Stephenson Harwood LLP has launched global fertility and pregnancy loss policies for its employees. All partners and global employees can benefit from the policy which aims to emotionally support people through their parenthood journey.

A recent study by the Bridge Group – a social equality consultancy – found that more than half of partners at City firms went to private schools, while solicitors from lower socio-economic backgrounds take 18 months longer to reach partner.

Shoosmiths has launched a new scheme to increase AI use, encouraging staff to use Microsoft Copilot AI to unlock a £1 million bonus pot.

On Saturday 16 November Gray’s Inn played host to the Chancery Bar Association annual careers fair for students interested in pursuing a career at the Bar.

Another week closer to my vacation scheme, another week full of preparation! As I left off in my previous post, I had a couple of areas that I was hoping to gain insight into throughout the week – primarily, how I'm going to be assessed and how to best come across on a virtual scheme.

Senior early talent advisor Beth Petch sets out what Trowers & Hamlins LLP wants to see in applications from strong candidates, discusses common mistakes she comes across, as well as what to expect during the vacation scheme and the firm’s solicitor apprenticeship programme. 

How will clean energy power the UK’s future?

How important is online advertising and how is it governed in the United Kingdom?

What role do pensions have to play for the younger generation and how will they operate?

Solicitors have recently reported a rise in legal battles over incapacity as dementia cases rise. Disputes centre around inheritance and “who should actually have control of someone who hasn’t got capacity”. 

Any government decision to impose further increases to civil court fees would result in far more money lost in tax revenues generated by legal work than would be raised by court fees, according to City solicitors and barristers. 

Time to really get to grips with what firms are looking for from their future trainees – we published this feature recently, and among the long list of attributes, commercial awareness is pivotal. It is essential that you take an interest in the world around you and particularly the way in which the law and business sectors intersect. For this week’s selection of topical stories, read on.

CMS has launched a two-year non-law graduate training programme called the Business Development & Marketing Graduate Programme, which will take on four candidates at the firm’s London office.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has fined eight law firms for breaching transparency rules and one firm for failing to publish diversity data. 

A survey by Bolt Burdon Kemp revealed that 46% of the British public did not understand the legal aid system or how they can get legal support and 51% said there were too many barriers to legal aid funding.

For the past 18 months, members of the Crown Prosecution Service, police chiefs, lawyers, the Ministry of Justice, and the HM Prison and Probation Service formed a working party to update guidelines for judges in what’s been labelled a “change in culture”. The guidelines were rolled out from 16 January.  

The Bar Standards Board has launched its consultation paper on the future training of barristers, and has invited all those with a view on the matter to express their views by 23 December.

Finalists have been announced for the prestigious National Paralegal Awards, which set out to find the best paralegals in the UK and businesses that support the legal industry.

Some 12 City firms have been named among this year’s top 100 LGBT-friendly employers by leading equality charity Stonewall.