Two magic circle firms have broken ranks with their peers to include partners in their gender pay gap reporting.

Travers Smith LLP and Linklaters LLP both launch new AI training programmes to boost employee understanding, improve the expertise of their lawyers and keep up with the fast-paced nature of the evolving technology space. 

City firm Herbert Smith Freehills has elected 26 partners worldwide – its biggest partner promotions round since 2012 and four more than 2019 – despite coronavirus concerns.

Shoosmiths, Linklaters LLP and Weightmans LLP have each published record-breaking financial results for the 2023/24 financial year, with Shoosmiths’ revenue surpassing the £200-million mark for the first time. 

The UK Diversity Legal Awards celebrates its 11th anniversary this year and continues to “promote the successful work and commendable efforts of individuals and organisations in the legal profession.”

The latest reporting from magic circle firm Linklaters LLP indicates that its gender and ethnicity pay gaps have narrowed from 2020, despite remaining far from where its wants or needs to be, according to senior partner Aedamar Comiskey. 

Browne Jacobson LLP, Linklaters LLP and Allen & Overy LLP are among 41 law firms on the 2023 Social Mobility Employer Index, with the legal profession retaining its place as the best-represented sector in the index this year. 

The popularity of podcasts has soared in recent years, with 12.3 million people listening to podcasts each week in the UK, according to the BBC. Here are the 15 podcasts we think all aspiring lawyers should listen to.

The Social Mobility Foundation has opened applications for its 2014 programmes, including law, which provide young people from less privileged backgrounds with free mentoring, skills development, internships and support with university applications.

New research has revealed that privately educated lawyers still make up the majority of legal professionals at the country's top 20 law firms.

International firm Norton Rose Fulbright will introduce a new hybrid working policy, allowing staff to work remotely for up to 50% of the time once the pandemic has passed. Linklaters and Taylor Wessing have also introduced agile working strategies. 

As exam season comes to an end and vac schemers prepare for their stints, those who were unable to secure places now have a summer of time to fill. If you haven’t managed to secure a vac scheme (or pupillage) this summer and you’re feeling a little lost, read on for some of my tips! 

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is set to recruit its first solicitor apprentices in September 2025, joining Linklaters LLP and Allen & Overy LLP as the third magic circle law firm to embrace this alternative route. 

Major law firms including Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith, Linklaters, Norton Rose, and Slaughter and May have pledged their support for a new work experience project designed to boost social mobility in the legal profession.

Magic circle rates held especially strong with 94% of newly qualified (NQ) solicitors at Linklaters (47 out of 50) accepting roles, while Allen & Overy revealed that 92% (34 of 37) of trainees are staying on post qualification.

Three US law firms are among the top five earning legal practices for UK corporate work, researchers at The Lawyer reveal, stating that the figures demonstrate further “Americanisation” of the UK’s legal market.