LawCare recently published its findings relating to male mental health within the legal profession. The legal mental health charity released the findings of its all male focus group which took place on 19 July 2022 in a bid to better understand the needs of men in law and the mental health support they need in the workplace.  

The Bar Council has come out in support of criminal barristers’ protests for a properly funded criminal justice system, which include plans for strike action.

Global law firm DWF Group Limited has partnered with technology business Stellar Omada through its 5 STAR Futures programme, a social mobility initiative DWF runs to inspire young people to explore careers in law and technology.

Lawyers and professional bodies across the legal profession have united in opposition to the government’s Investigatory Powers Bill which will put every person in the United Kingdom under surveillance.

A national fund designed to boost social mobility within the legal profession, address the recruitment and retention crisis, and ultimately improve access to justice has been launched. 

On 7 November 2023, King Charles III gave his first King’s Speech since becoming monarch, outlining 21 new proposed laws, including a Sentencing Bill, Criminal Justice Bill, and Victims and Prisoners Bill. 

Bridging the Bar’s (BTB) BTB Academy, which is committed to increasing the equality of access to opportunities in the legal profession across all underrepresented groups, will launch on Monday 1 August 2022.

We are supposed to be in the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”, but the business world is anything but mellow as it confronts a host of issues stemming from the country’s economic problems, as well as the prospect of Brexit. This report brings you up to speed on some of the week’s important commercial news as you continue to hone the wider business knowledge that you will need as a lawyer.

Professional advisers are now subject to an unprecedented number of claims by businesses and individuals seeking to recover losses, but what are the professional indemnity insurance (PII) implications for solicitors?

Two students have proven they’ve got what it takes in recent competitions; one impressing with an essay on what determines appropriate humanitarian intervention and the other securing a scholarship to embark on the BPTC.

Reed Smith has announced its move to a strengths-based assessment of its would-be trainees and vacation scheme students, becoming the first law firm to do so.

A whopping 86% of postgraduate law students believe that university law courses should prioritise employability training and professional skills development over academic prowess.

Herbert Smith Freehills and Travers Smith have joined Discuss, a social mobility programme run by the diversity specialists, Rare Recruitment.

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) has received Privy Council approval to amend its Royal Charter and introduce the title of CILEX 'Chartered Paralegal’ – a “significant step” in providing paralegals with formal career recognition and acknowledgement of their achievements. 

Rap music is regularly used as criminal evidence in cases in England and Wales – which could lead to unjust prosecutions, as highlighted by a recent report by the University of Manchester.

Despite the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s withdrawal from the Voluntary Code to Good Practice in the Recruitment of Trainee Solicitors, it has been announced that the code will continue to be upheld by its other signatories.

The justice secretary Michael Gove has abandoned a controversial new bidding scheme for legal aid contracts and suspended a further 8.75% fee cut for duty criminal solicitors who represent people suspected of crimes in police stations and magistrates courts.

Legal education provider BARBRI has secured new partnerships with Young Legal Aid Lawyers and STRIVE to support aspiring solicitors from all socio-economic backgrounds to take the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and qualify as solicitors.