The government’s review into criminal legal aid fees will not be ready until 2020, despite warnings that the crisis is now so severe that the number of criminal duty solicitors is fast dwindling to nothing.

Changes to speed up the way that family law courts deal with divorce, separation and child custody cases will be badly undermined by the government’s cuts to civil legal aid, the Law Society has said.

Mishcon de Reya LLP is rolling out Legora, a leading collaborative AI platform for its lawyers, making it available for all fee earners across all practice areas at the firm. 

Trainees at Lewis Silkin recently organised a sponsored 30-hour, non-stop "spinathon", which took place in the firm's reception on 22 and 23 November.

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.

The Ministry of Justice has revealed plans to fast-track legislation that will see barristers receive increased legal aid fees at a faster rate. The announcement follows the start of a series of strikes at the Bar that started on Monday and are set to continue for four weeks. 

The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) will not achieve its aim of widening access to the legal profession because it does not address the “inequalities inherent in the higher education system”, two respected legal academics have warned.

Students and law schools were recognised for their tremendous efforts in the field of pro bono, as the attorney general hosted the annual LawWorks & Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards at the House of Commons.

The Bar Standards Board has agreed the ways in which the Inns of Court will continue to perform their role in the training and qualification of barristers in England and Wales. Detailed in a policy statement published on 23 March, the regulator has confirmed that the Inns will continue to play a pivotal role in the process.

Leading medical negligence firm Fletchers Solicitors is accepting applications for its 2018 trailblazer solicitor apprenticeship scheme.

The government’s proposal to inject an extra £32-50 million into criminal legal aid funding is not enough to alleviate the current threat to “the very existence of criminal defence practitioners,” the Law Society has said.

Clyde & Co LLP’s paralegal academy received more than 1,000 applications, far surpassing the firm’s target of 300.

Bridging the Bar (BTB) – a charity “committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and diversity at the Bar of England and Wales” – was launched in August this year.

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

Criminal legal aid fees are set to increase by the end of September, as the government revealed plans to “lay a statutory instrument in parliament before 21 July, to begin the process of implementing increases to fees”. 

A report by the Law Society has argued that law firms are improving on diversity matters, though further progress is still required.

Norton Rose Fulbright has confirmed a 92% retention rate for its trainee solicitors qualifying in May.

The Bar Standards Board has announced how it intends to eliminate the discrimination, harassment and unfair treatment experienced by women barristers, just as news has emerged that of the top 100 highest-earning criminal defence barristers, only four are women.

Three international law firms have teamed up with City University London to offer LLM students the chance to apply for three high-quality internships.