Practice Management
Leading firm ditches training contracts for apprenticeships
Commercial law firm Hill Dickinson is to scrap training contracts for would-be solicitors and replace them with a graduate solicitor apprenticeship programme.
SRA warns law firms over “wholly unreasonable workloads”
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned law firms that imposing “wholly unreasonable workloads or targets” on staff could result in disciplinary action.
Family law firm embraces employee ownership and plots big expansion
The founder of the latest firm to move to employee ownership said his decision was inspired by the co-operative movement as it aims to become the largest family law practice in the country.
Large firms failing to optimise social media in hot recruitment market
Large law firms are failing to make the best use of LinkedIn as a recruitment tool amid a hot market, with the top 100 firms often receiving no applicants as they fail to sell the roles effectively.
Diversity questions make up 20% of marks in panel tender
Clients are ratcheting up the pressure on law firms to improve their diversity, with applicants for the panel of the Pension Protection Fund the latest to have to prove their credentials.
Multi-disciplinary network strikes third UK deal with BSB-regulated firm
International professional services group ETL Global has inked its third law firm deal in England by taking a stake in a specialist investment fraud practice, amid a flurry of law firm M&A.
Law firms eye M&A as route to private equity or listing
Nearly half of law firms are considering mergers and acquisitions, with a surprising number looking to grow in a bid to attract private equity investment or to go public, according to new research.
City firm launches domestic abuse support service for staff
City practice Fieldfisher has launched a domestic abuse support service for staff, alongside more general awareness training to help people spot the signs that a colleague may be a victim of it.
Employee ownership “best way to deal with succession”, says Yorkshire firm
A Yorkshire law firm with over 230 staff and 20 salaried partners has become 100% employee-owned after its three owners decided it was the best way to deal with succession.
Record year for City partner recruitment in 2021
Last year was a record one for partner hires by City law firms, with the “legal boom” also triggering an associate salary war, legal recruitment consultants have reported.
Blog
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
Law firms need to go beyond document checks
At the root of every failed compliance review is a familiar phrase: a calm assertion of “but we did a document check”.
