The Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) 2025 diversity of the judiciary report revealed that progress on improving diversity has been mixed. While findings showed that the number of judges from ethnic minority backgrounds gradually increased from 2015, the proportion of Black judges showed no improvement.

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) has received Privy Council approval to amend its Royal Charter and introduce the title of CILEX 'Chartered Paralegal’ – a “significant step” in providing paralegals with formal career recognition and acknowledgement of their achievements. 

As a part of its efforts to support a sustainable, low carbon economy and reduce emissions by 90%, law firm DWF Group Limited has launched the ‘DWF forest’, in collaboration with carbon market specialists Climate Impact.

The US and Ukraine have finalised a significant agreement to share profits from Ukraine's mineral and energy reserves, while Barclays will prohibit transgender women from using female bathrooms in its buildings following the recent UK Supreme Court ruling. Meanwhile, Microsoft has surpassed Wall Street predictions for a fourth quarter in a row and the Co-op has shut down parts of its IT systems due to a hacking attempt. Read on to find out more!

The Legal Services Board has released its 2025/26 business plan and its budget for the year, which increased by 11% from 2024/5 to £5.873 million.

Browne Jacobson LLP recently launched its innovative mentoring programme REACH (Race, Equality and Cultural Heritage), which is aimed at aspiring Black lawyers.

More than 1,600 junior lawyers have signed an open letter criticising the world’s biggest law firms, which they claim haven’t made enough effort to combat President Donald Trump’s alleged “bullying” of lawyers and law firms. Signatories to the letter include hundreds of lawyers from some of the firms affected, including Covington, Perkins Coie, Paul Weiss and Wilmer Hale.

Rachel Reeves has delivered the spring statement and Google has faced a racial bias lawsuit. Meanwhile, Trump announced new tariffs and major broadcasting networks faced the consequences of breaching UK competition law.

A third increase will be applied to the fees associated with the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) assessments from September 2025, taking the costs to £1,934 for SQE1 and £2,974 for SQE2. 

Several legal organisations have spoken out against the US government’s campaign targeting diversity and inclusion policies, and Ben & Jerry’s has accused its parent company of firing its CEO due to his progressive views. 

Many law firms, such as Simmons & Simmons, Baker McKenzie, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP  and Clifford Chance, are incorporating reverse mentoring into their diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) and retention strategies.

Mental health charity LawCare’s recent report revealed a 35% increase in people reaching out for support in 2024. 

The nominees for the 11th annual Student Law Society (SLS) Awards, sponsored by BARBRI, have been revealed after LawCareers.Net received 39 submissions from presidents and committees and more than 2,100 submissions from society members.

On Wednesday 5 February, the Law Society launched its Diversity Access Scheme (DAS), which has so far invested £3.5 million into supporting more than 300 aspiring solicitors.

In an inaugural address at Inner Temple Hall last week, new chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales Barbara Mills KC set out her priorities for the year ahead, which include raising the profile of the family Bar and enhancing the wellbeing of the profession.