Forbes Solicitors

Overview

Forbes Solicitors is an award-winning national law firm with strong roots in the North of England and a stated ambition to combine regional strength with national reach. The firm offers a full-service legal platform across private client, commercial and public-sector work and is particularly noted for insurance/PI defendant work, social housing, employment, corporate and crime. Forbes emphasises a personal, straightforward and client-focused approach, with substantial investment in people, CPD and local community engagement which differentiates it from purely city-based firms.

• Headquarters: Blackburn
• Lawyers: 370 staff
• Partners: 52
• Trainees: 3 training contracts p.a.; 3 SQE apprenticeships p.a.
• Offices: 11

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Corporate & M&A
• Commercial Contracts
• Employment
• Criminal Law
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Real Estate
• Housing & Social Housing
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Intellectual Property
• Construction & Engineering
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Family Law
• Private Client & Wealth
• Technology & Digital

Geographic Focus: A regional powerhouse in the North West with national capability (including a London office), Forbes focuses on the North of England while providing national services for commercial, public-sector and regulatory clients. The firm highlights long-term relationships with national insurers, housing providers and public bodies and positions itself as a 'regional firm with a national reach'.

Training Contract

The firm's Period of Recognised Training (PRT) comprises 4 six-month seats. The first seat is chosen by the firm; subsequent seats are allocated following discussions with trainees as part of the trainee review process. Trainees are given early client contact and hands-on work and are supported via a structured learning and development programme and in-house CPD-accredited training.

• Trainee Intake: Traditional training contracts: 3 per year; SQE/Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeships: 3 per year.
• Qualification Rate: Consistently high trainee solicitor retention rates (qualitative description cited by the firm).
• Academic Requirements: The firm accepts graduates and runs both traditional training contracts and Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeships (SQE). Candidates are expected to have strong local connections and to demonstrate alignment with the firm's values (Authentic, Exceptional, United).
• Application Deadline: 15 June 2026

Seat Options

• Business Law
• Civil Litigation
• Insurance
• Crime
• Family
• Employment

Sponsorship

SQE costs covered via the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship (as stated in graduate recruitment materials).

SQE Support

For candidates who have not completed the LPC or SQE, Forbes states it will cover SQE costs via its Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship; SQE support and funding are offered as part of apprenticeship routes.

Mentorship

All trainees and newly qualified solicitors are allocated a mentor from the beginning of their training through to the end of the first year post-qualification. Trainee progress is reviewed through a trainee review process that influences seat allocation.

Apply on the Forbes Solicitors website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Forbes Solicitors Looks For

Key Competencies

• Client focus and early client contact capability
• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration (One Team ethos)
• Approachability and strong communication
• Resilience and adaptability
• Local connection / commitment to the region
• Commitment to continuous professional development

Evidence Signals

• Work experience or vacation placements with law firms or legal teams
• Commercial or sector-specific experience (insurance, housing, care, tech)
• Demonstrable alignment with firm values (Authentic, Exceptional, United)
• Pro bono / community engagement or outreach activity
• Participation in moot, placements, or evidence of client-facing work

Benefits & Wellbeing

• CPD-accredited in-house training and self-accreditation for CPD
• SQE funding/support via Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship
• Mentorship from start of training through first post-qualification year
• Investors in People accreditation (Silver) and People development focus
• ISO 9001 Quality Management accreditation
• Agile / flexible working encouraged
• Opportunities for pro bono and community engagement via the Forbes Foundation
• In-house training facility and regular internal seminars across practice areas

Awards & Recognition

• Professional Services Company of the Year, British HR Awards (2025)
• UK Employer of the Year: Silver (250+), Investors in People Awards
• Investors in People Silver Accreditation
• Lex 100 trainee survey — winners of 7 categories (2020/21)
• Ranked and recommended in Legal 500 (Top-tier listings in multiple North West areas)
• Recommended in Chambers & Partners directories

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Forbes describes itself as an equal opportunities and disability confident employer and is accredited to Investors in People and ISO 9001. The firm states it is intent on advancing diversity across its activities and provides published diversity statistics and gender pay gap reports.

• Founder signatory of the Law Society Diversity and Inclusion Charter
• EDIB Committee
• International Women's Day Awards 2025
• Disability Confident employer status (stated)

Pro Bono

Forbes operates an active community and pro bono programme, runs the Forbes Foundation (financial support to children and families in need), provides school and college outreach (work experience, mock interviews, mock trials), and supports local fundraising and community partnerships. The firm reports fundraising totals for the Forbes Foundation (since 2019: £61,527.71).

Innovation

Quick Application Angles

• Lead with the firm's values and regional focus: demonstrate local connections and explain how your approach aligns with 'Authentic, Exceptional, United' (the firm explicitly seeks candidates with strong local ties).
• Show commercial awareness in one of Forbes' core sectors (insurance/PI defendant work, social housing, care, corporate or employment) — reference a relevant example from your experience and link it to practical client outcomes.
• Emphasise practical client experience and readiness for early responsibility — Forbes promises hands-on client work from the start, so highlight any client-facing tasks, placements or pro bono activity you have undertaken.
• If applying for the apprenticeship route, explicitly state your interest in the SQE apprenticeship and note that Forbes funds SQE study; use the application stages (video presentation, first interview, final panel presentation) to prepare focused, evidence-based answers.