After each exercise we had plenty of time to go to the bathroom and have little chats with others in the main room. </p><p></p><p><strong>Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.</strong></p><p></p><p>1a. Group discussions with an associate taking notes and guiding us:</p><p>We were given a pack of information to read through and familiarise ourselves with what the issues at hand are before we discussed with each other. It was an acquisition with additional information about the buyer's goals and the needs of the target. Even though there is an associate to time you, it is still important to be aware of how long you are spending on each point. So, it is good practice to simply say to the group 'let's move on to the next point and see if we can come back to this later' when appropriate. If there was a particular point the associate wasn't sure of, he'd come in and ask the whole group to clarify.</p><p></p><p>1b. Negotiation:</p><p>The group was further split into two sides with the associate deciding who represents the target and the buyer. I represented the target company. We spent few minutes deciding which needs we could concede on and which points that needed to be strongly upheld.</p><p></p><p>2. Written task: 30 minutes to read, calculate and write</p><p>We were given a pack of information about a client who is seeking to buy shares back from employees that are leaving for various reasons. These reasons determine what group they fall into and subsequently how many shares and how these can be calculated. A little of basic maths is involved. The answers need to be written in a table on a separate piece of paper.</p><p></p><p>Next, you are to write an email to the client advising him of what options are available to him according to the contract and definitions given. This needs to be succinct and well structured. </p><p></p><p>3. In-tray and interview</p><p>Before we go into the interview room, we're taken to a different room to go over a short contract with questions pertaining to the needs of a client. Again, it is really important to read carefully because you may come to the wrong conclusion if you don't. In the event that you do, however, the interviewers will guide you towards the right question or ask you questions to justify your answer.</p><p></p><p>Next, the CV blind interview lasted around 20 minutes. We discussed a mutual experience both the partner and I had which helped me to build a good rapport. At this point, we were simply having a discussion about something completely unrelated but it helped to know I was at least showing my ability to just 'be normal'! I did have questions prepared to ask at the end but after getting to know the interviewers more as well as the firm after the shadowing element of the AC, I asked them questions based on that. I asked them one each as we'd already had two knocks on the door from grad rec indicating to wrap up.</p><p></p><p><strong>Please list any interview questions you were asked.</strong></p><p></p><p>1. Why Macfarlanes?</p><p>2. Why do you want to be a commercial solicitor?</p><p>3. When have you overcome a challenge?</p><p></p><p><strong>What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.</strong></p><p></p><p>1. Group discussion + negotiations:</p><p>It is crucial to listen properly, give the other side enough time to explain themselves before you make your points. It is really important here to not take the back seat and allow others to take lead. Try to think strategically, bring wider commercial awareness in and show good communication skills.</p><p></p><p>2. Written task: 30 minutes to read, calculate and write</p><p>Key thing to remember here is to read carefully so you are not missing anything. It's best to stick to the points raised by the client so it would be helpful to re-read what the client's goals are once more before you start writing. Timing really is of the essence so there's a need to mentally prepare how you will structure the email and start writing.</p><p></p><p>3. In-tray</p><p>Again, read carefully. When you are presenting to the interviewers on what you think of the contract, don't be scared to pause and ask them if they have any questions or if they need anything to be clarified. If you begin to realise you've made an error, just be upfront and ask for a moment to re-read and gather your thoughts. I did this a few times and the partner seemed to not mind at all, in fact he was encouraging me to do so. I was asked hypothetical questions too surrounding the contract, such as 'in what circumstances could the bank lend to x' so just be aware they might not follow the guideline too strictly.</p><p></p><p>4. Interview</p><p>Be confident! Give lots of details as it is a CV blind so they will know nothing about you except your name. It's a very long day so make sure you have your energies up till the end. </p><p></p><p><strong>Were you successful?</strong></p><p></p><p>Yes</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jaysen, post: 26427, member: 1"] [B]Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.[/B] February 2020 [B]Please specify what the interview was for.[/B] Spring Vacation Scheme 2020 but moved to Summer [B]Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.[/B] I arrived early and made myself comfortable as I waited for others. It is advised you do this so you have a bit of time to calm your nerves before the day starts. Once people started arriving, it also helps to make conversations with everyone and get to know each other. This is especially key if there are group tasks or negotiations during the day. There were 15 of us. Collected by graduate recruitment around 9-9:10am and taken to a fairly large room with a U shaped table arrangement. The grad rec started by congratulating everyone, assuring us all there are plenty of spaces left and what the day will consist of. 9:30am was when the first exercise began - the negotiations and group discussions. We were split into three groups of 4 or 5 people. 10:45/11am - written task 12:00 - lunch with associates 1pm - shadow a trainee in a group (our trainee just took us to the firm cafeteria and had a long chat about his experiences and answered our questions) 2:15/2:30 - 15 minutes reading before the final in-tray and interview with a partner and senior associate which lasted around 45 minutes. Final talk with the grad recruitment and sorted out expenses. After each exercise we had plenty of time to go to the bathroom and have little chats with others in the main room. [B]Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.[/B] 1a. Group discussions with an associate taking notes and guiding us: We were given a pack of information to read through and familiarise ourselves with what the issues at hand are before we discussed with each other. It was an acquisition with additional information about the buyer's goals and the needs of the target. Even though there is an associate to time you, it is still important to be aware of how long you are spending on each point. So, it is good practice to simply say to the group 'let's move on to the next point and see if we can come back to this later' when appropriate. If there was a particular point the associate wasn't sure of, he'd come in and ask the whole group to clarify. 1b. Negotiation: The group was further split into two sides with the associate deciding who represents the target and the buyer. I represented the target company. We spent few minutes deciding which needs we could concede on and which points that needed to be strongly upheld. 2. Written task: 30 minutes to read, calculate and write We were given a pack of information about a client who is seeking to buy shares back from employees that are leaving for various reasons. These reasons determine what group they fall into and subsequently how many shares and how these can be calculated. A little of basic maths is involved. The answers need to be written in a table on a separate piece of paper. Next, you are to write an email to the client advising him of what options are available to him according to the contract and definitions given. This needs to be succinct and well structured. 3. In-tray and interview Before we go into the interview room, we're taken to a different room to go over a short contract with questions pertaining to the needs of a client. Again, it is really important to read carefully because you may come to the wrong conclusion if you don't. In the event that you do, however, the interviewers will guide you towards the right question or ask you questions to justify your answer. Next, the CV blind interview lasted around 20 minutes. We discussed a mutual experience both the partner and I had which helped me to build a good rapport. At this point, we were simply having a discussion about something completely unrelated but it helped to know I was at least showing my ability to just 'be normal'! I did have questions prepared to ask at the end but after getting to know the interviewers more as well as the firm after the shadowing element of the AC, I asked them questions based on that. I asked them one each as we'd already had two knocks on the door from grad rec indicating to wrap up. [B]Please list any interview questions you were asked.[/B] 1. Why Macfarlanes? 2. Why do you want to be a commercial solicitor? 3. When have you overcome a challenge? [B]What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.[/B] 1. Group discussion + negotiations: It is crucial to listen properly, give the other side enough time to explain themselves before you make your points. It is really important here to not take the back seat and allow others to take lead. Try to think strategically, bring wider commercial awareness in and show good communication skills. 2. Written task: 30 minutes to read, calculate and write Key thing to remember here is to read carefully so you are not missing anything. It's best to stick to the points raised by the client so it would be helpful to re-read what the client's goals are once more before you start writing. Timing really is of the essence so there's a need to mentally prepare how you will structure the email and start writing. 3. In-tray Again, read carefully. When you are presenting to the interviewers on what you think of the contract, don't be scared to pause and ask them if they have any questions or if they need anything to be clarified. If you begin to realise you've made an error, just be upfront and ask for a moment to re-read and gather your thoughts. I did this a few times and the partner seemed to not mind at all, in fact he was encouraging me to do so. I was asked hypothetical questions too surrounding the contract, such as 'in what circumstances could the bank lend to x' so just be aware they might not follow the guideline too strictly. 4. Interview Be confident! Give lots of details as it is a CV blind so they will know nothing about you except your name. It's a very long day so make sure you have your energies up till the end. [B]Were you successful?[/B] Yes [/QUOTE]
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