The University of Law (ULaw) has partnered with Newcastle University to offer students specialised postgraduate training courses at the leading Russell Group institution’s Law School.

Hundreds of legal aid lawyers have given examples of poor decision making by the Legal Aid Agency, the body set up by the government to decide which cases receive legal aid funding.

The body representing junior lawyers has called for greater scrutiny of decisions made by the legal profession’s ‘super regulator’ after the Solicitors Qualifying Exam was approved amid widespread criticism.

The number of domestic violence victims having to represent themselves against their abusers in court without a lawyer has more than doubled since 2012.

The Young Barristers' Committee is hosting its annual conference on Saturday 6 October, focusing on the need for young barristers and pupils to develop excellent advocacy skills.

Hogan Lovells has unveiled the details of its diversity plan, which includes an emphasis on retaining and advancing the careers of women lawyers to ensure greater gender equality among its partners.

Research conducted by academics at the Universities of Cardiff and Bristol show that the vast majority of work done by paid McKenzie Friends is delivered outside the courtroom, rather than actively representing their clients in court.

The creation of a legal aid task force and the uprating of the legal aid means test are some of the proposals set out in a report by the Law Society to combat the “perilous state” of the criminal justice system in England and Wales.

As the legal industry pay war continues, DWF Group Plc CEO Sir Nigel Knowles has warned City firms that massive pay packages “is only a sticking plaster” and is “not a sincere, sustainable or healthy solution” for attracting and retaining talent. 

The Law Society City Legal Index, which tracks those deals that the top 50 UK law firms have been involved with, has released figures which show that the total number of deals decreased in the first half of 2015.

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has announced plans to “step up” its oversight of legal regulators and implement formal action against those it deems to be underperforming.

The Bar Council, Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and the Law Society have issued guidelines to lawyers on how best to cope with the increasing number of people who represent themselves in court.

The Law Society has made called on the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to urgently provide more clarity on the regulations that will govern the new ‘super exam’ for qualifying solicitors. 

Thousands of lawyers are set to take part in this year’s London Legal Walk to fundraise for community legal advice services.

The Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT), which all aspiring barristers must pass to gain a place on the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), is to have its pass mark raised to exclude students who would be unlikely to pass the course or secure pupillage.

Junior lawyers across the legal profession are to be asked whether they have suffered from work-related mental health issues in the last 12 months, after the same survey last year found that one in four rated their stress levels as ‘severe’. 

Co-operative Legal Services has announced that it is to enter the family law market, supported by three leading family law practitioners from TV Edwards LLP.

The Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society is running elections for positions on both the executive committee and the national committee.

A global network for crypto-related fraud has been launched by a group of legal industry professionals, including lawyers from Osborne Clarke and RPC, barristers and forensic accountants. 

International legal business DWF Group Plc has opened its fourth office in Germany through the recruitment of the entire Düsseldorf office of Marccus Partners.