As reported in Legal Futures, a best practice code aimed at preventing the biased granting of internships and improving social mobility for underprivileged students has received backing from the Legal Serves Board, Law Society and Bar Council.

Yesterday’s budget is on everyone’s lips, with analysis of who will benefit, who will suffer and general comment on what it means about the state of the UK economy.

CILEx Regulation has been granted the right to license new alternative business structures, in a development touted as good news for legal executives, who could benefit from expanded career opportunities.

The government has announced the closure of 86 courts across England and Wales - almost one fifth of all courts and tribunals in the country.

Prominent barrister Michael Mansfield QC has argued against imposing a limit on the number of Bar Professional Training Course places.

The Times has teamed up with leading barristers’ chambers 2 Temple Guardians to launch the Times Law National Student Mooting Competition.

Magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has launched a networking programme for solicitors of all genders to connect with women barristers, with the aim of increasing instructions and client recommendations to women advocates.

Following publication of the 2017 Judicial Diversity Statistics, the Chair of the Bar Council's Equality and Diversity Committee, Robin Allen QC, has demanded there be greater action on judicial diversity.

Appearing in court by video-link makes it harder for some defendants to understand what is going on and participate, a survey by Transform has shown. 

Shearman & Sterling has announced that it is keeping on all 13 of its September 2015 qualifying trainees, while fellow US-headquartered firm Latham & Watkins is retaining 20 of its 21 autumn qualifiers.

Multinational law firm Eversheds Sutherland has defied covid-19 worries as it revealed its 86% trainee retention rate for 2020.

Short and sweet this week; a handful of interesting business-driven news stories that you should know at least a bit about. Read on for more: 

Earlier this month the Conveyancing Association (CA) announced the launch of its new Paralegal Course, provided via its online training portal, The Conveyancing Academy. The course has been designed to provide delegates with a basic knowledge of property law and the procedures associated with straightforward conveyancing transactions.

The News of the World saga continues, with an announcement that Lord Justice Leveson will conduct the hacking inquiry in the Royal Courts of Justice.

Bar courses vary in format depending on the Authorised Education Training Provider (AETO)/law school, but they all combine teaching legal knowledge with practical skills. All Bar courses are designed to prepare students for life as a barrister.

Hill Dickinson has launched the recruitment drive for its third annual intake of legal apprentices.

Innovative UK top 20 firm DWF has launched in the French legal services market for the first time through a merger with boutique Paris firm Heenan Paris. 

There’s only one story in town today and no prizes for guessing what that is – first, if you haven’t voted already, please do! 

Magic circle firms Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May have said that they will not introduce legal apprenticeships to their recruitment and training models, while Freshfields may soon become the first magic circle firm to take on apprentices.

A report by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has argued that the UK legal market should address its over-capacity by cutting 5% of solicitor jobs.