1st Formations Reviews

4.0

74% would recommend to a friend

(93 total reviews)

Graeme Donnelly

81% approve of CEO

77% positive business outlook

1st Formations has an employee rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 93 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The 1st Formations employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Legal industry (3.8 stars).

Reviews by job title

93 reviews
1.0
Jun 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nothing in here is really worth mentioning.

Cons

This place is a mess. The customer base is a nightmare, senior management is unprofessional and ignores staff, and there’s basically no HR support. Pay is lower than what others in similar roles make, and the office is either boiling in the summer or freezing in the winter. The workload is mentally draining, you’re glued to your desk all day, and layoffs happen for no clear reason. Micromanagement is constant, the CEO is nowhere to be found, and leadership seems to care more about customers than the people actually doing the work. With the money this company brings in, they could easily pay staff better and invest in tools that would make the job manageable, but nothing ever changes.

5.0
May 19, 2026

Supportive colleagues and good social values

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Really lovely colleagues. Dog friendly. Strong focus on ESG, the charity and environmental work really align with my values. Free lunch Fridays, I appreciate it's from Atis so it's a healthy lunch. Paid volunteer days.

Cons

Office is lacking a buzz on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The coffee in the machines is not good. I struggle to get the input I need for my projects from certain people which is really frustrating.

avatar
1st Formations Response
3w
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this review. It really does mean a lot to read such balanced and thoughtful feedback. We’re really pleased to hear that you’re enjoying the team and that our focus on ESG, charity and environmental work is resonating with you. That sense of shared values, alongside a supportive and inclusive environment, is something we care deeply about. It’s also great to hear that some of the everyday touches, like Free Lunch Fridays from Atis, and our dog-friendly offices, are contributing positively to your experience. We also really appreciate you being open about where things aren’t working as well. The quieter office days you mention, along with the challenges in getting timely input on projects, are important reflections for us. As we continue to grow, making sure collaboration is smooth, communication is clear, and the office feels energised throughout the week are all areas we’re actively focusing on. If you’re open to it, we’d really encourage you to connect with the People Team directly to discuss the collaboration challenges you’re facing or share ideas on how we can improve the office experience. And yes, that includes the coffee beans we use. Thanks again for taking the time to share this; it genuinely helps us keep improving in the right ways.
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Glassdoor has 98 1st Formations reviews submitted anonymously by 1st Formations employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if 1st Formations is right for you.