The Solicitors Regulation Authority has confirmed the assessment sitting dates for part two of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), having announced the dates for SQE1 at the end of last year.

The president of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, has announced measures to diversify the roster of Supreme Court judges as upcoming retirements create vacancies over the next couple of years. 

Sustained cuts to legal aid funding and police budgets have badly lowered the quality of the country’s criminal justice system, the forensic science regulator has warned in her annual report. 

Students will be deciding whether to resit their Bar Professional Training Course exams in October, despite not knowing their original results beforehand, the Bar Standards Board has said.

Most barristers are not attracted by the innovative new business models which have emerged in recent years and want to keep the chambers model, which they feel is capable of adapting to changes in the legal market, a survey by the Bar Standards Board has revealed.

Data from the Office for National Statistics revealed that total revenues for the UK legal industry fell to £4.68 billion in April 2025 – an 8% decline compared to March.

The first woman to practise as a barrister will be commemorated with a blue plaque this year. Helena Normanton KC (1882-1957) was the first woman to join an Inn, practice at the Bar, appear in the High Court, appear in the Old Bailey, and was one of the two first women King’s Counsel in England and Wales.

Announced to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, Bond Dickinson is recruiting a new group of apprentices to its Plymouth office.

The Association of Women Solicitors has criticised the Solicitors Regulation Authority's decision to abolish the minimum salary for trainee solicitors.

Beyond London, the most active cities are Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Liverpool, Cardiff, Newcastle and Nottingham. 

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a new government guide, which has been designed to lift “the curtain” on the justice system and boost transparency.

Linklaters launched its Ally programme earlier this month – the firm’s first LGBT-focused network supporting minority groups.

A lack of understanding of the benefits of apprenticeships is limiting take up among employers, according to research by Skills for Justice.

A legal offshoot has been launched by trade union United Voices of the World (UVW) in order to represent all workers in the legal sector. Legal Sectors Workers United (LSWU) claims to “organise workers in the legal sector, for the benefit and protection of the less privileged”.

Magic circle firm Clifford Chance has revealed its strongest set of financial results as the firm’s profits increase despite a volatile final quarter.

The College of Legal Practice (the College) has been accepted onto the national Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register, meaning organisations can now use the College to train their graduate solicitor apprentices. 

Top national firm Shoosmiths has announced a new partnership with Aspiring Solicitors, an organisation which works to improve diversity in the legal profession by helping talented candidates from less-privileged backgrounds to improve their skills and access opportunities. 

Dentons has set a 20% partner diversity target for its UK, Ireland and Middle East partnership in response to the Black Lives Matter protests.

Reported instances of bullying and harassment at the Bar have increased in recent years, according to a survey of barristers’ working lives by the Bar Council.