Forsters - True Picture

An unmatched private client and commercial real estate practice make this West End firm a Forst to be reckoned with.

Forsters training contract review 2025

The Firm



On one fateful night in 1998, ten partners of Frere Cholmeley Bischoff were faced with a choice: go along with their firm’s merger with a big city firm or branch out on their own to forge a new path… Okay, maybe it wasn’t as dramatic as that, but their decision birthed the West End heavyweight we now know as Forsters. Training principal Anthony Goodmaker explains that the firm’s original goal of providing a true alternative to the city firms has remained the same over the last 26 years: “our core values have never changed. We’ve got a great work/life balance and great clients that buy into what we do and what we offer. We really care about people’s happiness here.”

The firm covers a swathe of practice areas, but two stand above the rest in terms of size and longevity. Forsters covets both an impressive private client and commercial real estate practice that were huge draws for the sources on our list: “they are the two biggest areas of the firm and the work is top tier.” That’s not all the firm has to offer though, as our colleagues over at Chambers UK and Chambers High Net Worth have given their stamp of approval to Forsters’ agriculture and rural affairs, construction, family, social housing and planning work as well as the aforementioned big guns of private client and commercial real estate.

“They really get trainees stuck in and involved. The quality of work we get to do is really high.”

Now based out of Baker Street, Forsters fosters a positive training environment that ensures high levels of trainee development. Goodmaker knows this firsthand, as he also trained at the firm and has stayed ever since: “we want trainees to be the heartbeat of the firm. We’re committed to giving our people the best opportunities to being the best lawyers they want to be.” Our sources agreed, and one shared that “they really get trainees stuck in and involved. The quality of work we get to do is really high.”

The Seats



Forsters’ TC operates on a slightly unique set up of six-seats of four months a piece. Of those six, trainees are encouraged to sit in both commercial real estate and private client. You can put in your preferences with each new rotation and the sources we spoke with noted that the firm does pretty well to accommodate trainees. One trainee explained that “you’re not guaranteed anything, but I think most people get their seats in the end.” As for the six-seat contract, the final seat actually sees trainees returning to the group they’ll qualify into, so they will actually spend eight months in the seat they’ll qualify into before the end of their training contract. Goodmaker explains the rationale behind this: “The main benefit of six seats is they get to see more of the firm and get a better sense of where they want to qualify. It gives them more choice.”

The tax, trusts and estates team (more commonly known as the private clientgroup) is one of the two foundational pillars of the firm. “It’s a big team and there’s a bigger feel with that side of the work,” said one trainee. The group broadly splits between onshore and offshore work, but we heard “there’s a lot of scope to work on both” during your seat. With a large number of clients on retainer, who are confidential due to the nature of the work, and new clients coming through often, trainees will be involved in a wide selection of matters. Such tasks include drafting wills, acquiring lasting powers of attorney, assisting in the moving of money into the UK, letters of wishes, drafting tax reports, client meetings, crypto cases and probate work. With such a range of work to get stuck in with, trainees were happy to make their mark in the group. One source shared that “you’re doing so much and making an impact. If you’re interested in the nitty gritty of law, then it’s great to do!” Though insiders were also sure to note that you need to bring your a-game to this team: “you have to be switched on for it, there’s a lot of analytical thinking involved.”

“Once you’re a few weeks in, you run your own small files under supervision helping to get deals over the line.”

Forsters’ other flagship department is also its biggest - commercial real estate. Acting on a lot of sales and purchases, this transactional seat will see trainees in the orbit of institutional funds, occupiers, and the land registry. One of Forsters’ longstanding clients is the investment management company Fiera Real Estate which the firm recently advised in their four site acquisitions for the company’s Real Estate Logistics Development Fund. Once completed, the total value of the development and its assets is estimated to be £128.5 million. So, as you can see, they’re the real deal. Trainees responded accordingly, pointing out the seat involved having to think “strategically and pragmatically” on each of their assigned matters. The reward for which is increased responsibility: “once you’re a few weeks in, you run your own small files under supervision, helping to get deals over the line.” The most common trainee tasks include lease negotiations and drafting, reviewing markups, site visits, filing forms, title clearances, and running the DocuSign process. Not to mention there is a great deal of client exposure, which we heard fast tracked trainee development. “It’s a nice way for you to be thrown into the deep end. You get to practice those skills at such an early level,” as one source surmised.

For those in the dispute resolution team, work is split between commercial disputes, and trusts and estates. For the former, that involves work in the remit of director duties and shareholder disputes, whereas the latter encompasses misrepresentation cases, disputes around wills both domestic and offshore, and inheritance act claims. How much autonomy trainees receive depends on the size of the matter. One trainee indicated that “the bigger the claim the less responsibility you have understandably, but there was a small matter I basically ran myself so there’s a lot of good exposure.” Sources told us the firm were open to them steering their experience in a direction they were drawn to: “they really like it when you express an interest in something in particular, you’re encouraged to stay open minded, but they are keen on people carving out specific things they enjoy.” Tasks trainees can expect to receive include admin, attending calls, research notes, document review, going to court, bundling and a great deal of drafting. Reflecting on their time in this seat, one insider noted that “I remember the seat really fondly because I got to practice my drafting and free hand skills.” Previous clients include Hipgnosis Music, Clarence Court Eggs and various Investor groups.

The corporate team spread broadly across three main areas: private client, real estate and more standalone corporate matters with trainees dipping their toes into all three pools. The depth of matters is vast as trainees can look forward to M&A, seed funding for startups, private equity work with property developers, private client work like restructuring out of the Cayman Islands and even tech. For the latter, the corporate team recently acted for MA Micro, an existing technology client of the firm’s, in its acquisition of the e-bike maker VanMoof. This is the second e-mobility business that the firm assisted MA Micro in acquiring after the e-scooter business Lavoie the year prior.“It’s incredibly varied and the nature of the work and clients is very mixed,” asserted one source. Day to day tasks involved drafting board minutes, attending client calls, deal management, and due diligence. Trainees told us they also felt lucky to work with partners on deals and get involved in substantive work that others may not have the pleasure of experiencing: “I have reviewed certain sections of purchase agreements that I feel very privileged to have seen, I don’t know anyone else to have seen those documents at other firms.”

Trainee Life



“Anyone that has given me work has always been generous with their time when it comes to feedback.”

Supervisors make sure trainees are getting the time and attention that they need to thrive in their seats, with sources telling us they felt “supervisors are really good at responding to what I want. It makes the transition into associate easier as you have a safety net, but you also can run with the responsibility of your position.” Likewise, feedback was plentiful, with sources reporting a keenness from work-givers to talk through how they did: “anyone that has given me work has always been generous with their time when it comes to feedback.” In terms of more structured systems, trainees get a more informal mid-seat review with their supervisor as well as a formal end-of-seat review with their supervisor and a partner to go through their time in the seat. When it comes to training, ‘Know How’ sessions are held within each department in which everyone is trained on specific law processes and the like. One insider explained that these sessions are useful as there is “no question is too silly to ask.”

Forsters trainees were gushing about their new office space having moved a short distance to Marylebone from Mayfair in January 2024. “It’s brand new and renovated, there’s a real buzzy vibe here,” beamed one newbie. In the old space, the firm was spread across three different offices, but now everyone is brought under one roof. Trainees are expected to be on site three days a week but this isn’t strictly enforced. In any case, sources told us they actually average closer to four or five days in. One source confessed that “I’m personally in five days a week, I love being able to learn from people around you.” As for how long trainees spend working, most sources averaged a 9:30am start with a finish time between 6-8pm. If a deal ramps up, then we heard it can get slightly later with weekend work also popping up from time to time. Though insiders stressed that this was no big deal, as one shared that “I think the working hours are very kind for a firm of our quality.”

“There’s only 12 of us, so we’re really tight knit”, said one source about the closeness of the trainee cohort. We were told trainees often hang out at lunch and go to the pub in the evenings and that’s before we mention the firm’s social events for newbies. We can’t forget the benefit of the new terrace as well for when the sun is out: “I’ve been getting a great tan up there, I’m a fan!”  Other events included the firm Christmas party which starts off with the firm’s choir doing a carol concert before heading back to the office where the real party kicks into gear. At the time of our research, there was plenty of excitement for an upcoming mixed-netball game between the two largest teams at the firm. One trainee explained that “it’ll be a great way for us to network and it’ll be such a fun way to do it!” 

When topic of diversity arose, there was one key standout amongst our sources: “I think we have more female partners than we do male partners. We attract a lot of female candidates for that very reason.” The importance of this achievement was not lost on our interviewees, who highlighted how the gender representation was a clear draw for them to stay at the firm. When it comes to ethnic diversity, trainees acknowledged room for improvement, but also pointed out that clear steps were being made to facilitate that change. We were told that “they do blind CVs as part of the recruitment process, and they put on bias training sessions. They’re definitely conscious that they’re not as diverse as they want to be.” The firm is also hot on mental health, with clearly advertised mental health first aiders, full support for those wishing to take parental leave, and trainees are assigned a mentor that they can have confidential conversations with if they are seeking advice.

Discussion around the salary was pragmatic for our sources who acknowledged that although other London firms may be on higher pay, at the end of the day they get the chance to switch off from work. As one insider put it, “if I can go to work and know I don’t have to cancel my plans at the end of it, then the salary is okay with me.” Thoughts around the qualification process did vary amongst interviewees as different departments have slightly different methods. The general minimum is once trainees apply to the team they’re interested in qualifying into, they also complete an application letter essentially outlining why they want to join them. All trainees then have to interview, followed by written exercises and case study. “It’s pretty formal and self-explanatory,” one trainee noted, “it’s formal, but that makes sure it’s fair.” Those in line for qualification, were more eager to get started as an NQ than being too worried about process: “I see no reason to leave, and I really get the impression that they try to keep you at the end of the contract.”  In 2024, the firm retained 9 of 10 qualifiers.

 

Dress to impress…

Every year there is a huge NQ fancy dress party where those about to qualify get to choose the theme. We tried to get a tease of what this year had in store, but were quickly shot down by a trainee in the know: “I would tell you, but it’s deeply under wraps!”

How to get a Forsters training contract



Spring Vacation Scheme: 7-11 April 2025 (1 week)

Summer Vacation Scheme 1: 9-13 June 2025 (1 week)

Summer Vacation Scheme 2: 16-20 June 2025 (1 week)

Applications

Each year, the firm receives around 350 training contract applications. Initially, there is an online application form which requires some background information on the applicant and their education, followed by three questions. The firm is looking to hear about a variety of experiences and skills including non-legal work experience as well as legal work experience in a clear and concise way.

Assessment and interviews

The firm hosts assessment days for the vacation scheme and training contract applicants and typically invites around 18 candidates to each day. The structure and tasks of the day vary, but a previous example involved group tasks such as working in smaller groups to discuss topics, complete challenges, solve problems, and presentations. There are also case studies which involves an independently written piece of work. When it comes to interviews, first-rounds are usually around 30 minutes with two members of the graduate recruitment panel. The questions will be aimed at understanding why the candidate wishes to become a solicitor, as well as assessing their commercial awareness.

The vacation scheme

Following completion of the online application form and self-recorded video interview, those who stand out will be shortlisted and invited to an assessment day. If an applicant shines during the assessment, they'll receive a vacation scheme offer or final interview (if applying for the training contract directly). The application process is identical for both vacation scheme and training contract applications. All assessment days will take place in February and final interviews for direct applicants will take place in either April or June alongside the vacation schemes.

There are approximately 400 applications for a vacation scheme each year, during that process the firm is keen to see candidates’ personality, passions, and inspiration for pursuing law. Try and avoid mentioning the more commonly given answers; for the firm, this includes talking about the six-seat rotation and intake size. Those on the vacation scheme will be given tasks that mirror that of a trainee and also participate in workshops and social activities. Candidates will experience sitting in one or two departments, but they will get to network with people from all across the firm.

Open days and other opportunities

The firm also offers open days that include presentations and networking opportunities. There is also a Q&A session with Early Careers that gives potential applicants the opportunity to directly ask any questions they have and seek guidance on their career path. Finally, the firm offers a First Year Insight Day for students who are still studying and not yet eligible to apply for training contracts or vacation schemes. The day allows students to see what the firm has to offer and get a taste of different departments they may have an interest in.

 

Forsters

Firm profile
Forsters is a leading London law firm based in Marylebone. Taking a joined-up approach we seek out solutions that embrace the unique needs of each individual or company. We believe our engaged, approachable manner combined with the delivery of concise, clear and commercially-led advice is what helps us develop long-term client relationships.

Main areas of work
Forsters delivers exceptional legal advice to clients principally drawn from the real estate and private wealth sectors. We also specialise in residential property, dispute resolution, corporate, construction, property litigation, planning, family and landed estates.

Training opportunities
Every year Forsters takes on 12 trainees. The training contract at Forsters is divided into six four-month seats.

Vacation scheme
Applications for our 2025 Vacation Schemes will be open between September 2024 and January 2025. Applications are welcomed from both law and non-law students. Undergraduate law students should apply at the earliest in their penultimate year of study and non-law students at the earliest in their final year of study. We will offer up to 30 places across our 3 schemes, successful candidates will spend 1 week with us. We pay all students an allowance of £475 gross per week. We usually recruit approximately 80% of our trainees from our vac scheme.

Other benefits
Life insurance, private healthcare, subsidised gym membership, discount shopping portal, annual season ticket loan, cycle to work loan, dental insurance, long service award, employee introduction bonus, eye care.

Open days and first-year opportunities

Discover the Forsters difference through our open days and events. Whether you join us in person or tune in virtually, it's your window into the vibrant heart of our firm.

We will be hosting 2 open days: 22 October and 9 December 2024. These will both take place in person at our Baker Street office. We will also be hosting an online application Q&A session with the Early Careers team. This will take place on 12 November. To apply, follow the link on our website and tell us why you would like to attend. Applications are welcome from anyone eligible for the vacation schemes. For current students, the earliest we can welcome an application from non-law students is in their final year and law students in their penultimate year. Students from all universities are welcome to apply. For graduates, we welcome applicants from all degree subjects and career changers, regardless of how long it’s been since you graduated.

For first year students, we will be hosting a first year open day on 7 May 2025. To apply, follow the link on our website and tell us why you would like to attend.

Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing

Forsters recognises and appreciates that no two people are the same. We are working hard to break down barriers and encourage and embrace people's differences so that Forsters is an environment where every individual can flourish and has equality of opportunity. As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, we have partnered with a number of organisations to help us attract people from all sorts of backgrounds.

These include:

My Plus - We are now gold members with MyPlus consulting. MyPlus provides progressive employers and individuals with disabilities with the confidence, insight and support they need to realise new possibilities.

Rare Recruitment
- We have adopted Rare Recruitment’s Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) into our graduate application forms. We understand that not every candidate’s achievements will look the same on paper and we want to recruit the best people, from every background. The CRS allows us to understand a candidate’s achievements and experience in context, enabling us to look at a wider talent pool. The system awards social mobility flags to measure disadvantage and gives applicants a performance index to measure outperformance.

Recruitment Process:
It is important to us that we recruit the top graduate talent regardless of background. We have adapted our recruitment process to ensure all applications and candidates are reviewed based on merit and performance. Every year our graduate recruitment panel of partners undergo interview and unconscious bias training before our assessment days. We have also introduced a scoring system when we mark application forms and interviews to reduce bias in our recruitment process. The first stage of the interview process, the assessment day, is run on a ‘CV blind’ basis.

This Firm's Rankings in
UK Guide, 2024

Ranked Departments

    • Agriculture & Rural Affairs (Band 1)
    • Construction: Contentious (Band 5)
    • Construction: Non-contentious (Band 4)
    • Family/Matrimonial Finance: Ultra High Net Worth (Band 2)
    • Planning (Band 5)
    • Real Estate Litigation (Band 2)
    • Real Estate: £50-150 million (Band 1)
    • Social Housing (Band 3)
    • Art and Cultural Property Law (Band 2)