Law firms and chambers are failing on inclusion as disabled lawyers are significantly underrepresented in the legal profession compared to the wider employed population.

Is working from home here to stay?

What do clients want and need from their law firms? Lawyers? Business advisers? 

The face of the legal market is in a period of significant change, with close to half of all law firms now operating as incorporated companies and only a small minority holding to the traditional partnership structure, new research has revealed.

Cost pressures have been cited as a significant barrier to law firms achieving their sustainability goals, according to new research by carbon reduction consultancy Greenarc, despite increasing demands from clients and employees.

City law firms and accountancy firms are updating their application guidelines to consider the use of AI, with some prohibiting the technology and others celebrating it.

An initiative to aid law firms in addressing the climate crisis was launched by eight commercial law firms this month.  

Leading UK law firms are split on what stage they will allow candidates to commence training contracts when the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is introduced in 2021, according to new findings.

Pannone, Freeth Cartwright and Cripps Harries Hall have dropped out of the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to work for list, leaving only five law firms featured in the rankings.

Legal technology company Litera’s new research report has found that both law firms and departments are embracing new technology, with those that “strategically leverage generative AI’ predicted to “gain a competitive edge in today’s volatile economy”.

DAC Beachcroft LLP, Hill Dickinson LLP, Mishcon de Reya LLP and Pinsent Masons LLP have each been named as one of the UK’s top 10 family-friendly employers. 

More than 90% of UK law firms that responded to a survey by accountancy network MHA said they had made a profit since March 2020.

US law firms Kirkland and Ellis International LLP and Paul Weiss are offering large referral bonuses of £38,000 in a bid to attract the best talent. At Kirkland & Ellis, this is double the incentive from last October.

Law firms are becoming prime targets for cybercriminals due to the large quantities of sensitive client data they hold. Despite 97% of firms prioritising safety from cybercrime and fraud, according to the Law Firm Benchmarking 2024 report, only 32% of these firms provide regular training to their staff.

More than 20 law firms and five barristers’ chambers have signed up to the #10000blackinterns initiative, alongside the Law Society and Bar Council, with the Law Society urging other firms to get involved.

Global disability network The Valuable 500 has reached its target to get 500 global businesses to add disability inclusion to their business leadership agenda, including several law firms.

Travers Smith LLP and Linklaters LLP both launch new AI training programmes to boost employee understanding, improve the expertise of their lawyers and keep up with the fast-paced nature of the evolving technology space. 

Several law firms, including Clifford Chance and Macfarlanes LLP, have launched a leadership-led, cross-firm collective developed to improve the representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups in the UK legal profession. 

Simmons & Simmons LLP and TLT LLP have launched joint training contracts with Barclays aimed at aspiring financial services lawyers. 

Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and seven other law firms have been ranked among the top 100 graduate employers, compiled by The Times.