Henderson Chambers’ Isha Shakir talks cases, work-life balance and ‘fish and chip Fridays’

“I was the first in my family to go to university, went to a state school in the North East, and I had no lawyer contacts,” Isha Shakir recounts. “Really, I just fell upon the bar”.

Taking a break from working on the Post Office Inquiry, Shakir, who practises across a range of Henderson Chambers’ commercial-oriented fields, began by discussing the challenges at the beginning of her journey to the bar.

“I volunteered with Citizens Advice in sixth form, and found myself constantly having to research the law, and from there saw how the law is affecting people’s lives,” she tells Legal Cheek Careers. The only ethnic minority or Muslim at her state school in the North East, Shakir decided to pursue her interest and planned to apply to study law at university. Isha faced significant barriers during her education pertaining to racism and Islamophobia.

“When I spoke to my careers advisor about studying law at university, she said I wasn’t smart enough to go to university at all. I found it even more heartbreaking when I found out that my peers were given the exact opposite advice and were encouraged to pursue university,” she recalls.

Despite this advice, she took strength in her family and faith to motivate herself prove her careers adviser and teachers wrong. She worked hard and after receiving strong A Level results Shakir took up a place at the University of York. She excelled her own expectations by graduating the top of her year and achieving the highest academic score three years in a row.

During her first year at university, her interest in the bar grew. “Initially, I didn’t know the difference between a barrister and a barista,” Shakir jokes. She was later convinced to try mooting after playing the role of a witness in an advocacy training exercise during her first year. After finding out what mooting was, she took up that advice and threw herself into doing as many mooting competitions as possible.

“I remember doing a moot and how electric it felt all the way through from the preparation to arguing the issues,” says Shakir, who successfully completed pupillage with Henderson Chambers in September 2023. And it was here, in the mock appellate courts, that she was introduced to commercial law.

“With Henderson, it was a bit of a love story,” she continues. “The first chambers that I ever stepped foot in to was Henderson when I attended an event after the pupillage fair in my first year. I still have the Henderson Chambers pen I received back in 2017.” But it was completing a mini pupillage at the set in her second year of university that really locked in Shakir’s decision. “I was able to experience a range of county court advocacy and was able to see large group action cases. Including the Post Office trial. It feels very full circle to be working on the Post Office Inquiry now as a tenant at Henderson Chambers”.

“I also really like the type of work in chambers and the chance to get involved with advocacy from an early stage and throughout the junior end, whilst also experiencing the large groundbreaking cases,” she explains.

Having fulfilled her dream of securing a pupillage with Henderson while completing her master’s degree at the University of Oxford, Shakir shared a highlight from her pupillage. “My first solo court appearance during my second six was strangely against a very senior silk,” she says. “It was truly a trial by fire!”

Moving into her junior practice she now spends as much time as she can in court, usually around three days a week, and tackles a range of consumer credit, civil fraud, insolvency, and other commercial specialisms. To balance this out she is also working on the Post Office Inquiry, and has another big case in the works.

Perhaps surprising for many, all of this doesn’t come at the expense of a good work-life balance. “Your working hours and pattern are really flexible and up to you,” she says. “Within chambers the clerks are great at putting your needs first and allowing you to be very much in charge of your own diary.”

Working hard during the day and keeping her diary balanced allows her to enjoy life outside of work, Shakir explains, with boxing and horse riding both on the agenda. “The whole point of being self-employed is that you can be flexible in your working hours as long as you get the work done.”

Moving to advice for prospective pupils looking to follow in her footsteps, Shakir offers three pearls of wisdom.

First, “be brave and apply”. “If you don’t apply it’s an automatic no, and if you do apply there is a chance you will get it. There are plenty of reasons that I could have delayed and put off applying but I forced myself to just do it”.

“Even if you don’t get it, you’ll gain the experience and be able to improve for the next year and application cycle,” she says. “It’s a constant learning process and just giving it a go will benefit you in the long run.”

The second piece of advice is to cover off the basics. “Make sure you have some good mini-pupillages and mooting or advocacy experience,” she says. Referring back to how pivotal her own mini-pupillage experience was, Shakir adds that herself and those at Henderson are always looking to make their experience the best possible.

“We want good students, we want good people, and we want them to like us,” she continues. “My own experience during my mini pupillage at Henderson was amazing and now that I have my own mini-pupils, I try to replicate that as much as possible.” Shakir’s timetable for new recruits includes “as much time in court as possible. If there is anything happening, I’ll try to get them there,” as well as some written work for the students to delve into.

Also available is an advocacy exercise, presided over by Shakir, who provides advice and feedback. “This can be really useful for competing in advocacy competitions, preparing for pupillage interviews, and is just really good fun,” she says. Adding more reasons to apply for a mini-pupillage at Henderson, Shakir notes that students are also taken to lunch with members and invited to chambers breakfast on Tuesdays, drinks on Thursdays, and fish and chips on Fridays.

Moving to her third piece of advice, Shakir turns to developing your CV and “learning to articulate yourself in a concise and punchy way.” “You need to be able to write positively about yourself in an interesting way,” she says. “Don’t wait for gateway to open for applications in January, you can begin preparing your questions well before then which takes the pressure off when it comes to crunch time.”

While there is no set number of chambers to apply to, Shakir advises, “if you want to apply and can see yourself working there, give it a go.” However, she emphasises, “make sure every set you apply to is one that you truly want to be at and believe you will enjoy. People can tell when reading your applications whether or not you genuinely want to work there.”

While Shakir had one set that stood out head and shoulders above the rest, there might be several places where you can see yourself working. Her advice: “apply to those where you can see yourself going, as long as you have the time to personalise each application and put in the right level of effort.”

Rounding off the interview, Shakir shares some final words of wisdom: “Back yourself, be brave, and be kind.” Feeling motivated? Us too.

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New initiative launched by Sentencing Council

A new interactive website has been launched that allows member of the public to hand down their own sentences in real criminal cases.

‘You be the Judge‘, created by the Sentencing Council, lets users take on the position of a judge or magistrate to sentence defendants based upon the facts of real cases.

The platform features a range of offences, and offers budding benchers an insight into the facts, aggravation, and mitigation of each one, before allowing viewers to select their own sentence.

Each case is based upon a real set of facts, with offences such as fraud, possession with intent to supply a class A drug, possession of a bladed article, robbery, assault on an emergency worker, and possession of a firearm all on the roster.

The scenarios also inform users of the actual sentence in the case, with the aim of the scheme being to help improve public understanding of the sentencing process.

Lord Justice William Davis, chair of the Sentencing Council, commented: “You be the Judge gives the public a unique opportunity to see for themselves how complex the sentencing process is and how sentencing guidelines help judges and magistrates take a consistent approach.”

Lady Chief Justice, Lady Carr, added:

“The Judiciary of England and Wales supports the Sentencing Council’s new initiative to increase the public’s understanding of how sentencing works. Judges and magistrates make decisions based on the individual circumstances of the cases before them, and You be the Judge is a great way to encourage greater understanding of these decisions.”

37 of 43 and 36 of 43

Freshfields and Slaughter and May have posted strong autumn trainee retention scores of 86% and 84% respectively.

This makes Freshfields the top performer within the Magic Circle so far, keeping on 37 of its 43 qualifying trainees. All rookies who were offered a role accepted it.

Slaughters comes in at a close second, retaining just one fewer with 36 out of 43 trainees. The firm confirmed to Legal Cheek that all NQ solicitors have been retained on permanent contracts.

Earlier this week Clifford Chance announced that it was keeping on 75% of its trainees (42 of 56), with A&O Shearman earlier recording a retention rate of 66% (37 of 56).

Linklaters is the only Magic Circle firm not to have released its retention figures so far.

Whilst Freshfields’ retention has stayed relatively level across this year, posting an 84% score for its spring qualifying cohort, Slaughters’ score had dropped slightly, falling from a very impressive 95% spring score.

Speaking on the latest retention figure, Craig Montgomery, partner and training principal at Freshfields, said:

“We are thrilled that many of our trainees are choosing to advance their careers at Freshfields and their exceptional skills and dedication during the Trainee Associate Programme have been impressive. Our commitment to their development reflects our belief in fostering a strong, diverse workforce for the future and is a vital part of our strategy to cultivate a dynamic and forward-thinking global firm.”

Earlier this year Freshfields raised NQ pay to a new high of £150,000, with Clifford Chance, Linklaters and A&O Shearman all swiftly following.

Slaughters is the only Magic Circle firm to have kept its NQ salary at £125,000 so far, although it has raised trainee pay in line with its Magic Circle rivals.

Shoosmiths, WFW and Brabners

Another round of financial results have been released, with Shoosmiths, Watson Farley & Williams (WFW), and Brabners all posting positive figures.

Shoosmiths has seen a strong 2023-24 financial year with revenue climbing 6% to cross the £200 million threshold for the first time, the new figure clocking in at £206.7 million.

Profits have increased by 5% to £66 million, while profit per equity partner (PEP) has risen significantly by 16%, from £676,000 to £781,000.

Over at WFW the numbers are equally positive, with global income rising 11% to £238.4 million. The firm’s profit increased by 7.2%, reaching £66.8 million, while PEP rose by only 1.5% to £593,000. This slower growth in PEP could be attributed to the firm’s 5.7% increase in partnerships over the past year.

Commenting on her firm’s performance, WFW managing partner Lindsey Keeble said:

“We continue to build on the successes of previous years with double digit global income growth. With a majority equity partnership, we continue to invest in the firm to build a sustainable business with strength and depth at all levels.”

Elsewhere, Brabners’ revenues reached £55.6 million in the last financial year, subject to audit. This marks an 18% increase from £47.1 million. The firm didn’t publish a PEP figure.

The latest results continue the positive financial trend seen in both City and national law firms. Linklaters crossed the £2 billion revenue mark for the first time in its history, whilst the likes of Osborne Clarke, Weightmans, HFW, and Kennedys have all enjoyed double digit growth.

66% and 36%

RPC and Reed Smith have recorded low scores in the latest trainee retention season.

RPC, which has 18 trainees set to qualify later this year, is retaining 12 of them, equating to 66%. Of the 18 trainees, 17 applied for roles within the firm, with one opting to focus on a practice area not currently offered by RPC.

The firm said that the five final-seat trainees who were unsuccessful in their applications “applied for highly competitive roles within RPC and, unfortunately, were not successful in securing positions in those popular practice areas”.

This result is down slightly from last year’s figure of 81% (13 out of 16).

Meanwhile, Reed Smith confirmed it has retained four of its 11 trainees. Whilst eight applied for roles, only six were made offers, and four accepted. This gives an overall retention score of 36%.

This is a reduction from the firm’s spring retention score when it retained eight out of 13 NQs, or 62%.

Commenting on the latest retention, David Ashmore, Reed Smith’s Training Principal, said: “Congratulations to our new class of associates, who expand the next generation of talent at the firm. We are proud to be investing in their future successes and career development.”

“In a competitive market, we continue to work hard to attract and retain our talent.”

Both firms have recently increased their NQ salaries, with RPC boosting pay within its London commercial team to £90,000, whilst Reed Smith has increased NQ rates to £125,000.

This retention season has already seen some low scores, including BCLP which recorded a rate of 58% (11 of 19), and A&O Shearman, which posted a score of 66% (37 of 56).

At the other end of the spectrum, Burges Salmon clocked a perfect 100% in its latest round, keeping on all 24 qualifying trainees in permanent roles.

City salary rises continue

Reed Smith and Ashurst have raised the salaries for their newly qualified (NQ) lawyers to £125,000 as City firms continue to splash the cash to attract and retain top talent.

This represents a 16% increase for Reed Smith, raising from a previous salary of £107,500. For Ashurst the new figure is a 9% increase from its previous £115,000, which the firm raised to this time last year. Over the past two years, NQ pay at Ashurst has risen by £20,000, and over the last five years, it has increased by more than £40,000.

Prior to their improved NQ pay, Reed Smith’s can expect to earn £50,000 in their first year and £55,000 in their second. The firm takes on around 26 trainees each year.

It has also confirmed that all other associate level salaries will increase in line with the most recent change, and that associates will continue to be eligible for a bonus programme, subject to completing the set number of target hours

By comparison, new recruits at Ashurst’s London office earn £52,000 in their first year and £57,000 in their second. The Legal Cheek Firms Most List shows the firm takes on around 40 trainees each year, with the most recent retention rate seeing 82% (18 out of 22) of the spring qualifying cohort stay on.

Commenting on Reed Smith’s salary uplift London office managing partner Andrew Jenkinson said: “We are pleased to confirm the increase to associate salaries in London. It is a reflection of the market and our desire to retain and attract the best legal talent by providing a competitive and sustainable reward structure.”

He continued: “The new salary is an investment in our lawyers, which keeps us in line with other leading international law firms, and supports the firm’s strategic growth objectives enabling us to continue to deliver the highest quality, legal services that we are known for.”

This latest raise comes on the back of a spree of salary uplifts across the City.

Freshfields hit headlines when it increased NQ pay to £150,000, with three of its Magic Circle rivals, Linklaters, A&O Shearman, and Clifford Chance, quickly implementing the same increases. Slaughter and May has remained steadfast at £125,000 so far.

Other firms to increase rates include Herbert Smith Freehills and Hogan Lovells, both of which have raised NQ pay to £135,000, while Macfarlanes has gone further, increasing NQ salaries to £140,000.

Elsewhere, HFW boosted its NQ pay to £100k, with Bird & Bird climbing to £98,000 and DLA Piper rising to £110,000.

10% increase on last year

Magic Circle outfit Linklaters has crossed £2 billion revenue mark for the first time in its history.

The firm has recorded a revenue of £2.1 billion for the 2024 financial year, increasing income by 10% on the previous year.

With this comes the highest ever pre-tax profit at the firm, another 10% increase up to £942 million. Profit per equity partner (PEP) has also seen growth, climbing 8% up to £1.9 million.

The strongest performance came across the pond with Links’ US offices breaking records, delivering a 24% increase in revenue, whilst the UK contingent also topped its previous best.

Elsewhere the firm has hit its annual diversity targets of 40% female and 15% underrepresented minority ethnic newly elected partners whilst clocking 55,000 hours of pro-bono work around the globe.

Paul Lewis, Linklaters’ firmwide managing partner, commented: “Its been an exceptional year with record financial results and revenues exceeding £2bn for the first time. We’ve seen a strong performance across the firm, with M&A, complex restructurings, contentious mandates and energy transition-linked projects the biggest drivers of growth.”

“In what remain challenging markets for businesses, our corporate, bank, funds and financial investor clients continue to turn to our global platform on their biggest, cross-border mandates, like advising VW on its recent landmark US$5bn partnership with Rivian in the US,” Lewis continued. “These are the roles that have placed us top of league tables across the UK, Europe and Asia, as well as powering our UK and US offices to their best ever year.”

Linklaters is one of the largest trainee recruiters in capital, with the Legal Cheek Firms Most List 2024 showing that the firm takes on around 100 trainees each year. The firm recently increased the salaries of newly qualified associates to £150,000, matching the raises of its Magic Circle rivals, except for Slaughter and May, which has yet to increase.

Better but still not great

BCLP has released the retention rate for its September 2024 qualifiers, with 11 of the 19 trainees staying on.

This equates to 58% of the most recent UK cohort, with the global retention marginally lower at 57% (12 out of 21).

Whilst this isn’t a particularly strong figure, it is a significant increase from the 29% (4 out of 14) retained in the spring. The firm expects this trajectory to continue, with a spokesperson stating: “We remain committed to making further progress with our retention efforts and acknowledge there is still more work to do here.”

BCLP has faced challenging market conditions in recent years with the commercial real estate sector, one of its key specialisms, suffering. The firm has also lost a number of Russian clients since sanctions were applied after the invasion Ukraine.

A spokesperson for the firm added:

“We are pleased that one of our qualifiers is our first Solicitor Apprentice to qualify through the apprenticeship route for the firm. We are actively supporting our remaining trainees to find alternative roles, with many in the final stages of that process. We wish all our qualifiers all the best in their future legal careers.”

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List shows that BCLP take on around 35 trainees each year, with London recruits receiving £50,000 in year one, £55,000 in year two, and £105,000 upon qualification.

Those joining the Manchester office can expect a first year salary of £33,000, rising to £37,000 in their second year and £67,000 upon qualification.

5% across the board

International firm Osborne Clarke has handed bonuses out across the firm after a bumper financial performance.

The profit share, which hands all UK members 5% of their annual salary, follows financial results that saw UK net profits increase by 14% to £84.8m, with Profit per equity partner (PEP) increasing 11% to £771,000.

The bonus was paid out to staff in June, with a pro-rata adjustment for new starters. The minimum payment was fixed at £2,000.

The payout notably includes all trainees, newly qualified and junior lawyers. Whilst the firm’s newest batch of trainees will, subject to start dates, have taken home anywhere from £2,000 up towards £2,750, NQ lawyers at the firm’s London office will have bagged as much as £4,500 for their contributions.

Those further up the ladder will also be pleased to hear that the firm had its biggest round of partner promotions in the last decade, with 11 new UK partners. This comes alongside a bonus scheme which will see “high performers” receive bonuses of up to 40%, paid over three years.

This year’s financial results season is off to a strong start across the board. Weightmans has reported its most successful year to date, taking income up 12% to above £140 million, with HFW pushing its turnover over £250 million, an 11% boost.

International firm Kennedys has also reported a record year of growth, clocking a revenue of £384 million, a 17% increase on last year.

Regional salaries receive boost to £75k

International firm DLA Piper has raised the salaries of its newly qualified lawyers, taking City recruits up to £110,000 with their regional counterparts rising to £75,000.

The new figures represent a 10% increase across the board for the firm’s newest associates, with the previous figures sitting at £100,000 and £68,500.

With trainee pay remaining the same, rookies in the City office will continue to receive £50,000 in year one, and £55,000 in year two, with regional trainees on £34,000 and £37,500 respectively.

The firm has also announced its PGDL and SQE grants. Students in London will receive £12,500 for their conversion courses, with graduates taking online courses or those in the regions awarded £8,750.

For the SQE students can then expect a London grant of £17,000, with those elsewhere handed £12,000.

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List shows that the outfit takes on around 65 trainees each year.

This pay boost is the latest in a string of rises that have hit firms across the UK in recent months. Fellow international firms Herbert Smith Freehills and Hogan Lovells both increased their NQ salaries to £135,000 in recent weeks, with Macfarlanes going further to hit £140,000.

HFW has also boosted its NQ pay up to £100k, with Bird & Bird climbing to £98,000.

These more recent changes follow a significant shift in the Magic Circle, with Freshfields, Linklaters, A&O Shearman, and Clifford Chance all boosting rates to £150,000 earlier this year. Slaughter and May has so far stood firm, keeping junior lawyer pay at £125,000.

Upticks across the board

The first round of financial results for the 2023-24 year have been released, with several top City and national law firms putting in positive performances.

Osborne Clarke has seen international revenues climb 19% up to €525 million, with the UK figures showing 11% growth up to £240.5 million. Of this, the outfit recorded an impressive £84.8 million net profit, an increase of 14% since the last results.

Profit per equity partner (PEP) also saw a boost, jumping 11% up to £771,000.

Elsewhere Weightmans has reported its most successful year to date, taking income up 12% to above £140 million, with £18 million net profit, a whopping 41.1% rise on the previous figure. PEP is now sitting at £391,000.

HFW has also reported strong numbers, hitting a turnover of £251 million. Whilst this marked a solid increase of 11% from last year, net profit saw a bigger boost, rising 16.5% to hit £75.4 million. PEP saw a more modest, although still very impressive, boost of 9% up to £855,000.

Kennedys has also reported a record year of growth, clocking a revenue of £384 million, a 17% increase on last year. This marks the 10th year of consecutive growth for the firm.

Whilst the UK wing saw a very impressive 18% growth in revenue, the US offices topped this with 22%.

SRA v Law Society

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has taken a step towards regulating CILEX lawyers in spite of the Law Society’s continued objection to the plans.

The SRA began discussions with CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) in 2022 about a change to the regulatory structure of the two professions.

The solicitor’s regulator has said that there would be public interest benefits to it regulating all CILEX members, namely that the regulatory landscape would be less complex and easier for consumers to navigate, and that it would allow for more consistent standards and levels of protection.

There has been significant opposition to these proposals, however, with the Law Society amongst the most vocal opponents.

Despite what the regulator describes as “mixed” views among the profession, the SRA board has now agreed that it would regulate CILEX members, if CILEX decides to re-delegate this task.

The regulator would, it says, “make sure the costs of regulating CILEX members would be fully recovered from their practising certificate fees”, whilst ensuring that “the distinct identities of CILEX members and solicitors” are maintained.

A CILEX lawyer is a legal professional who has qualified through the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. CILEX members typically start with a level three diploma in law and practice, equivalent to A-levels, followed by a level six diploma, equivalent to an undergraduate degree.

Anna Bradley, SRA chair, commented:

“We have reflected long and hard on the potential risks and benefits. In making this decision we are conscious of the strong professional interests that are in play, but the key question for us has always been — is this in the public interest? All the evidence shows that consistency and relative simplicity in regulation matters to the users of legal service. This change would result in a simpler system, with more consistent levels of protection for consumers. There will also be efficiency benefits.”

“Most people find the current regulatory landscape bamboozling. This change won’t solve all the issues of complexity, but it would benefit the public,” she continued.

The Law Society hasn’t let up its opposition, however. Its statement on the development notes the “serious concerns from solicitors, CILEX members and consumer representatives” about a move that would “irreparably change the legal regulatory landscape”.

Ian Jeffery, chief executive officer of the Law Society, also commented that the body is “deeply concerned that the SRA Board has given the go ahead to regulating CILEX members, despite its own regulated community, and CILEX’s members objecting to the idea of regulatory change, and the Legal Services Consumer Panel stating that the consumer case has not been made”.

“We are concerned that the redelegation of CILEX’s regulatory functions to the SRA could adversely affect the SRA’s ability to meet its duty to regulate the solicitor profession in a way that supports and promotes the regulatory objectives,” Jeffery continued. “This is of particular concern in light of the collapses of Axiom Ince, Metamorph, Kingly and the SSB Group.”

The existing CILEX regulator, CILEx Regulation, has gone public with its concern over the plans, stating that it is “considering next steps including recourse to the courts”.

Another potential hurdle, or brick wall, faced by the SRA is that its proposals, even if agreed by CILEX, would need approval from the Law Society. The Society’s consent for the changes “cannot be assumed” it has said, although the matter would ultimately be left to the Law Society’s Council to decide.

Worked with group of ‘corrupt legal professionals’

A barrister and part-time immigration tribunal judge has been handed a three-year jail sentence for his part in a £1.8 million legal aid fraud.

Rasib Ghaffar, 54, conspired with legal clerk Gazi Khan, solicitor advocate Azar Khan, and solicitor Joseph Kyeremeh to defraud the taxpayer through submitting false legal aid claims, according to a statement released by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The offences relate back to a string of cases in 2011 and 2012 where the gang submitted false defendants’ costs orders, seeking to claim inflated legal costs back through legal aid.

Ghaffar’s case centred on four claims arising from separate defendants who were acquitted. The claims totalled £1,856,584, of which £469,477 (25%) was paid out.

Of this, Ghaffar was responsible for a fee note in his name for £184,000, relating to over 350 hours of purported work. The evidence, however, showed that he had only been instructed seven days before the conclusion of the case.

Gazi Khan, described by a CPS statement as “the leader in this criminal operation” has also been convicted of fraud offences relating to fraudulent defence cost orders.

In one of the cases the firm City Law Solicitors, of which Azar Khan was the principle partner, started work on a case around 10 weeks before its conclusion. Despite this short time frame the firm claimed to have carried out 500 hours of work, costing over £162,000.

The real giveaway? The firm backdated the work it said it had done to include “a long period when it was not instructed to represent any defendant”, resulting in a £93,000 payout through legal aid.

Kyeremeh, another partner in the same firm, claimed for 650 hours work at a value of over £176,000, with £60,000 coming from public funds.

Malcolm McHaffie of the CPS commented: “These convicted defendants defrauded the Legal Aid Agency for their own purposes. They fraudulently took advantage of a statutory scheme which was designed to help acquitted defendants with their genuinely incurred legal costs.”

“The Metropolitan Police and the CPS worked closely together to bring these corrupt legal professionals to justice and are now facing the consequences of their wrongdoing,” McHaffie said.

“The CPS will now commence confiscation proceedings in order to reclaim the defendants’ proceeds derived from the fraud,” he added.

Ghaffar was jailed for three years, Gazi Khan received a five-year sentence, and Azar Khan was sentenced to two years, suspended for two years. Kyeremeh was also given a two-year suspended sentence.”

Group says lawyers should have option to reject work contributing to climate crisis

A group of law students from across the US and UK have ranked law firms based upon their climate accountability.

The group, comprised predominantly of US student with a contingent from UK universities including Cambridge, Bristol, and London Metropolitan University, have allocated a grade to 100 top law firms from across the globe.

The highlighted firms include a number based in the UK, and others with significant presences in London.

Authored by Law Students for Climate Accountability, the report grades firms — A through to F — for their involvement in climate related litigation, and whether “the client’s interest was either mitigating or exacerbating climate change”, transactions, and lobbying.

“Our goal is not just to discourage business with poorly ranked firms, but also to incentivise improvement among all firms, even and especially those with the most harmful work,” the group states.

Comparing the new results to the last set in 2023, the document notes that the 100 firms have decreased transactional work for fossil fuel clients while increasing work for renewables clients, with fossil fuel lobbying also decreasing whilst renewable lobbying has increased.

In their recommendations, the group focus on the position of clients in choosing which firms to give their business to. “Many clients have commitments to climate justice, racial equity, and social justice more broadly, and may question whether they should give additional business to the same lawyers who represent companies and corporations making the largest contributions to the climate crisis,” the report continues.

A number of pledges and suggestions are also given to law students and law firms. Students are encouraged to focus on “recognising the unprecedented immensity of the climate catastrophe”, and doing all that they can to “stigmatise and ultimately eliminate the legal industry’s complicity in perpetuating climate change”.

Law firms, on the other hand, are implored to not take on any new work that supports the fossil fuel industry, and phase out any existing work “by 2025, at the latest”. For firms currently taking on work related to the fossil fuel industry, it is suggested that “employees have the opportunity to decline work that will perpetuate the climate crisis and harm frontline communities”.

Aims to promote inclusive environment

Hogan Lovells has launched a new scheme for reporting microaggressions in a bid to boost inclusivity across the firm.

The reporting channel will offer a way for lawyers to anonymously log incidents at work, including microaggressions and interactional bias related to gender, race, sexual orientation, or disability.

The new tech, introduced in partnership with reporting platform InChorus, will work alongside other inclusivity initiatives currently in place at the firm, including a scheme which measures and builds racially equitable cultures by tracking racist behaviours, levels of racial awareness, and inclusion barriers.

The firm also runs workshops on interactional bias and microaggressions, anti-bullying, and harassment, alongside having trained mental health first aiders, mental health awareness training, and year-round counselling.

Penny Angell, UK managing partner at Hogan Lovells, commented:

“We are delighted to be at the forefront of using such a progressive tool. We know that there can be a reluctance to call out seemingly “minor incidents”, which may nonetheless contribute to someone feeling excluded or marginalised in the workplace. By embracing this technology, we can help ensure that every voice is heard, allowing us to review and act on trends over time and to foster an even more inclusive environment.”

Hogan Lovells hit headlines in recent weeks after a pay increase which has handed newly qualified City lawyers a 12% raise and a new salary high of £135,000, whilst their Birmingham colleagues have seen an increase of £10,000 up to £85,000.

Trainees also saw a boost, the City contingent going from £50,000 to £56,000 in year one and from £55,000 to £61,000 in year two, with their Birmingham counterparts rising from £35,000 to £37,500 in year one and from £38,500 to £41,000 in year two.

From 2025

The College of Legal Practice (CoLP) has partnered with South West law firm Ashfords to support its trainee lawyers in preparing for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

The law school, which delivers its SQE prep by way of virtual training, will also provide trainees with skills and foundation law modules.

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List shows Ashfords recruits around 13 trainees each year across offices in Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth. It also has a hub in London.

The pair have already been working closely together over recent weeks, with CoLP delivering presentations to Ashfords’ summer vacation scheme students.

Dr Giles Proctor, CEO of CoLP, said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with Ashfords, who are looking at their training holistically and are focusing on giving their future lawyers the best possible start to their legal careers. We are enjoying the close partnership that we have already developed which highlights team’s clear focus on supporting their trainees through these challenging exams.”

Toby Tompkins, talent attraction manager at Ashfords, added: “We are looking forward to collaborating with The College of Legal Practice in order to provide our trainees with the very best preparation for their SQE exams. From our conversations with Giles and the team, we have been impressed with the level of personalised support and training offered to students, which will undoubtedly ensure each of our future lawyers have the best chance of succeeding in their exams and beyond.”

CoLP already has number of similar tie-ups in place with both national and international law firms. The law school already offers transactional training to trainees at the London office of Reed Smith and provides SQE preparation for firms such as Acuity Law, Wright Hassall, Clarke Willmott and PwC Legal Middle East.

The law school also has a number of arrangements with academic institutions to provide SQE training within LLM courses. These include Manchester Metropolitan University, Middlesex University, and, as of February this year, Keele University.

On his way to court

A US lawyer, who was suspended last year for defecating in a Pringles can and throwing it into a car park on his way to a court hearing, has been given the green light to return to practice.

Jack Blakeslee was handed a one-year suspension, with six months stayed, by the Ohio Supreme Court in November 2023 after a “prank” in which he left a Pringles can with human feces in the car park of a crime victim advocacy center in November 2021.

In suspending Blakeslee, the court was of the opinion that this action called into question the lawyers fitness to practice. “[D]espite societal standards of cleanliness and decorum, Blakeslee failed to control his own bizarre impulses to place feces-filled cans out in public for unsuspecting people to find”, the court said.

After his short ban, however, the attorney is back after complying with the conditions imposed, and not engaging in any further misconduct, US website The Columbus Dispatch reports.

The criminal defence attorney was caught engaging in the bizarre incident on surveillance cameras. At the time, it’s reported that he wasn’t targeting anyone in particular, and had pulled the Pringle poop stunt at least 10 times already that year.

The attorney, who started practicing in 1976, had known the victim advocates at the centre for years, and was scheduled to see them in court 15 minutes after depositing the Pringle container. At the time, he was representing a defendant accused of murder.

‘Tragic’ miscarriage of justice, says SRA

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued an updated statement on its investigations into the Post Office scandal.

The regulator confirmed yesterday it is undertaking “more than 20 live investigations” into solicitors and law firms who were working on behalf of the Post Office/Royal Mail Group.

This includes examining solicitors’ case management and supervision, “the strategy and conduct of prosecutions and of litigation”, disclosure obligations and improper application of privilege. It also addresses “issues related to the operation of the Post Office Complaint Review and Mediation Scheme,” including overcharging claimants, the use of non-disclosure agreements, and the labelling of correspondence.

Media scrutiny around the scandal intensified earlier this year following the airing of Mr Bates v The Post Office, an ITV drama which documents how hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting due to a defective IT system known as Horizon.

The updated statement stresses that this is a non-exhaustive list, and that also under the spotlight is the conduct of solicitors during the ongoing public inquiry.

“We are here to protect the public,” the SRA said. “Our rules set out that solicitors must work to high professional and ethical standards. This includes upholding the rule of law, acting with integrity, and in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the profession.”

“We will take action where we find evidence that solicitors have fallen short of the standards the public expects,” it continued.

The statement notes, however, that the regulator currently has no evidence to suggest that any solicitor presents an ongoing risk to the public that needs to be addressed through urgent action.

Commenting on the update, Paul Philip, chief executive of the SRA, said: “The impact of this miscarriage of justice on so many individuals is tragic. We have live investigations into the actions of lawyers in these cases.”

“Although the range of issues we are investigating is complex, the fundamentals are simple. The public expect solicitors to behave ethically,” Philip continued. “They must act independently and do the right thing in the interests of justice.”

He added:

“We will take action where we find they have failed to do so. This is vital to protect the public, maintain trust in the profession, and send a clear message that any solicitor behaving unethically should expect serious consequences. We will act as swiftly as we can, but it is important that we get this right. We owe that to everyone impacted in this case and the wider public.”

Nearly half cite lack of info for not switching

Just over a quarter of small and medium (SME) law firms are yet to take up the Solicitor Qualifying Exam (SQE) as a route to qualification, new research has shown.

Of the 27% who haven’t yet adopted the pathway, nearly half (44%) cited a lack of information for not making the switch. A quarter additionally reported a lack of “buy-in” internally as a barrier, with 6% concerned about the cost.

With the transition windows from the Legal Practice Course to SQE running officially until 2032, nearly a third of firms (31%) said that now was simply not the right time to make the transition across to the new scheme. “However”, the report states, “the reality is that the LPC window of opportunity is closing quickly with a real shift expected over the next couple of years”.

The research, undertaken by legal education provider BARBRI, also noted that 53% of SME firms have taken on apprentices, with the majority doing so to bring in new talent and up skill existing lawyers, and a smaller number only looking to achieve one of those objectives.

Of the 46% of firms not to take up the pathway, 36% said that they “prefer more traditional routes”, with 28% concerned about the time required for recruits to acquire skills, and 16% worried about the quality of candidates on offer.

The report surveyed 127 figures across SME law firms, 84 of whom were senior decision makers, with the other 43 paralegals or people in similar roles.

SME law firms were defined as those with less than 250 employees and an annual turnover under £50 million.

‘Deeply honoured’, says Amy Marren

A solicitor apprentice has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours 2024 for her contribution to further education and apprenticeships.

Amy Marren, a final year solicitor apprentice at BPP and former GB Paralympian, has been made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

After taking a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics in the 200m individual medley, Marren made the switch to law, taking up a solicitor apprenticeship with BPP’s legal team.

Noted in her citation as “a tireless promoter of the opportunities apprenticeships offer”, Marren has established and run the first Legal Apprentice Society, served as a panel member for the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education under the Department of Education, and is an Apprentice Ambassador for the London Apprenticeship Ambassador Network.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this MBE,” she said.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to see the growth of the Legal Apprentice Society and to be part of initiatives that support apprentices across the country”, she continued. “I am grateful for the support from BPP and my colleagues, and I look forward to continuing our work to enhance and expand apprenticeship opportunities.”

Alongside her Rio success, Marren also took home a host of medals three years earlier at the 2013 IPC Swimming World Championships.

Want to find our more about solicitor apprenticeship opportunities? Check out The Legal Cheek Solicitor Apprenticeship Most List 2024, your go-to guide on everything from pay and locations to number of places and training structure.

Legal world unites for another year of fundraising

An army of legal professionals flooded the streets of London yesterday to raise money for over 100 free legal advice charities across London and the South East. In the glorious sunshine participants tackled a range of 10km circuits and shorter routes before joining the legal street party.

Teams from Law Care and Advocate were amongst the masses taking part:

It was wonderful to see so many faces at the #LondonLegalWalk yesterday!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the walk and to those who generously donated.

There's still time to support our team here – https://t.co/V4kVbAoxP7

#MentalHealth #LegalWalk pic.twitter.com/oZD5TPO25e

— LawCare (@LawCareLtd) June 19, 2024

We had a fantastic time yesterday at the London #LegalWalk.

We would like to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all those who participated to raise money for Advocate, @FreeRepUnit and @londonlegal – your support is essential in improving #AccessToJustice for all! pic.twitter.com/XeJ7gYkJ9d

— Advocate (@WeAreAdvocate) June 19, 2024

A host of firms were also in attendance, including Bristows, White & Case, Ashurst, and Russell-Cooke:

Bristows proudly participated in the London Legal Walk yesterday, a notable event featuring a 10-kilometer walk through London.

This annual event aims to raise funds to support free legal advice services on the frontline.

A big thank you to everyone who participated! pic.twitter.com/A5VJMNDmp0

— Bristows LLP (@BristowsLawFirm) June 19, 2024

A team from our London office is joining colleagues from across the sector for the London Legal Walk to support the @londonlegal as it raises funds to support free legal advice services. Good luck to all!
#londonlegalwalk2024 pic.twitter.com/lPzRNepTtz

— White & Case LLP (@WhiteCase) June 18, 2024

Congratulations to volunteers from our London office who took part in the London #LegalWalk last week, which raises vital funds for free legal advice charities so they can continue to support the most vulnerable in our community by accessing specialist free legal advice. pic.twitter.com/yREh6qIVw0

— Ashurst (@ashurst) July 3, 2022

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Yes it’s the @londonlegal walk and we are out in force once again to raise money for this wonderful cause. So many friends and contacts walking today. #LondonLegalWalk #TeamRussellCooke pic.twitter.com/vM5ZoGHIcV

— Russell-Cooke (@RussellCooke) June 18, 2024

Not to miss out, a host of Chambers dropped wigs for walking gear to tackle the routes. Amongst the teams were outfits from 3 Hare Court, 3PB, and 11KBW.

We did it! Another great event to come together with the legal community to support #accesstojustice. #legalwalk @londonlegal @NicholasGLeah @alexandraasid @tab_hutchison pic.twitter.com/i4q6wC9cl8

— 3 Hare Court (@3HareCourt) June 19, 2024

Start of the #legalwalk #20YearsofJustice with @3PBChambers finest! pic.twitter.com/uAOhCkVwjh

— Sharan Sanghera (@Sharandish) June 18, 2024

We have team of walkers taking part in the 20th London Legal Walk today which brings together the legal community to support free legal advice services. https://t.co/L7FQOiqjTi pic.twitter.com/0WF0z8RAjq

— 11KBW (@11KBW) June 18, 2024

Legal Cheek’s own team also cracked on with the course: