NQ Salary
~£140,000
TC Salary
~£56,000 / £61,000 (year 1 / year 2)
Annual Intake
c.25–30 per year
Seats
4 seats
This profile is compiled from publicly available sources and may not reflect the latest changes. Always check Macfarlanes's official careers page for current deadlines, application processes, and programme details.
A highly selective London firm with an elite private equity and tax practice. Macfarlanes is renowned for the quality — rather than volume — of its work, and for retaining trainees at exceptional rates through to partnership.
Culture & Values
Meritocratic and intellectually demanding, with genuine partnership-track ambition for every trainee. The deliberately smaller intake means trainees receive significant responsibility from early in their training. Known for a close-knit, supportive community where partners are genuinely accessible.
Unlock interview packs for Macfarlanes
Practice questions, “Why this firm?” talking points, and recent stories mentioning Macfarlanes — refreshed weekly.
Sign up free →Vacation Scheme / Training Contract
Method
“Provider: Cappfinity. Two-stage online assessment. Stage 1: scenario-based SJT and critical reasoning tasks across practice areas (Corporate/M&A, Banking/Finance, Private Client, Litigation). Stage 2: immersive job simulation — join a fictional project team and respond to realistic trainee scenarios. Both stages assessed application-blind.”
Tests
For first-year LLB students at Brunel University London who are from underrepresented backgrounds. Three-year programme delivered in partnership with Brunel Law School.
Applications typically open in early calendar year
Widening access to law programme for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Applications open annually
Independent Resource
Folio is an independent student project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Macfarlanes. All information is compiled from publicly available sources and may not reflect the most current data. Salary and deadline figures are approximate, based on prior recruitment cycles. Last verified: 2026-03-19. Always check the firm's official graduate recruitment page for confirmed details.
Generated by Folio — folioapp.co.uk · 20 April 2026
Folio is independent and not affiliated with any firm listed. Salary and deadline information is approximate. Always verify with the firm's official graduate recruitment page.