hrtraining
Survey: solicitors healthy but workload and client expectations cause severe stress
One in six solicitors complain of being under severe stress, although almost nine out ten reported they were in good health – substantially more than workers among the general population, according to Law Society research.
Minimum salary finally to go as LSB approves training deregulation
The Legal Services Board has approved wide-ranging plans by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to deregulate training, including the delayed demise of the minimum salary.
SRA whittles down diversity data non-compliers to hardcore 100
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has cut the number of law firms failing to hand over data on the diversity of their staff from 1,106 to 108. The regulator said it had made it “very clear” to the remaining firms that they would face enforcement action.
Partners in the spotlight as a fifth of firms report “competence failures”
Almost a fifth of firms have reported “failures in competent legal service delivery” in the last 12 months, a major study for the Solicitors Regulation Authority has found.
Firms should consider setting ethnic minority diversity targets, says SRA
Law firms should consider setting diversity targets for BME lawyers and staff, just as some have done with women, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said.
Solicitors more diverse than society, profession-wide survey shows
Solicitors in law firms are slightly more diverse than the rest of society, the results of the profession-wide diversity monitoring undertaken by the Solicitors Regulation Authority have shown.
City law firms ‘lead way’ on social mobility
City law firms like Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy are leading the way in their approach to social mobility and recruitment when compared to non-legal professionals, a report has argued.
Training declarations to replace hours-based CPD
Solicitors will be required to make training declarations on their practicing certificate applications following the phasing out of hours-based Continuing Professional Development (CPD), the Solicitors Regulation Authority has decided.
Law Society set to recruit “harassment advisers” to protect staff from bullies
The Law Society’s ruling council will today consider whether a network of “harassment advisers” should be set up to crack down on bullying at Chancery Lane.
Groundbreaking ABS embraces employee ownership and new approach to charging
A pioneering alternative business structure (ABS) has become one of the first legal practices to introduce employee ownership, while also developing a new form of billing that will see it agree a profit margin with clients, Legal Futures can reveal.
Now the North/South divide hits solicitors’ salaries
A significant earnings gap has opened up between solicitors working in the south of England and those in the North in a surprise reversal of fortunes, according to a survey. It also found the gender pay gap widening, with women’s salaries averaging 30% less than men’s.
Diversity: Neuberger backs career judges and urges culture change at City firms
The president of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, has thrown his weight behind career judges as a way of improving diversity in the judiciary. He also bemoaned companies that choose to instruct “obsessive, testosterone-driven men rather than balanced, sensible women”.
LSB presses on with statutory guidance forcing regulators to liberalise education and training
Statutory guidance that requires legal regulators to move away from assuming would-be lawyers have to spend a certain amount of time training before they qualify was published yesterday by the Legal Services Board.
Second phase of apprenticeships scheme opens door to solicitor and conveyancer qualification
Key players in the legal profession have welcomed the second phase of a government-backed scheme that will create apprenticeships which for the first time will lead to qualification as a solicitor, while a new apprenticeship in conveyancing will also be developed.
SRA plans radical liberalisation of CPD requirements
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is looking at whether to abolish all of the prescriptive requirements around continuing professional development (CPD) and leave it to solicitors and their firms to decide how best to ensure their continuing competence.
Blog
AI in family law – drawing the line for clients and lawyers
AI is becoming increasingly intertwined with family law. Clients are using it to draft initial enquiries, prepare statements and, in some cases, to support themselves as litigants in person.
Why AI and leadership choices will define law firm profitability in 2026
Despite rapid advances in legal technology, the future of law will not be determined by software alone. It will be shaped by leadership decisions.
Legal director: an alternative to partnership
Firms are increasingly acknowledging the need for alternative senior roles – positions that offer influence and recognition without the obligations of ownership.
