The top legal affairs news stories from this morning and the weekend Barristers in England and Wales struggle to pay bills after legal aid hack [Financial Times] (£) UK litigation boom mainly benefits lawyers, insurers and funders [The Times] (£)…
69% A&O Shearman has announced a summer trainee retention score of 69% as it continues to adjust to life post mega-merger. The transatlantic powerhouse confirmed 37 trainees have accepted offers to remain at the firm as newly qualified lawyers. All…
Change of scene In our latest Career Conundrum, a soon-to-be qualified solicitor is looking for a new role overseas but is worried about what impact it might have on their legal career. “Hi Legal Cheek. I’ve got a question for…
89% Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has reported a strong summer trainee retention score of 89%. The City outfit confirmed that 16 of its 18 final-seat trainees will be staying on upon qualification later this summer. There are no fixed…
Pleaded guilty to assault The bar disciplinary tribunal has reprimanded an unregistered barrister following a late-night altercation at a Nottingham cocktail bar that led to an assault conviction. Benedicte Mabika, 25, was at the Wax Bar in Nottingham at 2:45am…
Your criminal law module could soon be out of date The right to a trial by jury — long seen as a central part of justice in England and Wales — could be curtailed under bold new plans to save…
The Legal Cheek team discuss AI and the future of legal jobs — listen now The Legal Cheek Podcast returns this week as publisher Alex Aldridge and writer Lydia Fontes discuss two stories that have made the legal news in…
No deal Less than a month after reports emerged of merger talks, Southern England law firms Cripps and Michelmores have confirmed they will not be joining forces. The deal would have created a new firm with revenues exceeding £100 million…
89% and 100% RPC and Wedlake Bell have kicked off the summer trainee retention season with impressive results, posting scores of 89% and 100% respectively. Insurance specialist RPC has announced it will retain 16 of its 18 trainees, with all…
Aims to improve fairness, says SRA The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced changes to its SQE appeals and complaints policies, aiming to improve fairness, transparency, and accessibility for students. One of the main tweaks to the appeals policy is…