A new study has suggested that London firms have been turfing out their “dirty work” to their cheaper, regional offices while charging clients London prices.
BPP University Law School has announced the trial of a number of mental health focused initiatives. Mindfulness and meditation classes will be rolled out for students preparing to enter the legal profession. These measures are in response to the ever- growing number of law students and lawyers suffering from mental health related illness.
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.