Solicitor Apprenticeships

We have put together some helpful tips to guide you through the application process. Click here to read them.

No, we wait until our application window has closed before informing candidates if they have been successful or not.

Yes, there is always lots of competition for available places. We would encourage candidates to apply to us again if they are initially unsuccessful but still interested in joining us. These candidates should ensure they have addressed any feedback from their previous application/interview and not submit exactly the same application again.

Yes, shortlisted candidates applying for our solicitor apprenticeship programme will be invited to an in-person assessment morning which takes place during the Easter school holiday in April. This involves a group task, interview and short written exercise. We invite parents and guardians to also attend.  Travel expenses are reimbursed for candidates and their parent/guardian. Click here for guidance on how to prepare for these assessments.

Yes. We encourage anyone requiring adjustments for whatever reason to let the Graduate & Solicitor Apprentice team know so we can implement these for your assessments. All information disclosed will be managed confidentially.

Our virtual open evenings for 2025 have now taken place. We will be running the same sessions again in 2026, at the equivalent times in November and December. Further details and sign up links will be published closer to the time.

We also host open days as part of our partnerships with external associations, such as City Century and Young Professionals. Details for how to sign up can be found on their respective websites.

These open days offer candidates the opportunity to find out more about our firm and the recruitment process in more detail as well as having their questions answered by individuals across the firm.

When it comes to recruitment, we realise that GenAI can help candidates with understanding questions and generating a structure to follow as a starting point when providing answers. However we strongly encourage candidates to avoid copying, pasting and then submitting all or large parts of their application from a GenAI tool. Instead, candidates should tailor and personalise their responses to avoid submitting a generic application which is unlikely to be successful.

Our Graduate & Solicitor Apprentice Team does not use Generative AI to review applications or conduct interviews at any stage of the recruitment process.

No, we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for the solicitor apprenticeship role.

We’ve produced a guide for anyone starting their career and looking to understand more about the world of work.

At Farrer & Co, we recognise that parents and guardians play an important role in supporting their child’s career decisions. If your child is invited to our in-person assessment day, you are welcome to attend, visit our Central London office, hear from our Graduate & Solicitor Apprentice Recruitment Partner, and take a tour of the firm. Travel expenses are covered.

Should your child join us, you will also be invited back for our “bring your parent or guardian to work day” to meet the team and learn more about life at Farrer & Co.

Don’t just take our word for it, here are quotes from some of our current solicitor apprentices’ parents who have already been in your position:

"I didn't know solicitor apprenticeships existed, but Farrer & Co really helped to ease our worries and have given massive amounts of support to both the parents and our daughter. We even had the opportunity to come and visit the office to talk about the scheme with other parents as well as the Graduate & Solicitor Apprentice team and their supervisors."

"The scheme offers a unique pathway as an alternative to university for candidates with academic strength, individual commitment and self-drive. The opportunity to visit Farrer & Co as a parent and discuss how young apprentices would be supported by the firm indicated the nurturing ethos of the company."

"The firm has allowed my daughter to thrive and has been very attentive to her wellbeing, offering exceptional support and guidance throughout."

This opportunity is for candidates without a degree.

Our minimum academic requirements are strong A-level grades (or equivalent). Please use the section provided to give details of any mitigating circumstances you would like us to consider for academic results below this level.

We are interested in all your work experience whether virtual or in person; paid or voluntary; legal or non-legal; UK-based or international.

Any attendance at, or participation in, legal open days or events should be addressed in the question relating to the steps you have taken to prepare for a career in law, rather than in this work history section.

We're looking for candidates to showcase their motivations to pursue a career in law. This might include details of life experiences that have led you towards a career in law (such as the environment where you grew up or lived; an inspirational friend or colleague; a book you read; a news article or blog/vlog; a YouTube video; a podcast). We want to see that you have done your research so we can be confident that being a solicitor is something you will enjoy and excel in. This is a great place to highlight your understanding of the role of a solicitor and why you've chosen this role as opposed to other legal careers, such as a barrister.

We are looking for you to detail reasons why you have decided to seek a solicitor apprenticeship, as opposed to attending university, as your route to a career in law. We want to see that you understand what a solicitor apprenticeship is, how it works in practice and what it leads to.

This is your chance to share the range of transferable skills you’ve gained from your formal education and additional qualifications which will be applicable to life as a solicitor. This might include studies within school; college; EPQ; or a relevant online course leading to a certificate. In terms of content, there isn't a requirement to have previously studied law but if you have, you might tell us which modules interested you and why. You can do the same with other courses studied if relevant.

We want to find out as much as possible about you, beyond your study, to determine how you manage your time effectively and how you think these activities will be helpful to a career in law. What are your hobbies and interests? Do you hold any positions of responsibility? What books, articles or podcasts have helped to bolster your knowledge of the legal sector? Have you attended any legal open days/events or work simulations? These can be current or historic activities and virtual or in person.

This is also where you should pick some tasks from your work experience and give an in-depth explanation of what you did and the transferable skills gained.

We're really interested in finding out which of these particularly resonated with you and why these have assisted your preparation for a legal career.

You should use this section to give us examples of what made you apply to Farrer & Co and what stands out for you when you compare us to other law firms.

Before answering this question, take your time to research our firm and specifically our solicitor apprenticeship programme. We recommend you take advantage of the huge selection of articles, blog posts, podcasts and videos available on our website and social media platforms.

We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in relation to our members, clients and the community. We ask for this information on our application form so we can monitor the profile of all the people who apply to work for us to ensure we are recruiting from a broad pool of talent – as we aim to reflect the wider community to which we provide services.

All personal data supplied on this form will be treated anonymously and will not affect the outcome of your application.

If your application is successful, you will be invited to participate in a virtual interview. The interview will last for one hour and is an opportunity for us to find out more about you.

In the interview, you will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• Personal qualities: including expressing an interest in law and motivation to become a solicitor via the apprenticeship route, as well as awareness and interest in Farrer & Co.
• Customer service and client relationship management: including communication and time management.
• Resource and people management: including teamwork and reflecting on performance.
• Technical capabilities: including commitment to learning, attention to detail, and awareness of recent news events.

Following the first interview, shortlisted candidates will attend an in-person assessment morning, where you will be asked to complete the following:

• A written task.
• A group exercise.
• A second interview.

We will use these assessments to assist us in selecting our two solicitor apprentices.

Please contact our team if you require any adjustments to enable you to participate in our recruitment process.

1. Written task – 30 minutes

There will be four items you will be asked to complete as part of the written task.

• Items one and two: You will be given scenarios and asked what actions you would take if you were faced with this situation in the workplace. You are expected to justify your response.
• Item three: You will be given a list of multiple tasks to complete and asked which order you would prioritise them in and why.
• Item four: You will be given a fictitious email from a prospective client and asked to draft a response.

While no prior legal knowledge is required to complete this task, we will be looking out for an email which is appropriately addressed and structured in a logical way, with accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

2. Group exercise – 45 minutes

You will join a group of other candidates, and you will be split into two sub-groups. You will all receive a topic.

Sub-teams will then be given 20 minutes to separately discuss their arguments (either for or against the topic, depending on which they have been assigned).

At the end of the time, sub-teams will come together for a debate with the other side. Candidates will be given 20 minutes to get across their arguments during this final debate.

No prior legal knowledge will be required to complete this task. Candidates will be assessed on the following:

• General early impressions: engaged in the process, has a good understanding of the task.
• People management: demonstrates ability to bring others into the discussion rather than just taking charge.
• Oral communication: able to explain and express ideas clearly and concisely.
• Contribution: added to the quality of the discussion whether helping to reinforce, clarify or broaden views and issues; looking more for content quality of the contribution rather than speaking a lot.
• Teamwork: demonstrated respect for others’ views and opinions, healthy collaboration rather than combative competition, able to listen to others.

3. Second interview – 45 minutes

In the interview, you will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• Personal qualities: including expressing an interest in law and motivation to become a solicitor via the apprenticeship route, as well as awareness and interest in Farrer & Co.
• Customer service and client relationship management: including communication and time management.
• Resource and people management: including reflecting on performance.
• Technical capabilities: including sustaining a cogent argument.