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

Olivia is a History student from the University of Oxford. She secured a place on an Insight Scheme at Macfarlanes in London, through Bright Network.  

First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

“I’m a British-American dual citizen and I’ve just completed my first year studying History at the University of Oxford.

Throughout school, I gravitated towards activities like debating, essay writing, and Model UN, and I was then encouraged by teachers and family to begin considering law as a potential career path.

Once I explored it more seriously at university, especially commercial law, it quickly became clear that this was the right fit for me. I’m particularly drawn to the way the profession combines negotiation, strategy, and critical thinking to help businesses navigate complex challenges.”

What motivated you to apply for your role? 

"Macfarlanes stood out to me as the ideal place to pursue a career in commercial law due to its focus on high-quality cases within a smaller, collaborative environment.

Macfarlanes’ Insight Week was one of the most comprehensive programmes I came across. Spanning four days, it offered the opportunity to shadow a trainee, take part in real legal tasks, participate in mock negotiation workshops, and engage directly with lawyers to gain a deeper understanding of various practice areas.

It was clear to me that Macfarlanes wasn’t just a firm where I could see myself building a legal career; it also provided a scheme that would give me exceptional preparation for that path.”

What was the application process like? 

“The application process was seamless. I heard back from the Macfarlanes Early Careers Team quickly after each stage, which made the experience feel very organised and supportive.

The first stage involved a Situational Judgement Test, followed by written responses to a set of application questions. Once I progressed past this stage, I was invited to a telephone interview, which focused primarily on my understanding of the firm as well as a range of behavioural questions.

Most questions required me to think critically, and some required me to have a deep understanding of the firm, but overall, I found the process intellectually engaging rather than overly difficult.

What stood out to me was the telephone interview itself, as I really valued the opportunity to have a thoughtful, one-on-one conversation with the interviewer and to articulate my motivations and experiences in more depth.”

What are you most proud of about your journey? 

“I’m most proud of how I proactively embraced the career opportunities available to me at university, as I made a conscious effort to explore my interests and think seriously about my future career.

I got involved in a range of student societies, which helped me discover a genuine interest in law. I committed fully by joining my university’s law society committee, which gave me the chance to strengthen qualities essential to the legal profession, such as leadership, organisation, and teamwork, and also gave me deeper exposure to legal topics and the legal community.

Applying to first-year insight schemes was another significant step, and balancing applications with academic work was challenging. It’s important to develop resilience in the face of rejection, transforming obstacles into lessons.

Receiving an offer from Macfarlanes for a week-long insight scheme was incredibly rewarding, and I was especially keen on their insight scheme due to the level of depth it offered. It reaffirmed that the time, effort, and persistence I’d put in was truly worth it.”

What have you learnt from going through the process? 

“One of the most important things I’ve learnt is that knowing yourself is just as crucial as knowing the firm. It’s essential to apply to places where you genuinely believe you’ll thrive, not just where you think you ‘should’ apply.

Attending insight days and schemes is a great way to get a feel for a firm’s culture early on, so I’d recommend getting involved as soon as possible, even if the process initially feels daunting. Once you've completed a few applications, the rest become much more manageable.”

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

"One key tip I’d give to anyone following a similar path is to thoroughly research the firm before your interview. Go beyond surface-level facts and make sure you understand their recent deals, areas of specialism and importantly, their culture and values.

The best advice I received was to let your personality and achievements come through authentically and to find meaningful ways to connect your experiences to the firm’s work and ethos.

If I were to do anything differently, I’d spend more time reflecting on common behavioural questions, thinking more deeply about how my experiences demonstrate key competencies to give me more confident and structured answers.

I’d encourage first-year students to not get overwhelmed by the pressure around internships and career planning. It’s important to be proactive, but it’s equally important to make space for the things you enjoy outside of your career. Pursuing your passions and interests alongside your goals, not only keeps you balanced, but helps you grow in ways that make you a more well-rounded candidate in the long run.

In terms of resources, the most valuable by far are the people working at firms you want to apply to. Don’t hesitate to reach out to alumni from your university who work at the firm or have similar interests, as they can offer you insights you won’t find online.”

Tell us about the future. What's next? 

“This summer, I’ll be spending a month working with an in-house legal team. I’m excited to gain hands-on experience and deepen my understanding of how contract drafting and legal research are approached in a commercial setting.

Looking ahead to next year, I’ll be focusing on applying for Vacation Schemes alongside my studies. In the meantime, I’m staying up to date with current affairs to strengthen my legal and commercial awareness in preparation.”