Shoosmiths, Linklaters LLP and Weightmans LLP have each published record-breaking financial results for the 2023/24 financial year, with Shoosmiths’ revenue surpassing the £200-million mark for the first time. 

Home Secretary Amber Rudd is in contempt of court after ignoring the orders of successive judges not to deport an asylum seeker to Afghanistan, where he faced being killed by the Taliban.  

Solicitors have recently reported a rise in legal battles over incapacity as dementia cases rise. Disputes centre around inheritance and “who should actually have control of someone who hasn’t got capacity”. 

Two leading City firms have delayed partner promotions due to pandemic pressures.

Ashurst has delayed partner promotions until later this year due to “continuing market uncertainty”. 

The planned Solicitors Qualifying Exam stage one skills assessment will be changed or abandoned after the results of a pilot showed that it disadvantaged BAME candidates.

Most LPC programmes are delivered in two stages.

International firm Herbert Smith Freehills LLP published an anthology of thoughts and experiences shared by Black colleagues across the firm and leading external commentators to mark Black History Month this October.

The Law Society of England and Wales has awarded 15 scholarships to aspiring solicitors, welcoming them into its Diversity Access Scheme (DAS), which is now in its 21st year. The DAS supports those facing social, educational, financial or personal obstacles to qualifying – assisting awardees on their legal academic journey and helping them obtain relevant work experience and access to mentoring opportunities.

Funding cuts to legal aid and free legal advice centres, along with the introduction of court and tribunal fees have reduced less affluent people’s ability to access legal representation and put a huge strain on pro bono clinics, a report by LawWorks has revealed.

Just as the solicitors' profession has a 'magic circle' of law firms, so too does London's commercial Bar. 

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

The Bar Council, Inns of Court and the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks have together launched an online portal aimed at supporting barristers in terms of wellbeing and mental health. 

Law Training Centre has announced its new Access to Law Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) Scholarship, which will provide an initial 50 learners from all backgrounds with targeted support.

In September, many students start their new venture into university to study all kinds of different subjects. Preparation before starting a course can help you hit the ground running. I don't just mean buying stationary (although that can most definitely help motivation) but also preparing for the course itself.

Shoosmiths is the latest law firm to implement summer pay rises, increasing its London newly qualified (NQ) solicitor salaries to £105,000.

Without a little prompting, we can all let good intentions slide – especially so when it comes to the sort of preparatory work that requires long-term commitment. Developing your commercial awareness is one such example; it’s not enough to read the FT on the way to your training contract interview. You have to put in hours well in advance of that, so where better to start than with another collection of the week’s most interesting business news stories?

The Government Legal Department has revealed its plans to adopt the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), following its introduction in September 2021.