The Windrush Legal Initiative, a pro bono advice scheme, has been relaunched in an effort to support more victims of the Windrush immigration scandal. 

The consultation on proposals for a new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has closed with students, educators and employers now waiting for a final decision and further detail from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), but the plans remain controversial.

The Bar Standards Board has launched its consultation paper on the future training of barristers, and has invited all those with a view on the matter to express their views by 23 December.

A woman who alleges that she was raped and sexually assaulted by her ex-husband has been left alone in court without legal representation or support to face her alleged abuser, in another distressing example of the crisis in the justice system caused by cuts to legal aid funding.  

BPP University Law School and Kennedys have teamed up in relation to the firm’s six new solicitor and 16 new paralegal apprenticeships. Kennedys was among the group of leading firms that helped develop the new trailblazer apprenticeship standards, designed to ensure that students have the required skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the legal services market.

Law firms are locked in a never-ending arms race to attract the top talent. This is because they’re predominately people businesses – the value of a firm’s offering is derived directly from its people and their legal expertise.

What is a tax haven?

The Bar Standards Board will host a debate on the different options for training and qualifying as a barrister set out in its Future Bar Training Consultation. 

Mid-tier law firms Simmons & Simmons LLP, RPC and Shoosmiths have launched new policies to reward lawyers for billing higher hours, with bonuses of up to 40% of base salary on offer. 

For the very first time, the Bar Council and Bar Standards Board have published the Bar Barometer, an annual report on statistical trends within the Bar.

Dozens of barristers’ chambers are refusing to take on new defence work in protest at the crisis in the justice system created by the government’s cuts and reforms, the latest being changes to the Advocates Graduated Fee Scheme.

The University of Law – one of the UK’s longest-established providers of legal education – has announced a new scholarship scheme to support students affected by the global pandemic.

The University of Law has announced that it will provide four weeks of qualifying work experience (QWE) to all its LLM Legal Practice (Solicitors Qualifying Exam SQE1 and SQE2) and MA Law (SQE1) students to prepare them for their future in the legal profession.

A new alternative business structure created by two family law barristers is believed to be the first service to allow divorcing couples to use the same lawyer.

Lawyers have been seeking specialist support with their mental health since the UK’s lockdown began in March, according to recent figures.

BARBRI Global has partnered with MBL to provide support to students, law firms and corporate clients so they can have better access to Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) preparation courses, as well as ongoing professional development courses. 

Magic circle firm Allen & Overy is set to launch a solicitor apprenticeship scheme for school leavers, through which it hopes to attract a “socio-economically diverse pool of high-achieving pupils”.