Opening up legal careers: what teachers learned inside Forsters

18 Sep 2026

A Teacher Encounter at Forsters gave educators practical insight into legal careers, apprenticeships and recruitment, helping them connect curriculum skills with the routes students can take into a sector that often feels difficult to access.

Law regularly appears as a high-interest sector in schools’ Future Skills Questionnaire responses, but meaningful access can be difficult to secure. The familiar image of a solicitor can also obscure the range of business roles and non-graduate routes within a modern law firm.

The Central London Careers Hub developed a new partnership with Forsters LLP and used a Teacher Encounter as the starting point. Rather than beginning with a one-off student event, the partners equipped educators to carry accurate, up-to-date insight back into their schools and colleges.

On 6 July 2026, teachers from schools across London visited Forsters’ office for a tour, an introduction to legal roles and pathways, assessment-day insight and direct discussion with trainee lawyers and solicitor apprentices.

Connecting curriculum to recruitment

A recruitment-screening activity asked teachers to consider the skills employers look for throughout the application process. It made the curriculum connection explicit: Geography, History, Maths and English all develop research, analysis, communication and critical thinking—skills that matter in assessment and interview stages.

Teachers also explored roles beyond becoming a solicitor, including emerging legal careers, apprenticeships, internships and business rotation programmes. Forsters, in turn, learned more about the barriers schools and students face, creating a stronger basis for accessible future outreach.

Confidence shifted after the encounter

Before the session, six of eight survey respondents reported only ‘some understanding’ of the different routes into legal careers. Five of eight gave the same rating when asked about their confidence in advising students about the sector.

Six educators completed the post-session questionnaire. Five (83%) selected the highest rating for both confidence in supporting students interested in law and understanding the routes into legal careers; the remaining respondent selected the next-highest rating. All six also selected one of the two highest ratings for understanding the skills that support success in law.

The surveys had different response numbers and were not presented as matched individual responses, so the comparison is indicative rather than a causal measure. Even so, the post-session pattern and written comments provide strong evidence of an immediate increase in educators’ confidence and practical knowledge.

Turning teacher learning into student opportunity

Teachers said they would talk more about the roles available within law, encourage legal apprenticeships and use the learning in assemblies. Several highlighted the value of hearing directly from trainees and understanding what the firm looks for in candidates.

One teacher described the event as “altogether brilliant insight-personal insights and anecdotes from real trainees”.

Forster's and the Hub now have a clearer platform for student-facing activity. Scheduling future Teacher Encounters earlier in the academic year would leave more time for follow-on support, including applications for work experience and internships.

The encounter demonstrates the multiplier effect of investing in educators. When teachers can connect subject learning to recruitment and explain a wider range of pathways with confidence, more students can see a place for themselves in the legal sector.