Farrer & Co

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Farrer & Co

Farrer & Co draws trainees for its “friendly culture and approach to work”, “mixture of commercial with private client/family work”, and strong reputation across several sectors. Many recruits join having previously worked at the firm as paralegals or via vacation schemes, with one noting that “I was really struck by how genuinely nice everyone seemed to be” and recalling a casual conversation with a senior partner that would have been unlikely at larger City firms. Trainees appreciate the firm’s history, its size, and the breadth of practice areas, alongside a perceived emphasis on work-life balance. The training experience at Farrer & Co is often contrasted with larger commercial firms. Trainees highlight a “much better work-life balance” and a more personalised experience, stating “we aren’t just numbers.” With a six-seat system spanning a breadth of practice areas, trainees benefit from early ownership of matters, including “first drafts of settlement agreements, pre-action correspondence, settlement agreements and leases/licences”. One trainee observed that such responsibility at their level “is very rare for larger firms.” The smaller cohort encourages a supportive and approachable environment, with supervision described as “much more tailored and individual”. The people at Farrer & Co are consistently praised. Trainees report that “everyone is consistently welcoming and generous with their time”, and the firm’s culture is “friendly and welcoming.” While pay is comparatively lower and work-life balance can vary between departments, trainees note that the firm is actively addressing diversity issues and improving inclusion. Memorable moments include “settlement of a matter I mostly had charge of”, attending hearings, and receiving positive feedback from supervisors on work quality. Minor low points include occasional late finishes and routine administrative tasks like file trawling. Work-from-home arrangements are described as “fair”, with a two-day minimum office expectation helping trainees integrate socially while maintaining flexibility. Pro bono and CSR opportunities are strong and expanding, with initiatives such as the Mary Ward Legal Clinic, London Legal Walk, and Christmas Raffle actively supported by trainees. For those seeking a smaller, approachable firm that offers early responsibility, supportive supervision, and a broad, varied training contract, Farrer & Co provides an engaging and rewarding experience.

A day in the life of... Megan McCaffrey, Solicitor Apprentice

Departments to date: Departments to date: Information technology (IT); Human resources (ED&I); Marketing & BD; Risk and Finance; Family (current)

University: University of Law

Degree: LLB

9.15am: I arrive at the office and head to my desk to begin the day. I start by reviewing my emails to check for anything urgent and flag tasks that need prioritising. I then update my to-do list to reflect my tasks for the day and any upcoming deadlines.

9.30am: I spend the morning preparing papers for counsel ahead of a con with counsel next week in preparation for a hearing. This includes collating key documents, ensuring all the required correspondence is included and updating the index. Preparing bundles for counsel or court is a great opportunity to become familiar with the facts of the case and family law documents. I liaise with the relevant fee earner, who reviews the papers and following their review, I make any necessary updates and finalise the papers.

11.30am: I have a weekly catch up with my supervisor to discuss my workload, any queries or concerns and to check in generally.

12.00pm: I spend some time drafting correspondence which could be a letter or email to the client, or court. Drafting correspondence is a great way to develop my legal writing skills and understand how to communicate legal issues clearly and concisely.

1.00pm: I often head to lunch with other solicitor apprentices or occasionally we have a family team-specific training session with lunch, where a speaker will talk to the team about an area of family law. A recent session was led by a barrister, discussing the differences between a non-marriage and a void marriage, referring to recent case law. I have had great opportunities to expand my knowledge of family law during my seat and apply this understanding to my work.

2.00pm: I attend a client meeting alongside a partner and take a detailed attendance note. This can be virtual or in-person. The meeting may involve discussing the client’s circumstances and advising on next steps in their divorce, relating to financial or children proceedings. I later type up the attendance note and circulate it to the partner, ensuring it’s filed correctly on the case file to refer back to and aid future advice.

4.00pm: I often assist with reviewing and collating documents received from the other side or the client. For example, compiling an exhibit to a witness statement or analysing bank statements to prepare questions for the questionnaire of the other party’s financial disclosure. This may involve identifying key information, flagging areas that require further action or clarification and presenting documents or findings in a digestible format. This process is important for case progression and helps me to build an understanding of the timelines of a family law matter.

6.30pm: I finish for the day, ensuring my time recording is complete and accurate, with the necessary narratives included. I then make a list of any tasks to complete the following day.

About the firm

Introductory paragraph about the firm: Farrer & Co is synonymous with the highest quality legal advice and service.

We advise individuals, families, businesses, financial services, educational and not-for-profit organisations on every aspect of the law, wherever the need arises. From our offices in London we work with trusted professionals around the world to deliver a seamless international service.

Our clients present us with complex and varied challenges. Whether that’s a complicated family trust issue, a multinational corporate transaction, or an emerging threat to their reputation, they need clear thinkers who can advise on the best solutions, fast thinkers when speed is of the essence and agile thinkers who can produce a fresh approach to get the job done. That’s why they choose us. Our clients value our in-depth knowledge, technical excellence and diversity of disciplines. But what really binds our long-standing relationships with them is our approach: pragmatic, plain speaking and always steadfast in our values, which we hold dear: values which mean we gain our clients’ trust, always strive to do the right thing, and aim for the best results for them. Superb client service sits at the heart of everything we do. We are modern lawyers with timeless values.

List of clients: Shinfield Studios; British Airline Pilots’ Association; Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management; the British Library; PGA European Tour; The Manchester Grammar School; The Football Association; Motability; BMJ Publishing Group; Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.

List of deals/cases in which the firm has been recently involved:

Private Wealth highlights:

• Defending Indian businessman Dr B R Shetty in respect of multi-billion-dollar fraud claims in various jurisdictions. This is one of the largest fraud claims currently before the Courts arising out of the collapse of NMC Group in 2020, at the time a FTSE 100 listed plc and the largest provider of healthcare in the Middle East.

• Securing a landmark Family Court ruling resulting in a £230.78m settlement (third largest in English legal history) and recognition that sustained coercive behaviour can undermine a person’s ability to enter freely into an agreement.

Businesses highlights:

• Acting for the owners and operators of the Prince Charles Cinema (central London’s only remaining independent cinema which is much loved by the industry and film buffs alike) in its bid to retain the lease of the cinema. There has been significant social media engagement in the cinema’s fight with several high-profile members of the film industry expressing their support via an online petition. The matter is currently the subject of court proceedings.
• Advised on the £250m refinancing of Shinfield Studios, delivering multidisciplinary support to the incoming lender across property, construction, planning, and finance, and helping to complete the complex transaction on an accelerated timeline.

Financial Institutions highlights:

• Advised Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management in the UK and Crown Dependencies (CGWM) on its acquisition of the chartered, independent financial planning firm Cantab Asset Management Ltd.
• Advised the members of WHEB Asset Management LLP on its acquisition by Foresight Group Holdings Limited, a leading investment manager headquartered in London, with operations across the UK, Europe and Australia.

Not-for-profit highlights:

• Advising the British Library in relation to its St Pancras development, which involves the disposal of the 2.8-acre St Pancras development site for commercial investment and the construction of gallery facilities and a public realm for The British Library.
• Advising on two of the most high-profile ‘export-stop’ sales of the year: the acquisition by the Ashmolean Museum of a rare 15th century work by Fra Angelico (we acted for the Museum); and the sale of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s polar medal (we acted for the agent on behalf of the Seller).

Education highlights:

• Advised a school in relation to a long-running, complex and contentious employment matter involving disciplinary and safeguarding allegations made against a teacher.
• Advised a number of schools and Education providers on their international brand extension, including activities in China, Thailand, Monaco, Vietnam and Abu Dhabi.

Senior partner: Jeremy Gordon

Who we are: Farrer & Co is a leading modern law firm with a distinguished history of providing expert legal advice to a diverse range of clients, both UK and international.

What we do: We advise individuals, families, businesses, financial services, educational and not-for profit organisations on every aspect of the law, wherever the need arises. From our offices in London we work with trusted professionals around the world to deliver a seamless international service.

What we’re looking for in a trainee: 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. Our requirement is a high 2:1 in any degree subject and strong A-level or equivalent qualifications.

What you’ll do: The trainee will experience six seats across the firm, handling ‘real’ work with early responsibility, and an excellent legal and skills-based training programme.

Perks : Flexible benefits scheme, sporting teams/clubs, season ticket loan, 25 days’ holiday, group income protection, group life assurance, company doctor, subsidised yoga/pilates, subsidised gym membership, pension scheme, private medical insurance after one year, wellperson checks.

Sponsorship

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 and the opportunity to apply for a bursary and loan.

Seat options

Department Subject to Business need – Banking & Insolvency; Charities; Corporate; Employment; FS & Funds; IP&C; Contentious Trusts; Disputes Resolution; Family; Private Client; Tax; Immigration; Commercial Property; Residential Property; Rural Property.

Tips from the recruiter

Work history. We are interested in all your work experience whether virtual or in-person, paid or voluntary, legal or non-legal, and UK-based or international. We are looking for candidates to tell us what their responsibilities were, describe the skills acquired and explain how they could transfer into a career in law. You can find a list of skills and qualities we look for in candidates on our website.

Activities and interests. We are looking for candidates who have a wide range of interests and/or have undertaken a substantial commitment over an extended period of time. These can be current or historic activities and do not need to be related to law.

Why Farrers’? Candidates should give us multiple examples of what impressed them about Farrer & Co while carrying out their research and why they are applying to us. Before answering this question, research the firm and our initiatives. We recommend candidates take advantage of the huge selection of articles, blog posts, podcasts and videos available on our website and social media platforms.

Diversity and Inclusion

Pro Bono

Trainee Welfare