Prioritising additional chargeable work over potential work–life balance benefits Lawyers are increasingly using AI tools to drive up billable hours, with more than half admitting they spend the time saved by automation on extra chargeable work. The findings come from…
29 out of 31 Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer has posted an impressive 94% autumn trainee retention rate. All 31 trainees qualifying this month applied for newly qualified (NQ) associate roles, with the firm making 30 offers — 29 of which…
Work-life balance and lack of career progression among key drivers Junior lawyers are leaving law firms in droves, with the number of associates quitting the profession almost doubling in the past year, according to new research. The BigHand Legal Talent…
The top legal affairs news stories from this morning and the weekend Epping hotel asylum seekers to remain at the Bell, court rules [BBC News] Epping hotel judge ‘reported to conduct office’ over bias allegations [The Telegraph] (£) Labour won…
Inês Pinheiro has launched TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn pages to tell her story Deary me today founder Inês Pinheiro A DLA Piper trainee has gone public with her extraordinary journey from cleaning offices in London to starting her training contract…
In our latest Career Conundrum, a trainee solicitor is thinking about getting a puppy — but how will she juggle life as a dog mum with the demands of a training contract? “Hello Legal Cheek. Due to start my training…
Bigger bonus pool too Addleshaw Goddard has opted to hold newly qualified (NQ) lawyer salaries at £100,000 this year, diverting extra funds into a £19 million bonus pool and boosting pay for more experienced associates. The decision, which the firm…
‘Human error’ City law firm Kennedys has apologised “unreservedly” after a data breach exposed the email addresses of people signed up to receive updates on the Church of England’s redress scheme for survivors of Church-related abuse. Kennedys, which has been…
Undermined case A solicitor who lied to a client to “buy herself some time” has agreed she should be struck off the roll. Laura Elizabeth Simpson, admitted in 2009 and formerly with national outfit Switalskis, admitted she “chickened out” of…
2,753 students sat latest assessment The pass rate for the latest sitting of part two of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE2) has reached a record high of 82%, according to new figures released by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The…