Leading law firm Shoosmiths has announced a 100% trainee retention rate for its spring cohort of nine trainees, with the newly qualified solicitors based across the firm’s UK offices, including London and Manchester. 

Gemma Baker provides her invaluable insight into Willkie Farr & Gallagher UK and offers her tips on how candidates should approach their applications. 

The University of Law has launched a new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) preparation course designed to support professionals already in the legal industry who want to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales via the SQE. 

Will the proposals of the Review of Intellectual Property and Growth overcomplicate matters?

Ayman Shehata is proof that not all successful careers as a solicitor are linear. He explains how he secured his training contract after university, the exciting work he does in corporate law and what makes Charles Russell Speechlys LLP stand out.  

More than 80% of lawyers consider flexible working to be more important than salaries when job hunting, according to a recent report. 

The Alternative Business Structure model has facilitated two more firsts for the profession with the granting of ABS licences by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to long-standing advocates of the new ownership approach, Knights Solicitors and Quindell Portfolio.

Legal technology company Lawhive has put its new AI paralegal, Lawrence, to the test, posing 90 sample questions from the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) SQE1 assessment. Having answered 67 out of 90 questions correct, Lawrence’s total mark was 74%. 

Scottish law firm Biggart Baillie has been tasked with advising administrators from Duff & Phelps regarding the case of Glasgow Rangers Football Club, which went into administration on 14 February.

Hello everyone! My name’s John, and I’m a new blogger here on LawCareers.Net. I’m currently in my third year of a four-year Scots law LLB at the University of Aberdeen, and like many of you, I’m an aspiring solicitor.

When is a contract frustrated?

I believe that LawCareersNetLIVE has enhanced my employability and that it was a great way to express my dedication to a career in law in applications and interviews.

CILEX Law School has been approved to deliver the new CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) – a training route that is open to those without a university qualification and has been redesigned to ensure it produces lawyers that have the skills necessary to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the legal market.  

The Law Society has awarded 14 scholarships to aspiring solicitors through its Diversity Access Scheme (DAS), which supports aspiring solicitors who are facing social, educational, financial or personal obstacles to qualifying.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner has been awarded the annual Commendation for Diversity as judged by LawCareers.Net, Aspiring Solicitors and Rare.

Lawyers have welcomed the ‘breathing space’ provided by the government’s agreement on a Brexit phase 1 deal, where judgments in the UK and EU courts will continue to be mutually recognised and enforced for a period after Britain ceases to be a member of the European Union in 2019. 

Most trainee-hiring law firms run work experience schemes and events specifically for year 12/13 and first-year students. So, if you’re seriously considering becoming a solicitor, you’ll be doing yourself a big favour by getting involved at this early stage of your career – if not just to identify whether a career in the legal profession is for you. Use this list of law firms offering opportunities to year 12/13 and first-year university students to get you started!

What are the implications of Hurricane Katrina for the insurance industry?