Training at Farrer & Co

Training at Farrer & Co

“More than 60% of the firm’s current partners trained
with the firm, which shows why the recruitment of
trainees is taken so seriously. We are recruiting the firm’s
future and that is important, and each year as the new
recruits arrive you can see from the welcome they get
just how important the whole firm feels the process is.”
James Furber, Senior Partner
Farrer & Co has built its success on the goodwill of close client relationships, outstanding
expertise in niche sectors and a careful attention to personal service and quality. Many of
Farrer & Co’s lawyers are recognised as leaders in their chosen fields. The firm has a long
tradition, dating back over 300 years, of being at the forefront of legal changes and
developments.
“The range of work is brilliant, but the people are what really make me want to come to work
every day. The people are intelligent, interesting and fun.”
“Trainees like the diverse and fascinating work, the six-seat system, the chance to meet
interesting clients and the special culture of the firm - less about taking over the world,
more about enjoying your work - a radical thought! The work/life balance is good allowing
for plenty of socialising and all staff are treated as individuals ensuring a great team spirit.
The quality of work is good too, with trainees enjoying plenty of hands-on responsibility and
some already feeling like fully-fledged solicitors.”
“Most trainees feel very lucky to be here, with one commenting ‘my training and
experiences are 100 times better than elsewhere’. If you’re lucky enough to land a training
contract here, we are sure you won’t be disappointed.”
LEX 100 2009/2010
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Farrer & Co is a modern law firm
with a distinguished history
The firm...
Farrer & Co is a successful law firm with a
distinguished history and an excellent
reputation built up over many years. In a
number of its specialist disciplines, it is a
market leader.
The firm provides a full service to private,
institutional and commercial clients, as well
as having outstanding expertise in a number
of niche sectors. This is coupled with
careful attention to personal service and
quality, a reputation for discretion and a
strong emphasis on the human touch based
on the goodwill of numerous close client
relationships.
We have around 350 staff, including 200
lawyers (73 of whom are partners) and an
annual turnover of £42.6 million in 2009/10.
The firm practises at its Lincoln's Inn Fields
address at the heart of London's legal world,
and its work falls into four core disciplines:
commercial, private client, litigation and
property law.
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We provide challenging and stimulating
work, helping trainees develop the
skills they will need as lawyers
What we do…
Farrer & Co has a dynamic team structure
with 12 teams, as follows:
Banking and Financial Services
Charity & Community
Commercial Property
Corporate
Disputes & Media
Employment
Estates & Private Property
Family
Intellectual Property & Commercial
Private Client - International
Private Client - Onshore
Private Client - Tax
We have expertise in a number of niche
sectors, including art & heritage, higher
education, museums & galleries, schools
and sports.
We advise a variety of interesting and
diverse clients, including high-profile and/or
high-net-worth individuals and families;
companies and other commercial
organisations (including banks, PLCs,
professional practices and media
organisations); charities; schools and
universities; museums and galleries; sports
bodies, and national institutions.
4

Ben Amoah joined as a trainee
in 2009. He studied Law at
Birmingham.
“From very early on, I was trusted to speak directly
with clients and solicitors for the other side. One such
example was where I was responsible for negotiating
a commercial settlement on behalf of a client based
overseas. The trust and responsibility given to me
and all trainees at such an early stage has allowed
me to build confidence at a quicker rate than I
initially imagined...”
“During my two week vacation scheme at Farrer & Co,
I worked alongside trainees, associates and partners in two
very different departments: Dispute Resolution and Property.
I was struck by the extent to which vacation scheme students
were immediately made to feel part of the team and were
exposed to a variety of interesting work, from attending client
meetings to visiting Court.”
Meg Ryder joined as a trainee
in 2009. She studied History
at Edinburgh.
In September 2009, 10 new trainees joined
Farrer & Co.
Pictured from L to R: Sukhjit Gill, Harry Birmingham,
Meg Ryder, Helen Greenhalgh, Rebecca Fry,
Genevieve Galvin, Morgan Raines, Jane Randell
and James Furber (Senior Partner).
(Beth Walker and Ben Amoah not pictured.)
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We are committed to providing
first-class training for
our future lawyers
What’s special about us...
Integrating the trainee solicitors into
everyday life at the firm is the key to what
makes a training contract at Farrer & Co so
distinctive. Trainees are an essential part of
the team and we make sure that, as well as
assisting senior lawyers in significant
transactions, they are also involved in their
own interesting and varied client matters,
the day-to-day functions of the team, in
meetings and dealings with clients and
contacts and in the firm’s varied events and
social activities.
We take up to 10 trainees each year and
place great importance on selecting the
right people. We choose trainees who we
hope will grow with the firm and become
successful lawyers in their chosen fields.
This organic growth is one of the
cornerstones of Farrer & Co’s strategy for
growth and development.
We have a very high retention rate among
staff at all levels and are proud of the fact
that those working at Farrer & Co tend to
stay on to develop their careers within the
firm.
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The firm’s football team - which is made up of
partners, solicitors, trainees and support staff
and is run by two trainees - plays matches
against other firms most weeks and organises
an annual inter-departmental mixed summer
tournament for the firm, occasional drinks
events and an annual team curry. As well as
being great fun, it is an excellent way to get to
know lots of people from across the firm.
Joe Connell (top row, fifth from left),
coach of Farrer & Co's football team,
joined the firm as a trainee in 2008.
He studied Business at Bath.
“I chose Farrer & Co for the calibre of knowledge
and work which the firm produces. The people
are welcoming; the clients are interesting and the
work is challenging. In addition, I had a particular
interest in Museums and Galleries and Farrers
was the first firm to have a group dedicated to
supporting Museums and Galleries. All of this
combined made Farrers my first choice.”
Morgan Raines joined as a
trainee in 2009. She studied
Languages, Classical & Ancient
at Smith College (USA).
Amy Wilson joined as a trainee
in 2009. She studied
Combined Programmes at
Durham.
“Farrers has a wealth of expertise across a wide range of
practice areas, making it the ideal learning environment.
As a trainee here you really are spoilt for choice!
The variety gives you the opportunity to experience
departments you might not otherwise have thought to
try and allows you to develop a breadth of legal
knowledge during your training contract. Such exposure
gives you an all-round training, which helps prepare you
for qualification when the time comes.”
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The diversity of the training
experience provides important
benefits to the trainee
Training with us...
Trainee solicitors benefit from our personal
and comprehensive approach.
Through meeting clients and working
directly on their cases, trainees are given
real responsibilities, while receiving full
support and guidance from the firm’s most
experienced solicitors.
We offer a broad foundation of knowledge
and experience which prepares trainees for
a successful career in law.
Trainees benefit from the breadth of
experience that our training programme
provides. It enables them to make an
informed choice about the area of law in
which they would like to specialise.
A consistently high proportion of our trainee
solicitors remain with the firm after
qualification, in the team of their choice.
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Each year, the firm aims to select
a group of trainees representing
a balanced, well-rounded team
The training programme…
The two-year training period is divided into
six "seats" each lasting four months.
The first five seats are spent in one of the
12 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 legal
areas.
Wherever possible the trainee's interests are
taken into account for the choice of seat,
but trainees have a "wild card" which
guarantees their choice for one of the seats.
Our training programme concentrates on
the development of essential practical skills
such as drafting, negotiation, interviewing
and advocacy as well as the necessary IT,
legal research and marketing know-how.
We have a comprehensive series of
in-house seminars and lectures which are
open to all trainees.
9

The ‘something special’ that distinguishes a
successful applicant to Farrer & Co
may present itself in several forms
Who is best-suited to work at Farrer & Co…
Farrer & Co receives many applications
each year and, after a rigorous selection
process, some 50 or so applicants are
invited for interview.
Between eight and ten candidates are
offered places as trainee solicitors. The ratio
of applicants to places ensures that only
those with a strong academic record will
receive serious consideration.Both law and
non-law graduates are welcomed.
Please visit our website for further details of
our minimum academic requirements.
Because a great many of those applying
have excellent academic results, other
qualitative considerations come into play.
The qualities which we look for, both in the
written applications and at interview, include:
• Teamwork
• Leadership skills
• Initiative
• Commercial awareness
• Versatility
• Drive and ambition
• Good communication skills
• A keen analytical mind
• A good sense of humour
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“We take a long-term view when recruiting
trainees; they are central to the firm and its
future. Three distinctive things we offer are the
prospect of a successful career, job satisfaction
and friendly, interesting colleagues who are at
the top of their fields.”
Jonathan Eley is a partner in the
Employment Team and is in charge
of the trainee recruitment process.
He trained at Farrer & Co following
a career in teaching, having
studied Theology at Cambridge
“The key attributes I look for in prospective
trainees are character and evidence of ability to
react and think on their feet. Farrers is not a
law factory and we certainly don’t want to
employ clones. We are looking for individuals
who, like us, may be very different characters,
but who share a sense of empathy, and an
ability to communicate complex issues in a
pragmatic and positive way. A sense of humour
also goes a long way...”
Claire Gordon is a partner in
the Family Team. She trained
at Farrer & Co, having studied
Jurisprudence at Oxford.
Claire is one of the partners
involved in the recruitment
and interviewing of prospective
trainees.
“There is no Farrers’ blueprint for the type of person who
impresses us at interview. What I look for is a combination
of proven (and potential) ability and attitude. By that I mean
strong academics, leadership potential, drive and strong
analytical and reasoning skills. A combination of these and
a good sense of humour is usually unstoppable...”
James Price is a partner in the
Disputes & Media Team and, as
the firm’s training partner, he is
involved in the recruitment and
interviewing of prospective trainees.
He trained at Farrer & Co, having
studied Law at Durham.
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Farrer & Co is searching for eight to ten
people who stand out from the crowd
How to apply...
Every summer Farrer & Co selects between
eight and ten outstanding individuals to
begin training contracts with the firm in two
years’ time.
Law students may apply at the end of their
second undergraduate year. Non-law
students may apply at any time from
October of their final year. Graduates may
apply at any time and we welcome
applications from those coming to law
following a career change. We review
applications throughout the year but all
applications should be received by the end
of July.
Please visit our website for further details of
how to apply.
First interviews are generally conducted in
August and early September by a member
of the trainee recruitment team.
Successful interviewees are then invited to
a second, more detailed interview held with
two partners.
The firm responds to all applications.
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Hannah Clark qualified into the
Family team in September
2009. She studied
Jurisprudence at Oxford.
“The transition from trainee to solicitor was tougher than
expected, professionally and personally. Thankfully the
team into which I qualified seemed to anticipate this and
was there to push me when needed and pick me up when
confidence was low. Without doubt, qualification has been
my greatest challenge, but, thanks to the help of my
colleagues, my biggest achievement yet.”
“The six-seat system works extremely well at Farrers.
It gives trainees exposure to a varied range of practice
areas and allows you to gain valuable experience in many
of the niche areas the firm specialises in. Your preferences
for each seat are always taken into account and the
addition of the ‘fifth seat wildcard’ gives you a real
opportunity to shape the direction your training contract
takes. By design, you spend your sixth seat in the
department where you intend to qualify, which allows you
to ‘hit the ground running’ upon qualification.”
Harry Birmingham joined as a
trainee in 2009. He studied
Law at LSE.
Adam Carvalho qualified into the
International Private Client team
in September 2009. He studied
History at Nottingham.
“I chose to qualify into International Private Client for
a number of reasons. The work which the team does
is extremely varied: over the course of a single week,
I might be looking at a large international estate or
structure; carrying out more typical private client
work like will drafting or trust administration; or
involved in contentious private client work. The work
itself is always interesting and the team is full of
friendly people, many of whom are among the best
in their field.”
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We will consider your past and
present employment, interests
and accomplishments
Making a good impression...
All of our applications are dealt with on-line.
Please complete the sections with sufficient
detail for the firm to appreciate fully the
nature and significance of your interests,
accomplishments and other experiences.
A well-constructed covering letter of no
more than 350 words forms part of the online
application. As a large part of a lawyer's
work is conducted by correspondence, the
covering letter gives you an opportunity to
demonstrate your written communication
skills by expanding on why you believe you
are well-suited to the firm.
Vacation schemes - Farrer & Co runs Easter
and Summer vacation schemes for
graduates and undergraduates who are
considering a career in law. The dates of the
schemes are fixed at the beginning of
November and can be found on our website
at www.farrer.co.uk. Vacation scheme
applications should be made on-line.
Open days - scheme applicants may also be
invited to open days which are a good
opportunity to get to know the firm.
These open days are usually held in March.
Full details of the vacation schemes can be
found on our website.
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All enquiries about trainee solicitor contracts or vacation scheme placements
should be made to:
Trainee Recruitment Manager
Farrer & Co
66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
London
WC2A 3LH
or email
training@farrer.co.uk
For more information about the firm, visit our website at
www.farrer.co.uk
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Providing seamless and integrated legal advice across
a wide range of practice areas and sectors, including:
Practice areas
Banking & Insolvency
Charity & Community
Commercial Property
Contentious Trusts & Estates
Corporate
Disputes
Employment & Pensions
Estates & Private Property
Family
Financial Services
Intellectual Property & Commercial
International Private Client
Media
Planning
Private Client
Regulatory Investigations & Professional Discipline
Tax
Sector expertise
AIM
Agricultural Estates
Art & Heritage
Charities
Entrepreneurs & Families in Business
Higher Education
International Private Wealth
Media
Museums & Galleries
Partnerships
Private Banking
Schools
Sports & Sponsorship
Farrer & Co LLP
66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields London WC2A 3LH
Telephone +44 (0)20 3375 7000 Facsimile +44 (0)20 3375 7001
Website www.farrer.co.uk Email training@farrer.co.uk
© Farrer & Co 2010