International legal business DWF Group Plc has opened its fourth office in Germany through the recruitment of the entire Düsseldorf office of Marccus Partners.

The reasons that firms decide to merge are as varied as the firms themselves, but there are usually some key drivers – namely, the desire to expand, geographically or in terms of expertise, or to stay afloat. For the lawyers who find that the firm they joined is no longer the firm at which they work, there are normally a raft of opportunities– and maybe especially so for trainees.

Multinational law firm Linklaters LLP has revealed a trainee retention rate of 83% for its London-based trainees qualifying in autumn, while Mills & Reeve LLP will retain 24 of its 26 trainees.

Sample questions for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) stage 1 assessments have been released by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

The take up of apprenticeships among law firms continued this month with the announcements that Mischon de Reya is to take on two new apprentices at its London office.

City firms have revealed plans to reduce office space, as lawyers forecast remote working to become the new norm.

US firm Armstrong Teasdale has acquired London-based Kerman & Co in its first overseas venture. The move by the top 200 US firm adds 50 lawyers to its roster, bringing its headcount to roughly 340 fee earners and 300 support staff. 

Most LPC programmes are delivered in two stages.

Solicitors in England and Wales celebrate Ramadan, wishing Muslim employees well as they balance fasting with working.

UK commercial firm TLT has agreed that The University of Law will be its exclusive training provider of the LPC, GDL and Professional Skills Course, having been impressed with private university’s preparations for the upcoming Solicitors Qualifying Exam.

Dentons has cut emissions by 44% through a new pilot scheme, which sees lawyers work from home, digital dashboards and a ban on printing.

Following the announcement of LawCareersNetLIVE Virtual over the summer, the LawCareersNetLIVE London and Manchester conferences have also been moved to virtual events due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The number of firms taking on legal apprentices continues to increase steadily, with Withers LLP and Hill Dickinson both confirming schemes for school leavers.

One of the world's biggest mergers went live on 3 June, with UK-based Norton Rose joining with Houston's Fulbright & Jaworski LLP.

Entries are open for the National Paralegal Awards, which is now in its fifth year.  

Addleshaw Goddard saw double-digit growth for the financial year ending April 2024, with turnover growing by 12% on the previous year to £495.6 million.

Hiring activity in the legal industry fell in 2023, with figures returning to levels similar to those seen pre-pandemic.