Forsters
- London
Here “to teach you and make you a good lawyer,” this private client and commercial real estate specialist Forsters a supportive environment and work/life balance.
Forsters training contract review 2026
About the firm
- 24
- Trainees
- Undisclosed
- Associates
- 75
- Partners
- 1
- National Offices
From first impression, a career in the City might seem crowded and daunting, and not everyone thrives in that environment. Thankfully, you’ll be pleased to learn that there is a genuine alternative at Forsters. From the firm’s singular West End base, “We take happiness seriously,” training principal Anthony Goodmaker tells us, “we’ve always stood out for providing top quality legal advice to our clients and for having a commitment to being a welcoming, friendly and collaborative environment.” It’s something that trainees affirm too: “They’re here to teach you and make you a good lawyer, learning and development is prioritised. I can see a future here.”
“They’re here to teach you and make you a good lawyer, learning and development is prioritised. I can see a future here.”
So, what trainees at the firm becoming specialists in? Private client and real estate undoubtedly spearhead the firm’s offering, and Chambers UK awards the firm strong rankings in the likes of family/matrimonial finance for high-net-worth individuals, and a top-tier nod in real estate (and agriculture and rural affairs) in London. “Over the last few years, we’ve really grown and strengthened our litigation practice across dispute resolution, construction, employment, family, and trusts and estates,” Goodmaker explains. In fact, it’s something that adds “a good counterbalance to those transactional ebbs and flows.”
Training Contract Structure
A Forsters training contract consists of six four-month seats. While some sources admitted “it can be quick in rotating, the benefit is that you do get more breadth of experience.” Trainees are very much encouraged to sit within tax, trusts and estates (private client) and commercial real estate.
Seat allocation itself was described as “personable.” After submitting preferences alongside an optional CV, trainees then go on to catch up with the learning and development team as well. For those offered an NQ role, the final seat is their qualification choice: “It’s really good as a trainee to receive NQ or associate level work with that safety net.”
Seat Experiences
Firstly, tax, trusts and estates (also known as private client), is one of the signature practices at Forsters. As such, “it’s a really big team,” sources pointed out, which also has recently expanded its immigration offering. Divided between onshore (domestic) and offshore (international), trainees are able to experience both sides of tax and estate planning for high net worth individuals and families, who understandably are anonymous due to the discrete nature of the work.
Day to day, they outlined being involved in “lots of client meetings which is great,” and picking up the pen to draft tax reports, wills, trusts and lasting power of attorney (LPAs). Research shapes up another portion of the work, with some “horrendously niche” questions landing on their desks as well. “It’s one of the more technical seats; it’s quite black letter law heavy!” one trainee emphasised.
Commercial real estate is the other core practice. From large institutional investors, funders, developers and occupiers, the team advises across a variety of industries including build for rent, retail, industrial and care home facilities. In one recent deal, the firm advised Knight Dragon in connection with its £8.4 billion redevelopment and regeneration scheme of Greenwich Peninsula.
Very recently, it has grown its offering with the addition of real estate funds. However, the bread-and-butter work is asset management related to landlord and tenants, as “for trainees its easier work to understand and get involved in,” a source explained, adding, “I did more meaty transactions as well, like a big portfolio lease sale!”
With a lot of project management, trainees must stay organised: “there are lots of little spinning plates that you need to keep an eye on and know all the details of.” Staple tasks include on smaller files, negotiating and drafting leases, marking up documents from the other side and flagging any issues, answering queries over email and attending client calls, as well as being involved in the signing and closing processes. As for responsibility, sources rated it highly: “It’s a good seat to work at different levels, having that added experience of taking the lead and working as part of a big team on transactions.”
“It’s a very tight knit team and so things get filtered down more. You can see how your work is being used…”
For those interested in the built environment, there is also a construction disputes practice which handles matters for property investors, developers, landowners and occupiers. Comparatively it’s a much smaller team, but it works with some big names such as The Crown Estate, Netflix and KPMG. Here, the team successfully defended the Ministry of Defence in the High Court, allowing the reacquisition of armed forces housing back into public ownership for £5.99 billion.
“It’s a very tight knit team and so things get filtered down more. You can see how your work is being used,” insiders told us. With disputes related to fire safety and other Building Safety Act related issues, “it’s a really technical seat, with a lot of construction lingo to learn!” As such, trainees are tasked with lots of research as well as drafting letters to the other side.
Other contentious work falls under Forsters’ disputes practice, which handles everything from commercial litigation right through to trusts and estates disputes. “There are some big cases,” insiders quipped, from investment to shareholder and professional negligence claims. Sources were pleased with the variety as it meant “the day to day is very different.”
Of course, while tasks vary depending on the matter at hand, trainees can get involved in everything from “strategy meetings where you’re invited to share your opinion” to drafting letters and witness statements, preparing exhibitions and bundling for court. What’s more, they also had the opportunity to attend court too. As a snapshot, the team recently acted for Hipgnosis Music Limited in a dispute against Hipgnosis Song Funds – which is valued at over £1 billion and holds the rights for artists including the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Justin Bieber and Shakira – and its former director, for allegedly diverting business opportunities.
Trainee Life
As trainees were quick to highlight when asked about the culture of the firm, “the partners have a real sense of work life balance which feeds down.” Keeping to its West End ethos, the firm moved up the road from Mayfair to Marylebone in 2024. Now together under one roof, “we definitely have a small firm friendly culture,” a trainee observed.
There’s lots going on as well! From events welcoming the new trainee cohort and the headline fancy dress-themed NQ party in October through to the Christmas and summer parties and various team socials. More casually, the commercial real estate team runs a weekly quiz as well for a fun 15-minute break. There are extra-curricular clubs from choir and run club which are opportunities to unwind and connect.
“…the partners have a real sense of work life balance which feeds down.”
One thing in particular that was flagged was “a real big push for social mobility.” As Goodmaker points out: “We’re really excited about the start of our first ever solicitor apprenticeship scheme. Starting in September, we’ll have four apprentices join us for a six-year apprenticeship. The calibre of the applicants of which there were hundreds and hundreds has just completely blown us away.”
The firm has various networks across gender, race and social mobility, open to all which “brainstorm what we can do to improve and put into action.” A trainee noted, “If I have an idea, I can email the team who will look into it, that is respected as the committee meets every few weeks.”
With a focus on mental health, recently there has been a talk about switching off after work presented by mental health first aiders, who are also on hand at the firm. As for representation, gender in particular was praised as “there are more female than male partners here which is rare for law firms.” Whilst it was recognised that there is room for improvement in other areas, it was agreed: “It’s a big focus of the firm.”
“A senior will ask how much time you have to explain xyz to you – moments like that really stand out.”
“It’s generally a flat hierarchy; people are approachable so you can ask questions,” trainees explained, “A senior will ask how much time you have to explain xyz to you – moments like that really stand out.” Supervision too received positive reviews overall, with trainees receiving regular constructive feedback and catch ups that are both pastoral and work related. “They’re good at keeping me up to date so I’m never surprised at mid and end of seat reviews,” an insider shared.
Newbies kick off their time with a week long intensive induction, followed by department specific and firm-wide training throughout. Topics covered include soft skills like reclaiming your attention and focus on work, building confidence and crash courses on will drafting and updates on changes in the law from knowledge development lawyers. This continues into qualification with an NQ training programme covering the essentials from “how to lead on a matter and building relationships with clients.”
The Marylebone office was described as “light and airy, with plenty of places to go for a break and quick chats.” There’s also the added benefit of plenty of “nice eateries and bars” nearby. Everybody is expected to be in the office at least 50% of the week and most outlined being in three to four days. With hot-desking “you can be sitting next to a partner, you learn so much by listening to people and moving around,” a source reflected.
Although hours vary from seat to seat, on average trainees described working from 9am to 6-7pm as standard. If things can busy with a deal or court deadline, it can stretch out for longer and with some weekend work, but generally we heard: “it’s rare to work late into the evening.” In turn, they agreed “the salary is fair for the market and hours.” Although one did note wishing for more transparency “as there is not a lot of information about salary progression after qualification.” All in all, trainees agreed: “It’s a pretty good gig here.”
Qualification
Starting in March, the qualification process is outlined to trainees: “The learning and development team is good at talking things through with you, they’re a point of contact to go to if you are worried,” a source told us. The list of teams that are hiring is released, and it’s up to candidates to speak with those teams to indicate their interest before applying. The application is a letter covering why they’d like to join, following which interviews are held, some of which involve case studies. “The general message is they want to retain us,” trainees expressed, “people come here to stay.” In 2025, Forsters retained 10 out of 12 qualifiers.
- 83.3%
- Trainees Retention
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Top Figures
- £45,500
- 1st Year Salary
- £48,500
- 2nd Year Salary
- £86,000
- Newly Qualified Salary
- 12
- Training Contract Vacancies
- 5th Jan 2026
- Application Closing Date
- Yes
- Apprenticeship
