The top legal affairs news stories from this morning and the weekend CEO of law firm behind £36bn BHP suit abruptly replaced [Financial Times] (£) Courts service ‘covered up’ IT bug that caused evidence to go missing [BBC News] Revealed:…
Support paralegals to qualify as solicitors The College of Legal Practice has teamed up with Pinsent Masons’ flexible lawyering arm to support its paralegals on the path to solicitor qualification. The online law school will deliver SQE prep to paralegals…
Wasn’t aware session had started A magistrate has received formal advice for misconduct after he interrupted a court session to complain about the parking situation. Mr Alfred Bean JP, of the Cheshire Bench, was sanctioned following complaints from court staff,…
Former Home Sec slammed students calling for exam overhaul The trainee solicitor behind a petition calling for an overhaul of the “disproportionately challenging” Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has hit back at lawyer-turned-politician Suella Braverman KC, after she claimed in a…
No legal status… for now A new Law Commission discussion paper has floated the once sci-fi idea of giving artificial intelligence (AI) systems their own legal personality — meaning they could, in theory, be sued, held liable for harm or…
Support up to 190 aspiring solicitors The Solicitors Regulation Authority has dished out £360,000 to support disadvantaged candidates taking the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), using money from fines imposed on assessment provider Kaplan. The SQE Access and Reinvestment Fund, which…
Student call to reform ‘disproportionately challenging’ exams draws criticism from MP Barrister-turned-politician Suella Braverman has slammed aspiring lawyers who signed a petition calling for reforms to the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), labelling them “snowflakes” who “didn’t do well, and it…
Financial results season continues Irwin Mitchell and Walker Morris have both posted record-breaking financial results for the past year, continuing the trend of strong performances across leading law firms. Irwin Mitchell achieved record revenue of £329.3 million for the year…
86% Magic Circle law firm Clifford Chance has reported an autumn retention rate of 86%, with 49 of its 57 final-seat trainees staying on as newly qualified (NQ) solicitors this September. The firm confirmed it received 56 applications for NQ…
Involved two pupils and mini-pupil A barrister removed from the profession for multiple instances of sexual misconduct has failed in his attempt to overturn the disbarment. Robert Michael Kearney, called to the bar in 1996, had been disbarred following a…