Farrer & Co LLP - True Picture

Farrer & Co training contract review 2026

The Firm

There’s a lot of new in the world of law. Regulation in almost any industry is constantly evolving, as are the industries themselves, and how and where people want to invest their money is changing too. In the context of all this change, a degree of longevity can be reassuring. Enter Farrer & Co. Farrer is over 300 years old, and, somewhat fittingly, has set up shop in a Grade II-listed building in London, with high ceilings and chandeliers. It’s also retained some of the same clients, but, as anybody at Farrer will tell you, you don’t achieve that kind of longevity without being open to change. As one trainee put it: “Great, longstanding reputation, but forward looking.”

“Great, longstanding reputation, but forward looking.”

The firm’s practice was built from work with the aristocracy and ultra-high-net worth individuals (the firm was the late Queen’s solicitors), but it has significantly evolved over the years, and the firm has even provided legal advice to the British Olympic Association as part of the Association’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. The firm’s Chambers UK rankings extend further than you might expect too, with top-tier nods in areas like art and cultural property law, charities, education institutions and media and entertainment nationwide. There’s also top agriculture, rural affairs and employment practices in London too.

The Seats

Farrer does things a little differently than most of its city counterparts, with trainees completing six four-month-long seats. The idea is that trainees will get a broader training and exposure to a variety of sectors. Overall, this approach meant that our interviewees were somewhat less stressed about seat allocation as they knew there were plenty of chances to get a seat they wanted.

Every trainee must complete a seat in each of Farrer’s ‘four pillars’, which consist of its property, private client, contentious and commercial departments. Ahead of qualification, you return to the seat you have selected to qualify into for your final seat. Trainees are also asked to submit a top choice preference, which you are guaranteed to sit in. The system was praised for the breadth it offered and graduate recruitment “tries their best to accommodate any preferences you may have.” One caveat that trainees did flag was that beyond seat induction, taking any time off will significantly reduce the time you’ll spend in a given seat. However, since trainees return to the seat they hope to qualify into regardless, this wasn’t too much of an issue.

“… a partner will sometimes come to you to do the research on weird and wild questions clients have had.”

The general consensus was that a seat in  disputes resolution requires trainees to artfully balance drafting and research tasks. Speaking of art, it’s actually an area that the firm has something of a penchant for. Recently, the firm acted in a multimillion-pound arbitration for the buyer of two Old Masters regarding allegations of deceit. These art disputes can be over controversies of ownership or fraud, as well as breaches of contract. If a matter ends up going to court, then trainees will be responsible for tasks such as bundling. Juniors are also regularly sent out to hearings, sometimes even solo! “They really value you getting the court experience and are keen to get you to go,” one told us.

We also heard that due to the niche areas Farrer works in, “a partner will sometimescome to you to do the research on weird and wild questions clients have had.” More mainstream dispute areas include areas such as employment, with other work in areas such as contentious private client (around things like disputed wills), hotel law (a growing area at the firm), or aviation and boat work.

On the flipside, we heard that work in the private client team is much more advisory. Trainees in the seat will encounter a lot of different types of estate planning and help provide advice on matters such as guardianship. The work is very “strategic” in terms of its focus on planning for the future estate-wise. There is also ample opportunity to delve into tax matters because of issues such as inheritance tax, which was remarked upon as “a really fun aspect when it comes to working out tax on an estate.”

This department also offers plenty of opportunities for research on international matters, such as family trusts based in areas such as the Cayman Islands, Jersey, and the Bahamas. There is a lot of drafting in this seat, as well as attending client meetings with “lords and ladies,” and researching “tricky areas of law.” Trainees were pleased to report they were often entrusted with keeping clients updated via email.

“M&A work for organisations like schools are our bread and butter, but we also do a lot of work with start-ups, which are a bit further along and are looking to sell.”

The corporate team is generally smaller, which allows for juniors to work in a leaner team structure, often “directly with partners and senior associates.” We were told that, in true Farrer fashion, the team is keen to put trainees at the forefront and frequently invites them to be included in client meetings or to take the first crack at drafting substantial documents. Some less glamorous administrative tasks may include learning to and doing Companies House filings and documentation. The department usually services the mid-market, with typical clients consisting of organisations such as schools or wealth management investor groups. “M&A work for organisations like schools are our bread and butter, but we also do a lot of work with start-ups, which are a bit further along and are looking to sell.”

As another of the firm’s smaller departments, charities brings with it similar benefits: “You are given your own small matters to run from your first week. They put a lot of faith in the trainees to take something and run with it.” As this is mainly an advisory seat, there are a lot of research-heavy tasks for trainees to get involved in. “It’s rare for partners to see the same question twice, so we do a lot of the research as trainees because of the price point,” we heard. There is a lot of client interaction in the form of emails and meetings, as well as project management. The team services anything considered charitable, so organisations like museums, charitable sports clubs, and faith-based charities, as well as a number of household names like Samaritans, Age UK, the British Library, the National Portrait Gallery, and BAFTA.

Trainee Life

Farrer’s HQ is nestled in the heart of London’s historic Lincoln’s Inn Fields, a mere five minutes along from Covent Garden. The firm also recently opened a new office space nearby, which is apparently much more modern than the original historic building. However, according to one trainee, the main building “feels like part of my identity. It feels like home, and I am really proud of it. It’s so beautiful that whenever we host events, my jaw drops.” Currently, the in-office policy is set at two days per week, with most coming in nearer to three or four. The firm benefits from an open-plan layout, which trainees explained means “you can listen into conversations and ask questions, so it’s really good from a social point of view.” Our interviewees were also pleased with the hours reportedly wrapping up at around 6pm.

“It feels like home, and I am really proud of it.”

The office also has its own restaurant and café, with the catering team receiving compliments for their work at the Christmas parties and other events. In fact, the Christmas party was highlighted as “one of the best bits of the firm. The entire table of food was phenomenal.” Last year, the firm hosted it at a five-star hotel in a “massive ballroom.” There is also a “healthy trainee social budget” for events such as a summer party, a BBQ at the start of the TC, a five-a-side tournament, a cricket match, music groups and a pub quiz.

Overall, the social calendar is most definitely stacked, and “there is something on every week.” Although it would be impossible to attend every event, interviewees were pleased that there is ample opportunity to socialise with their colleagues: “I’m a big fan of knowing the people I work with and being friends with them. It’s one of the main reasons I want to stay at the firm.”

Culturally, the firm was described as “people-centred,” with a “real focus on the fact that all individuals are different. They encourage people to bring their authentic selves to work.” For example, we were told that if anyone has to work long or late hours, “everyone really values it and says thank you and well done. Usually, you then get the day off in return.” The supervision and training were also commented on as a great way to build relationships across the firm. You are also assigned a buddy NQ who “helps you throughout the TC process.”

Most departments have their own training programme. For example, corporate has sessions in the first few weeks of a seat on different topics such as what a merger or an acquisition is. There is also firm-wide training, which is a great way to “sit with partners and learn alongside them.” Interviewees told us the programme is “very clear,” and it “is nice to know there is always regular training and updates across the board.”

Farrer has a “clear focus on DEI at the moment, with different committees organising loads of events,” and trainees are actively encouraged to get involved with brainstorming new ideas. We were told the firm is making an effort to move away from a reputation for being comprised of older white males at the top level and is involved with the 10,000 Black Intern programme and actively recruiting through the scheme. It also has partnerships with local schools to help promote a career in law.

The consensus was that the firm has made a lot of positive progress through its neurodiversity and LGBT committees, with the latter network hosting a lot of different events. The firm was also highly rated by female, neurodiverse and LGBT interviewees, and one told us: “There are loads of female role models to look up to.” Trainees can get involved with pro bono work via the Mary Ward Legal Clinic, which hosts several sessions a month. Here, there is a chance to provide advice and follow up with drafted documents.

Interviewees were happy with their salary, telling us that “we have a great work-life balance. If we are in the office past 7pm, associates will be like, 'why are you here?'” In terms of the qualification process, insiders thought the firm was as transparent as it could be. However, those we spoke to would have appreciated a clearer idea of what jobs would be available. We were told that where trainees did have grievances about the process, it was well received: “You can sit them down and tell them, and they are really receptive.” If one person is going for one space, it is a conversation with the department, but if there are multiple people, there is a personal statement to submit. In 2025, the firm retained 8 out of 10 qualifiers.

How to get into Farrer & Co

APPLY HERE

Vacation scheme deadline (2026):  3 January 2026

Training contract deadline (2028): 27 March 2026

Solicitor apprenticeship deadline: 13 February 2026

Applications and interviews

Both those applying for the vacation scheme and those applying directly for a training contract are asked to answer a set of questions. Farrer's tips page on the firm's website has a full breakdown of the criteria for the questions.

Senior graduate and solicitor apprentice adviser Claire Roche tells us the content and structure of the covering letter play an important part in the assessment process. “Ideally, we want the letter to be well constructed, matching their skills to our specific requirements and outlining what interests them in a career in law as well as what attracts them to Farrer & Co.”

Training Contracts

After completing a brief proofreading task, 40-50 training contract applicants make it through the first round and are invited to an interview with a partner and senior associate, which generally lasts around an hour. Recent trainees recalled the experience as “interesting and free-flowing,” with one telling us, “It felt like they were really trying to get to know me and were prepared to challenge me on certain points to see if I could back up my opinions.” Candidates are also asked to complete a written exercise.

Around 30 go on to a second interview, which takes place with two partners. Candidates are given a brief research task to complete at the beginning of the interview, before moving on to interview questions to allow interviewers to find out more about candidates and their ability to sustain a cogent argument. Second interviews usually last around an hour and a half.

Application tips from the firm

Vacation scheme

Once applications are in, the top 90-100 vacation scheme applicants who impress are asked to complete a proofreading task and if successful they are invited to a virtual assessment day that involves a group and written exercises.

Farrer & Co hold three two-week vacation schemes, one in the spring and two in summer, taking on ten candidates at a time. Each vacation schemer is assigned a trainee buddy and a partner mini-interviewer, and sits with a different team each week. Our sources recalled that they’d been treated “just like trainees,” having drafted board minutes, conducted research and been taken to client meetings. Alongside such tasks, vac schemers are given a group case study to work on over the course of their visit.

To make the most of their vac scheme, Roche advises candidates to “show a real interest in the firm and a desire to work here. At the same time, remember that it’s also a chance for you to find out about us.”

Completing the vac scheme doesn’t automatically entitle candidates to a training contract interview but those who are granted one skip straight to the second interview round.

Application tips from the firm

Solicitor apprentices

This opportunity is open to individuals looking for an alternative to attending university.

Solicitor apprentices will work in the firm's London office in a variety of departments including Commercial, Contentious, Private Client, Property and Business Services.

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.

All tuition fees will be paid, and you will earn a salary whilst you are training and gaining your qualification. In addition, all future apprentices at Farrer & Co are also eligible to receive a Starting Work Bonus to assist with either relocation costs, travel costs, lunch costs, or purchasing office attire ahead of receiving the first salary payment.

If your application is successful, you will be invited to participate in a virtual interview. Shortlisted candidates will then attend an in-person assessment morning (involving a group task, interview and short written exercise) before the firm selects its two solicitor apprentices. Adjustments are available, if required.

Application tips from the firm

How to wow

For the vacation scheme and training contract the firm asks for a high 2:1 degree and strong A levels (or equivalent) but will consider exceptional mitigating circumstances for academics below this. Beyond that, “when selecting our future lawyers, we look for ambition, commercial awareness, discretion, clear and agile thinkers, open-minded individuals, resilience and analytical ability,” according to Roche.