On Monday 13 January, the government published an AI Opportunities Action Plan, which has been welcomed by Law Society President Richard Atkinson. Atkinson said that the plan “demonstrates the UK's commitment to invest in AI and digital infrastructures, but above all in people and talent”.  

The Law Society has pledged to continue using all its influence and resources to support criminal solicitors.

The Law Society has invited law students, trainees, pupils and other junior lawyers to enter its annual Graham Turnbull essay competition, which this year references the Magna Carta and the ramifications if the United Kingdom were to radically alter its human rights protections.

The Law Society has launched its 2017-18 mentoring scheme, designed to support solicitors from under-represented groups to progress their careers and improve diversity within the profession.

The Law Society lead legal sector representatives in Saturday’s Pride parade in London. Marching under the banner “All are equal under the law”, those who took part were keen to spread the message of the legal profession’s support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) diversity.

Launched at the start of September, the Law Society’s new three-year professional ethics programme and web hub have been designed to offer a “safe space” to help members to balance commitments to clients and wider society. 

On Wednesday 5 February, the Law Society launched its Diversity Access Scheme (DAS), which has so far invested £3.5 million into supporting more than 300 aspiring solicitors.

The Law Society has launched a series of interactive commercial awareness webinars for second-, third- and first-year students, which will be delivered by dual qualified lawyer Denis Viskovich in March.

The Law Society has launched its new Access to Justice campaign, aiming to “defend the rule of law in an environment where legal advice is becoming more expensive and difficult to obtain”.

The Law Society has attacked the Solicitors Regulation Authority's consultation on the abolition of the minimum salary for trainee solicitors.

The Law Society of England and Wales has published new guidance on trainee support, after a rise in law firms introducing flexible working policies.

The Law Society has deemed it necessary to issue lawyers with advice regarding the use of social media.

The Law Society has invited law students, trainee solicitors, pupil barristers and other junior lawyers to enter its annual Graham Turnbull essay competition, which this year is on the topic of human rights.

While acknowledging calls for greater flexibility in the provision of legal training, the Law Society has insisted that the rigorous standards of the current system must be maintained in its response to the latest discussion paper from the Legal Education and Training Review.

Nicholas Fluck has replaced Lucy Scott-Moncrieff as the Law Society's president.

The Law Society has been criticised for a lack of “ethical leadership” on lawyers’ use of non-disclosure agreements (NDA) by leading legal academic and policy adviser Richard Moorhead, who has called for greater regulation of the controversial practice because the legal profession is not willing to change on its own.

The annual Law Society Diversity Access Scheme (DAS) has reopened its system and is accepting applications until 6 April 2016.

The Law Society has awarded 14 scholarships to aspiring solicitors through its Diversity Access Scheme (DAS), which supports aspiring solicitors who are facing social, educational, financial or personal obstacles to qualifying.