Solicitor apprenticeship

Embark on a six-year journey to solicitor success with Forsters’ solicitor apprenticeship – your exciting path to a rewarding legal career!

Join us in September 2025 as one of four apprentices commencing a six-year journey to solicitor success. Our apprenticeship programme is designed to expand your horizons, offering a unique opportunity to dive into a variety of practice areas. It’s the perfect choice for those who want to earn while they learn, discover their passions in a supportive environment, and gain invaluable experience from industry leaders.

From day one, you're more than just an apprentice – you’re a valued member of our team. You’ll work alongside experienced fee earners on real client matters, participate in team meetings, conduct research, assist with document preparation, maintain accurate records, and support the team through various stages of transactions. Plus, you'll attend sessions and workshops to build your legal knowledge and skills, laying a strong foundation for your future.

As you progress, we’ll give you the chance to take on more responsibility, helping you grow and develop into the lawyer you aspire to be. At Forsters, we’re not just shaping careers – we’re crafting the future of legal excellence.

Interested in starting your journey with us? We’d love for you to join one of our open days or online events to learn more about us before you apply. Take this opportunity to get to know us, and we look forward to getting to know you better too!

Key dates

5 September 2024: Applications open for 2025 solicitor apprenticeship, Q&A session and open day

29 October 2024: Applications close for Q&A session with early careers

31 October 2024: Q&A session with early careers (online)

13 November 2024: Applications close for open day

20 November 2024: open day (in person)

6 February 2025: Applications close for 2025 solicitor apprenticeship

March 2025: Assessment days

Forsters' apprenticeship adventure: a path of varied opportunities

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.

Your qualification journey: the training and skills for success

Years one to four:

In the first four years, you’ll be balancing work with a part-time law degree. You’ll spend four exciting days a week at Forsters, with one dedicated day for your studies. You'll complete this part of your apprenticeship with BPP University alongside your fellow apprentices.

Years five to six:

In the final two years, you’ll dive into studying for the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Exam). Again, you’ll work four days a week at Forsters, with one day set aside for your SQE studies. By the end of these two years, you’ll have all the qualifications you need to become a fully qualified solicitor with Forsters!

Learning and development

In addition to your BPP qualifications, our learning and development team at Forsters is here to supercharge your growth! We offer exciting training sessions and workshops that cover everything from effective communication and office etiquette to boosting self-confidence and refining presentation skills. By the end of your six-year adventure, we aim to help you become a well-rounded solicitor, equipped with all the skills and knowledge you need to shine in your legal career!

Salary

At Forsters, we understand that a rewarding career includes competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. We're proud to offer salaries that reflect our commitment to our apprentices' excellence and dedication. As of September 2024, first-year apprentices will receive £25,000. This salary will increase each year and will match the trainee salary of £45,500 in the fifth year and £48,500 in the sixth year. NQs (following the apprenticeship, once qualified) will receive £81,000. We review our salaries annually on 1 September to ensure we stay ahead of the curve.

Forsters' recruitment process: a journey to excellence

Entry requirements

We’re excited to welcome applications for our solicitor apprenticeship from year 13 students and recent school leavers. If you’re aiming for or have achieved A-level grades of ABB or higher we’d love to hear from you! For those who have completed their education outside the UK and do not have A levels, there is space within the application form to add details of your equivalent qualifications and grades.

Please note that if you’ve completed a degree or are currently working towards one, this apprenticeship isn’t the right fit for you – but we encourage you to explore our graduate opportunities instead.

What we look 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.

The application process:

1. Online application
2. Early careers team review application (rolling basis)
3. Video interview (self-record and submit)
4. Application form deadline
5. Early careers panel review video interview (non-rolling basis)
6. Assessment day (March 2025)
7. Apprenticeship offer

Following completion of the online application form and self-recorded video interview, those who stand out will be shortlisted and invited to an assessment day, a pivotal step in our hiring process. This is your moment to demonstrate your potential and take one step closer to joining our team. If you shine during the assessment, you'll receive an offer for the apprenticeship. Good luck!