Forsters

A day in the life of... Charlotte Stacey, apprentice, Forsters

Departments to date: Construction (non-contentious)

8.30am: I normally arrive at the office about an hour before I start work as I prefer to get some of my university tasks done at the start of the day. I will usually try to complete some of the prereading for the workshop that week as well as any further research to support my understanding of what we are studying.

9.30am: The first thing I do is make a to-do list. This helps me to prioritise my tasks for the day and remind myself of any meetings I have that day. I then discuss what work I have on and any other matters I could help on with my supervisor. Then we review the background material for a call I will be sitting in on later that morning.

10.15am: I am sitting in on the call my supervisor discussed with me earlier. I take note of the key points and write down any questions I may have. I have found this really helpful as it allows me to do my own research after the call into any technical points I would like to better understand and it means I have a note of any key points I may need to remind myself of later.

10.45am: After the call I go to an induction session about central support services. This induction series has been invaluable in helping us get to know more people and understand how the firm operates. As both induction and introduction to our teams run simultaneously we have had the opportunity to familiarise ourselves with how different elements of training apply to our daily tasks.

12.30pm: I meet the other apprentices for lunch in the cafe. We are all in different seats so it is lovely to catch up and hear from them about how they are finding things and what they are getting involved in. As we are all doing university together it is a great time to ask each other questions and discuss how we are finding that week’s content.

1.30pm: I prepare a template sub-contractor warranty and then start populating it with the relevant information for each sub-contractor we have the necessary information for. I will then share it with my supervisor for approval.

3.00pm: There are ongoing knowledge development sessions run for trainees that we are invited to sit in on. For me this is really constructive as it supports my day to day understanding of the work that others in my department are undertaking. It provides the opportunity to go through key concepts, for example, in my first session, we covered the basics of construction law and the key parties involved in a contract.

4.00pm: After the session I carry on with the sub-contractor warranties and send a draft email to my supervisor about any outstanding information that is needed to complete them. I then update the tracker which summarises what progress has been made with each warranty.

5.45pm: At the end of the day I run through my to-do list from the start of the day so I know what I need to prioritise tomorrow as there will often be changes to it throughout the course of the day. I then leave the office and head to hockey training!

What attracted you to a career in law?
I had always considered law, however, it was not until I reached sixth form that I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in law. I knew I wanted a role that was people-facing and with work that was solution-oriented and had a tangible impact. Law ticked all these boxes for me.

Once I had started reading about apprenticeships, I knew I had found my path into law. While university is great for academic learning, having the opportunity to learn from the ground up in a professional environment seemed invaluable. I knew that gaining practical experience in an office environment day to day would supplement what I learnt at university. As I learn best through applying what I learn, I felt an apprenticeship would set me up for a successful legal career as I would have a better understanding of the key factors that underpin my work.

How did you decide where to apply?
There is a really wide range of firms that offer apprenticeships as it has really grown as a scheme in the last few years. As a result I did a lot of research into their key practice areas, culture and reputation to establish which firms I wanted to apply to. When I found Forsters, I knew it was the place for me. As a firm I felt it had a very unique environment where learning and development is prioritised at all levels in the firm, creating a really collaborative and engaging environment. The culture at Forsters really set it apart from other firms. When I arrived for my assessment day, I was struck by how approachable people were and how generous everyone was with their time. There was a real sense that this was an environment where I could learn and where I would have a really strong support system.

What thing has challenged you?
Entering the workplace straight from sixth form was a big shift, not only due to the fact that I was starting in a corporate environment but also due to the change in how the university course is structured compared to school. As a result, getting into a routine is something that has taken a bit of time. That being said, we have buddies, mentors and supervisors as well as ongoing support from the L&D team so no matter the question there is always someone you can ask.

Having no legal experience previously, I was slightly daunted by the prospect of feeling out of my depth and there being pre-existing expectations. However, I have really enjoyed the challenge of learning new concepts and there are departmental knowledge development lawyers that deliver ongoing sessions to support our understanding.

What has been the highlight so far?
The fact that I was immediately being included in matters was something I hadn’t expected but it has definitely been the highlight. As apprentices we are still relatively new to the firm but within the first day I was already being offered work and sitting in on client calls. Speaking to more senior members of the team and gaining a better understanding of their work has been really inspiring as it has highlighted the range of opportunities we have as apprentices over the course of the next six years. I have also found that seeing the application of what I am learning both at university and in the internal knowledge sessions has really helped me and having the ability to understand the context and wider application of what we are learning makes it far more impactful!

About the firm

Senior partner: Natasha Rees

Managing partner: Emily Exton

Who we are: We are a dynamic, successful firm committed to being the best at what we do. Based in Marylebone, Forsters was formed in 1998 by ten partners from Frere Cholmeley Bischoff, who decided to create a new firm rather than take part in a merger with a large firm based in the City. Their vision was to create a new firm with a distinctive culture which could provide a genuine alternative to City firms.

What we do: While we are best known for our top-flight real estate and private client practices, we also have thriving corporate and dispute resolution teams. Forsters offers interesting, intellectually challenging work, high-quality clients and fantastic people to work with and learn from. We are dedicated to providing outstanding client service in a highly professional, collaborative and supportive environment.

What we’re looking for in an apprentice: We’re looking for open-minded and enthusiastic team players who are ready to start their apprenticeship with us in September 2027.

We love meeting candidates who bring a range of strengths and perspectives. While solving complex problems requires intellectual ability, we’re also looking for a genuine interest in Forsters and what we do. As a firm known for being friendly and collaborative, we value personable individuals with drive, ambition and a strong work ethic.

Throughout the application process, we’re excited to get to know you – your personality, your passions, and what has inspired you to pursue a career in law. Every application is personally reviewed by a member of our early careers panel, and we don’t use any automatic filtering systems.

We seek candidates who not only meet our criteria but also bring a unique spark to Forsters.

What you’ll do: The solicitor apprenticeship will take six years to complete; here’s how it’s mapped out:

Years one and two: in your first two years, you’ll settle into one department, giving you the chance to really get to know the work and the team. You’ll also spend six months with our compliance team, offering you a unique perspective on the business and expanding your network across the firm.

Years three and four: in years three and four, things get exciting as you start rotating annually through some of our key practice areas. You’ll explore departments like construction, commercial real estate, property litigation and residential property, discovering where your passions lie.

Years five and six: in your final two years, you’ll join our trainees in rotating through six different practice areas to experience a wide range of legal challenges.

Your last rotation will bring you back to the department you’ve chosen as your qualifying seat, giving you the perfect opportunity to deepen your expertise and prepare for a successful transition into a newly qualified role.

Perks: Our benefits package is designed to support you in every aspect of your life, both professionally and personally. We offer 27 days of holiday, life and permanent health insurance, private healthcare, and a contributory pension to secure your future. We also provide practical perks like a season ticket loan, subsidised gym membership, and a cycle to work scheme to keep you moving forward. We appreciate that taking care of your wellbeing can look different to different people, so our ‘Wellbeing Fund’ is designed to give flexibility around personal benefits. For some people, it’s about National Trust membership, while for others it’s vouchers for nutritional food delivery services. Our employee assistance programme and staff discounts platform are there to add value to your everyday life, making sure you feel valued in all you do at Forsters.

Sponsorship

All costs will be covered for qualifications completed.

Seat options

For the first two years, apprentices will rotate through options such as: commercial real estate, residential property, construction and real estate disputes. Apprentices will also spend six months in compliance. In years three to six, they will be able to choose from the following seats: commercial real estate, private client, corporate, dispute resolution, residential property, construction, real estate disputes, family, immigration, banking and finance, planning, employment and landed estates.

Diversity and inclusion