The LawCareers.Net Handbook 2022

The legal scene

instead of the Bar Professional Training Course. Discover more about the changes in the ‘Postgraduate training’, ‘SRA’ and ‘Bar Standards Board’ chapters. Mergers In 2020, UK law firmmergers dropped to a nine-year low, with only 107mergers completed (a fall of 25% from2019), as consolidator firms took a more “cautious” approach to mergers in light of the pandemic, according to Hazlewoods. As the UK’s economy recovers, this figure is anticipated to improve in 2021. Some notable mergers include: • Argentinian law firmRattagan Macchiavello Arocena and Dentons, to formDentons RattaganMacchiavello Arocena and become the largest global law firm in Argentina; • Knights, which bought two regional firms – Shulmans and ASB Law – for approximately £20.1 million and £8.5 million, respectively; and • a £40 million merger between Southampton-based UK Moore Blatch and Barlow Robbins, which will see the combined firm – Moore Barlow – specialise in several practice areas, including private client and personal injury. Legal developments – talking points Covid-19 vaccines and intellectual property In October 2020, South Africa and India proposed a temporary waiver to IP protections for covid-19 vaccines, which has since been opposed by the governments of the UK, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Norway, Switzerland and the EU. More recently, in an open academic statement, more than 120 academics have set out evidence to support the waiver and called on the governments of the countries to “drop their opposition” to the proposed TRIPs (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and instead support it.

around 6,000 LGBTQ+ solicitors practising in England and Wales. The SRA supported the InterLaw Diversity Forum in creating a LGBTQ+ Factsheet, which outlines key findings from the 2021 report, including research that demonstrates the negative experiences of LGBTQ+ employees as a result of their sexual orientation; bullying and harassment towards lesbian, gay, bi, trans and non-binary people is evident. According to the SRA, “LGBTQ+ lawyers who are not ‘out’ in the workplace are more likely to leave their job and many are still not comfortable with bringing their full selves to work”. Meanwhile, despite a low response rate, recent BSB data indicates that of those providing information more than 14% of pupils, 7% of non-QC barristers and 5% of QCs identified as either a bisexual, gay man, lesbian or other. Looking forward It is clear that there remains a lack of diversity within the industry across the various diversity strands, including the ones mentioned above, as well as socio-economic background, religion and belief, caring responsibilities, neurodiversity and age. This lack is a fundamental issue that must be addressed if the profession aims to attract the best talent and offer the best services. Head to LCN’s Diversity Hub for regular updates to keep you in the know regarding what law firms, chambers and legal education providers are doing to remove existing barriers and work towards a more diverse and inclusive profession. Changes to solicitor and barrister training Whether you aim to become a solicitor or barrister, your route to qualifying is changing. For aspiring solicitors, the Legal Practice Course will gradually be replaced with the new two-part Solicitors Qualifying Exam in September 2021, while budding barristers can now take new, cheaper Bar courses

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