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…
New plan aims to transform courts system with AI-powered tools, reduce backlogs and boost efficiency The Ministry of Justice (MoJ has unveiled an ambitious new strategy to roll-out AI across courts, prisons, and probation services in England and Wales, aiming…
Amid the hype and hyperbole, one Legal Cheek reader wonders what real impact technology is having on the day-to-day working lives of trainees and associates In our latest Career Conundrum, a curious reader reaches out to probe how firms are…
The top legal affairs news stories from this morning and the weekend Blow to consumers as supreme court hands partial win to car finance firms over loans [The Guardian] Legal aid cyber-attack has pushed sector towards collapse, say lawyers [The…
83% Magic Circle law firm Linklaters has confirmed it will retain 33 of its 40 London-based trainees qualifying this autumn. The firm made 34 offers, with 33 accepted, resulting in a retention rate of 83%. All offers were for permanent…
From 96% success to less than 50% The number of aspiring barristers is climbing fast, but new figures from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) reveal a stark divide in pass rates — with some law schools seeing success rates as…