Jonny's success story: Securing a place on an Insight Scheme at Macfarlanes

Jonny is a History, Polictics and Economics student from University College London. He secured a First Year Insight Scheme at Macfarlanes in London.  

First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

“I knew I wanted to continue studying my A-level subjects beyond school, so I was fortunate to be able to get into one of the only universities in the UK that offers History, Politics, and Economics, which has allowed me to further develop my analytical and quantitative skills.

Having grown up in Singapore and Malaysia, to Japanese and British parents, I always had an idea that I wanted my future career to have an international aspect.

For me, becoming a commercial solicitor offers the perfect mix of being able to utilise both my academic studies and skills, combined with the opportunity to work on challenging business cases that have real-world impact.

I find the evolving nature of the industry, which requires constant adaptation to regulatory, political, and economic changes really exciting.”

What motivated you to apply for your role? 

“A previous participant in the programme from my university recommended Macfarlanes to me as a place that was friendly, inclusive, and highlighted the invaluable opportunity to shadow a trainee in one of their practice areas.

This, alongside the fact that Macfarlanes offered a week-long programme rather than the one or two day insight schemes most others offered, convinced me to specifically apply to Macfarlanes.”

How did you prepare for your application? 

“I prepared by researching the key practice areas and recent deals the firm was involved in, whilst also practising my answers with friends and family members.

Whenever faced with a task I’m nervous or unfamiliar with, overpreparing rather than underpreparing helps me dispel my nerves, as I truly believe that failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”

What was the application process like? 

“The application process consisted of an initial online application form that included written questions about my interest in Macfarlanes and commercial law, followed by an online test.

Following that, I was invited to a 30-minute telephone interview, where I had the opportunity to demonstrate my motivations for becoming a commercial solicitor, my specific interest in Macfarlanes, and my suitability for the role.

I found preparing for the interview challenging yet rewarding. At first, it felt daunting, but I found that I enjoyed researching the latest work the firm had been involved with and their key practice areas. Being able to demonstrate that knowledge during the interview was rewarding, particularly given how nervous I was at the start.”

What are you most proud of about your journey? 

“A challenge I feel proud to have overcome was my initial nerves going into the Insight Programme. I felt my knowledge and understanding of commercial law might not be at the same level as other participants, as I’d only recently decided to fully focus my career aspirations from other industries towards a legal one.

I overcame this challenge by remaining confident in my ability to learn. I was unafraid to ask questions during networking sessions, so I could learn as much as possible throughout the week.

I felt I truly overcame these nerves during our group presentation, where I was able to articulate legal concepts I hadn’t encountered before starting the programme.”

What have you learnt from going through the process? 

“What I wish I’d known before starting was to focus my research on the firm’s USP and why that resonated with me, instead of broader yet less detailed research into the firm.”

What are your tips for people looking to follow in your footsteps? 

“A piece of advice that helped me in the application process was to write answers that are tailored specifically to the firm you’re applying to.

If an answer could be copied and pasted onto another firm and still make sense, then it probably isn't specific enough to the firm you're applying for. Make sure to mention recent deals the firm has worked on and how that’s relevant to you, which helped me progress to the interview stage.”

Tell us about the future. What's next? 

“I’m looking forward to applying to vacation schemes next year, whilst expanding my knowledge of what it takes to be a commercial solicitor this summer, through online courses, books, and podcasts.

I hope to improve my commercial awareness, which law firms value highly in future trainees.”