To mark International Women’s’ Day 2018, the Law Society has released its findings from the largest international survey of women in the law. The survey of 7,781 people (5,758 women, 554 men and 1,469 unknown or other) aims to shed light on current state of gender equality in the legal profession.

The search for the most promising legal talent of 2022 is underway as the Future Legal Mind Award 2022 is launched.

If you’re deciding whether to go to university after leaving school or start your career as a lawyer straight away with an apprenticeship, The Law Apprenticeships Guide can help. Don’t worry if you don’t know much about the legal profession or apprenticeships; this guide is designed to give you the information you need before you choose your next step.

A new social impact start-up, 30 Minute Chat, aims to break down barriers for aspiring lawyers trying to get into the legal profession by connecting students and paralegals with high-profile lawyers for one-off 30-minute chats.

Beyond Compliance Limited and Clerksroom launched an anonymous survey last month, which aims to acquire details from prospective pupils regarding their experiences, and offer them the chance to share their thoughts on the training and qualifying processes at the Bar, as well as the current challenges surrounding pupillage. 

CILEx Regulation has appointed The University of Law as its training and assessment provider to run its alternative route to authorising Chartered Legal Executives who want to apply for additional practice rights. 

The Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund, which is backed by 18 major law firms, has secured funding for its first cohort of social welfare legal workers to begin their journey to qualifying as solicitors via the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

The Next 100 Years project has launched a new film series, supported by full-service law firm Irwin Mitchell LLP.

BARBRI has announced the innovative funding initiative, BARBRI Bridges, to support and enhance diversity inclusion and wider access to the legal sector.

The government has proposed raising civil legal aid fees for the first time in 30 years. While this has been welcomed by the Bar Council and the Law Society, both organisations are concerned that the changes don’t go far enough to match the rise in consumer price index).

Online legal tools for women to protect themselves from domestic abuse and a chatbot designed to help people with special educational needs access legal advice are among the eight Legal Access Challenge finalists.

Diversity, equal opportunity and the end of the ‘old boys network’ remain a long way off in the legal profession, a study by the Sutton Trust and PRIME showing that three quarters of judges and 71% of Queen’s Counsel (QC) barristers were privately educated has revealed. 

After announcing that the opening date of the Pupillage Gateway application system would be moved from April to January from 2016 onwards, the Bar Council has now U-turned to say that the current timetable will remain in place (with applications being made in April and offers being sent out in August) until further notice.

TLT LLP has set a new target to achieve 50% female representation at partner level by 2029 as it works towards becoming “one of the most progressive and diverse law firms in the UK”. 

Newcastle upon Tyne has emerged as the best UK city for legal professionals, while London ranks as the worst, according to new research from Witan Solicitors. The study analysed salary data, job availability and affordability metrics from the Office for National Statistics to assess where lawyers can achieve the greatest financial stability and quality of life.  

Multinational law firm DWF will adopt the Solicitors Qualifying Exam from January 2022 and launch the firm’s new graduate entry-level apprenticeship programme in partnership with BPP University Law School.

The College of Legal Practice has created a new law conversion course, which will cost £3,250, to be launched from January 2024.