A gay couple that was refused a double room in a hotel in Cornwall has been awarded compensation by a Bristol county court judge in a discrimination claim under the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007.

Birmingham law firm Shakespeare Martineau LLP is supporting British Muslim charity Mercy Mission UK to launch a mentoring scheme, offering work experience placements to Muslim youth. 

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. 

Hiring activity in the legal industry fell in 2023, with figures returning to levels similar to those seen pre-pandemic. 

Radical changes to firms’ approach to flexible working, improvements to parental leave and new mentoring and sponsorship programmes should be made top priorities to improve gender equality in the legal profession, according to women on the frontline.

When the weather closes in, and all you want to do is hunker down, what better way to spend those long, dark winter days and nights than boning up on your commercial awareness?

The King’s Counsel Appointments (KCA) have announced the names of 96 new silks – King’s Counsel (KCs). Despite the nine solicitors who applied this year, all successful applicants were barristers, reflecting the long-standing pattern that the KC cohort is overwhelmingly drawn from the Bar. Since solicitors first became eligible for KC status in 1995, only 66 have been appointed out of 231 applicants.

With one day to go until GDPR kicks in, you would be forgiven for never wanting to see that particular 4-letter acronym again. However, for a succinct explanation of why it’s important to understand what it all means – particularly to you, as law students and future legal professionals. For other news of interest, read on.

Stephenson Harwood LLP has launched global fertility and pregnancy loss policies for its employees. All partners and global employees can benefit from the policy which aims to emotionally support people through their parenthood journey.

A recent study by the Bridge Group – a social equality consultancy – found that more than half of partners at City firms went to private schools, while solicitors from lower socio-economic backgrounds take 18 months longer to reach partner.

Shoosmiths has launched a new scheme to increase AI use, encouraging staff to use Microsoft Copilot AI to unlock a £1 million bonus pot.

On Saturday 16 November Gray’s Inn played host to the Chancery Bar Association annual careers fair for students interested in pursuing a career at the Bar.

Several City law firms have increased official salaries for their newly qualified (NQ) solicitors in an attempt to acquire top talent amid this year’s summer salary ‘war’.

You’re probably all slaving away over your vacation scheme applications and that is as it should be. However, don’t forget that if you do secure an interview, you will be expected to know something about the business world. Keep abreast of what’s going on with our weekly digest.

Legal apprenticeship specialist Damar Training and legal education provider BARBRI have announced a new technology partnership that embeds BARBRI’s learning technology into Damar’s solicitor apprenticeship programmes.  

Global law firm Dentons has launched a new internally developed AI tool, DAISY, which provides secure generative-AI competences to the entire staff across Europe and Central Asia.

A panel of 18 firms and chambers has been set up to provide free legal advice to athletes, coaches, team officials, national Olympic committees, national Paralympic committees and international federations at the 2012 Olympics.