Many young lawyers would like firms to embrace technology and transform outdated working practices in order to operate more like commercial businesses, according to new research from Eversheds.

The government’s plans to cut legal aid for people accused of crimes have been put on hold while the Court of Appeal considers a challenge from The Law Society, the Criminal Law Solicitors Association and the London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association.

Justice Minister Chris Grayling, a former BBC producer, has defended his controversial legal aid cuts in a long interview in the Law Gazette, claiming to have received "lots of letters and emails" from people concerned about legal aid entitlement.

The Law Society of England and Wales has welcomed changes set out in the Department for Business and Trade’s recent consultation on flexible working rights, but urged that reforms must be “clear and fair for all”.

Ashurst LLP and Perkins Coie are set to merge to create a globally integrated law firm with combined revenues of around $2.8 billion, following a vote of approval from both firms’ partnerships. 

The Ministry of Defence’s plan to extend the concept of ‘combat immunity’ will lead to soldiers being unable to access justice and cover-ups, the Law Society has warned. 

The proportion of women and BAME people who make up the solicitors’ profession has increased in the last decade, the latest annual statistics report from the Law Society shows.

As law students will be keenly aware, January marks the onset of application deadlines for many vacation schemes and work placements.

The majority of practising solicitors are women, but men still occupy a disproportionate number of positions at partner level, according to the Law Society’s latest annual statistics report.

As part of LCN's increased focus on diversity in the legal profession, we’ve been looking at the relationship between candidates and firms when it comes to diverse talent. 

The Times recently released its Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality list, with the likes of Addleshaw Goddard, TLT LLP, Linklaters LLP and DWF Group Limited, among other law firms, named on the list.

Just as the solicitors' profession has a 'magic circle' of law firms, so too does London's commercial Bar. 

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

The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s detailed approach to financial penalties has come under fire from the Law Society. In particular, the penalties to link new fining powers to firms’ and individuals’ income have been deemed “unclear and unreliable”.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) published proposals as part of a consultation to redirect interest earned on lawyers’ client accounts into the MOJ’s budget. Law Society of England and Wales President Mark Evans criticised the plan, stating: "Firms will close, fees will rise and clients will be impacted if the MoJ goes ahead with the proposal.”

An innovative online barristers’ business offering a “reimagined” Bar without physical chambers has received £10 million in private equity investment.