You can only apply to either our Winter Vacation Scheme or Spring Vacation Scheme during the same recruitment cycle.

If you’re in at least your penultimate year of study and want to experience life as a Trainee Solicitor, our Vacation Scheme is the best way to see what makes Macfarlanes distinctive.

Over two weeks, you’ll sit in two different practice areas, work on real matters, and take part in workshops, networking and social events. You’ll leave with a real sense of our culture and the quality of our work, and have a better insight into whether a career here is right for you.

Key information

• Applications open: Tuesday 1 September 2026
• Application close: Friday 30 October 2026
• Scheme dates: Scheme one: Tuesday 30 March to Friday 9 April 2027; Scheme two: Monday 12 to Friday 23 April 2027
• Cohort size: c. 20 participants per scheme
• Salary: £525 per week

Who can apply?

The Vacation Scheme is open to penultimate-year and final-year undergraduate students, graduates and postgraduate students.

You don’t need to be studying law – we welcome applications from all degree disciplines and backgrounds. What matters is that you are intellectually curious, motivated, and have a genuine interest in law, as well as building a career at the highest level in Private Capital, Private Wealth, M&A and Disputes.

What to expect: The scheme

Across two weeks, you’ll get first-hand insight into the life of a Macfarlanes Trainee. You will:

• sit with two different practice groups, working under the supervision of an Associate supervisor;
• take part in a mock transaction negotiation that runs throughout the fortnight;
• attend introductory sessions on our practice areas, business development and international strategy;
• join sessions with our Lawtech, ESG and Sustainability, and Inclusion and CSR teams;
• sit in on client meetings, contribute to live research, and help draft documents; and
• join social events with Trainees and other scheme participants.

Our aim is to give you both a realistic view of Trainee life and the space to decide whether Macfarlanes is the right firm for you.

What to expect: The application process

Stage 1: Application and first stage online assessment

To apply, complete our application form, which includes your personal details, education and work history.

You will then be invited to complete our first stage online assessment, which you will have seven days to complete. You will work through a series of scenarios from different practice areas, designed to test your situational judgement and critical reasoning. The assessment also offers a small insight into life as a Trainee, helping you work out whether a legal career at Macfarlanes is right for you.

Stage 2: Second stage online assessment

If successful, you will be invited to complete our second stage online assessment, which you will have seven days to complete. This is an immersive "day in the life" job simulation, where you will join a fictional project team. You will respond to realistic situations similar to those faced by our Trainees, giving you the opportunity to show your potential in a setting that closely reflects life at the firm.

We recommend that all candidates visit the Cappfinity Preparation Hub before completing the Macfarlanes online assessments.

Need support?

We are committed to making the application as straightforward as possible, so please contact our Early Careers team if you require adjustments or additional support.

Application deadline:
Friday, 30 October 2026 at 12:00 (UTC)
(i) Times are displayed in your local time zone