Since the prosecutions of Sovani James, Emily Scott and Claire Matthews, there have been numerous cases involving junior lawyers where strike-off has been avoided as a final outcome. For example, Susie Orton was suspended for covering up a mistake in relation to a missed hearing and Harina Panesar-Jagdev received a temporary ban for amending an […]
I was 14 when I came out. I was, I think, at that point, coming to terms with the possibility that I might be gay and how that might alter (and perhaps diminish) the catalogue of opportunities open to me in future. There was no doubt in my mind that my parents would accept me […]
I grew up heavily closeted in a small, conservative village, and from a young age I assumed that I would grow up, find a husband, and have children. I still have my 13-year-old diary in which I set out my life plan, which involved being married, qualified, and a parent age 27. Even then I […]
As Pride month rolls round once again, I find myself reflecting on progress made in LGBT+ rights over the years: from the Stonewall riots of 1969, to the establishment of UK charity Stonewall in response to the pernicious s.28 in the late 80s, and then to civil partnerships and eventually the enactment in 2013 of […]
Remember Pet Shop Boys’ song “Go West”? For various historical reasons, it was an anthem where I grew up and developed as a person. Prior to the globalisation and the transition of Eastern Europe, Bulgaria was one of the most amicable places to grow up as a kid – children tended to be the centre […]
In the first in a new series on getting back to normal, Ray Berg sends his match report from England v Croatia.
It’s a strange phenomenon when people talk about pride and coming out. Each person has their own personal and unique story to tell. Getting on in years, as junior lawyers keep reminding me, and as a 49-year-old I have been recalling my pride journey, reminiscing if you like. I had always thought that I exuded […]
I joined Simmons & Simmons as a trainee in September 2019, spending only six months in the office before diving into the digital world of working from home. In a new work environment, the feeling of having to come out to colleagues is nerve-wracking at the best of times, and swapping to working remotely certainly […]
If you are a resident of the British isles, there’s every chance that you have been taking advantage of the relaxing of restrictions of late and exercising your freedom to visit a pub. A cold drink on a hot day is a summer tick box item for most Brits, an extension of the key role […]
Having a difficult conversation with a superior is not something you get taught how to do at school or university. But like so many professional skills, the long-term ramifications of your performance can have a significant impact on the trajectory of your career. Some people are born fast, some handsome, some funny, some intelligent. And […]
Spring is here. Shops, restaurants and pubs are reopening their doors and bringing a wave of optimism about the future. With the continued success of the vaccine rollout, conversations about returning to the office are bubbling. As these conversations develop into action plans, it is timely to take stock of the past year to see […]
Over the past year working from home has become the norm. But does working from home hinder your career progression? As junior lawyers we are told that face time with partners is key to progression, letting them know who we are what we are about and our capabilities. Even if as juniors we want to […]