About the firm
About the firmManaging partners: Emily Exton
Senior partner: Natasha Rees
Who we are: We are a dynamic, successful firm committed to being the best at what we do. Based in Marylebone, Forsters was formed in 1998 by ten partners from Frere Cholmeley Bischoff, who decided to create a new firm rather than take part in a merger with a large firm based in the City. Their vision was to create a new firm with a distinctive culture which could provide a genuine alternative to City firms.
What we do: While we are best known for our top-flight real estate and private client practices, we also have thriving corporate and dispute resolution teams. Forsters offers interesting, intellectually challenging work, high-quality clients and fantastic people to work with and learn from. We are dedicated to providing outstanding client service in a highly professional, collaborative and supportive environment.
What we’re looking for: We’re looking for open-minded and enthusiastic team players who are ready to start their apprenticeship with us in September 2025.
We love meeting candidates who bring a range of strengths and perspectives. While solving complex problems requires intellectual ability, we’re also looking for a genuine interest in Forsters and what we do. As a firm known for being friendly and collaborative, we value personable individuals with drive, ambition and a strong work ethic.
Throughout the application process, we’re excited to get to know you – your personality, your passions, and what has inspired you to pursue a career in law. Every application is personally reviewed by a member of our early careers panel, and we don’t use any automatic filtering systems.
We seek candidates who not only meet our criteria but also bring a unique spark to Forsters.
What you’ll do: The solicitor apprenticeship will take six years to complete; here’s how it’s mapped out:
Years one and two: in your first two years, you’ll settle into one department, giving you the chance to really get to know the work and the team. You’ll also spend six months with our compliance team, offering you a unique perspective on the business and expanding your network across the firm.
Years three and four: in years three and four, things get exciting as you start rotating annually through some of our key practice areas. You’ll explore departments like construction, commercial real estate, property litigation and residential property, discovering where your passions lie.
Years five and six: in your final two years, you’ll join our trainees in rotating through six different practice areas to experience a wide range of legal challenges.
Your last rotation will bring you back to the department you’ve chosen as your qualifying seat, giving you the perfect opportunity to deepen your expertise and prepare for a successful transition into a newly qualified role.
Perks: Our benefits package is designed to support you in every aspect of your life, both professionally and personally. We offer 27 days of holiday, life and permanent health insurance, private healthcare, and a contributory pension to secure your future. We also provide practical perks like a season ticket loan, subsidised gym membership, and a cycle to work scheme to keep you moving forward. We appreciate that taking care of your wellbeing can look different to different people, so our ‘Wellbeing Fund’ is designed to give flexibility around personal benefits. For some people, it’s about National Trust membership, while for others it’s vouchers for nutritional food delivery services. Our employee assistance programme and staff discounts platform are there to add value to your everyday life, making sure you feel valued in all you do at Forsters.
Sponsorship
All costs will be covered for qualifications completed.
Seat options
For the first four years, apprentices will rotate through options such as: commercial real estate, residential property, construction and property litigation. Apprentices will also spend six months in compliance. In years five and six, they will be able to choose from the following seats: commercial real estate, private client, corporate, dispute resolution, residential property, construction, property litigation, family, banking and finance, planning, employment and landed estates.
Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity: Encouraging individuality is very much part of the Forsters culture. The firm provides an environment which allows everyone to develop and grow regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, maternity or pregnancy, race, religion or belief. At Forsters we are committed to ensuring that each member of the firm treats all of their colleagues with dignity and respect.
We have launched a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) strategy, which sets out the firm’s diversity and inclusion commitments over the next two years. This includes training for all partners and staff, listening to staff through a firmwide D&I survey, internal and external support programmes, and making more public diversity and inclusion commitments.
An all-inclusive culture: We aim to foster an environment which focuses on the talent and potential of each and every one of our people. Forsters is somewhere individuals from all types of backgrounds are able to flourish and achieve their ambitions in a happy, cohesive and supportive environment.
We actively promote an environment which welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds. Some differences, such as age, gender and ethnicity, may be immediately apparent but other differences such as education, social background, religion and sexual orientation may not be apparent at all.
Forsters has an inclusive culture in which every person is valued and is allowed to make an individual contribution in a working environment which is free from any form of discrimination.
Forsters is committed to being a diverse and inclusive place in which to work and conducts an annual survey of its staff.
D&I within the application process: At Forsters, we’re dedicated to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for everyone. We strive to attract a diverse range of candidates and encourage applications from all backgrounds. Our commitment to equal opportunities is unwavering, and we believe that a variety of perspectives enriches our firm and the legal services we provide.
If you require any support or adjustments during the application or hiring process, we’re here to assist you. You can include these details in your application form or directly inform the early careers team by emailing [email protected]. We understand that each candidate’s needs are unique, and we’re ready to accommodate them to ensure a fair and supportive recruitment journey.
How does Forsters approach diversity and inclusion in the graduate recruitment process? At Forsters, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our early careers strategy. Our team collaborates closely with the firm’s D&I committee and support networks to continually enhance our processes.
Here are a few ways we’re making a difference:
Blind first-round interviews: on assessment days, our interviewers don’t see your application form before meeting you, ensuring a fair and unbiased process.
Contextual recruitment tool: We use Rare Recruitment’s contextual tool within our online application to consider your achievements in the context of your personal background.
MyPlus Consulting Gold Membership: as a gold member of MyPlus Consulting, we focus on inclusive recruitment for candidates with disabilities.
Halo Code membership: we’re members of the Halo Code, supporting a future free from hair discrimination. We encourage you to attend our events and assessments feeling comfortable and confident in your natural hair.
Disability Confident certification: we’re certified under the Disability Confident scheme, and we’re committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process.
Percentage of female associates: 65%
Percentage of female partners: 51%
Percentage of BAME associates: 13%
Percentage of BAME partners: 5%