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Vera Mayzel, a legal influencer with nearly 40,000 followers, announced on Instagram that she is leaving her newly‑qualified solicitor role at Hogan Lovells. After completing a training contract and qualifying in February 2026, she said she is stepping back from Big Law to pursue a new chapter aligned with her long‑term ambitions. Her bio hints at a move into lawtech, reflecting her previous content on AI’s impact on the legal sector. The departure mirrors a recent exit by another high‑profile lawfluencer, highlighting a shift among early‑career lawyers.
London‑based Baker McKenzie reported that 17 of its 20 newly qualified associates will stay, delivering an 85% retention rate for the 2026 cohort. One of the retained lawyers is on a fixed‑term contract, which slightly alters the calculation to 80%...
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), launched in 2021 to replace the LPC and broaden access to the legal profession, has become mired in controversy. Recent data show a record‑low 41% overall pass rate and high‑profile administrative blunders, including a grading...
Legal Cheek’s Monday round‑up bundles a mix of high‑profile legal stories, from a judge anonymously trolling a female barrister to Anthropic’s general counsel warning that generative AI could render the traditional billable‑hour model obsolete. The piece also notes the resignation...
US law firm Simpson Thacher missed Aramark’s filing deadline by one day, causing the Competition Appeal Tribunal to reject the appeal against the CMA’s order to unwind its acquisition of Entier. The tribunal held that the deadline was 5 pm Thursday...
Ropes & Gray has increased its newly qualified solicitor salary in London to £170,000, a 3% rise from the previous £165,000 level. The uplift, effective 1 January 2026, places the US‑based firm ahead of the Magic Circle, whose NQ pay sits at...
A 63‑year‑old solicitor, Andrew Jonathan Milne, was convicted of stalking after sending roughly 124 harassing emails, voicemails and a birthday gift to legal blogger Daniel Cloake. The magistrates’ court imposed a 24‑month community order, 300 hours of unpaid work and...
The UK government announced a new Independent Legal Advisor (ILA) service for rape victims, providing specialist legal advice throughout the criminal justice process. The scheme is funded with £6 million over two years and will help victims understand their rights and...
John Quinn, founder of litigation‑focused firm Quinn Emanuel, told The Times that U.S. lawyers typically log longer hours than their U.K. counterparts. Legal Cheek research shows junior lawyers at U.S. firms in London work an average 13‑hour day, often leaving...
International law firm Kennedys was fined £18,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority after its client account was used as a banking facility in a commercial property transaction between 2016 and 2018. The SRA found that payments were made from the...
The Legal Cheek podcast episode featuring Julia Szaniszlo and Ryan Scott dives into the breadth of employment law practice, from handling unfair dismissal claims to advising on corporate transactions such as due diligence, TUPE and workforce restructuring. The hosts outline...
A senior associate who spent more than two decades at Clifford Chance left the firm with a parting gesture: a set of mugs emblazoned with a critique of the firm’s “up‑or‑out” promotion model. In her farewell email she called for...
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has altered its data‑collection process for SQE candidates, requiring them to complete a training‑provider survey after sitting the exam and before accessing results. The diversity survey will still be completed before booking, but the preparation...
Missile strikes across the Gulf triggered security alerts for international law firms. Firms like Baker McKenzie and White & Case ordered remote work per local guidance. The incidents disrupted air travel and prompted UK travel advisories. Expansion plans in the...
Shoosmiths has launched a firm‑wide challenge urging lawyers and staff to devise measurable ways to improve client relationships. The top performer will win either a £25,000 house‑deposit contribution or a brand‑new car, with the winner announced in April. Smaller quarterly...
