Farrer & Co

The quality of work is another area exalted by the trainees. Their comments speak for themselves: “Farrer boasts some of the most interested and exciting clients — in turn, the work they provide us with is often quirky, unconventional and challenging. It’s one of the great perks of being here”, one trainee boasts, with another adding that “Sometimes you get the more admin heavy tasks (bundling etc) but everything plays into the overall picture and I have also had a real range of work”. High praise indeed!

It’s not all livery companies, either: the firm was reportedly engaged by the Football Association to safeguard the privacy of the England WAGs (wives and girlfriends) during the World Cup in Russia. As one trainee put it: “high-profile clients, niche areas of law and genuinely interesting legal conundrums”.

The firm’s high scores continue when the trainees were asked about culture at the firm. Whilst the English gentlemen of old who once graced the halls of Farrer & Co may have prided themselves on having a stiff upper lip, nowadays the firm has a much more “supportive, friendly atmosphere”. The trainees described themselves as being “extremely close”, but it seems that this is also true for across the firm: “Almost without exception fee earners from the top to the bottom of the hierarchy are willing to stop and chat”, one rookie tells Legal Cheek. Another more cheeky insider reports that “even the most exalted give their time generously”! This appears to be the case both inside and outside of the office, with the “friendly and supportive” partners holding a reputation for being “generally willing to put their card behind the bar for team drinks”. Unsurprisingly, this does not go unappreciated…

The work/life balance is strong with this one: late nights at your desk are said to be “rare and always appreciated”, whilst your weekends are your own. A good work/life balance is baked into Farrer’s culture, with trainees telling Legal Cheek that there is a “strong emphasis on work/life balance. People check in to make sure you’re not working too late”. Another adds, “people at the firm understand the importance of a life outside of work and there is no stigma in acknowledging that fact”.  The firm continues to operate a hybrid working policy of a minimum of two days in the office, and trainees are given “a generous budget to buy all the equipment needed” for WFH life. Whilst the technology offered to the rookies is reportedly “basic”, it encompasses “everything we need” and “IT are always on hand” for when those dreaded tech issues arise.

The perks are decent — good health insurance, trainee bonuses and an extra day of holiday at Christmas (called “Farrer Day”) is apparently enough to keep the trainees happy. In previous years, complaints have been made about the lack of a canteen in the office, but the big-wigs at the firm have clearly listened. The office now boasts a newly built- and, most importantly, “affordable” — cafe, which all the trainees reportedly “love”.

Speaking of the office, it’s probably everything you imagine when you think of a firm with roots as old as Farrer & Co has. Situated at the historic Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the firm can trace its origins at the current site as far back as the 18th century. The “beautiful old building” in which the office is housed is certainly a plus for trainees, who describe it as “much more eye-catching than those dull metallic city skyscrapers”. Inside, the vibe is more “modern”, having been refurbished in 2021 to include more open plan office space (as well as the new canteen and lounge space).

Sadly, if you’re looking to spend some of your training contract in an office that isn’t Farrer & Co’s, you may be out of luck- the pandemic seems to have put an end to any current trainee’s hopes of a client secondment. But hopefully these will be set to return soon- with trainees pre-pandemic being sent off to destinations including a Premier League football club (West London, natch) and the PGA European Tour, it would be a great shame if rookies continued to lose out on these opportunities.

And this historic firm is making sure it’s fit for survival for another 300 years with numerous ESG commitments, including those centred on diversity and inclusion. And they are having an effect on the ground — almost half of Farrer & Co partners are female, above the national average of 33%, and there’s now a steady stream of newly promoted partners that have been women. The refurbished office now houses a privacy room for nursing parents, as well as a wellness and multi-faith room. “Continuous improvement in environmental performance” was central to the redevelopment plans, with an emphasis placed on creating workspaces better suited to employee need in an increasingly digital world.

Finally, 2022 saw the firm announce the opening of its Solicitors’ Apprenticeship programme, an expansion of its current apprenticeship scheme which sees placements into its business teams. The scheme will take six years to complete, and will comprise two-year placements into the business services team, as a paralegal and finally into the standard trainee solicitor cohort. Alongside the firm’s partnership with Aspiring Solicitors (a body of which half of the 2021 trainee intake were members), it is clear that this prestigious firm is taking the required steps towards a brighter and more diverse future.