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International Edition

Does contract work make unemployed lawyers unemployable?

There might be signs of a more robust (or at least a more stabilised) legal market, but let's not forget the thousands of jobless law grads and laid-off lawyers still out on the streets. A couple of months ago on this blog, I asked an obvious question - now that times are better, why won't firms rehire some of those who were laid off during the economic downturn? I've heard from a few partners and headhunters who told me - off the record, of course - that those laid-off were not top drawer to begin with. The really good lawyers, they contend, were all kept on.
3 minute read

International Edition

A different ball game - from professional footballer to lawyer

Brabners Chaffe Street trainee-to-be Ben Purkiss has just finished training. It was a light session, following the 1-0 defeat the day before, away to West Ham United in the third round of the League Cup. Purkiss, who played the full 90 minutes, is disappointed, but delighted his team, League Two outfit Oxford United, held its own against such quality opposition – a last-gasp goal by England international midfielder Scott Parker the only difference between the teams. The result is confirmation that his dream of making it as a top-level professional footballer is still on.
6 minute read

International Edition

BPP parent company writes off one third of school's value in wake of downturn

More than a third of BPP's purchase value of £303.5m has been written off by its US parent company Apollo Global, according to the education provider's US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings. The accounts, which cover the financial year ending 31 December 2009, state that the BPP incurred "impairment charges" of £106m, representing a 35% drop in value. This is Apollo's first "goodwill impairment test" for BPP since its takeover last year, with the US parent company reassessing BPP's financial outlook in the wake of the recession in the UK.
2 minute read

International Edition

LSB chair calls for shorter path to legal profession in wake of tuition fee hikes

Rising levels of debt in the wake of tuition fee hikes will mean that the length of time students spend being educated will need to be reduced, according to the chairman of the Legal Services Board. During his speech at the annual Lord Upjohn lecture in London last Friday (19 November), David Edmonds said that the time spent in education - as well as debts accrued during this time - would need to shrink to ensure that students do not make "crucial and costly investment decisions before getting a real 'feel' for the area of practice and all that it will involve."
2 minute read

International Edition

Legal regulators launch joint review of education and training

The three biggest legal regulators in England and Wales are set to launch a full-scale review of legal education and training. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and the Institute of Legal Executives Professional Standards (IPS) announced details of the review earlier today (19 November).
3 minute read

International Edition

UCL launches institute to teach students about workings of the judicial system

The University College London (UCL) Faculty of Laws is launching the UK's first-ever judicial institute, in an effort to help law students better understand the judicial system and its workings. The institute, which is launching with immediate effect, will be dedicated to the study of how judges are appointed, how they reach decisions, the operation of the courts, and the relationship between the judiciary, other social institutions and other branches of government.
2 minute read

International Edition

New study highlights extent of public school bias among legal profession

Lawyers are more than seven times as likely to have been privately educated than the general population, according to new research. A survey of almost 50,000 City professionals, conducted by legal recruitment consultancy Laurence Simons, found that 15% of lawyers were educated at the UK's 250 public schools, compared to just 2% of the general population. The figures add further weight to claims that social exclusivity is increasing in the legal sector.
2 minute read

International Edition

Number of students on law courses drops for first time in three years

The number of students accepted onto law courses this year saw a slight dip for the first time in three years, according to new research by admissions service UCAS. The total number of students starting a law course at university or college in September 2010 fell by 2.6% to 16,890, down from the 2009 high point of 17,346. The figure had risen steadily until this year, with the number of students accepted onto law courses this year now up around 13% on 2006's figure.
2 minute read

International Edition

Partners believe tuition fee hikes will damage law's diversity efforts

Fewer than one in four partners are in favour of Government proposals to allow universities to charge students up to £9,000 in fees, with the clear majority of senior lawyers believing it will damage efforts to improve social diversity in commercial law. Legal Week's latest Big Question survey has found that 61% of partners believe plans to allow universities to increase fees to almost three times the current annual level will damage diversity, with a further 25% thinking it may have a minor impact.
4 minute read

International Edition

Bar Council chair questions oversupply of aspiring barristers

Bar Council chairman Nicholas Green QC has warned of growing concerns over the employment prospects for aspiring advocates completing their barrister training. Speaking at the 25th annual Bar Council conference on Saturday (6 November), Green told delegates he had "real qualms" about a system of education that encourages Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) providers to educate more and more law students.
4 minute read

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