Farrer & Co LLP
Overview
Farrer & Co is an independent London-based law firm with a long heritage (trading since 1701) known for private wealth, charities/not-for-profit, education and mid-market commercial work. The firm combines a strong private-client and sector-focused advisory practice with transactional and disputes capability across corporate, real estate, financial institutions and TMT. It presents itself as a close-knit City firm that serves families, family offices, schools, charities, private banks and corporates and works with trusted professionals internationally to deliver cross-border work.
- Headquarters: London
- Founded: 1701
- Trainees: 10
- Offices: 1
Values & Culture
Practice Areas
- Agriculture & Rural
- Banking & Finance
- Charities & Not-for-Profit
- Commercial Contracts
- Corporate & M&A
- Data Protection & Privacy
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Education
- Employment
- Immigration
- Insolvency & Restructuring
- Intellectual Property
- Investment Funds
- Media & Entertainment
- Private Client & Wealth
- Real Estate
- Regulatory & Compliance
- Tax
- Technology & Digital
- Family Law
Geographic Focus: Core market is London/UK with specialist sector focus (private wealth, charities, education, financial institutions and media/technology). The firm works with a network of trusted lawyers internationally to support cross-border mandates and multi-jurisdictional transactions.
Training Contract
- Starting Salary: Year 1: £50,000; Year 2: £52,000
- NQ Salary: £92,000
- Trainee Intake: 10
- Qualification Rate: 64%
- Academic Requirements: High 2:1 degree standard; 'Strong A-Levels' expected.
- Application Deadline: 27 March 2026
Sponsorship
PGDL/PGDL grant: £8,000; SQE grant: £8,000.
SQE Support
SQE grant: £8,000 (published figure).
Notable Matters
Led the financing for a lender on a multi-jurisdictional portfolio financing (publicised as a complex portfolio financing). The matter involved cross-border structuring and lender-side documentation and demonstrates capability on multi-jurisdiction secured lending.
Banking & Finance
Acted in the first case on the charities exception in the Equality Act 2010 to reach the Supreme Court, advising on charity law and public benefit issues. This is a landmark public law/charity law matter that underlines the firm's depth in charity regulatory work.
Charities & Not-for-Profit
Acted as lead advisers in all three Charity Tribunal cases addressing public benefit in the context of educational charities, benevolent funds and religious charities, providing regulatory, constitutional and tribunal advocacy advice for prominent charity clients.
Charities & Not-for-Profit
Worked closely with the Charity Commission on further development of the Charity Authorised Investment Fund, contributing legal and sector expertise to a major charity financing initiative.
Charities & Not-for-Profit
What Farrer & Co LLP Looks For
Key Competencies
- Commercial awareness
- Attention to detail
- Client service and discretion
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Resilience and time management
- Sector interest in private wealth, charities or education (depending on seat)
Evidence Signals
- Relevant commercial or private client work experience (e.g., paralegal or internship experience with family offices, private banks or charities)
- Pro bono and voluntary sector experience (charity / not-for-profit involvement)
- Sector-specific examples for education, charities or media/technology clients
- Demonstrable client communication and professionalism (e.g., client-facing roles, advisory placements)
- Strong academic performance (High 2:1 or above) and strong A‑level results
Benefits & Wellbeing
- Trainee salary Year 1: £50,000
- Trainee salary Year 2: £52,000
- Newly Qualified salary: £92,000
- PGDL/PGDL grant: £8,000
- SQE grant: £8,000
- Annual leave: 25 days
Awards & Recognition
- Shortlisted in three categories at the Family Law Awards 2026
- Numerous Legal 500 rankings across practice areas including multiple Tier 1 practice areas (13 Tier 1 listings across the firm’s practice groups)
- Multiple ranked departments in Chambers & Partners
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Responsible Business
Innovation
The firm has investment in legal technology and innovation activity; insider trainee/employee ratings indicate a strong office environment and good scores on legal tech from internal scorecards, suggesting the firm engages with legal technology as part of service delivery and training.
Quick Application Angles
- Reference the firm’s long heritage and its private wealth and charity strengths — highlight any relevant family office, trustee or charity experience you have and explain how it would translate to the firm’s client base.
- Use the firm’s involvement in landmark charity litigation and work with the Charity Commission as a conversation point: applicants with charity/not-for-profit volunteering, governance or trustee experience should emphasise practical regulatory understanding.
- Demonstrate commercial awareness in mid‑market private M&A or banking matters (the firm acts for lenders and mid-market corporates) — reference the lender portfolio financing matter and explain the legal/commercial risks you would watch for.
- Showcase interpersonal skills and partner‑facing readiness — insider scores indicate partners are accessible and trainees receive strong peer support; give short examples of times you worked directly with senior stakeholders or clients.
- If you have legal tech or process-improvement experience, mention it — internal ratings show investment in legal tech and good office/perks scores, so practical tech examples (process automation, document management improvements, database skills) will resonate.
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