Athletes understand that proper rest, alongside training and competing, is vital in ensuring peak performance. Lawyers, by and large, do not yet understand or implement this concept. Rather, we drive ourselves and our teams very hard, and we are rarely intentional about downtime. Perhaps we fear the uncertainty of disconnection. The perceived wisdom is that […]
Six weeks ago, I stood in the shower, watching the water drain at my feet, wondering what it would mean if being a lawyer wasn’t for me. A training contract is so often sold as the golden ticket, and somehow four years ago, I had managed to get my hands on it. A solid, covetable […]
This year, I was pleased to see the Law Society support Neurodiversity Celebration Week (21-27 March 2022), an important initiative aiming to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding neurodiversity and celebrate the positives of neurodivergence (while tackling the societal barriers that exist). 2022 was, I believe, the first time the Law Society has marked this important […]
When a claimant is successful in their clinical negligence claim, at present, the defendant will pay the legal costs of the claimant. Although costs must be reasonable and proportionate, and sometimes subject to a detailed assessment, there is no specific limit on what the legal costs could be. Clinical negligence claims are undoubtedly complex, lengthy, […]
It is a well-publicised fact that the legal profession lacks diversity. Access to the legal profession unfortunately continues to hinder those from low socio-economic backgrounds and the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have only exacerbated this further. Recent statistics published by the SRA highlight that 12 per cent of lawyers in England are Asian, […]
When training to become a lawyer, we are taught to succeed. Many of us are perfectionists who strive for excellence, and when we are not perfect, we blame ourselves. Focusing on blame when things go wrong means we miss valuable opportunities to learn and grow from failures. The best lawyers are those who accept that […]
September 2021 saw the official introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), with the first ever sittings of SQE1 taking place on 8 and 11 November. The overhaul of the existing law degree-to-Legal Practice Course-to-training contract qualification route marks an exciting opportunity to embrace change and champion inclusivity within our traditional profession. However, it is […]
I am head of legal and chief of staff at Anergi Group, one of the largest power developers and operators in sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining Anergi Group, I was an international transactional lawyer at Slaughter and May (London), Aluko & Oyebode (Lagos), Linklaters (London) and Dentons (London) respectively. I grew up in Nigeria and […]
Paralegal roles are normally viewed as a stepping stone for aspiring solicitors to secure a training contract. But for many, working as a paralegal is more than a job, it is a career. Nevertheless, irrespective of what the title of paralegal means to you, it is an extremely competitive industry, with CV Library reporting 4,228 applications for […]
This live blog charted law firms’ financial results for 2020/21.
Earlier this year we read of Justine Greening’s latest social mobility action plan for the legal sector that sees law firms working more closely with universities to boost opportunities. This should be applauded, alongside all of the other social mobility programmes that are being undertaken across the profession and within organisations. However, this is still […]
I was in a same-sex relationship before I started my training contract 16 years ago, and I have been completely out for my entire career. On applications, I deliberately included details of my time helping to run the student LGBT society, despite friends’ advice. My thinking was simple: If a firm doesn’t want the real […]