Macfarlanes Training Contract Application Questions and Answers

Additional information

Use this page to provide additional information which you think is relevant to your application (this may include positions of responsibility, non-academic achievements, interests and personal qualities) as well as why you are applying to Macfarlanes, what you would bring to the firm and what your aspirations are.

Since [year] I have been a very zealous member of the ‘[society]’ society. In the past I have been in projects aimed to save electricity and helping the local wildlife, such as switching off unused computers in the library during vacation breaks. In January [year], I have successfully started an on-campus [Sport] club which has been unsuccessfully attempted for over fifty years. I am currently the president of the society and have the responsibility of managing ten executives and coordinating the overall strategy and direction of the club in its teething period. Throughout my second and third year at university I have actively represented [bank name] to graduates. I had to communicate to graduates interested in a career in investment banking, give presentations, organise on-campus marketing events, coordinate and manage people involved in marketing campaigns. I am a very active executive of the [language] Speaking Society where I am actively organising cultural events such as the [celebration], [language] [national celebration], [language] Winter Party just to name a few. On a sportier note, I have won a gold medal for England in the Four Nations amateur [Sport] tournament. I am also a member of the [university] [sport] club and have been selected to play in the [sport] National Championships last summer.

Macfarlanes’s impressive growth attracts me as a potential employee. Macfarlanes’s growth in a short space of time implies that it possesses some very dedicated teams who can perform a wide range of work to the highest standard. This also means that each team member makes an important contribution to every task, and to the overall growth of the business, making work both personally and professionally rewarding. I am attracted by the relatively small number of trainee intake which I feel will offer me bespoke training that is individually tailored to my interests, experience and aptitude. More importantly, I will receive the excitement and challenge of working on high value, complex transactions and disputes, in the size of office where everyone knows who you are. For me this will mean getting involved in real work from the start whereby I will be able to add something to the cases I work on. This environment will unquestionably foster my professional and personal growth in my capacity as a lawyer. Having an interest in commercial law I would especially like to work for Macfarlanes because I am attracted by the wide spectrum of commercial practices ranging from contracts to sports. Moreover, working on commercial matters would require me to liaise with several departments thus making my everyday unique, challenging and enjoyable. Having [done the sport] at national and international level I would particularly like to see the interaction between the sports and contracts practice areas, potentially ranging multiple jurisdictions. Fluency in [language], [language] and English and my strong corporate background provides me with flexibility which would make me a valuable asset to Macfarlanes.

[recruiter’s name]

Graduate Recruitment Manager

Dear [recruiter’s name],

I am a final year student at the [University] expected to graduate in June, [year]. I am expected to achieve a 1st class grade in my third year. I am applying for a training contract to commence in [year] advertised on Latestlawjobs.com.

I am interested in corporate and commercial law because it will allow me to assume the role of a project manager and will vest me with early responsibility. Given that commercial law is both transactional and ongoing suggests that I will have to build a rapport with the client and apply strong communication skills coupled with high technical ability when forming a clear picture of the client’s needs and objectives and then explaining what may well be a complex area of law when advising on the best solution. This may require me to liaise with a number of legal departments thus making each day unique, enjoyable and fulfilling work experience. More importantly, as a commercial city lawyer I will gain experience in dealing with a diverse range of clients which will improve my commercial background and resultantly my ability to deliver effective and timely solutions to individual client needs.

I am attracted by the relatively small number of trainee intake which I feel will offer me bespoke training that is individually tailored to my interests, experience and aptitude. More importantly, I will receive the excitement and challenge of working on high value, complex transactions and disputes, in the size of office where everyone knows who you are. For me this will mean getting involved in real work from the start whereby I will be able to add something to the cases I work on. This environment will unquestionably foster my professional and personal growth in my capacity as a lawyer. Having an interest in commercial law I would especially like to work for Macfarlanes because I am attracted by the wide spectrum of commercial practices ranging from contracts to sports. Moreover, unlike other law firms, Macfarlanes would provide me with an opportunity to liaise with several departments thus making my everyday unique, challenging and enjoyable. Having [done the sport] at national and international level I would particularly like to see the interaction between the sports and contracts practice areas, potentially ranging multiple jurisdictions. This collaboration with multiple practice areas will allow me to develop my knowledge of law at a faster pace and thus choose early in my career the area in which I would like to specialise in.

Having worked for a number of private clients at leading legal firms, [law firm] and [law firm], I can attest to the importance of building and maintaining professional relationships. I have also proved to be an excellent team player with an entrepreneurial perspective when working on complex legal matters. This was successfully demonstrated in me opening an on-campus [Sport] club which has not been done for over sixty years. My ambition and perseverance to achieve excellence and precision in all tasks I undertake coupled with my fluency in [language], English and [language] would make me a valuable asset when working on cross-border transactions or with international clients.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to attend an interview for which I am available at your convenience.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

[Name]