Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
February 2020
Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme
Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
Arrive at 9 am, introductory talk with grad rev and get to know other people on the AC (13 on my day), 1st morning session - group negotiation, 2nd morning session - written exercise, lunch with trainees and grad rev, 3 groups for afternoon rotating between shadowing trainees twice and partner interview
Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
Negotiation
Groups of 4/5
15 mins to read about an M&A situation which we then discussed due diligence issues and what you would highlight to your client as a group with a solicitor.
We were then split into pairs with 15 mins to discuss how we planned to go about the negotiation and then we were left to negotiate.
The aim was to reach a decision on all four aspect worth each side conceding on two, however my group didn’t reach an agreement and it wasn’t the end of the world because two of us got the scheme.
My main advice on this is to read everything through carefully and put yourself in the shoes of the client.
Basic M&A knowledge would definitely help.
Written exercise
Only had 30 mins and was extremely time pressured.
Had 30 mins to read through all the documents and fill out a table and write an email to the client (handwritten).
There are a lot of different documents which all relate to each other so don’t start writing until you have carefully looked at all of them.
They try and trick you out with small details so read carefully.
Basic maths is involved (multiplication of large amounts of money and division).
Make sure to leave enough writing time as you want to write a well structured and thought out email.
Partner/associate interview
Before you go into the interview you are taken into a separate room where you are given 15 mins to read over an in-tray exercise (mine was about loans and contracts). There were three aspects they said they would discuss so make sure you look at all of the aspects as they will ask you about all of them.
What they are looking for here is your thought process and resilience.
I found the exercise extremely challenging and I didn’t understand it all but they tried to guide you to find the right answer and it seemed like they were looking for your justification and reasoning.
At the same time, if you are certain on your view then stick with it because they will play devils advocate.
It’s meant to be a challenging scenario and in my interview the partner and senior associate disagreed with each other about what they would advise the client to do, so don’t be too worried if you want decide either, just pick and justify it!
The second part of the interview was general competency questions.
Please list any interview questions you were asked.
Why Macfarlanes and commercial law? When have you had to balance many tasks and time manage? Have you had to work with difficult people and how did you deal with the situation? What would you do if a client asked you to do something which you didn’t think was the best move for them to make?
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.
Negotiation
It’s a group exercise so part of it is about how you were together, respect other people’s ideas and don’t be too domineering.
Make sure you do say something for each aspect but don’t just talk for the sake of talking (some people spoke without really thinking about what they were saying, however I spoke less but on probably more valuable points).
For preparation I would say try and look at how the general M&A structure works, however this isn’t the main focus.
If you have an opportunity to practice negotiating before then do!
Written exercise
Not much you can really do to prepare.
On the day just make sure you read over everything and leave enough time to finish!
Partner interview
Practice the general competency/interview questions.
I know other people on the AC were asked slightly different questions to me but they were all along the general lines of a standard interview as well as some questions on current commercial news stories you’ve been following.
Macfarlanes is big on personality so try and show that off in the interview. My interview felt more like a conversation than an interrogation and all of us were laughing (although keep it professional no silly jokes).
During the other aspects of the day (lunch and trainee shadowing) although you aren’t being “assessed” they are still watching you and you want to make sure you remain fun and friendly but professional, I would say on my AC some people broke this a bit and it probably didn’t help.
Were you successful?
Yes