Forsters LLP

Overview

Forsters is a leading London law firm best known for its private wealth and real estate strength, backed by established corporate, banking, tax and dispute resolution teams. The firm adopts a partner-led, relationship-driven approach and emphasises close client connections, practical commercial advice and discreet service for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, funds, developers and corporates. Forsters combines London-focused expertise with an international client base and cross-border capability, and highlights sustainability, knowledge-led service and investment in learning and development as firm priorities.

• Headquarters: London, 22 Baker Street (George Street entrance at 64 George Street)
• Founded: 1998
• Trainees: 12 (training contracts offered per year)
• Offices: 1

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Banking & Finance
• Corporate & M&A
• Employment
• Immigration
• Tax
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• International Arbitration
• Construction & Engineering
• Real Estate
• Private Client & Wealth
• Family Law
• Commercial Contracts
• ESG & Sustainability
• Technology & Digital
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Fraud & Investigations
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Housing & Social Housing

Geographic Focus: Headquartered in London with a global client base and cross-border capability. The firm advises international individuals, family offices, investors and corporates and has focussed expertise handling matters involving the UK, US, Middle East and Asia through its international network of contacts and correspondent advisers.

Training Contract

Two-year training contract comprising six four-month seats. Trainees typically have core exposure in Commercial Real Estate (Core CRE) and Trusts, Tax & Estates (TTE), at least one contentious seat (Dispute Resolution, Real Estate Disputes, Family, Employment & Partnerships or Construction Disputes), and return to the department they will qualify into for their sixth seat so they have c. eight months' experience in their qualifying area. Trainees receive regular mid-seat (2 month) and end-of-seat (4 month) reviews tied to a Trainee Career Development Framework.

• Starting Salary: £47,000 (first-year trainee, as of September 2025)
• NQ Salary: £88,000
• Trainee Intake: 12
• Qualification Rate: 83% trainee retention
• Academic Requirements: Minimum A level requirement: ABB. Degree: 2:1 or higher (we welcome applicants from all degree backgrounds; non-law candidates complete PGDL and SQE as required). The firm considers mitigating circumstances and contextual information in applications.
• Application Deadline: 2027-01-04

Seat Options

• Commercial Real Estate (Core CRE)
• Trusts, Tax and Estates (TTE)
• Dispute Resolution
• Real Estate Disputes
• Family
• Employment and Partnerships
• Construction Disputes
• Corporate
• Banking and Finance
• Tax
• Immigration
• Real Estate Finance
• Planning

Sponsorship

The firm will sponsor PGDL and/or SQE fees and provides maintenance grants: PGDL maintenance grant £9,000; SQE maintenance grant £12,000 per year.

SQE Support

Forsters sponsors future trainees through the PGDL and/or SQE: the firm pays course fees and provides a maintenance grant. Published maintenance grant amounts are £9,000 for the PGDL and £12,000 for the SQE (per year of study).

Client Secondments

Client secondments are possible but uncommon; available figures indicate approximately a 6% chance of client secondments.

Mentorship

Each trainee is assigned a supervisor (senior associate or associate) who manages day‑to‑day work allocation and reviews, a mentor for informal career guidance, and a buddy (usually a second‑year trainee) to support onboarding. The Early Careers team and a panel of around 45 senior associates, counsel and partners are involved in recruitment and training activities.

Apply on the Forsters LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Forsters LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Strong intellectual ability
• Sound judgement
• Commercial awareness
• Collaborative teamworking
• Attention to detail
• Motivation and drive
• Interpersonal skills and approachability
• Resilience and adaptability

Evidence Signals

• Relevant work experience (law firms or commercial roles)
• Commercial project or internship experience
• Pro bono or volunteering demonstrating commitment to access to justice
• Academic performance (2:1 degree or higher; ABB A‑levels for school‑leaver routes)
• Evidence of teamwork and leadership (societies, sports, clubs)
• Demonstrable interest in Forsters’ core sectors (real estate, private wealth, technology)

Benefits & Wellbeing

• First-year trainee salary: £47,000
• Second-year trainee salary: £50,000
• Newly qualified salary: £88,000
• PGDL maintenance grant: £9,000
• SQE maintenance grant: £12,000 per year
• 27 days' holiday
• Life insurance
• Permanent health insurance
• Private healthcare
• Contributory pension
• Season ticket loan
• Subsidised gym membership
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programme (EAP)
• Staff discounts platform
• Wellbeing Fund (employees can allocate to personalised wellbeing benefits)
• Vacation scheme weekly pay: £547
• Travel expense reimbursement for open days and assessment days (within mainland UK, c.£150 threshold)

Wellbeing

Wellbeing Fund (36% of the firm signed up), firmwide wellbeing events and communications, employee assistance programme, mental health and wellbeing initiatives, L&D on resilience and wellbeing.

Awards & Recognition

• British Legal Awards 2021: Property Team of the Year (winner)
• Chambers High Net Worth: Best in class (2024/2026 recognition across private client)
• Solicitors firm of the year ERMA 2024
• Top recommended in Spear’s Legal Indices 2026
• Estate planning team of the year, Greater China WealthBriefingAsia 2024
• Shortlisted: The Legal 500 ESG and Lexis Nexis Legal Awards 2024
• Shortlisted: Residential Property Team of the Year, RESI Awards 2022/2026
• Longlisted in six Legal Cheek Awards categories 2026 (quality of work, peer support, work/life balance, office, social life, eco-friendliness)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Committed to inclusive recruitment and development practices including blind first‑round interviews, REALrating contextual recruitment and membership of the Halo Code. Recognised as a Top 75 Employer for Social Mobility (Social Mobility Employer Index 2025) and Disability Confident accredited.

• Diversity and Inclusion Committee
• Seven employee-led support networks (disability, faith, gender equality, pride, race, social mobility, working parents and carers)
• Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (published)
• REALrating contextual recruitment
• Blind first-round interviews
• Membership of Halo Code
• Disability Confident accreditation
• Social Mobility Employer Index: Top 75 Employer 2025
• Social mobility stories programme
• Apprenticeship outreach and business services apprenticeships

Pro Bono

Pro bono is a core part of the firm's practice; 11 Forsters lawyers were named on the 2026 Pro Bono Recognition List for contributing 25+ hours of pro bono work in the year. The firm collaborates with legal advice centres and referral organisations and reports on pro bono activity in its Responsible Business Review.

Innovation

The firm positions innovative legal technology and knowledge management as central to improving efficiency and managing risk. The Knowledge & L&D teams run workshops and seminars to embed tech and process improvements; trainees are exposed to these initiatives through training and knowledge sessions. The firm also integrates sustainability-focused tools and programmes through its Sustainability Hub and board.

• Knowledge team driving legal technology and knowledge management
• Sustainability Hub (sustainability-focused collaboration and tooling)
• Sustainability Board and Green Impact Group (connects to operational and client-facing innovation)

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise interest in private wealth and real estate: reference Forsters’ market-leading residential and property work (e.g., St Giles Circus / Outernet) and explain how your background or experience would add value to those teams.
• Mention the firm’s sustainability commitments and Sustainability Hub when relevant — Forsters has an approved science-based emissions reduction target and a visible sustainability programme which resonates with the firm’s Responsible Business focus.
• If applying for training/apprenticeship, call out teamworking, commercial awareness and examples of responsibility from work or volunteering — the firm values personable, collaborative candidates and assesses these across blind first-round interviews and assessment days.
• Reference the firm’s training support (PGDL/SQE sponsorship, maintenance grants of £9,000 for PGDL and £12,000 for SQE) and the six-seat training structure in applications and interviews to show you understand the development pathway.
• Use the firm’s insider ratings to tailor answers: Forsters scores highly for quality of work and peer support — demonstrate how you would thrive in a high-quality, collegial environment, and be honest about how you manage workload given the lower work–life balance rating.