As reported by Alex Aldridge in the Guardian and Neil Rose in Legal Futures, Yorkshire law firm Gordons has launched a legal apprenticeship that will allow school leavers to become qualified lawyers without first having to do a degree.

The solicitors’ profession is diversifying and increasingly reflects the makeup of the general UK population, data collected by the Law Society shows.

National law firm Ashfords has launched a six-year solicitor apprenticeship as an alternative route to qualifying as a solicitor. 

Senior law lecturer Joe Sekhon of Portsmouth Business School has won £30,000 to set up an IP clinic for students to gain free advice from law students.

A team from BPP Law School Manchester has won the fifth mooting shield competition hosted by DAC Beachcroft, following six months of preliminary rounds.

A study analysing cases before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) over two decades, has explored whether women make more ethical lawyers than their male counterparts.

A freedom of information request made to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has revealed that twice as many women as men are applying to study law in the UK.

There has been a recent increase in barristers’ chambers and law firms introducing mentoring for aspiring lawyers from underrepresented groups to boost diversity and inclusion.

Central Applications Board figures leaked to The Lawyer have revealed that LPC take-up has plummeted across the market, with most providers experiencing a double-digit decrease in students.

Charles Plant, chairman of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has asked the legal profession to question its recruitment methods.

A new social impact start-up, 30 Minute Chat, aims to break down barriers for aspiring lawyers trying to get into the legal profession by connecting students and paralegals with high-profile lawyers for one-off 30-minute chats.

The American Bar Association has decided not to accredit foreign law schools, a decision that has been eagerly anticipated for nearly two years.

Several firms have signed up to Manchester Law School's new Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services programme, which will allow over 100 school leavers to enter the legal profession.

The winner of the Future Legal Mind Award 2020 has been announced as law student Joseph Kelen, who wowed the prestigious competition’s judges with an entry arguing for reforms to laws on homelessness.

A group of City law firms have launched an initiative to give opportunities to less-privileged students and shake off their elitist reputation.

An initiative to aid law firms in addressing the climate crisis was launched by eight commercial law firms this month.  

Does my physics degree make me more suited to a niche practice area such as patent law?

The biggest diversity survey yet to take place in the legal profession has found that privately educated solicitors remain vastly overrepresented in the senior ranks of large firms. 

We spoke to top solicitors about what working in the City is really like.