farrer & co | training contract | vacation scheme

• Farrer & Co LLP

  Farrer & Co is a successful law firm with a distinguished history and an excellent reputation built up over many years.  The firm provides advice to a large number of prominent private, institutional and commercial clients.  The firm's breadth of expertise is reflected by the fact that it has an outstanding reputation in fields as diverse as matrimonial law, offshore tax planning, employment, heritage work, charity law, defamation and sports law.  

• • Off the Record

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  • Training Contract

  • Vacation Scheme

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  Farrer & Co maintains its standing as one of the best all-round private client firms; it leads the market in heritage property; has outstanding charities and agricultural practices and an excellent family team. 

  It has highly regarded employment and defamation/publishing practices, and is strong on sponsorship agreements in the sports and cultural sectors.  It also offers a solid corporate and commercial property team.  If these are areas you are looking to specialise in, then Farrers is absolutely the best place to begin.

  On the employment front, the firm has decent hours; average annual billing is only 1250 hours.  Even work in the commercial department is not too intensive, unlike other firms where corporate is key and transactional practice is hectic.

  The remuneration package is competitive and very much in line with the number of hours one would put in.

  The firm has a congenial and collegiate working atmosphere; there is a no ramrod hierarchy in place and the after-hours activity is varied and vibrant and very much optional, and there are also lots of opportunities for taking up pro bono and charitable work.

  Farrer & Co has a dynamic team structure with 13 teams advising across diverse fields including intellectual property, sports, media, matrimonial, heritage, employment, estates work, charity law and financial services.  Clients range from national institutions, museums, galleries, schools and universities to high profile individuals and companies such as banks and media organisations.

  Law students may apply for a training contract towards the end of their second undergraduate year. Non-lawyers may apply at any time from November of their final undergraduate year.  Graduates may apply at any time.

  The firm's minimum academic requirements are one A and two Bs at A level (or equivalent) and  2:1 degree unless there are exceptional mitigating circumstances.   

  Farrers are looking for trainees who are highly motivated with keen intellects and engaging and interesting personalities.  

  The annual intake at Farrers is eight to ten trainees and the two year training period is divided into six seats each lasting four months.  The first five seats are spent in one of the thirteen different teams.  

  Final seats are always spent in the team which the trainee will be joining on qualification. This helps to facilitate the transition from trainee to solicitor.  All trainees receive a solid grounding in commercial, litigation, private client and property law by sitting in four seats that focus predominantly on each of these four areas.  

  Wherever possible the trainee's interests are taken in account for the choice of seat, but trainees have a 'wild card' which guarantees their choice for one of the seats.  

  A high degree of involvement is encouraged under the direct supervision of solicitors and partners.  Trainees attend an induction programme and regular internal lectures.  The training partner reviews trainees' progress at the end of each seat and extensive feedback is given. 

  For more information on the Farrer & Co Graduate Scheme, further details are available via this link

  The firm runs Easter and summer vacation schemes.

  The schemes last for two weeks, with each week being spent in a different team doing "real" work under supervision.  Other activities include lunchtime seminars, question and answer sessions, a tour of the Courts, various social activities and a group case study involving legal research and presentation skills.

  Approximately 100 of the best vacation scheme applicants are invited to Open Days in early March to enable them to discover more about the firm.

  The day involves informative talks about some of the firms spheres of expertise, a "no-holds-barred" Q&A session with current trainees, a light-hearted group exercise to assess teamwork and communications skills, a short written exercise and an opportunity throughout the day, including over a buffet lunch, to ask any questions.

  The firm will pay all fees for prospective trainees relating to GDL and Legal Practice courses. Whilst prospective trainees are at college undertaking these courses they are eligible for the Farrer & Co grant scheme.  On application for assistance, the firm arranges grants for up to £6,000 per student for each year of study (i.e. law graduates are entitled to a grant of up to £6,000 and non-law graduates to a grant of up to £12,000 in total for two years of study).

  Current salaries and benefits for trainee solicitors are:

  - £32,500 pa for first years

  - £35,000 pa for second years

  - 25 days' holiday for each complete year of employment

  - cover by the firm's life assurance policy to the value of four times annual salary

  - Group Income Protection Scheme, (PHI)

  - an interest free season ticket loan for travel

  - participation in the firm’s pension scheme after three months’ service

  - participation in the firm’s flexible benefits scheme after three months’ service

  - wellman/wellwoman screening, after 12 months’ service; and

  - private health cover, the cost of which will be met by the firm after 12 months’ service

  Applications can be submitted on-line through the following link: https://www.apply4law.com/Farrer/. A well-constructed covering letter forms part of the online application process.  This gives applicants an opportunity to demonstrate sound written communication skills by expanding on why they are well-suited to the firm.

  The deadline for training contract applications is 31 July. Applications for vacation schemes must be submitted by 31 January. For any further details or information, contact the Trainee Recruitment Manager at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .

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