The Race Fairness Commitment has been adopted by 17 top law firms in partnership with Rare Recruitment as part of their long-term strategies to help recruit, retain and develop black, Asian and minority ethnic talent within the legal profession.

This article aims to cover an important starting point for developing your internal commercial awareness: namely, the differences in how lawyers assist clients with transactional work and litigation.

“No man is above the law and everyone, whatever his condition or rank is, is subject to the ordinary laws of the land.”

Nearly 19,000 students graduated with law degrees from universities in England and Wales in 2021 – the highest number on record – while the number of firms in England and Wales fell to a record low.

Chief executive of the Legal Services Board (LSB), Matthew Hill, talked about diversity during a plenary session at the Law Society’s Junior Solicitors Network summit, stating that diversity at partnership level at the biggest law firms “ought to be a national scandal”.

Upon embarking on your future career, a key area of discussion will always be the importance of networking.

Macfarlanes LLP has announced a partnership with HarveyAI, an OpenAI-backed tool that’s designed specifically to assist with legal work.

Legal technology company Litera’s new research report has found that both law firms and departments are embracing new technology, with those that “strategically leverage generative AI’ predicted to “gain a competitive edge in today’s volatile economy”.

Is copyright law stifling creativity in the music sector?

Air pollution is increasingly recognised as one of the most pressing environmental challenges in the UK, impacting public health, the environment and the quality of life for millions of people. In recent years, high-profile cases have brought the issue into sharp focus, highlighting how the law can play a pivotal role in addressing these growing concerns. The legal system is helping to drive change and demand accountability from both government and industry. In this blog, I’ll explore how the law is being used to combat air pollution, protect vulnerable groups and ensure a cleaner, healthier future for all.

Newcastle upon Tyne has emerged as the best UK city for legal professionals, while London ranks as the worst, according to new research from Witan Solicitors. The study analysed salary data, job availability and affordability metrics from the Office for National Statistics to assess where lawyers can achieve the greatest financial stability and quality of life.  

The Law Society has requested a two-week break for non-custody cases as concerns about the health and safety of court users emerge.

The Law Society of England and Wales has welcomed new Online Procedure Rules designed to make online legal processes easier to use – a change that Law Society President Mark Evans described as “a positive first step for a digital justice system with a focus on inclusion and access to justice”.

This blog will give a brief historical overview of the barrister/solicitor distinction in the UK, analysing their characteristics and identifying whether there’s a merger between the two branches of the legal profession today. 

EU officials have come to an agreement regarding proposed laws to regulate the use of AI, there have been calls for a new food allergen law to be passed, more than two million Tesla cars have been recalled in the US, and an England Lioness star has trademarked her name. Find out more in the commercial news round-up.

How might generative AI (eg, ChatGPT) impact the future of the legal industry?

Listen to the winners of LawCareersNet's 2022 Student Law Society Awards...

Concern over reliance on generative AI has escalated after fake case-law citations were used in an Intellectual Property Office appeal ruling. The litigant in person (LiP) admitted to using ChatGPT to help draft his case, with Phillip Johnson (the appointed person overseeing the appeal) highlighting various mistakes with the LiP’s argument.