Train with us
Being a good lawyer requires much more than excellent academic ability. When selecting our future lawyers, we look for ambition, commercial awareness, discretion, clear and agile thinkers, open-minded individuals, resilience and analytical ability. If this sounds like you then we would love you to join us.
Through our work experience, vacation schemes, solicitor apprenticeships and training contracts, we provide an opportunity to learn from lawyers who are the leading experts in their fields. Our approach gives you a breadth of experience: you will have real responsibilities while receiving full support and guidance.
What is it like to train at Farrer & Co?
Solicitor Apprenticeships
We are delighted that we will be recruiting two Solicitor Apprentices to join us in September 2022.
At the end of this six year apprenticeship, subject to satisfactory character and suitability, you will be a fully qualified solicitor, registered with the SRA. Further details of the programme can be found here.
All tuition fees will be paid and you will earn a salary whilst you are training and gaining your qualification.
Please contact [email protected] to request an application form. The closing date for applications is Sunday 13 February 2022.
Our minimum academic requirements are five GCSEs, including Maths and English (Grade C/4 or above) and ABB at A Level (or equivalent qualifications) but we will consider mitigating circumstances for academics below this.
If your application is successful, you will be invited to participate in a virtual interview. Shortlisted candidates will then attend an assessment day before we select our two Solicitor Apprentices.
We host our own virtual open evenings in the autumn for potential applicants/parents/schools to attend and find out more about this opportunity. These have now taken place for 2021.
Click here for hints and tips on the application form.
For more details, please call Rebecca Reese, Senior Knowledge, Learning & Development Adviser, on +44 (0)20 3375 7000 or email us.
Work experience
We run a work experience programme in October half-term (Monday 24 October 2022 – Friday 28 October 2022).
Applications to apply for work experience will open in summer 2022 and the deadline is Sunday 11 September 2022.
The scheme will give individuals the chance to see how the whole firm operates with a series of interesting talks plus a CV workshop and the chance to complete a research task for their supervisor.
The scheme is open to:
- Individuals studying A-levels or equivalent at the time of the work experience.
- Individuals who have an interest in working in a law firm, whether as a solicitor or in one of our business services teams, be it Finance, Marketing, HR, IT or Knowledge Learning & Development.
- Individuals who have five GCSEs grade 4-9 (or equivalent points) including Maths and English, unless there are mitigating circumstances.
There will be five spaces available on the scheme.
We will give priority to individuals who have not had previous similar work experience in a professional services firm and/or as part of a structured programme.
For more details, please call Rebecca Reese, Senior Knowledge, Learning & Development Adviser, on +44 (0)20 3375 7000 or email us.
Aspiring Solicitors
Aspiring Solicitors works to increase diversity in the legal profession across all underrepresented groups. Our partnership with Aspiring Solicitors is part of the firm's ongoing commitment to increasing diversity amongst solicitors at the firm.
You can contact our professional ambassadors via the Aspiring Solicitors portal. Please visit Aspiring solicitors for more information.
Find out more about our other diversity partnerships.
Vacation schemes
Our minimum academic requirements are one A and two Bs at A Level (or equivalent) and an upper second class degree but we will consider mitigating circumstances for academics below this.
We run one Easter and two Summer vacation schemes each year. You will spend time in our legal teams alongside a lawyer who will supervise you. You will also attend lunchtime seminars, social events and take part in a group legal case study.
There are ten places available on each scheme and successful applicants will receive an allowance of £300 per week.
Key dates for our vacation scheme are set out below.
Training contracts
Every summer, we recruit ten trainees to join us.
Our minimum academic requirements are one A and two Bs at A Level (or equivalent) and an upper second class degree but we will consider mitigating circumstances for academics below this.
Approximately 40-50 of the best applicants are invited to a first video interview where they will also be required to complete a short written exercise. If candidates are successful, they then progress to the second video interview stage and are also given a short case study to discuss. Reasonable adjustments are available, if required.
Farrer & Co will pay all fees relating to the Solicitors Qualifying Exam for our future trainees. To assist with living costs, they will also receive a maintenance grant. See our FAQ section below for details of how Farrer & Co are approaching the SQE.
Key dates for our training contracts are set out below.
I’m really excited by our Solicitor Apprenticeship scheme as it provides a totally new way for us to find the very best talent.
Contact Us
For more details, call Claire Roche, Graduate Recruitment and Development Adviser, or email us.
Join Us Newsletter
Key dates
1 November 2021
1 November 2021 – Applications open for 2022 vacation schemes and 2024 training contracts
31 January 2022
Deadline for 2022 vacation scheme applications is 23:59.
13 February 2022
Deadline for 2022 solicitor apprentice applications is 23.59.
4 April - 14 April 2022
Easter vacation scheme
27 June - 8 July 2022
First Summer vacation scheme
11 July - 22 July 2022
Second Summer vacation scheme
15 July 2022
Deadline for 2024 training contracts is at 23:59.
Frequently asked questions
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. If you have been unsuccessful in gaining a place on our vacation scheme you are still eligible to apply for a training contract during the same recruitment round.
Do I have a better chance of gaining a training contract if I have completed a vacation scheme with Farrer & Co?
No, our vacation scheme and training contract application processes are completely separate. 50 per cent of our 2020 and 2021 trainee cohorts completed a vacation scheme at Farrer & Co.
Do you run any assessment centres as part of your recruitment?
Yes, we typically run three assessment days in early March each year as part of our process to select candidates for our vacation schemes. This day involves a group task and a written exercise.
Do you run any open days?
Yes, we host our own 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. These have now taken place for 2021.
We also host open days as part of our partnerships with external associations, such as Aspiring Solicitors and All About Law. Details for how to sign up can be found on their respective websites.
To register for one of our schools-focused open evenings, please see the details above on Solicitor Apprenticeships.
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 have decided to move away from the existing GDL/ LPC route in our 2022 recruitment round and require all our future trainees from then to take the SQE route. This will mean the first Farrer & Co trainees joining us under the SQE system will start in Autumn 2024. You are still eligible to apply if you have already completed your GDL/ LPC. 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, please visit the SRA website.
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