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12 August 2022
Issue: 7991 / Categories: Legal News , Profession
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NLJ this week: Pro bono specifics for boutiques & trainees

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Working pro bono benefits everyone―client, lawyer, firm and wider community. In a special NLJ pro bono double-bill this week, we highlight the advantages of this legal tradition

Vaiben Lipman, associate at LK Law, explains how boutique firms are in an ideal position to create a dedicated pro bono practice, helping practitioners to develop professionally within and without their niche and using their specialist expertise to serve society more broadly.

Joy-Emma Martin, trainee at Reed Smith, reports how her pro bono seat at a large commercial firm deepened her connection with the firm, boosted her confidence, developed her skills and gave her an opportunity to help others.

Martin says: ‘As my involvement in different aspects of the practice grew, so did my passion for the work. I also felt more connected to the firm as a whole, pro bono being central to its culture.’ See p18 and p19.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Weightmans—Elborne Mitchell & Myton Law

Weightmans—Elborne Mitchell & Myton Law

Firm expands in London and Leeds with dual merger

Boodle Hatfield—Clare Pooley & Michael Duffy

Boodle Hatfield—Clare Pooley & Michael Duffy

Private wealth and real estate firmpromotes two to partner and five to senior associate

Constantine Law—James Baker & Julie Goodway

Constantine Law—James Baker & Julie Goodway

Agile firm expands employment team with two partner hires

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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