Law firms will be required to publish set fees for legal services including wills, conveyancing and divorce under new Solicitors Regulation Authority proposals.  

Law firms including Allen & Overy, Pinsent Masons and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner have increased the salaries for their newly qualified (NQ) lawyers in the UK in response to NQ salary surges in the US.

A survey run by the Law Society’s Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) found that nearly 80% of respondents had gained some unpaid legal work experience, but that fewer than half believed that their experiences had benefited their career prospects.

Aspiring Solicitors, launched in November 2013 by former Norton Rose Fulbright associate, Chris White, has recently gained support from a number of high-profile law firms.

Six more firms are now taking applications for training contracts and vacation schemes through Apply4Law:

A Rugby Union team's worth of firms – that's 15 for those averse to heads jammed in armpits – have opened applications for training contracts, vacation schemes and the odd open day through Apply4Law.

Three firms are now taking applications for training contracts and vacation schemes through the Apply4Law online application system, while a fourth – Kingsley Napley – has opened applications for training contracts only.

Online application system provider Apply4Law reports that several of its client firms have opened their 2013 summer vacation scheme forms.

Staff at international disputes firm Hausfeld have been told they can work from home until at least the end of the year. This announcement comes after the practice acknowledged that many employees are not willing to commute into the office via public transport until there is a covid-19 vaccine. 

A number of firms' work placement schemes have been shortlisted for the annual National Council for Work Experience Awards.

Nabarro LLP, Simmons & Simmons and Slater & Gordon have been singled out for praise at the National Council for Work Experience Awards 2013, marking them out as some of the UK's best internship providers.

While a number of big firms have begun to recall furloughed staff as coronavirus lockdown measures begin to ease, the year ahead remains uncertain for hundreds of solicitors.

Baker McKenzie has become the latest firm to reinstate newly qualified (NQ) lawyers’ salaries to pre-pandemic levels, after a reduction of 3% last June. Meanwhile, Irwin Mitchell is expecting to open its 15 offices at 50% capacity from 21 June. 

Law firms and their staff have been putting in extraordinary efforts to support their local communities during the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports.

Law firms across the country have released their trainee retention figures for September 2012.

Several firms have revealed how many of their Spring 2014 qualifiers will be staying on as newly qualified solicitors.

Global law firms Ropes & Gray and Sidley Austin have retained 100% of their trainees.

Trainee and newly qualified solicitors think that firms should do more to provide training and support on stress at work, a survey by the Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) has revealed.