Forsters

Training here means lots of exposure to quality work at an early stage. As one Forsters’ rookie reports: “The amount of responsibility we are given is incredible — we are able to run our own (albeit small fry) files and are given plenty of client contact. Thorough feedback is provided at regular intervals”. Another adds: “I feel I am constantly involved in work outside of my comfort zone, but it is very stimulating as a result”. Rookies also get the opportunity to do six, four-month seats, meaning they get to sample a broader range of the firm’s practice areas. Trainees receive formal training sessions with members of the team or knowledge development lawyer specialists as well as more ‘informal’ at desk overviews.

The firm certainly has come a long way since it was founded in 1998 by ten partners as a breakaway from one of the UK’s oldest law firms, Frere Cholmeley Bischoff, after it opted for a merger with Eversheds. Forsters takes its name from John Forster, one of the founding partners of what was to become Frere Cholmeley Bischoff in 1770. Natasha Rees has recently been elected to senior partner as one of the firm’s founding partners, Smita Edwards, steps down from the post after a strong innings.

Edwards has overseen a growth in the high-net worth individual market and solid revenue growth following the financial crisis. In Forsters’ most recently available financial results revenue had grown 3.6% from £58 million to £60.09 million, whilst profit per equity partner (PEP) rose by 7.1% from £405,000 to £434,000. Alongside private clients, the firm is also big in real estate, and has been expanding its corporate and banking teams as well.

Despite all this growth, the working culture remains one where reasonable hours are the norm. With no expectation to hang around in the office, just in case, once you have finished your tasks for the day and partners being “very hot on wellbeing”, work/life balance has exceeded many trainees’ expectations. “I’ve never had to work beyond 7/8pm across 3 seats so far and only logged on late occasionally for a quick start. There is certainly no presenteeism culture and it’s not unknown for me to be the last in the office at 5:30pm mid-week,” one spy tells Legal Cheek.

Another details: “Holidays, CSR days, external interests and down time are all encouraged. It is clear that many of the lawyers here have come to Forsters looking for excellent work/life balance. Longer days are rare and, in my experience, arise only when a team is working towards a deadline; there is a sense of groups of colleagues putting in the hours together rather than certain unlucky individuals having to stay late”.

There’s not much in the way of gadgets and gizmos to help trainees with their workloads however, as newbies describe the tech as being “pretty standard”. Nor are there the MoneyLaw salaries, but the first and second year rates of £43,500 and £45,500 respectively and £70,000 newly qualified pay package works out pretty well on a per hour basis. International secondments, meanwhile, are not a thing — having said that, it is relatively common to take trainees on business trips. But to some the upsides of ploughing a different furrow across town in the West End will no doubt override such considerations.