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International Edition

Uphill battles - the future is not looking bright for today's law students

Employment prospects may be dwindling as law firms continue to scale back trainee intakes and slash associate ranks through redundancy consultations, but this seems to have done little to dent law students' confidence in their higher education. This year's Law Student Report shows 10 UK institutions receiving an average overall score of good/excellent from their own students when questioned on a range of factors including employability, value for money and quality of teaching, with 17 law faculties rated above average.
2 minute read

Legal Week

Uphill battles - the future is not looking bright for today's law students

Employment prospects may be dwindling as law firms continue to scale back trainee intakes and slash associate ranks through redundancy consultations, but this seems to have done little to dent law students' confidence in their higher education. This year's Law Student Report shows 10 UK institutions receiving an average overall score of good/excellent from their own students when questioned on a range of factors including employability, value for money and quality of teaching, with 17 law faculties rated above average.
4 minute read

International Edition

Cashing in on cachet – why a little prestige in your firm can go a long way

Apple has it by the bucket load. High-end fashion houses such as Gucci and Prada have it. Ferrari, Aston Martin and Jaguar all have it. But do Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy? According to more than 3,000 students, the answer is a resounding yes. What we're talking about is prestige – which, according to this year's annual Legal Week Intelligence Law Student Report, is one of the biggest factors in attracting would-be solicitors to apply to any given firm.
3 minute read

Legal Week

Cashing in on cachet – why a little prestige in your firm can go a long way

Apple has it by the bucket load. High-end fashion houses such as Gucci and Prada have it. Ferrari, Aston Martin and Jaguar all have it. But do Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy? According to more than 3,000 students, the answer is a resounding yes. What we're talking about is prestige – which, according to this year's annual Legal Week Intelligence Law Student Report, is one of the biggest factors in attracting would-be solicitors to apply to any given firm.
8 minute read

International Edition

Hong Kong aims to simplify local qualification system amid fierce competition for places

The Law Society of Hong Kong is considering an overhaul of the exam system for graduates and foreign lawyers seeking to become locally qualified, with a consultation on the subject set to be issued this month. The plans for reform, which were first announced in July last year, include the proposal to scrap the existing assessment procedures at three Hong Kong universities – the University of Hong Kong (HKU), City University and Chinese University – to create one common law exam. Hong Kong law graduates currently have to complete the Postgraduate Certificate of Laws (PCLL) before being awarded a training contract. The one-year course is offered by the three universities, each of which have a limit on the number of students they can take.
4 minute read

International Edition

Law Student Report 2013 - the long and dwindling road

2013 has been another year of change in the law student body. The number of law students wanting to become solicitors has fallen again for the third year in a row. Now just 60% of law students want to pursue a career as a solicitor, compared to 80% in 2010. There has been a fairly steep decrease in just 12 months and a depressing trend over three years, perhaps reflecting the difficulty prospective lawyers are finding in getting a training contract. The number wanting a career outside law altogether has also gone up from 6% three years ago to 16% this year.
4 minute read

International Edition

BPP's free courses: a boost to law student prospects or just a marketing gimmick?

It's a tough time for law graduates. For those who emerge from the legal practice course (LPC) without a training contract, the wave of job cuts currently sweeping through the market means prospects for aspiring lawyers look bleak. So, at first glance, BPP Law School's offer of a free qualification worth up to £16,500 for its LPC students who have failed to secure a legal job six months after graduation sounds like a fantastic deal.
5 minute read

International Edition

BPP to offer free qualifications to its LPC grads without law jobs

BPP Law School is to take the unusual step of offering a free qualification worth up to £16,500 to any of its Legal Practice Course (LPC) graduates failing to secure a job in the legal sector within six months of graduating. The offer - which will apply to any students starting the LPC from September 2013 - will see free qualifications available in a number of areas, including subjects outside the law.
3 minute read

International Edition

Magnificent sevens - balancing law and captaining the HK rugby sevens team

Trainee lawyer Rowan Varty had a starring role at last month's Hong Kong Sevens tournament. But as the captain of the Hong Kong team and a player for the region's national squad, it was his rugby skills rather than his legal ability that had fans cheering. Despite spending the day in the office and evenings on the pitch, Varty is rather modest about his sporting achievements. In fact, he spends a lot of his time making up for them, conscious of gaining the respect of his peers and colleagues through hard work and fair treatment.
9 minute read

International Edition

Watson Farley offers £5,000 for trainees to defer TC start dates

Watson Farley & Williams has offered £5,000 to a number of its trainees to defer the start of their training contracts by one year. The move, first reported on RollOnFriday, was confirmed by Watson Farley partner and training principal Christina Howard, who denied that the firm's trainees were being under-utilised.
2 minute read

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