Potentially high failure rates of up to 50% for the new Solicitor’s Qualifying Exam (SQE) could result in reputational damage for law firms unable to fill their trainee quotas, as well as reduced diversity in their trainee intake.
US-headquartered firm Reed Smith has announced the creation of a new “innovation seat” for two trainees as part of its training contract scheme in its London office.
In May 2019, global law firm Ashurst expanded its Ashurst Advance scheme, the firm’s “NewLaw” operations division, as it launched Ashurst Digital Ventures (ADV).
Herbert Smith Freehills has partnered with Autism Forward to launch a new programme to recruit autistic individuals.
Big Four firm Deloitte, has launched a new training contract programme that has been designed for the upcoming Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), making Deloitte one of the earliest adopters of the new SQE.
Allen & Overy has reported that it has a widening gender pay gap, despite efforts to reduce it.
Regional outfit Stevens & Bolton has levelled the playing field for its partners by implementing an all-equity partnership model, making good on its 2017 strategic plan.
Linklaters has started using digital training contract offers in a wider effort towards redesigning legal documents.
Eversheds Sutherland has released BAME targets for its UK team in order to address the lack of diversity within the firm.
Law firms are accelerating their digital transformation through training programmes, incubators and client secondments to stay ahead of the game.