City solicitors from less advantaged socio-economic backgrounds are more likely than their peers to be the highest performers in their firms. Among state school trainees, for example, 14% received the highest review ratings compared to 8% of independently educated trainees. Similarly, 14% of first generation university trainees receive high performance review ratings compared to 10% of their peers. Despite this, however, these solicitors are less likely to advance their careers at an early stage or to be retained by the firm. These are the results of a unique study of 2,800 lawyers and interviews with employees at eight global law firms by the Bridge Group, which promotes socio-economic diversity, and the Sutton Trust.
04 October 2018
Talent held back
MOVERS & SHAKERS
NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires
Nikki Bowker, head of dispute resolution at Devonshires, on career resilience, diversity in law and channelling Elle Woods when the pressure is on
Ellisons—Sarah Osborne
Leasehold enfranchisement specialist joins residential property team
DWF—Chris Air
Firm strengthens commercial team in Manchester with partner appointment
NEWS
The government will aim to pass legislation banning leasehold for new flats and capping ground rent, introducing non-compulsory digital ID and creating a ‘duty of candour’ for public servants (also known as the Hillsborough law) in the next Parliament
An Italian financier has lost his bid to block his Australian wife from filing divorce papers in England on the basis it was no longer her domicile of choice
Reforms to the disclosure regime in the business and property courts have not achieved their objectives, lawyers have warned
The Law Society has urged ministers to hold a public consultation on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the justice system as a whole
Ministers have proposed bringing inquest work under a single fee scheme for legal help and advocacy legal aid work
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