Barristers’ wigs are an ‘outdated’ symbol of ‘poshness’ top QC says February 16, 2022 One of Britain’s top QCs has said the UK should stop forcing barristers to wear wigs after claiming they are a symbol of “poshness” that have “no place” in the UK’s modern legal system. In an article in Mail+ Leslie Thomas QC, one of the UK’s most high-profile barristers, said wigs have hindered the Bar’s [...]
Criminal barristers to hold strike ballot after being told to ‘be patient’ by Dominic Raab February 16, 2022 Criminal barristers will vote on whether to strike at the end of this month, after Dominic Raab told barristers to “be patient” while waiting for legal aid reform. The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) will hold a strike ballot on 28 February, after the government failed to put forward its plans to reform criminal legal [...]
Belgium formally introduces four day week and creates right for employees to ignore bosses after hours February 16, 2022 The government of Belgium is moving ahead with plans to formally introduce a four day week in the country. Under a series of labour market reforms, announced yesterday, works in Belgium will soon be allowed to opt for a shorter work week or more flexible schedules. Moreover, the proposals create a right for Belgians to [...]
Half of retirees worry about running out of money but most have not sought out advice February 16, 2022 Almost half of retirees are worried about running out of money in their retirement. Yet more than three quarters have never sought out professional advice, according to research from investment company Abrdn. The Abrdn research shows that 48 per cent of retirees are worried about running out of money in retirement. At the same time, [...]
Liontrust faces shareholder rebellion over plans to hike executive salaries February 15, 2022 London-listed asset manager Liontrust is facing a shareholder rebellion over plans to hike the salaries of its C-Suite executives as Britain faces rampant inflation and a widespread cost-of-living crisis. A significant proportion of Liontrust’s shareholders are expected to vote against the asset manager’s new remuneration policy, at a specially convened general meeting tomorrow, Sky News’ [...]
UK facing shortage of duty solicitors, Law Society says February 15, 2022 The UK is facing a shortage of criminal duty solicitors, as the sector faces a chronic recruitment crisis, the Law Society has warned. Any individual arrested in the UK has the right to seek advice from a duty solicitor, free of charge. However, the number of duty solicitors working in Britain dropped 7 per cent [...]
Pinsent Masons cuts desk space in Edinburgh after moving to new offices February 15, 2022 Pinsent Mason’s has cut the number of desks available to staff in its Edinburgh offices, after moving in to new premises, in a bid to free up space and adapt to the future of hybrid working. The London headquartered law firm is set to cut its desk space by 20 per cent, in seeking to [...]
Eversheds Sutherland matches rivals after upping pay for new lawyers to £95k February 15, 2022 Eversheds Sutherland’s has given newly qualified lawyers in its London offices a 15.8 per cent pay rise after upping their salaries to £95,000 a year. The firm also said it will give lawyers in the rest of its UK offices a 24 per cent pay rise, which will see their salaries increase from £50,000 to [...]
Majority of UK’s biggest law firms are currently hiring new lawyers, as battle for talent rages on February 15, 2022 Most of the UK’s biggest law firms, with annual turnovers of more than £500m, are now actively hiring more lawyers, as they seek to capitalise on booming demand for legal services, according to a poll of more than 200 law firm partners. Polling from privately-owned litigation funder Harbour shows that 60 per cent of law [...]
Axa buys Ageas’ commercial insurance business and takes 100 of its staff in deal worth £47.5m February 15, 2022 Axa’s UK and Ireland subsidiary has purchased the “renewal rights” for Belgian insurer Ageas’ commercial business, in a deal worth £47.5m. Parisian insurer Axa said the deal will see around 100 of Aeges’ UK employees move into Axa’s City of London offices. In a statement, Axa said the deal will help it expand its commercial [...]