Irish law firm Matheson LLP has signed an agreement with energy company Flogas to power its Irish offices with renewable energy, as it aims to reduce its carbon footprint.

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) will take a ‘tougher stance’ on chambers that fail to disclose how they calculate their fees.

Plans by the government to extend the hours at which courts are open to as late as 8:30pm have been met with resistance from across the legal profession.

Organisers of the 10km London Legal Walk on 19 May 2014 are calling for more participants to sign up and raise money for charities providing free legal advice in London.

In a joint letter to the lord chancellor, legal aid providers have warned that the immigration legal aid system requires systemic change. 

Slightly off piste, but we thought this was too good not to share. This article from the Guardian has excellent networking tips, especially for those of us not naturally inclined to forcing our way into conversations and being charming, all while balancing a plate and drink aloft.

The College of Law's Birmingham centre has decided that resits are the only option for the 18 LPC students whose exam papers were lost after being left overnight in an unnamed tutor's car that was stolen on 29 August.

The National Paralegal Awards, hosted by the Professional Paralegal Register, is taking place on Thursday 22 September at the Iconic Grand Hotel in Birmingham. This is the fourth year the awards has run.

On 19 December the UK government revealed plans to increase criminal legal aid rates for solicitors by a further 12% to improve access to justice. An initial 6% rise will follow a consultation in early 2025, with a further 6% committed by the end of parliament. This will result in a total boost of £92 million.

The SRA's annual equality report has this year shown a small improvement in the diversity of its own employees.

City law firm Vinson & Elkins RLLP has announced the implementation of a new policy requiring its employees to work from the office for at least four days each week. 

Liz Truss has become the first woman to hold the post of lord chancellor in the thousand-year history of the role, after replacing the sacked Michael Gove as justice secretary in Theresa May’s new cabinet. 

Research undertaken jointly by the Judicial Appointments Commission, the Law Society, the Bar Council and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives has found that members perceive nearly all aspects of judicial office as increasingly appealing.

Aspiring solicitors could be “exploited” under the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), warns the Junior Lawyer Division (JLD) in an open letter to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) published this week.

Leading South East firm Cripps and London firm Pemberton Greenish will merge on 1 December to create a leading practice focusing on real estate, private wealth and growing businesses. The merged firm will be ranked in the top 70 of UK law firms with revenues of c£45 million and create a firm of 465 people, including 66 partners.

Apparently it’s “Super Thursday” again, so if you’re interested in the vicissitudes of rising and falling rates and markets, follow the Guardian’s live business blog for a blow-by-blow account. For other commercial news, check this selection out.

As we refuse to mention the fact that it is Friday 13th today or that it is Valentine’s Day tomorrow, we are left with very little to theme this intro around.