Why should lawyers care about net zero?

Being a paralegal is often seen as a steppingstone to a career in the legal profession. But for many, it’s a fulfilling career in itself. Here are three points of view shared by career paralegals from The Family Law Company who all work with legally aided clients.

The financial sector is arguably the most intimidating and difficult to become acquainted with. Like technology, finance is surrounded by jargon and buzzwords: bonds, securities, hedge funds, capital markets, IPOs… Once you begin to understand one, something else equally as confusing rears its head. 

On 8 June 170 guests from 72 law firms attended the eighth annual LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards (the TARAs).

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”.

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.

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.  

TLT LLP has introduced a new diversity access programme, Beyond, aiming to eliminate barriers to entry into the legal profession for aspiring lawyers from ethnic minority backgrounds and improve diversity in early careers.

What is private equity?

The legal profession’s annual celebration of the important work done in the pro bono sphere has launched, as National Pro Bono Week begins today and runs until 6 November. Events during the week highlight the contribution of lawyers engaged in pro bono and raise awareness of pro bono opportunities and issues.

A new planning and public law mentoring scheme for underrepresented racial and ethnic groups at the Bar was launched this week.

The Bach Commission has today published its report, The Right to Justice, including recommendations for a statutory right to justice, reforms to legal aid, and better public legal education. All three branches of the profession have responded to its publication, vociferously in support of its recommendations. 

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. 

Elite law firms could be pressured to return to a full five days in the office as larger fee-paying clients crack the whip on their own staff.  

The Legal Services Board’s (LSB) binding directions against the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), following claims of regulatory failings in its intervention into the collapse of Axiom Ince, has been welcomed by the Law Society of England and Wales.