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NLJ this week: Government Legal Department tears down socio-economic barriers

07 July 2023
Issue: 8032 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Career focus , Diversity
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Government lawyers should reflect the society they serve, Susanna McGibbon, Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary to the Government Legal Department, writes in this week’s NLJ.

McGibbon, who is the second female Treasury Solicitor, reflects on her own ‘culture shock’ on starting pupillage in London as the first person in her immediate family to go to university. She sets out the Government Legal Department’s action plan to increase access and improve social mobility. In particular, she wants to ensure socio-economic background is not a barrier to starting a legal career.

McGibbon writes: ‘I believe we achieve this by integrating principles of fairness and inclusion into everything we do—from recruitment to training and career development.’ 

Read more on social mobility in government here.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

NEWS
Law students and graduates can now apply to qualify as solicitors and barristers with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
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