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A training contract at Farrer & Co is more than just a step towards qualification – it’s the foundation of a fulfilling legal career. We offer a comprehensive and supportive programme that balances technical skill development with practical experience, all within a collaborative and forward-thinking environment. Trainees at Farrer & Co gain exposure to a wide range of legal practice areas, working alongside some of the brightest minds in the profession.

The firm has certainly lived up to expectations... the teams at Farrer & Co do not shy away from involving Trainees in important work, and I feel that my contributions have been genuinely valued.

James Davies, Trainee Solicitor

Your journey starts here

Hear the experiences of our trainee solicitors and discover what makes our firm a great place to kick-start your legal career.

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from:

  • Law students in their penultimate or final year of study.
  • Non-law students in their final year of study.
  • Graduates from any academic discipline.

Our minimum academic requirements are AAB at A Level (or equivalent) and a 2:1 degree, or a predicted 2:1 for those still studying. Applications with mitigating circumstances will be considered.

The programme

Our two-year training contract is divided into six seats, each lasting four months.

  • First five seats: Rotations through 5 of 13 different practice areas to provide broad legal exposure.
  • Final seat: Focused in the practice area where trainees will qualify, ensuring a smooth transition to the associate role.

Trainees gain a solid grounding in commercial, contentious, private client, and property law, with additional emphasis on developing essential practical skills such as drafting, negotiation, interviewing, and advocacy. Training also covers IT proficiency, legal research, and marketing expertise.

The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)

We now follow the SQE route for qualification. Key details:

  • You can still apply if you have already completed the GDL or LPC; however, those with the LPC will need to complete SQE 2.
  • Farrer & Co will cover all SQE-related fees, including a maintenance grant to assist with living costs. Bursaries and loans are also available.
  • A two-year period of qualifying work experience with the firm remains part of the training contract.

Salary

  • Trainee Solicitor Salary: starting at £47,000 per annum (2024 intake).
  • Newly Qualified Solicitor Salary: rising to £88,000 per annum upon qualification. Salaries are reviewed annually.

At Farrer & Co, we offer a structured and supportive environment for aspiring solicitors, providing both the knowledge and practical experience needed to excel in the legal profession.

Key details

Recruitment: every summer, we recruit 10 trainees.

Selection process: approximately 40–50 shortlisted applicants complete a proofreading task. Successful candidates are invited to:

  • A virtual first interview, which includes a short written exercise in the form of an attendance note.
  • A second in-person interview, accompanied by a research task for discussion. Adjustments are available if needed.

Interview timing: interviews take place between June and the end of July.

Key dates

  • Applications open: 1 November 2024
  • Application deadline: 30 March 2025
  • Proofreading task: May 2025
  • Interview stage: June - end of July 2025
  • Start date: September 2027

FAQs

Do you recruit on a rolling basis?

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

Can I re-apply if I am unsuccessful?

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.

Do I have a better chance of gaining a training contract if I have completed a vacation scheme with Farrer & Co?

No, it varies each year. Our vacation scheme and training contract application processes are separate. 57% of our 2025 and 30% of our 2026 trainee cohorts completed a vacation scheme at Farrer & Co.

Do you run any assessment centres as part of your recruitment?

Not for training contracts but we typically run three virtual assessment mornings each year in February as part of our separate process to select candidates for our vacation schemes. This involves a group task and a written exercise. See our vacation scheme page for more details.

Will the recruitment process accommodate adjustments?

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

Do you run any open days?

Yes, we host our own virtual open days in the autumn which anyone is eligible to attend and includes a variety of talks about what it is like to work at Farrer & Co. The dates for our 2025 open days will be confirmed in August 2025.

We also host open days as part of our partnerships with external associations, such as Aspiring SolicitorsAll About Law 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.

Can I participate in any of your events if I am a first-year university student?

Yes, we host our own open days in the autumn as well as open days as part of our partnerships with external associations, such as Aspiring Solicitors and All About Law, which are often open to first years. Details of how to sign up can be found on the respective websites.

We are regularly invited to host university virtual Q&A events and attend university panel sessions. For more details, please ask your university career advisor or law society.

How is Farrer & Co approaching the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)?

We require all our future trainees to take the SQE route. You are still eligible to apply if you have already completed your GDL / LPC. For those who have already obtained the LPC, you will be required to complete the SQE 2. We will also continue to require our future trainees to carry out a two-year period of qualifying work experience with us. For more details about the SQE, read our Join Us magazine.

Can I use GenAI in my application?

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.

Do you sponsor international individuals?

Yes, we do sponsor visas for those successful in our training contract. Please indicate if you require one on your application.

How can you develop your commercial awareness to give your application the best chance of success?

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

What tips can you provide to Training Contract applicants?

We’ve produced some helpful tips to guide you through training contract applications and assessments.

 

Need help?

If you experience any difficulties with the online application process, please contact our Recruitment team who will be happy to help. We want to ensure candidates have the best interview experience possible. If you require any adjustments during the interview or application process, please get in touch.

Every single person is incredibly supportive, incredibly intelligent, incredibly effective.

Tom Chapman, Trainee Solicitor

Graduate and solicitor apprentice brochure

Access helpful information, including applications tips and guidance on the assessment process.

Read here

Join Us magazine – September 2024

Our latest edition introduces you to some of our newest arrivals to the firm. Learn about our trainee solicitors and solicitor apprentices who joined us in September, including their interests, what made them apply to Farrer & Co and their tips for anyone about to start the SQE.

Our new trainees and solicitor apprentices

Career Compass: for aspiring lawyers

Embark on a journey of career discovery with our interactive quiz. Gain valuable insights tailored to your interests and aspirations as you delve into the firm’s practice areas, clients and possible career routes.

Explore the possibilities for your legal career

Ever wondered what it's like to be a solicitor?

Dive into the world of law with our on-demand work experience simulation. Gain insights into our clients and explore training contract and solicitor apprenticeship opportunities. You'll also get to tackle tasks in four dynamic areas of law: banking, family, private client, and property.

Try your hand at being a solicitor at Farrer & Co

What we offer

From supporting your development and providing a range of market-leading benefits, to giving back to our communities, and fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive, discover how we put our values into practice.

Find out more about our firm

Meet our people

People are our business. We are proud of the characterful people who make up our firm, deliver great outcomes for our clients, communities and one another, and help to make Farrer & Co a great place to work.

Our stories

Contact our Graduate and Solicitor Apprentice team

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