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Farrer & Co
An independent London law firm combining private wealth expertise with commercial advice for businesses, educational institutions, charities and cultural organisations.
About Farrer & Co
Farrer & Co advises individuals, families, businesses, financial institutions, educational establishments and not-for-profit organisations. Its London practice combines private wealth work with corporate, employment, property, disputes and regulatory advice. International matters are handled alongside trusted advisers overseas. This creates a distinctive client mix, ranging from family businesses and landed estates to schools, charities and cultural institutions.
For prospective trainees, the breadth of the practice offers opportunities to explore both personal and commercial legal issues. Its six-seat programme provides exposure to more departments before qualification than a conventional four-seat structure
The two-year training contract comprises six four-month seats, covering commercial, contentious, private client and property work. Trainees develop practical skills including drafting, negotiation, interviewing and advocacy, alongside research and business skills.
The final seat is spent in the intended qualification department. The firm funds SQE-related fees and provides maintenance support. Published maintenance grants are £8,000 for the PGDL and £8,000 for the SQE.
Practice areas & rankings
Farrer & Co is ranked in 24 practice areas in Chambers UK 2027, with seven Band 1 practices. These are Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Art and Cultural Property Law, Charities, Education: Institutions (Schools), Employment: Senior Executive, Family/Matrimonial Finance: Ultra-High-Net-Worth, and Media & Entertainment: Publishing.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 1 in Chambers UK 2027, the practice advises collectors, artists, dealers, museums, galleries and charitable foundations. Its work includes acquisitions, art finance, authenticity and provenance disputes, copyright, succession planning and the recovery of stolen works. This combines commercial transactions with contentious and private wealth issues surrounding valuable collections.
Ranked Band 1 in Chambers UK 2027, the team advises landed estates and institutional landowners. Work includes rural development, estate property transactions, diversification, sporting and mineral rights, and commercial and agricultural leases. The practice connects property law with the long-term management and commercial development of estates.
Ranked Band 1 in Chambers UK 2027, charities are an important part of the firm’s institutional client base. The practice sits alongside its education, cultural property and private wealth work, reflecting the different legal needs of organisations holding assets and pursuing charitable purposes.
Ranked Band 1 for Education: Institutions (Schools) in Chambers UK 2027, the firm has a substantial schools practice. Safeguarding and sensitive employment issues are particular features of its education work, requiring advice that considers institutional responsibilities alongside the interests of pupils, staff and other stakeholders.
Awards
Private Client Legal Team of the Year (Large Firm)STEP Private Client Awards 2026
Judges commended the team's cross-disciplinary approach and its pro bono work supporting vulnerable young people and families.
Private Client Team of the YearChambers High Net Worth Awards 2026
Family Law Team of the YearChambers High Net Worth Awards 2026
Recognised for the team's work for ultra high net worth families and international clients.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Applications open on 1 November 2026. The vacation scheme deadline is 18 December 2026; direct applications for September 2029 training contracts close on 5 March 2027. Neither process operates on a rolling basis.
The schemes offer 30 places in total, paying £528.85 per week. Vacation scheme participants must also complete the training contract application, either through the joint application process or separately before its deadline.
Build your application around a clear explanation of why you want to become a solicitor and why this particular client mix interests you. Connect your experience to practical responsibilities such as communicating accurately, handling sensitive information and making reasoned decisions. Discuss specific work or sectors rather than relying on the firm’s history or reputation.
Farrer & Co: quick answers
How much does Farrer & Co pay trainees?
Farrer & Co pays first-year trainees £50,000, rising to £52,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Farrer & Co earn £89,000.
When is the Farrer & Co vacation scheme deadline?
Applications open 1 Nov 2025 · close 27 Mar 2026 at 23:59 · interviews Jun to end Jul 2026 · training contract starts Sep 2028 Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Farrer & Co take on?
Farrer & Co takes on around 8 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Farrer & Co use in its applications?
Shortlisted applicants complete a 25-minute online proofreading task identifying spelling, grammar, formatting and consistency errors. Practise checking short documents under timed conditions. Review meaning as well as individual words: inconsistent names, numbers or references can matter as much as spelling. Use the practice questions to understand how the system expects you to record errors.
What grades do you need to apply to Farrer & Co?
To apply to Farrer & Co you will generally need a 2:1 degree. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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