The top legal affairs news stories from this morning and the weekend

Latham & Watkins approves ‘super points’ to boost partner pay above $20m [Financial news] (£)

Corporate lawyer Faiza Saeed: ‘There’s a human element to all deals’ [Financial Times] (£)

Post Office in turmoil as top lawyer Ben Foat steps back [This is Money]

Employment law shake-up: Lawyers prepare to be the hottest call in town [City A.M.]

The police have lost control. Welcome to the era of mob rule [The Telegraph]

Mother of trainee barrister, 26, who vanished in Majorca after ‘beach robbery’ accuses British police of ‘failing’ her son as she lands on Spanish island [Daily Mail]

Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal, rules top UN court [The Times] (£)

Thumbs up for Grimsby Crown Court staff as emojis take over hearing [Grimsby Live]

Lawyer used balloons to smuggle drugs on prison visit [Daily Mail]

“You won’t have this time again. Be young, travel, explore, enjoy life. Once you start working the only prolonged period of leave you will have is your qualification leave (4-6weeks) and then career breaks in between jobs etc.” [Legal Cheek comments]

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Next Wednesday: What to consider before starting the SQE — with The College of Legal Practice [Apply Now]

Bar Standards Board’s latest data release well worth a look for aspiring barristers

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has published a detailed breakdown of pass rates according to Bar Course provider and students’ prior undergraduate degree results.

The data gives aspiring barristers a sense of where they are most likely to pass their vocational training at the first attempt according to what degree classification they got.

The other standout finding from the wider report was the growth in Bar Course student numbers. 2,378 students were enrolled on courses between July 2023 and June 2024, a 6% increase on the previous year and a 12% rise from July 2020 to June 2021, when 2,120 students enrolled on the course. It’s worth noting that a sizeable proportion of these students are international and intend to return home to practise. Pupillage numbers in in England & Wales rose 10% to 638 in the most recent figures published by the Bar Council.

Gearing up for pupillage applications in the new cycle? Check out Legal Cheek’s Chambers Most List, featuring profiles of 50 top sets.

Wants to travel

In the latest instalment of our Career Conundrums series, a solicitor apprentice seeks readers’ opinions on whether taking a gap year upon qualification would harm her career.

“I am a Solicitor Apprentice nearing the end of my first year at a mid sized law firm. Since I haven’t had the ability to have a gap year and go travelling and gain life experience, I wonder, would it be harmful to my career to take a year out upon qualification? Will I be less appealing to firms if I have taken a gap year immediately upon passing the SQE? Or will my six years’ experience negate that? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.”

If you have a career conundrum, email us at tips@legalcheek.com.

A round-up of online musings, memes and more

‘I gave some controversial advice last week ’ [Helen Pamely on LinkedIn]

In Law School? Write running notes. [Madhuli Kango on LinkedIn]

Unusual and cool things in law firm offices [Legal Cheek on TikTok]

The struggle is still real… [Alex Herrity on LinkedIn]

‘As is customary, I have the opportunity to book a place on the admissions ceremony at my expense. And I’m really struggling to hit the ‘Buy’ button’ [Amit Kapoor on LinkedIn]

It’s bizarre that junior lawyers don’t get more training on how to manage traumatic situations [Chrissie Wolfe on LinkedIn]

Third year of uni v firm profile pic [Legal Cheek on Instagram]

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Why did I choose to become a lawyer? [Holly Moore on LinkedIn]

How to best approach your SQE2 Research Assessment now that the format of the answer has changed [Daniel Hill on LinkedIn]

Deadlines that aren’t helpful [Shaun Sethna on LinkedIn]

OPEN THREAD

It has been another summer of sizeable pay rises across the City for newly qualified (NQ) solicitors.

But the often unseen effect of these headline-grabbing uplifts is pay bands being squeezed further up the ladder, particularly for those between one and five years post qualification experience (PQE).

So while the vast majority of City firms will publicly disclose their NQ rates to attract top graduate talent, very few will reveal the earnings of junior lawyers at higher levels.

A number of City firms have boosted NQ rates by as much as 20% this summer to keep pace with rivals, but questions remain about how these increases have impacted the pay packets of more experienced juniors.

Our commenters speculate that the incremental salary increases between PQE levels are being compressed, with firms apparently reluctant to provide commensurate rises to associates higher up the ladder.

So in a bid to bring a bit of clarity to the salary situation, we’re calling on our junior lawyer readership to share their insider knowledge in the comments below. The aim is to provide an overview by firm, team, PQE, and salary (base plus bonus).

42 of 56

Clifford Chance has posted an autumn trainee retention score of 75% with 42 of its 56 final-seat trainees staying on with the firm.

The Magic Circle firm said that 54 trainees applied for associate positions, and 44 offers were made. All but two of these offers were accepted.

CC confirmed to Legal Cheek that all 42 soon-to-be associates are on permanent contracts, with no fixed-term arrangements.

Earlier this year the CC posted spring score of 71% after 40 of its 56 spring trainees committing their futures to the firm.

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List 2024 shows that the new recruits will start on recently improved salary of £150,000.

Last week fellow MC player A&O Shearman posted its first post-merger retention score, with 37 of its 56 trainees (66%) staying put.

Shabana Mahmood swore oath on the Qur’an in ceremony conducted by Lady Chief Justice

It was a day of firsts yesterday at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Lord Chancellor, Attorney General and Solicitor General.

Shabana Mahmood MP, the first Muslim to become Lord Chancellor, was sworn in using the Qur’an, marking a historic milestone. She is also the first female Lord Chancellor to be inducted by a female Lady Chief Justice, Dame Sue Carr, another significant first.

Mahmood is also the only person to hold the position of Lord Chancellor who entered politics from the employed bar, making it her third notable first. She worked for BLM (which has since merged with Clyde & Co) before being elected as an MP in 2010.

While conducting the ceremony, the LCJ noted, “As is often the case on these historic occasions, your appointment marks a first—a triple first, in fact.”

After detailing Mahmood’s career and praising her “shrewd advocacy”, “deep knowledge of professional ethics”, and “commitment to helping others”, Baroness Carr added that:

“There will no doubt be challenges and choices to be made today and tomorrow. That is an inevitable feature of governing. We will work with you and your Ministers as you face these demands. I very much look forward to forging a stable, long-term partnership with you as Lord Chancellor within — of course — constitutional bounds, in the service of justice and the achievement of justice.”

Today, @ShabanaMahmood was sworn-in as Lord Chancellor at the Royal Courts of Justice.

She made her oath in the presence of the Lady Chief Justice and other senior judges, Attorney General, Solicitor General and leading members of the legal professions. pic.twitter.com/8QCMfxqk7o

— Ministry of Justice (@MoJGovUK) July 15, 2024

Also sworn in were the new Attorney General, Richard Hermer KC, and Solicitor General Sarah Sackman MP. In what appears to be yet another first, both barristers are members at the same set, Matrix Chambers.

Rounding off the ceremony, Baroness Carr added: “My Lord Chancellor, Mr Attorney and Madam Solicitor, on behalf of the judiciary of England and Wales may I congratulate each of you on your appointments and wish you well in the discharge of your constitutional responsibilities. We look forward to working with you constructively to secure the proper administration of justice and maintain the rule of law.”

12 law firms recognised for D&I efforts

A raft of law firms have been recognised for their efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, with Linklaters taking the top spot in Stonewall’s latest rankings.

The top 100 list is created using the charity’s ‘Workplace Equality Index’, a voluntary benchmarking tool that assesses entrants on criteria such as training, staff engagement, policies, and leadership. It also helps organisations identify steps to build a more equitable workplace.

This year, Magic Circle law firm Linklaters secured number one spot, with De Montfort University and HSBC UK taking second and third places, respectively. Links has appeared in the top 100 for six years running and secured ninth position on lat year’s list.

“We’re thrilled to be recognised as the top employer in this year’s Stonewall Top 100 Employers list,” said Angela Ogilvie, Linklaters’ chief HR officer and executive committee LGBTQIA+ champion. “Our people are the key to our success, and this ranking really highlights the inclusive and supportive environment we’ve built.”

“Here, diversity is more than just supported—it’s celebrated, sparking innovation and helping us better serve our clients and our community,” Ogilvie added.

Other law firms on Stonewall’s list, in alphabetical order, are: Charles Russell Speechlys, Clifford Chance, Eversheds Sutherland, Gateley, Irwin Mitchell, Osborne Clarke, Penningtons Manches Cooper, RPC, Shepherd and Wedderburn, Slaughter and May and Womble Bond Dickinson.

The profession’s regulator, the SRA, also made this year’s list, which you can view in full here.

Rises for trainees too

Travers Smith has become the latest City law firm to increase the salaries of its newly qualified (NQ) associates, aiming to keep pace with similar raises implemented by many of its rivals.

The outfit has moved NQ base rates from £110,000 to £120,000, an uplift of 9% that sees it draw level with the likes of Norton Rose Fulbright and Mayer Brown.

The firm said that NQs have the potential to earn up to £20,000 as an additional bonus.

The base move falls short of the £125,000 now on offer at Ashurst and Reed Smith which both announced pay uplifts last week.

Travers also confirmed trainee pay has increased to £54,000 in year one and £59,000 in year two. These previously sat at £50,000 and £55,000, respectively.

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List shows Travers recruits around 40 trainees each year.

Healthy increases for firm’s rookie too

The London office of Baker McKenzie has confirmed sizeable salary increases for both its newly qualified (NQ) lawyers and trainees.

NQ rates now sit at £140,000, up a whopping 19% from £118,000. This brings the firm, which recruits around 40 trainees each year, in line with the likes of Macfarlanes and Orrick, and £5k above Herbert Smith Freehills, which boosted pay earlier this month.

The firm’s rookies have also been handed pay increases. Year one pay will move from £50,000 to £56,000, while year two salaries will increase from £55,000 to £61,000.

The NQ rise is effective from 1 July, while increases to trainee salaries will take effect on 1 September.

The top legal affairs news stories from this morning and the weekend

Diverse lawyers used as ‘window dressing’ in client pitches, poll finds [Financial Times] (£)

Thousands of prisoners to be released early to ease overcrowding [BBC News]

AI won’t be replacing human lawyers any time soon [The Scotsman]

Fox-clubbing barrister sparks outrage by claiming new Government will ‘kill trans children’ by continuing ban on puberty blockers [Mail Online]

Climate in the courtroom: all sides are using ‘green lawfare’, and it’s good for democracy [The Conversation]

Pregnant woman who survived neighbour’s crossbow rampage demands weapon law reform [Mirror]

Latest legal bid in Stonehenge tunnel scheme begins [BBC News]

German lay judge challenges a headscarf ban in court [DW]

Ex-Porsche Lawyer Sentenced After Throwing Her Newborn Out Window So It Wouldn’t Disrupt Her Career [International Business Times]

Alec Baldwin’s Rust trial dismissed over hidden evidence [BBC News]

“Yes you will certainly be taken seriously but you should manage your expectations as to how far you can leverage your career to date. Partners are largely disinterested in experience that isn’t legal…” [Legal Cheek comments]

Upcoming events

TOMORROW: AI and the law — with A&O Shearman, Macfarlanes, Osborne Clarke and ULaw [Apply Now]

Thursday 18 July: How to secure a pupillage at the commercial Bar — with COMBAR [Apply Now]

Advice needed

In the latest instalment of our Career Conundrums series a 30-something aspiring solicitor is seeking a career change from marketing to City law.

“I work in a marketing role in the finance sector, and whilst I once enjoyed my work I’ve recently turned 30 and looking to make the move into law — a move I’ve been considering for a couple of years now. I studied law at Oxford and fell into the world of marketing post-university. Would firms take me seriously? Are there some firms/types of firms that are more or less open to older applicants or those with previous careers? Please keep me anon. Thanks.”

If you have a career conundrum, email us at tips@legalcheek.com.

A round-up of online musings, memes and more

‘I’ve always thought NQ retentions rates don’t really tell the full story. Let me try to add a bit of context for any aspiring solicitors who worry about this.’ [Paul Gascoyne on LinkedIn]

Tip for law students and newer lawyers: don’t include an exact date unless it matters [Nick Bullard on LinkedIn]

Law firm tip [jefffdylan on X]

Law firm tip: if you’re ever low on hours make lots of social plans. Like magic you’ll be staffed on new urgent matters!

— attorney@lol (@jefffdylan) July 7, 2024

Law students struggling to land legal roles in the UK — is this really how it should be? [Iqra Ali on LinkedIn]

Law students looking to connect on LinkedIn [Legal Cheek on Instagram]

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Failure… A word so many of us hate, and so rarely talk about [Andrew Mackinnon on LinkedIn]

No, you can’t “just tell” when someone has used ChatGPT [Dana Yewbank on LinkedIn]

With MC outfit just two months before resigning

A former associate at Clifford Chance has been sanctioned by the regulator for allegedly engaging in “inappropriate” behaviour towards a colleague during a firm social event.

Jacobus Johannes Swart, who worked as an associate in the firm’s London office for two months between January and March 2022, “engaged in conduct towards a colleague that was inappropriate, unwanted, and/or sexually motivated,” according to a finding published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

CC launched an investigation and suspended Swart, but he resigned from the firm before a disciplinary hearing could take place. The firm subsequently reported the matter to the regulator.

The SRA report reveals that Swart is a South African lawyer who is not a qualified solicitor in England and Wales, nor a registered foreign lawyer. No current address is on record for him, and it’s believed that he may have moved back to South Africa.

The regulator has now made Swart subject to a section 43 order which prevents him from working for a law firm in England and Wales without its approval.

In reaching its decision, the regulator said: “Mr Swart’s conduct was serious because during a work event he touched a colleague in an inappropriate and/or unwanted and/or sexually motivated manner without consent, causing them distress. His behaviour had a long term impact on them.”

In a statement, Clifford Chance said: “We can confirm that Jacobus Johannes Swart was employed as an associate by Clifford Chance from January 2022 to March 2022, after which point he was no longer an employee.”

Handed two lawyers’ caseloads on second day

A trainee, who was frequently left “unsupervised” and asked to handle the caseloads of two qualified lawyers on her second day, has been awarded £36,000 in damages by an employment tribunal.

The tribunal found that the Mayfair firm Gillen De Alwis Solicitors, which has since entered into administration, “failed to fulfil the fundamental purpose of a training contract”.

It heard that R. Kaur joined the firm in the summer of 2021 and, two days in, was given the “caseload responsibility” of two temporarily employed qualified lawyers, following an email handover.

The tribunal noted that shortly before Kaur joined, the property department became short staffed due to the passing of the solicitor in charge.

This situation seems to have put the department under serious pressure, with Kaur explaining that she and an intern were left to their “own devices at times” and frequently “unsupervised”, often approving documents without them being checked.

It was also noted that less than two weeks into her TC, the trainee had still not received an induction, and evidence showed that one of the firm’s founding partners, Shehani De Alwis, had “made comments that her contract would be in jeopardy” if certain tasks weren’t completed immediately.

Kaur said it was “common place” for clients to complain about lack of progress on their files.

The tribunal noted that another director of the firm emailed the same founding partner, expressing concern about the “threats to terminate her contract” and describing the treatment of the new trainee as “unfair”.

The tribunal further found that De Alwis “bullied and harassed” Ms Kaur, criticising her for not completing tasks she had actually finished, which De Alwis hadn’t noticed due to not reading the emails, and at one point, screaming at her on the telephone. The trainee was also taken off tasks and then shortly put back on them, and she was moved into different departments without notice.

Kaur raised her concerns in meetings and emails about the way the firm was being run and how she was being treated on numerous occasions, but received no response.

The trainee eventually filed a written report to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), a move she mentioned to the firm she was considering but did not confirm she had done.

In April 2022, the firm summarily dismissed Kaur, less than halfway through her training contract.

On this, Judge Leonard-Johnston dismissed the firm’s argument that the trainee was fired for misconduct.

“I have already found that the claimant was not guilty of misconduct, and I place weight on the fact that the respondent, who was after all a firm of solicitors, carried out no investigation or disciplinary procedure at all from which I draw an inference that the respondent did not seriously consider this to be a misconduct case,” the judge said. “Nor did the respondent respond in any way to the claimant’s grievances. As per my findings above, particularly in relation to the timing of her dismissal, I find that the claimant has established it is more likely than not that the reason for her dismissal was the complaints she was making about the firm’s management.”

The judge awarded Kaur over £36,062 for unfair dismissal and an additional £362 for breach of contract after the firm dismissed her without notice.

‘Cockney Kit’ launch

Eversheds Sutherland‘s London office has appeared in a new launch video for West Ham United’s latest football kit.

The Hammers’ new away offering, dubbed the ‘Cockney Kit’, is inspired by the club’s East End roots and features a graphic representation of St Mary-le-Bow Church woven into the fabric.

Legend has it that to be a true Cockney, you must be born within earshot of the Church’s ‘Bow Bells’. The shirt features a motif of this East London icon on its neck.

Step forward Eversheds Sutherland’s London HQ, where the rooftop offers unobstructed skyline views of the historic church.

The launch video, released this week, features many of the club’s famous faces posing in the new kit on Eversheds Sutherland’s roof, and even the firm’s star man, co-CEO Lee Ranson, couldn’t resist getting in on the action.

Is a summer move on the cards?

66%

A&O Shearman has recorded its first post-merger retention score, with 37 of its 56 trainees staying put.

The new outfit confirmed it made 39 offers to the 48 trainees who applied for newly qualified roles. Thirty-seven offers were accepted, all on permanent deals.

Before the tie-up, Allen & Overy offered significantly more training contracts than Shearman, with 80 each year compared to Shearman’s 12.

Combining the trainee intakes of both firms has resulted in a larger-than-usual qualifying cohort, making the lower score — in this case 66% — somewhat expected.

Both outfits were typically strong retention performers prior to the merger, with A&O posting a result of 77% earlier this year and Shearman regularly chalking up results of over 80%.

The firms officially joined forces on May 1, creating a new global mega-firm with nearly 4,000 lawyers across 48 offices in 29 countries and combined annual revenues of approximately $3.5 billion (£2.9 billion).

James Partridge, early careers partner and training principal London, commented:

“This is the first qualifying cohort of A&O Shearman, and we are pleased that 37 trainees from both legacy firms have chosen to remain and progress their careers with us at this exciting time for the firm.”

“At A&O Shearman we remain committed to investing and developing our people and extend our congratulations to our first combined intake of qualifying solicitors,” Partridge continued.

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List shows the new recruits will start on a recently-improved salary £150,000.

‘I’m so f*****g bored’

A former pupil barrister has been fined £500 for repeatedly swearing during an online ethics exam and at one point sticking up his middle finger to the camera.

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) said that by doing so Jack Henry Sadler had “acted in a way which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him”.

The published finding states that last summer, Sadler was taking a professional ethics assessment remotely as part of his mandatory training during his second six as a pupil barrister.

During the exam, Sadler made statements including: “I’m so fucking bored of this”, “This is annoying, oh my god, this is going to really piss me off”, and “Fucking finally, a criminal question… This civil shit… How can you have any ethics if you’re a civil practitioner, honestly.”

The BSB further noted that at the end of the recorded exam, the then-pupil barrister could be seen holding up his middle finger to the camera.

A second charge found that Sadler “failed to keep the affairs of each client confidential and/or failed to protect the confidentiality of each client’s affairs” after he accessed his work email during the recorded exam and clicked on two emails from solicitors’ firms containing client information.

In mitigation, Sadler stated that he did not realise his words and actions could be heard and recorded, and that nothing he said or did was directed at any individual, especially the exam proctor.

Regarding the second charge, Sadler said he did not appreciate at the time that accessing his Outlook could risk a GDPR breach, attributing this to both a lack of knowledge and a lack of thought on his part. The necessary steps were taken by him and chambers to address any potential breach.

The panel agreed that Sadler, who is an unregistered barrister and has since left the bar, showed genuine contrition and remorse.

The matter was handled through a procedure known as determination by consent, an alternative method for dealing with cases that would otherwise be referred to a disciplinary tribunal.

Barristers Shabana Mahmood MP and Richard Hermer KC

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appointed a pair of fellow barristers to take over the roles of Lord Chancellor and Attorney General after last week’s landslide election victory.

Shabana Mahmood, MP for Birmingham Ladywood, will take up the role of Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. Prior to becoming an MP in 2010 she practiced as a barrister specialising in professional indemnity.

Mahmood was awarded a scholarship to study the bar course and was called to the bar by Gray’s Inn in 2003 She will become only the second woman to hold the post and the first observant Muslim to do so.

The greatest honour of my life to walk into @MoJGovUK as the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice yesterday.

Before politics, I was a lawyer. I understand the deep challenges facing our justice system. But there is so much we can do. The hard work starts now. pic.twitter.com/38HwhZZRi2

— Shabana Mahmood MP (@ShabanaMahmood) July 6, 2024

Congratulating Mahmood on her appointment, president of the Law Society Nick Emmerson said:

“The appointment of the new justice secretary Shabana Mahmood is a unique opportunity to bring much-needed change to our justice system and address the longstanding neglect and underinvestment that have left it on the verge of collapse. The challenges ahead are significant and demand urgent attention.”

“It’s crucial to acknowledge that transforming the justice system is a long-term project, requiring a collaborative effort, Emmerson continued. “We look forward to working with Shabana Mahmood over the coming parliament and sharing the insight and experience of our members to rebuild our justice system, harness the economic power of legal services and ensure access to justice for all.”

For his new Attorney General, Starmer has appointed Richard Hermer KC from Matrix Chambers, who will be granted a life peerage in the House of Lords.

The experienced silk was called to the bar in 1993 before reaching the prestigious rank of silk in 2009. He is also a Deputy High Court Judge assigned to the King’s Bench Division and the Administrative Court, and specialises in all areas of private and public international law, as well as domestic public and private law.

The top legal affairs news stories from this morning and the weekend

Starmer could let out 40,000 inmates early to ease prisons crisis [The Times] (£)

Lawyer accused of sexual misconduct fails to get case thrown out [The Telegraph] (£)

KPMG Law seeks to establish distinctive foothold in UK legal market [City A.M.]

Boeing to plead guilty to criminal fraud charge [BBC]

British police to be deployed in Europe to fight people smugglers [Telegraph] (£)

The City of London’s wish list for the new Labour government [Financial Times] (£)

Labour expected to drop challenge to ICC over Netanyahu arrest warrant [The Guardian]

Labour’s mountain to climb: the challenge facing Keir Starmer’s government [Financial Times] (£)

New law on child exploitation by drug dealers in Labour crime crackdown [The Guardian]

“I thought the legal market was struggling?” [Legal Cheek comments]

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