Leading diversity and inclusion organisation Aspiring Solicitors has launched a charity to provide financial relief to aspiring lawyers in England and Wales.

Aspiring Solicitors, launched in November 2013 by former Norton Rose Fulbright associate, Chris White, has recently gained support from a number of high-profile law firms.

The government’s attempt to introduce a discriminatory residence test for legal aid claimants, which sought to limit the availability of services for people born outside the United Kingdom, but living here for "one year or more", has been unanimously thrown out by the Supreme Court.

Paralegals will regulated for the first time through a voluntary scheme which it is hoped will prove their credentials to wary employers and members of the public.

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

The number of trainee solicitors earning less than the Law Society’s recommended minimum salary has fallen by a third compared to last year, according to new research.

The London Borough of Hillingdon has appointed four school leavers as legal assistant apprentices in its legal services department.

The University of Law and the University of Liverpool have announced a new strategic partnership, offering joint and dual programmes in law with business and management.

Barristers working within a set of chambers are self-employed and known as tenants.

Some 55% of all barristers’ chambers will go under within six months and 81% will not survive 12 months without financial aid, if current pressures caused by the coronavirus pandemic continue, a recent survey by the Bar Council indicates.

The ‘standard’ route to qualification that most Scottish solicitors take is to do a four-year undergraduate degree in Scots law, followed by a mandatory one-year course called the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice and finally a two-year ‘traineeship’ at a solicitors’ firm.

BPP Law School has announced the introduction of £84,000 worth of scholarships and pupillage support for its Bar Professional Training Course programmes taught at its London, Leeds and Manchester centres

The Hackney Community Law Centre has launched a new service, in conjunction with students and staff from BPP Law School, to help people fill out their disability living allowance and employment support allowance forms.

Harrow Law Centre, set up in 2010, has taken an unusual step and bid for a criminal legal aid contract and, as such, will now be able to offer greater support to its vulnerable clients.

Chambers have been issued new guidance by the Bar Council in a move to ensure that any sexual harassment complaints are dealt with properly.

Despite the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s withdrawal from the Voluntary Code to Good Practice in the Recruitment of Trainee Solicitors, it has been announced that the code will continue to be upheld by its other signatories.

The eighth annual LawWorks & Attorney General Student Awards are underway, with nominations now being accepted for those law students and law schools undertaking great pro bono work.

BPP Law School has announced that, subject to validation from the Bar Standards Board, it will be offering the BPTC at its Manchester location from September 2013.