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.

National firm Irwin Mitchell is offering free 20-minute consultations to domestic abuse victims until the coronavirus crisis ends. According to the Law Gazette, the firm said it feels “duty bound” to support domestic abuse victims as UK lockdown continues in a bid to slow down the spread of the pandemic.

A merger has been announced between US law firm Perkins Coie and British silver circle firm Ashurst LLP, establishing a transatlantic union that’s expected to generate more than £2 billion revenue and will result in a combined total of 3,000 lawyers across 52 offices in 23 countries.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, A&O Shearman and Linklaters LLP have announced the retention rates for their trainees due to qualify this spring, reaching 88%, 84% and 75%, respectively. 

Swedish fintech company Klarna has revealed that its in-house lawyers are using ChatGPT to draft time-consuming contracts, which has “massively” saved time.  

The daily commute into the office often ensures that I have at least 30 minutes (subject to train delays) to organise my week, plan my upcoming events and educate myself further so that I can excel in the coming weeks.

BARBRI has announced the innovative funding initiative, BARBRI Bridges, to support and enhance diversity inclusion and wider access to the legal sector.

Could my first-year exam results affect my chances of securing a vacation scheme or training contract, even if they don’t count towards my final degree?

As we get ready to head to Manchester for LawCareersNetLIVE on 29 November, we should remind you that a great way to top up your commercial awareness is to watch our panel of top law firm partners discuss the issues affecting the legal profession in 2020, including legaltech and Brexit. 

Parliament may be prorogued, but the business world keeps turning and this week there are several news stories that aspiring lawyers should be keeping up with. Spending a couple of minutes researching each of these stories will result in a broader knowledge of the industry and should lead to some questions about where the law – and your future employers – might fit in.

The government is using the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – which modernises EU data protection law – as cover for its attempts to remove key rights from people subject to UK immigration procedures, a Labour MEP has alleged.

On 18 September, the seventh National Paralegal Awards, hosted by CILEX, recognised paralegals across 14 individual and three business categories, such as Paralegal of the Year and National Paralegal Business of the Year

A quarter of women working in the legal profession have had their incomes reduced from pre-coronavirus levels, with one in five working reduced hours, a snap poll has found.

White & Case LLP recently published a 100% retention rate for its trainees who are due to qualify in September, bringing the firm’s overall retention rate for 2024 to 87%.

It’s a big week for LawCareers.Net as we head off to Manchester for LawCareersNetLIVE. As we’re fully immersing ourselves in event organisation mode, this week’s round-up is a short one. But don’t worry, we’re still covering all the top stories.  

Solicitors’ firms across the legal profession are making use of the government’s employee furlough scheme as they look to mitigate the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Law Society of England and Wales CEO Ian Jeffery has praised the government’s new GOV.UK Chat tool but stated that it “offers an opportunity to expand its scope by embedding and signposting early legal guidance and expert support”. 

A report on the experiences of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) solicitors by The Law Society identified that BAME solicitors earn 25% less on average than their white counterparts.

While a number of big firms have begun to recall furloughed staff as coronavirus lockdown measures begin to ease, the year ahead remains uncertain for hundreds of solicitors.