News

More law firms pay back furlough funds
DAC Beachcroft and Bevan Brittan follow host of City firms in returning government cash

Virtual student event TODAY: Exploring the challenges and opportunities for Black lawyers in the COVID-19 age — with Shearman & Sterling
Thursday 10 December, 4pm to 5pm, taking place virtually

Clifford Chance ditches ‘Dear Sirs’ and ‘Chairman’ in inclusivity push
Magic circle player calls time on gendered language in legal correspondence following similar moves by Freshfields and Quinn Emanuel

Underpaid, stressed and bullied: Experiences of BAME solicitors laid bare in new report
Law Society research compares experiences of black, asian and minority ethnic solicitors with white counterparts

Home-working: 3 out of 4 solicitors experiencing feelings of isolation and lack of motivation
Cracks beginning to show in WFH model, particularly among juniors, report finds

Starts Monday: The Legal Cheek Winter Virtual Vacation Scheme
Monday 14 December to Wednesday 16 December

Simmons & Simmons sets 30% ethnic minority target for trainees
Aims to achieve greater racial diversity by 2025

A&O and Clifford Chance dish out bonuses to US lawyers
Year-end and special cash rewards

Barrister reprimanded for refusing breath test
Gave no comment interview

Sexy Starmer was not the model for Bridget Jones heartthrob Darcy, author reveals
Helen Fielding puts much-loved rumour to rest but insists Labour leader is lush

Lawyers hit out at US law firm Quinn Emanuel’s ‘dread’ advert
Full-page in FT

Law prof drafts in Tiger King’s Carole Baskin to motivate students
Netflix star features in inspirational vid

Nottingham Law School reveals SQE prep courses
Fees still unknown
Monday morning round-up
The top legal affairs news stories from this morning and the weekend

Virtual student event THIS TUESDAY: Innovation and the law — with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Irwin Mitchell, Elevate and BARBRI
Tuesday 8 December, from 4pm to 6pm, taking place virtually

Slaughter and May boosts Xmas bonuses but sticks with pay freeze
Also reinstates partner distributions

Law student who gave birth during bar exam reveals she passed
'I did all of this because I did not see any other option to accomplish both my goals -- become a lawyer and a mom,' says Brianna Hill

UCL law students complain of ‘overwhelming’ workload and ‘unhealthy’ screen usage during online studies
Exclusive: 'The safety, health and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority', says uni in response

Best of the blogs
Weekly round-up of the top legal blogosphere posts

TODAY: The Legal Cheek December Virtual Pupillage Fair
Saturday 5 December, from 10am to 1pm

Over 200 top lawyers sign petition calling on London’s Garrick Club to scrap men-only membership policy
Women are being excluded from vital networking opportunities, according to letter