Nine City firms have signed up to the Vision for Literacy Business Pledge 2017, agreeing to take practical action to tackle low literacy in the United Kingdom. The firms involved are Allen & Overy, Baker McKenzie, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, Bird & Bird, Clifford Chance, Norton Rose Fulbright, Pinsent Mason, Slaughter and May, and Travers Smith.

In this post, I will share what type of work experience is available for first years (and also non-law students). I hope this is helpful for you to gain some experience during the summer holidays! 

Leading law firms Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Shearman & Sterling have joined the legal client list of Rare, the specialist graduate diversity recruitment company.

Stephenson Harwood LLP has launched global fertility and pregnancy loss policies for its employees. All partners and global employees can benefit from the policy which aims to emotionally support people through their parenthood journey.

Specialist diversity recruitment company Rare's Articles programme has won the Race for Opportunity Future Workforce Award 2013, facing down stiff competition from big-name organisations such as Sky and Microsoft.

The aftershocks of Carillion’s collapse are still being felt a month on, not least by its former employees. Magic circle firm Clifford Chance has taken on Carillion’s in-house legal team, saving the jobs of around 60 specialist paralegals. 

Clifford Chance has launched its third annual Intelligent Aid student competition, challenging students to "think critically about reducing greenhouse gas emissions".

US law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP a has introduced a ‘salary sacrifice’ scheme to attract talented junior lawyers, which will enable lawyers at the firm to drive away in an electric vehicle.

Three US law firms are among the top five earning legal practices for UK corporate work, researchers at The Lawyer reveal, stating that the figures demonstrate further “Americanisation” of the UK’s legal market.

City lawyers could be hit with job losses and stagnant or declining pay amid the harsh consequences of the financial year, according to The Times.  

Solicitors in England and Wales celebrate Ramadan, wishing Muslim employees well as they balance fasting with working.

Major law firms including Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith, Linklaters, Norton Rose, and Slaughter and May have pledged their support for a new work experience project designed to boost social mobility in the legal profession.

City firms Ashurst, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith Freehills, Slaughter and May, and Travers Smith have teamed up with 34 recruitment agencies to launch the ‘Recruitment Agency Race Fairness Commitment’ in an effort to improve racial diversity in the legal profession.

Allen & Overy LLP has become the highest earning magic circle law firm in the City after overtaking long-term rival.  

Magic circle giant Allen & Overy has joined top-end firms Clifford Chance, Hogan Lovells, Herbert Smith and Travers Smith in signing up to a specialist agency which actively recruits high-achieving African Caribbean graduates.

Macfarlanes has become the third firm to adopt a "CV-blind" policy to combat unconscious bias and elitism in its recruitment.

Top City firms have been preparing to advise their clients on the consequences of the United Kingdom’s potential exit from the European Union.

Clifford Chance has launched a training contract for UK law graduates in Poland with candidates due to start on the training programme in 2023.