This week we witnessed Joe Biden’s inauguration at the US Capitol, as he was sworn in as the 46th US president and Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice-president. Read on for this week’s summaries of a selection of news stories from the business and legal worlds.

Tooks Chambers - the set of Michael Mansfield QC - has decided to begin the process of dissolution as the "direct result of the government's legal aid policies".

Weightmans and Mace & Jones have announced they are to merge, creating a UK top 50 firm with a combined fee income of £75 million.

UK businesses, including law firms, are to be ranked on their openness to talent from all backgrounds in a joint initiative by the Social Mobility Foundation and Social Mobility Commission. 

Six magic circle sets of chambers have collaborated to create a mentoring scheme for aspiring barristers from underrepresented groups, including women, people with ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people and those with disabilities.

Kaim Todner, an eminent London criminal defence firm, is to close this month.

Six leading law firms are set to attend the third annual OPEN event for disabled students who are interested in a career in commercial law.

Top law firms have announced their autumn retention rates, following the lead of Shearman & Sterling which revealed in June that it would keep on 11 of its 12 NQs.

Linklaters, RPC and Taylor Wessing have revealed high trainee retention rates as we emerge from covid-19-induced lockdowns. 

As universities plan to hike tuition fees, some firms are to review the financial assistance on offer to their future trainees.

Many law firms, in-house legal departments and other organisations including the Government Legal Department have become the founding signatories of the Law Society’s Pro Bono Charter. 

Magic circle law firms Allen & Overy, Freshfields and Linklaters have announced their partner promotions for 2021, with some positive signs that the firms are working to rebalance their male-dominated partnerships.

Responding to the latest coronavirus update, The University of Law has suspended face-to-face teaching and postponed assessments for a month, with thousands of law students affected. Learning and teaching will be moved online where possible.

Diversity, equal opportunity and the end of the ‘old boys network’ remain a long way off in the legal profession, a study by the Sutton Trust and PRIME showing that three quarters of judges and 71% of Queen’s Counsel (QC) barristers were privately educated has revealed. 

Prominent barrister Michael Mansfield QC has argued against imposing a limit on the number of Bar Professional Training Course places.

There are plenty of resources about what employers should do to avoid any pitfalls with Christmas parties, but employees also play a big part in making sure that Christmas parties go well and are memorable for the right reasons. We all play a part in ensuring that we have an enjoyable Christmas party and can go to work with our collective consciences clear!

Do you have any advice for a successful video interview or virtual assessment centre?