Simply Law Jobs Blog & Legal News

Stone King Appoint Graham Burns as Partner

2011-09-09T16:33:00.003+01:00

Stone King LLP are pleased to announce the arrival of Graham Burns as a Partner and other new assistant colleagues in their Education Law team.

Graham is an acknowledged expert in complex education sector procurement and organisational change. He has previously worked for a local authority before joining Eversheds and then established a well-regarded education practice at TPP Law. As well as specialising in some of the most complex education procurement projects such as PFI and BSF, Graham has more recently developed a national reputation in setting up free schools and other forms of academy.

For more information on academy conversions or education law visit the education team at Stone King.

Stone King is independently recognised for its education and charity practice and acts for over 400 educational organisations throughout the UK.

Lawyer have released a preview of Lawyer 200

2011-09-09T16:28:00.003+01:00

The Lawyer have released a preview of Lawyer 200 on it website.

The intro text reads.

"..As London’s top sets ride the litigation boom they are also having to face up to the realities of working in a changed commercial environment, where economic pressures are more intense than ever..."

The full article is here:

http://www.thelawyer.com/the-lawyer-uk-200-preview-the-bar-rate-cuts-dampen-litigation-boom/1008931.article

Linklaters' HR director to retire from firm

2011-08-18T13:48:00.001+01:00

"In a statement, managing partner Simon Davies said: “Jill will be much missed. Under her leadership, the firm has made significant progress in articulating and executing our people strategy and she leaves a legacy of a strong and well regarded global HR team.

“We can confirm that the search for her successor is underway. In the meantime, we thank Jill for her tremendous contribution to the firm and wish her all the very best in her retirement.”

The Lawyer reports that Linklaters is to lose a second senior member of its HR team, with HR director Jill King set to retire from the firm.

The full story is published here:

http://www.thelawyer.com/linklaters-hr-director-to-retire-from-firm/1008964.article

BLP Hires Linklaters Lawyer For Hong Kong Launch

2011-06-17T12:37:00.002+01:00

News at the Lawyer at BLP Hire Linklaters Lawyers for its launch in Hong Kong.

"...No date has yet been set for the launch, but managing partner Neville Eisenberg said the process of getting regulatory approval for the new office is “quite well advanced..."

http://www.thelawyer.com/blp-hires-linklaters-lawyer-for-hong-kong-launch/1008268.article

The Apprentice 2011 - Its Back!

2011-05-06T16:19:00.002+01:00

The glory that is The Apprentice returns to the BBC on the 10th May 2011 for its seventh series.

The twist this year is that the winner doesn't get a job with Sir Alan but a cool £250,000 to invest in their own business with Lord Sugar taking a 50% stake.

It's always such top entertainment with the candidates falling over themselves to knife each other in the back.

Alan Sugar seems to have an issue with those who are too clever - I think that Thomas might get on his goat right from the start.

Emmetts to Recruit 100 Staff

2011-03-31T15:15:00.004+01:00

Good Legal Recruitment news over at The Recruiter. Emmetts LLP are set to recruit 100 legal and admin staff this year. New head of HR Charles Crookall

" Emmetts is a great place to work. There are some really talented people here. It’s young. It’s vibrant. It’s entrepreneurial. And that’s why we’re urging anyone seeking out their next employment challenge in the legal sector to get in touch and build their career with Emmetts..."

The full post is here.

http://www.recruiter.co.uk/emmetts-to-recruit-100/1009116.article

First bar census reveals little improvement in diversity statistics.

2011-03-25T12:50:00.002Z

The Lawyer are covering the story about the Bar Barometer report which is a census of the state of the professional currently and it also compares the data with the profession in 2005-06

This is the introduction to the report.

"Bar Barometer provides statistics and trends about the Bar of England and Wales over the period 2005-2010. Particular focus is on figures relating to the profile of the profession and those in the training stages over the past five years. This is the first report to unite information in this format, outlining general statistical information on the composition of

the barristers’ profession since the introduction of the Legal services act (2007)..."

The results show very little movement in terms of diversity.

"...that the proportion of self-employed female barristers has increased by just 1.5 percentage points over the period....."

and

"...Similarly, the proportion of BME barristers at the self-employed bar increased by a small margin. In 2005-06 BME barristers accounted for 9 per cent of the 11,818 self-employed barristers practising at the bar. By 2009-10 the proportion had risen by just 0.6 ...."

The full report on the Lawyer is here:

http://www.thelawyer.com/first-bar-census-reveals-little-improvement-in-diversity-statistics/1007393.article

Dawson and Penningstons set for Merger

2011-03-14T16:05:00.002Z

Main story on the Lawyer is the possible merger between Penningtons LLP and Dawsons.

"...According to sources close to Dawsons, the firm has been scouring the market for months for a merger partner to help it stabilise after suffering a series of exits and being hit with two significant lawsuits.....A statement from Penningtons added: “Part of our growth plan is to consider possible merger partners. We’ve been impressed by Dawsons’ lawyers; their practice would be a good cultural and strategic fit with our own, complementing our existing strengths.”

While Dawsons’ turnover has remained relatively static over the past few years, in July last year it was forced to settle a High Court claim for unpaid fees brought by Simmons & Simmons (The Lawyer, 5 July 2010). The firm also settled a claim for unfair dismissal brought by former chief executive Jeremy Ward that November."

Read the full story here at the lawyer

http://www.thelawyer.com/dawsons-and-penningtons-set-for-imminent-merger/1007245.article

Unemployment on the rise among solicitors

2011-02-16T11:36:00.003Z

Article on the Law Gazette about the rise in unemployment among solicitors.

"...The number of unemployed solicitors on benefits has quadrupled during the recession to more than 1,800, according to an analysis of official statistics by the Conservative Party reported in today’s Daily Telegraph.

Along with architects, surveyors and vets, solicitors comprise one of the professional groups to have experienced the biggest percentage increase in unemployment rates since the economic downturn. Many of those made redundant are thought to be in their late 40s and early 50s....."

Full article is here

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/unemployment-rate-among-solicitors-climbs-400

Know The Net - Information About The Internet

2010-11-29T08:38:00.003Z

A new site has been launched by Nominet (the people who look after the UK domain name market) to help people get the best out of the internet in the UK.

The site covers a wide range of business and personal topics including information on Job Searching Online that might be of interest to anyone looking for work.

There is also cyberbulling advice for parents and children worried about bullying online and related information on Internet Safety for Children.

For business users there is useful information on web analytics for small business, small business website advice and email marketing for smalll business.

The site is well worth a visit.

The Barristers

2008-11-18T15:14:00.000Z

"The Bar is one of the most powerful professions in the country, producing prime ministers, millionaires, campaigners and the judges who shape our law. It is a glamorous world which attracts thousands of would-be barristers every year, but just one in five students will ever get to present a case in court; only the brightest and the very best survive."

The BBC have this excellent page where you can view the episodes of the barristers (just in case you missed it or forgot to record it) and it has has a video clip lookiung at 'What is the role of a barrister?' (provided by the open university.

Site worth a visit; BBC The Barristers

Drunken Swinging by Midlands Vicar!!

2008-11-18T15:11:00.000Z

We scan the legal news most weeks and prefer to write about particularly amusing cases that catch our eye. This wee I nearly fell off my chair reading this one – whatever next!?

“The Rev Teresa Davies, from Daventry, Northamptonshire, was found guilty of inappropriate conduct at a tribunal in London yesterday and banned from practising for 12 years by the Church of England. Davies had admitted to colleagues that she went on swinging holidays in the South of France and had turned up drunk to church services on several occasions.”

View the full news story here: Church of England bans boozy vicar for swinging

Berg Legal Strengthen Corporate Finance Team

2008-11-12T10:16:00.000Z

Law firm Berg Legal has taken on a new solicitor to strengthen its highly regarded corporate finance team. Russell Bateman joins from Hall Smith Whittingham LLP in South Cheshire.Russell has over three years industry experience dealing with corporate deals, both public and private, in particular mergers, acquisitions and leveraged buy-outs. Although relatively junior Russell has had huge exposure to transactions in a client facing role. This includes a £5.6m disposal to a plc that was completed in time for an announcement to be made on the opening of London stock exchange the following morning.

He has a particular interest in fast paced transactional work and has dealt closely with several sectors including healthcare, pharmacies, IT and green energy. His role at Berg Legal will be to build on the success of the corporate finance department.
Russell originally from Newcastle-under-Lyme is a fan of Stoke City FC and has learned to cope with the highs and lows of the first season in the Premiership all too soon. He is a keen swimmer and is currently busy perfecting his latest hobby horse - riding.

Senior Partner Reuben Berg said:

"I am delighted to welcome Russell on board. His experience will bring many different skills to the partnership. We are in no doubt that his recruitment will assist us to continue to go from strength to strength during this testing time in the corporate finance marketplace."

Taylor Wessing LLP boosts Banking and Finance Litigation Practice ....

2008-11-10T12:05:00.000Z

.... with hire of Laurence Lieberman from DLA Piper. Taylor Wessing LLP has boosted its Banking and Finance litigation team in London with the hire of Laurence Lieberman as a partner specialising in banking and finance disputes, with a particular focus on claims involving the wealth management sector.

Laurence Lieberman was formerly a Senior Associate in DLA Piper's Litigation and Regulatory group, where he acted for Merrill Lynch, UBS and HSBC among others, and spent 9 months on secondment to Merrill's wealth management business. He has significant experience in contentious banking and financial services matters, particularly in the wealth management sector.

Shane Gleghorn, Head of the Banking and Finance Litigation Group at Taylor Wessing, comments: "We are delighted to have recruited Laurence. Given the impact of the credit crunch, it is important that we increase our banking and finance litigation expertise to complement the existing team and our commercial litigation practice. We are greatly looking forward to Laurence joining Taylor Wessing in what is a busy time for the team. There are strong links between Laurence's expertise in wealth management disputes, and the firm's finance and private client practice, as well as substantial opportunity for him to contribute to the continued success of our banking and finance litigation practice."

Laurence Lieberman comments:
"In these turbulent markets, banking and finance clients will continue to turn to Taylor Wessing's banking and finance litigation team to resolve their disputes. I am relishing the prospect of joining the team and contributing to its continuing growth and success."

Laurence will join Taylor Wessing on 24 November 2008.

Denton Wilde Sapte half year results show 6 % revenue growth

2008-11-10T12:01:00.000Z

Its not all doom and gloom in the legal world! According to their latest press release "Revenue has grown by 6 per cent in the first half of the 2008-09 financial year"

"This is a solid result given the current level of uncertainty in the market," says Chief Executive Howard Morris.

The results from the firm's Middle Eastern network of offices show a particularly strong performance, with revenue growing by 59 per cent.

"Our strengths in a number of practices and high growth markets will be key to our activity levels for the second half of the financial year. Nonetheless, the events of the last few months have shown that huge upheavals can come with surprising speed, and we're taking a measured approach to our expectations for the rest of the year," adds Howard.

Has the World gone Mad?

2008-11-03T11:16:00.000Z

Not quite the world but certainly Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers has got to be a few sandwiches short of a picnic … he filed a lawsuit last year seeking a permanent injunction against God who he said made terrorist threats against him and his Omaha constituents!
The judge has thrown out the case against God - as the Almighty doesn't have an official address and legal papers can't be served!

Goodness me … read the full article on Yahoo! News

Kevin Poulter has some tips to make it through the downturn

2008-10-29T13:58:00.000Z

We have a guest blogger this week - Kevin Poulter, Board Member of the JLD Committee and represents the Division to the Leeds Law Society;

With the “credit crunch” already causing a stir it was only going to be a matter of time before the three R’s – Recession, Redundancy and Retraining – were going to cause the region’s lawyers some problems.

Some of the Leeds “Big Six” are already making redundancy announcements and with the region’s middle tier following suit it might be time to rethink your career path – at least as a precautionary escape route should the fateful Private & Confidential letter land on your desk.

An economic downturn gives firms and lawyers a rare opportunity to sit back and take stock, although this opportunity should not be neglected either.

After the files have been archived, the “to do” list exhausted and the desk tidied, cleaned and polished your thoughts should turn to you and your clients.

Rather than sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring, watching the inbox expecting work to be handed to you, be proactive and keep in touch with your commercial clients who might also be suffering from the downturn.

Certain industries are harder hit than others, but also recover much quicker. If you retain the relationship when times are bad you will be the first on the list when the upturn begins.

For firms, now is the time to invest in your lawyers. “Soft skills” training in presentation skills, handling awkward clients, networking and business development can be undertaken in quieter periods.

These new-found skills can be put to good use in seminars for clients, business networking events and generally when promoting the firm. Cross-selling opportunities should also be focused on, especially those which often go unrecognised when we are all busy and have no time for introductions.

Senior colleagues will remind you that there have been hard times in the past and we always pull through. Others will be clinging onto the traditional belief that being a lawyer is a guaranteed job for life. Unfortunately there is no longer such a thing (the exception to the rule being Posh Spice,s hairdresser).

More and more solicitors are turning their backs on the profession to re-train in trade skills where there is a particular shortage. Others might fancy a quieter life on the continent (or further afield) welcoming guests to their taverna or guesthouse.

It all sounds good, but don’t jump out too soon. For those who sit it out, the downturn can present a number of opportunities……

The Yorkshire Lawyer Awards: This Years Winners

2008-10-28T09:08:00.000Z

Over 300 of the most talented legal professionals, their peers, mentors and supporters were recently wined and dined at the auspicious surroundings of Rudding Park, Harrogate.

The awards, now in their eighth year, have been renowned for offering peers the opportunity to shine a light on thoses who have provided outstanding or innovative services to the Yorkshire legal profession and their clients.

The Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year award went to Neil McLean, of DLA Piper LLP – an eminent lawyer for regeneration and real estate projects and a central figure in the Yorkshire legal community. The Leeds born lawyer was chosen due to his commitment and diligence to the profession and opening new doors for the younger generation.

Jackie Boole from Barker Brooks Media was pleased with the event : “The Yorkshire Lawyer Awards aren’t just a pat on the back, they represent real solidarity and pride amongst the region’s legal professionals."

This Year’s Winners

Lawyer of the Year 2008
Neil McLean, DLA Piper

Presidents’ Award
Bob Heslett, Beachcroft LLP

Law Firm (1 – 30 partners)
Switalski’s Solicitors

Law Firm (31+ partners)
Pinsent Masons

Specialist Law Firm
Ridley and Hall Solicitors

Rising Star Award
Chris Caulfield of Hammonds LLP

Private Client Awards
Julia Rangecroft of McCormicks & Co

Corporate Finance Award
Jonathan Procter of DLA Piper

Real Estate Award
Real Estate Team, Shulmans

Dispute Resolution Award
Contentious Team, Leeds, of Addleshaw Goddard

Enterprise Award
Manuel Bravo Project

Leading Southern law firm appoints six new recruits

2008-10-21T16:46:00.000+01:00

Thomas Eggar LLP, yesterday announced the appointment of Owain Morgan and Lindsay Haig, and trainees Lucy Robinson, Alexa Collis, Hannah Wharmby and Andrew Story to the Newbury office. Each individual joins with an impressive educational background.

Owain Morgan joins the firm following his graduation from Nottingham University with a BA in Politics, achieving a Graduate Diploma in Law and a Distinction for the Legal Practice Course at BPP London. Owain will be working closely with partners Tom Rossiter and Biddy Walker dealing with a wide range of commercial property based work and providing additional corporate support.

Lindsay Haig has been appointed into Thomas Eggar's corporate commercial team in Newbury, where she will be working closely with John Riddick, Leon Arnold, Jo Blazey and Andrew Story. Lindsay studied Business Law LLB at Bournemouth University.

Further recruitment in Newbury includes trainee appointments of Lucy Robinson, who graduated from Cardiff University and received a distinction on the LPC at Cardiff Law School, Alexa Collis, who graduated from Warwick University with a first class degree in Law, Hannah Wharmby, who studied Law and French at Cardiff University with a year spent at the University of Rennes in France and Andrew Story.

Andrew joins the corporate team in Newbury to specialise in mergers and acquisitions and company law. Having trained at Charles Russell in Guildford, Andrew joined Blake Lapthorn Linnell on qualification and moved to Thomas Eggar LLP in September 2008. Andrew graduated with a degree in Law with German Law and Language from the University of East Anglia before passing the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, London.

Commenting on the appointments, Managing Partner, Tony Edwards, said: "We are delighted to have appointed a set of individuals with such a strong educational background that clearly display drive, capability and a passion for law. Thomas Eggar delivers a high level of service to our clients and I am certain that the new additions to the team will continue to uphold these high standards."

Interview with Marie Haywood, HR Manager at Ellis Jones Solicitors

2008-10-21T14:30:00.000+01:00

We recently interviewed Marie Haywood @ Ellis Jones Solicitors. Here is a snippet of her interview;

"When Ellis Jones were marketing for an H.R Manager their main challenge was to find someone who was wiling to 'do' as well as 'manage'. They had a need for someone flexible who didn't mind getting there hands dirty with the more mundane tasks and muck in where needed but also someone with appropriate management experience and who was strong enough in character to face the more 'managerial' and 'people focused' challenges. I think that my assertiveness coupled with my people management, operational, commercial and operational experience matched their requirements."

Read the Full interview with Marie on SimplyLawJobs/Careers

How To Keep Your Job In The Current Credit Crunch

2008-10-21T11:17:00.001+01:00

Michelle Jones, Marketing Manager for Simply Law Jobs has a Few Tips!

Fearful of losing your job? In these economic times it is no surprise. With everyone from the Prime Minister to your Legal Assistant is looking worryingly over their shoulders as job security is becoming increasingly important. The cliché is often ‘last in first out’ and in this article I will outline how to make sure you do your best to hold on to your job, regardless of how long you have been in your current position.

The key is making yourself indispensable within your company and we don’t mean by sleeping with your boss!

12 Tips to help secure your Job;

Ø Treat each day as if it was your first – don’t take extra time on your breaks or waste time on facebook, emailing friends or selling/buying things on ebay. Be really positive and up-beat about what you have to do that day and complete everything realistic.
Ø If you have spare capacity at work ask for extra tasks – don’t over commit though as it will make you look like you can’t cope.
Ø Go to your bosses with solutions not problems.
Ø Innovate at work – think of ways to save the firm money and time.
Ø Stay on top of current trends & let your bosses know that you are – maybe do a monthly newsletter addressing current issues in the market.
Ø Update your skills and acquire new ones. Take up the offers of training and even seek out training that will add value to your role and as result, the company’s.
Ø Generate sales leads even if you aren’t in sales – think of friends, family and others in your immediate circle who may work for businesses that could use your services.
Ø Don’t be a clock watcher, in fact make an effort to arrive early and leave later on a regular basis.
Ø Don’t pull any ‘sickies’ – if you are genuinely unwell, go into the office and then be sent home. Make sure any appointments for dentist/doctors are at the least disruptive time to your firm.
Ø Don’t get involved in office politics, gossip or cliques - save your energy for working. Also - keep your own personal problems out of work.
Ø Be professional and well turned out at all time. Don’t roll in with a hang-over or say anything derogatory about your work colleagues (especially the boss). Earn a reputation for being dependable, professional, and cooperative.
Ø Be known - the more people who know you, know your strengths and abilities, know your value to the organization, the less likely you are to be put on that redundancy list.

It is important to maintain your work life balance and not to become a slave to the job. Don’t allow yourself to be exploited by your employer, make sure that you are being rewarded for your efforts. However, if you have any inkling that your company are making cut-backs then put the extra effort in now and it could be your saving grace.

Michelle Jones ©

Legal 500 lists Thomas Eggar as number one

2008-10-20T10:32:00.000+01:00

Leading law firm, Thomas Eggar LLP, has achieved a Tier 1 ranking in the Legal 500 listings for its Corporate & Commercial service and Employment service, for the first time. The firm also maintained the top position in Insolvency & Corporate Recovery, Agriculture & Estates and Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate in the South East. The annually produced Legal 500 report ranks law firms by sector and highlights key individuals.

Thomas Eggar was also commended in the sports arena for representing Milan Mandaric on his purchase of a 75% interest in Leicester City FC. Caroline Armitage, partner in Southampton, is recommended as a key individual in the report.

For its Employment division, Thomas Eggar rose to the first tier after the acquisition of Pennington Solicitors LLP’s offices in Newbury, which added four employment practitioners. The expansion of Thomas Eggar LLP into Newbury and Southampton means that Thomas Eggar now has an impressive geographical spread of offices.

The London office maintained its 2007 high positioning in 2008, with the Rail practice area progressing from tier six to tier five. Thomas Eggar was applauded in the rail sector for property related issues in the rail industry, while London partners Guy Clements and Louise Middleton were recommended.

In the Thames Valley, Thomas Eggar achieved tier 2 for the Personal Tax, Trust and Probate sector, with partner Claire Hamilton-Russell recommended for Family law and Partner Tom Rossiter for Real Estate and Commercial Property.

Tony Edwards, Managing Partner at Thomas Eggar comments, "We are delighted to continue to achieve top positions in the Legal 500. This demonstrates that Thomas Eggar's continued growth, ambition and consistently high standards of client service are recognised by our industry".

Has your firm got a reason to be proud with this years legal500 entries?? Let us know,

Diana Ross Tribute & Student of the Year {ILEX}

2008-10-14T10:29:00.000+01:00

On saturday afternoon I made my way across the severn bridge to the delightful city of Cardiff to attend the ILEX South Wales Branch Annual Ball. The ball was at the Park Plaza Hotel, which I was lucky enough to stay in - big bed, nice pool & so I discovered in the morning, an excellent breakfast!

The ILEX South Wales branch invited many guests including Mark Bishop {ILEX President}, several Senior and Distric Judges, Geraint Williams of The Law Society of Cardiff and the Chairman & Secretary of The Confederation of South Wales Law Societies. The delightful Frances Edwards {Branch Chairman} welcomed us all and ensured the evening went smoothly.

Drinks reception - warm white wine {!), followed by Leek & Potato Soup {what else in wales}, Chicken Supreme & Veg, Chocolate Mousse and Cheese & Biscuits. It was a good spread and no measely portions. We then had the charity raffle followed by the Student Awards.

SimplyLawJobs.com donated the £100 cash prize for the ILEX Level 3 Student of the Year, which was won by Angelina Davies of Bridgend College. Her tutor spoke about Angelina "She is the most outstanding student we have had in the 12 years we've been delivering ILEX. She studied A level law at college and really enjoyed it so decided to take it further. She enrolled with us 2 years ago and her overall results were outstanding. She had 5 Distinctions in the case studies – and only missed Distinction in the Tort and Civil Litigation by 2 marks. She then achieved a Distinction in the final examination – which, considering how horrid a paper it was and only 8 people in England and Wales achieved that, was a fantastic result."

Wow! Well done Angelina - despite her having flu she still attended and put a brave face on throughout the evening.

We all sat back then waiting for Jacky Webbe - Diana Ross tribute act - and I have to say she was really good. Very entertaining and totally engaging. I sloped off to bed after her 1st session and happened to share a lift with her - 'that is some wig' I said & she agreed!

If you are looking for a Law Job in Wales visit Simplylawjobs.com/wales

A 3rd of Lawyers are Lardies!!

2008-10-07T08:52:00.000+01:00

This article from Roll on Friday was a great source of amusement to me as they report that LIPOBind claim that Lawyers are second only to truckers in a league table of the fattest workers!!

In a survey sponsored by LIPObind - a "natural weight management partner" - a third of male lawyers have waistbands in excess of the national average of 38 inches. A spokesman said that lawyers have "lavish business lunches and nights out. They are also synonymous with driving smart cars and have less time to exercise when holding down such a demanding job".

IT workers came 3rd, Doctors 4th and plumbers 5th. The complete article by the Telegraph can be found here; Truckers and Lawyers top of the Fat Professional list!

The 100 most important cases in British Law?

2008-10-07T08:47:00.000+01:00

Over at the The Times they have launched a wonderful archive of law reports from the newspapers long established court reporting section. The reports date back as far as 1785 and you can search the archived law reports here. They have every single court report for a 200 year period between 1785–1985; now that’s some database!

In order to highlight the service they have asked Gary Slapper director of The Centre for Law at the Open University to select what he believes to be the 100 most important cases in the archive. Visit the site and see if you agree with his choices.

Visit Simply Law Jobs for a vast number of Lawyer Jobs.

We all break the Law everyday - apparently!!

2008-10-01T13:07:00.000+01:00

This interesting article in the telegraph last week is worth sharing with you. "Millions of people who declare themselves innocent law abiding citizens actually commit around seven crimes a week". The top 20 crimes we commit;

1. Speeding
2. Talking on a mobile/texting while driving
3. Dropping litter
4. Illegally downloading music
5. Cycling on pavements
6. Eating or drinking while driving
7. Having sex in a public place
8. Parking partly on a pavement
9. Taking drugs
10. Not wearing a seatbelt
11. Having sex under the age of 16
12. Parking on double yellow lines
13. Cycling with lights after dark
14. Not cleaning up dog poo
15. Smoking in a public place
16. Driving through a red light
17. Not having a TV license
18. Not informing the DVLA of a change of address/name
19. Taking a child out of school for a holiday without the head's permission
20. Carry an offensive weapon

Crikey! I think I did two of those this morning before I got to work! One - parking part on a pavement to run & drop my son off at nursery & two - speeding, not much but enough! Oh dear, what about you??

Sixth Annual Legal Aid Awards Launched

2008-10-01T11:33:00.000+01:00

I receive the Institute of Paralegals regular newsletter and was delighted to read about these awards;

The Legal Aid Practitioners Group are calling for nominations for the sixth Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) Awards, which celebrate the work of solicitors and barristers and other legal aid practitionerswho have dedicated their careers to the service of some of the most vulnerable members of society.

LAPG Director Carol Storer said, “The Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards are a chance to honour the practitioners who work so hard on behalf of some of the most vulnerable people in our society. So what better time to honour those who continue to advise people on their rights and represent them to ensure that those rights are meaningful. This is a chance for colleagues and local communities to honour the groups and individuals who continue to provide such an invaluable service. Every year we hear about the hard work, the dedication, the professionalism and the tenacity of the lawyers still carrying out legal aid work to ensure that the vulnerable members of our society have a voice. We look forward to receiving nominations that will as in previous years highlight that commitment.”

Nominations are being sought in nine categories:
Criminal Defence

Mental Health
Family

Legal aid firm/not-for-profit-agency

Young Solicitor
Barrister
Immigration and Asylum
Social and Welfare
Young Barrister

The panel of judges, chaired once again by Cherie Booth QC, will also be making an award for Outstanding Achievement.

The deadline for nominations is Friday 31st October 2008. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in London on 1st December 2008.

Good luck to everyone from the SimplyLawJobs Team!

For Legal Aid Jobs, visit Simply Law Jobs/LegalAid

{Source; http://www.lapg.co.uk/legalaidlawyer.cfm}

High bills for Solicitors on NHS cases

2008-09-22T11:03:00.000+01:00

It was recently reported that the NHS bill to pay solicitors acting for patients in compensation claims has more than doubled in four years. The annual bill in England now tops £90m - a 122% increase in four years, despite the fact the number of cases has remained similar. The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) told the BBC the rise was due to an increase in no win, no fee claims, which has led to some solicitors doubling their rates to £600 an hour.

About half of the cases the NHSLA sees now are brought by solicitors on a no win, no fee basis as opposed to under a fifth in 2000.

(Source: Yahoo News; read the full story)

TLT introduces full flexible benefits scheme

2008-09-22T10:59:00.000+01:00

Top 100 law firm TLT is introducing a new flexible benefits scheme in a bid to continue attracting and retaining the best talent in the increasingly competitive national and regional recruitment market. TLT will be one of only ten of the Top 100 UK law firms offering a full flexible benefits plan (source: Vebnet). The launch of the scheme demonstrates the firm's innovativeness as full flexible benefits plans are typically offered by only the very largest of law firms.

The scheme, which launches on 1st October, will give TLT's UK-based staff the opportunity to design their benefits package to meet their own personal lifestyle needs. Staff will be able to 'purchase' additional new benefits and enhance their existing benefits, while benefitting from tax and National Insurance contribution savings. The scheme will also allow staff to 'sell' some of their existing benefits to increase the monetary element of the remuneration package. Staff will be able to review and adjust their benefits package and see its impact through an online 'reward statement'.

TLT staff will be able to choose from a range of benefits including dental insurance, retail vouchers, health screening, private medical insurance, critical illness insurance, life assurance, childcare vouchers, travel insurance and bicycle leasing amongst others. Staff will also have the opportunity to buy and sell annual leave and to enhance some of their benefits to cover their partner and family.

TLT is also offering 'TLTShop', a way of shopping online that gives staff access to corporate discounts at thousands of retailers including well-known high street retailers.
The scheme is being launched following a series of focus groups and a web-based survey of staff across the business which found that 90% of respondents wanted flexibility, choice and responsibility over their benefits package and that over 66% were interested in 'buying' new benefits.

TLT's HR Director, Graham de Guise, says "TLT already has a strong track record of recruitment and retention and this latest offering will further enhance our competitiveness as we become an increasingly national player in our chosen markets. This initiative supports our ambition to be an employer of choice and will help us win the war for talent."
Described by industry commentators as 'the firm to watch', TLT is one of the UK's fastest growing law firms employing approximately 650 staff across its Bristol, London and Piraeus offices. The firm has been recognised in The Sunday Times' Best Companies To Work For report.

For Law Jobs in Bristol, visit Simplylawjobs.com/Bristol

As DOG is my witness!!

2008-09-15T14:10:00.000+01:00

Shouldn’t that be God!! No, in this mad French case a DOG has been called as a witness in a murder trial, and the dog is called Scooby!!! Has the judge gone barking mad? A 59-year old woman was found hanging from the ceiling in her Paris flat and whilst the police believe it is a clean cut suicide case, her family say that someone murdered her.

The only witness though, is Scooby. One lawyer said “Human evidence is unreliable enough, let alone canine evidence. Besides, the victim died two and half years ago, which is seventeen dog years! How is the animal supposed to remember that far back?"

For the Full Story: What do you think?

TLT welcomes new Trainees

2008-09-09T14:44:00.000+01:00

Top 100 law firm TLT welcomes five new trainee solicitors to the firm's training scheme. Claire Kershaw, Robert Dyson, Ashley Borthwick, Chris Diamond and Iain Taylor start their two-year training contract at the firm this week.

Each of the new trainees will spend six months in a different 'seat' or specialist team, getting first hand experience of law in action and advising and dealing with TLT's clients under expert supervision. They will benefit from a designated trainee supervisor, regular partner contact and comprehensive technical and skills training. The training is broad-ranging and includes professional skills courses and the firm's T to 2 scheme, where lawyers from trainees through to two year post-qualification receive training on key practice areas, which can involve direct contact with referrers and key clients. Trainees are also actively encouraged to participate in the firm's environmental and charity work.

This year's trainees will initially join TLT's banking and financial services litigation, corporate finance and commercial property teams at both the firm's head office in Bristol and also its growing London office. TLT has 21 trainee solicitors participating in the training scheme, which is heavily oversubscribed and enjoys a very high retention rate. As the firm has grown it has recruited an increasing number of trainees and this is set to continue across both of the firm's offices in its March and September intakes.

TLT's Training Principal and Partner Maria Connolly says, "Career development at TLT is about giving people the support they need to achieve their professional and personal goals. We recruit the best people and invest heavily in them to ensure that they are able to fulfil their full potential. I'm delighted to welcome Claire, Robert, Ashley, Chris and Iain to TLT."

Law Firm Podcasts

2008-08-27T17:56:00.000+01:00

We found this recent blog post regarding Law Firms and those that offer legal updates via podcasts. There is a list of good firms that do.

The blog poster was impressed with firm Maclay, Murray and Spens LLP - who have several specialist podasts, and with Burness, the first Scottish firm to offer such a service. Have a look at the list & links, which we hope you find useful.

Norton Rose announces new contentious Intellectual Property partner in London

2008-08-18T08:39:00.000+01:00

Norton Rose LLP, the international legal practice, recently announced that Jonathan Ball is to join the practice in London as a contentious Intellectual Property partner. Jonathan joins from DMH Stallard, where he is a partner in dispute resolution specialising in intellectual property and technology. Previously, Jonathan was a senior associate in the Intellectual Property department at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer until June 2007.

Jonathan is a specialist in the field of contentious intellectual property with extensive experience in patent litigation. His experience covers patent cases in the pharmaceuticals, engineering and electronics sectors, as well as other intellectual property litigation including trademarks, copyright, design and confidential information.

Following Jonathan’s appointment there will be 19 dispute resolution partners and 46 associates in London.

For Patent Law Jobs visit Simplylawjobs.com/PatentLaw and for Litigation Solicitor roles visit Simplylawjobs.com/LitigationSolicitor

Taylor Wessing Hires Leading Insurance and Reinsurance Partner, Anthony Menzies

2008-08-18T08:17:00.000+01:00

Leading European and International law firm Taylor Wessing is pleased to announce the further strengthening of its insurance and reinsurance practice with the hire of Anthony Menzies, formerly a partner of Clyde & Co.

Anthony will be working alongside Taylor Wessing's Head of Insurance, James Crabtree, and other members of the firm's Insurance Group, including lawyers based in the firm's London office and offices in Paris, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich and Dubai.

Through its international Insurance Group, Taylor Wessing provides a broad range of services to the worldwide insurance and reinsurance industry, including litigation and dispute resolution, corporate, regulatory and compliance, web based products, media law and employment law. The firm has, for example, recently handled major corporate transactions and substantial disputes in the international insurance and reinsurance sector. James Crabtree and Peter Kempe, in particular, are well-respected practitioners.

James Crabtree commented:
"Anthony brings with him a flourishing international practice, which complements Taylor Wessing's existing international insurance and reinsurance practice."

Anthony Menzies commented:
“I am delighted to be joining Taylor Wessing at such an exciting stage in the firm’s development. I have been extremely impressed with the professionalism and commitment of my new colleagues and with the firm’s strong team ethos, which enables it to deliver the very best service to clients."

For Insurance Lawyer Jobs visit Simplylawjobs.com/Insurance

Featured Job - Commercial Lawyer

2008-08-12T14:13:00.000+01:00

Commercial Lawyer for PIAS UK- London

You will be a qualified Lawyer with in-house experience. You will have a proven track record of dealing with a variety of agreements and contracts such as distribution, international, loan, third-party and service agreements. Understanding of music law and familiarity with the music industry is not essential but is advantageous. The ideal candidate will be highly proactive, have the ability to work autonomously within a relaxed, friendly and dynamic environment, the confidence to build a team, and the audacity to jump into a role within the modern music industry.

To read the full job description or to apply for this job please click here

New Pensions Partner at Olswang

2008-08-02T12:34:00.001+01:00

Olswang has appointed David Farmer to the partnership expanding its Pensions practice.
Joining the Firm this week from Beachcroft LLP where he was also a Partner, David will head the Pensions Group. David brings widespread experience to Olswang with particular expertise in pensions advisory work and corporate support for clients in the retailing, outsourcing and financial services sectors, which firmly mirror sectors in which Olswang has a strong reputation.

Commenting on his appointment Tony Leifer, Corporate Partner at Olswang said, "We are delighted to welcome David to the partnership. With his considerable experience in all manner of pensions related work, coupled with his sector expertise, he is a perfect fit for Olswang."
The Pensions practice sits within Olswang's broader Corporate Group which continues to be acknowledged as a leading practice having this year already won M&A Law Firm of the Year at the M&A Awards 2008 in conjunction with M&A Magazine, and Corporate Team of the Year – Mid markets at The Lawyer Awards 2008.

Click Here - Pensions Jobs on SimplyLawJobs

Nick Land to act as non-executive Board member for Denton Wilde Sapte

2008-07-30T14:43:00.000+01:00

Press Release from Denton Wilde Sapte LLP

Denton Wilde Sapte has appointed Nick Land to act as an external non-executive Board member.

"Nick has a vast and invaluable store of experience in advising international firms on their business development and strategy in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). His experience and his position on the boards of Royal Dutch Shell, Vodafone, BBA Aviation and The Ashmore Group also make him ideally placed to advise on our sector focus and growth plans," says Chairman James Dallas.

Nick worked at Ernst & Young for 35 years up to 2006, the last 11 of which he spent as Chairman of Ernst & Young UK, as well as more recently acting as Managing Partner of Ernst & Young's EMEA region.

"We've conducted a thorough selection process over the last 12 months, and Nick is by far the best candidate we considered for the role," adds James.

Geoffrey Howe acted as the firm's non-executive Board member from 2001 to 2007, when he stepped down in order to meet his growing obligations as chairman of Nationwide Building Society.

Nick's responsibilities will include attending all Board meetings and other relevant meetings, and he will also act as Chairman of the Audit Committee, which oversees the preparation of the firm's LLP accounts.

Children visit reading buddies at TLT Law Firm

2008-07-29T10:17:00.001+01:00

Children from Bristol primary school, Weston Park Primary, visited the Bristol headquarters of top 100 law firm TLT this week to see where their reading buddies spend their working days.

The seven children, aged 10 - 11 years, were invited to TLT's offices to see where their buddy worked and get an idea of what they do, giving them a taste of the working world. The children also had a tour of the building and ate lunch with their reading buddies.

As part of the 'Ablaze' reading scheme, senior management, solicitors and support staff at TLT have been visiting primary school pupils at three schools across Bristol for the past year. The scheme aims to help local children improve their literacy skills and improve their confidence in reading. TLT currently has 44 employees volunteering on the charity scheme, with each child benefitting from 30 minutes each week with a reading buddy.

The scheme operates with the help of Ablaze, a registered charity established by the business community in Bristol to bring together the enthusiasm and commitment of education, business and community to improve attainment, attendance and achievement in schools. All TLT staff involved are approved to work with children and receive full training.

The children's teacher, Jan Antonana says, "Staff at TLT have made a huge difference to these children not only by improving their reading skills but also by enhancing their interpersonal and social skills and broadening their horizons."

Robert Bourns Senior Partner at TLT says, "There is real enthusiasm across the firm for this worthwhile scheme. We hope it will contribute to a measurably higher attainment in literacy of those leaving primary school. Involvement gives first hand experience of the challenges facing others and alters perceptions of all concerned."

Jan Pritchard of the Children and Young People's Services - Extended Schools Team adds, "This is an exceptional level of volunteer commitment and enthusiasm from one firm".

Businessman awarded £22,000 for libel and breach of privacy on Facebook

2008-07-29T08:37:00.000+01:00

This press release was sent to us by Olswang Law Firm;

First libel and privacy case relating to a Facebook user to reach trial in the UK

Applause Store Productions Limited and its Managing Director, Mathew Firsht, were today awarded £22,000 in the High Court for libel and breach of privacy relating to false allegations and private information on a fake profile and group on Facebook.
Richard Parkes QC, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge, made the award against Grant Raphael, a former school friend of Mr Firsht, who the Judge found to be responsible for the Facebook material. In doing so, the Judge found that Mr Raphael's case was "nothing more than a lie".

Mr Firsht discovered the fake Facebook profile in July 2007 after surfing the internet with his brother. The fake profile and the group "Has Mathew Firsht lied to you?..." accused Mr Firsht and Applause Store of being unable to pay their debts and having lied to avoid paying them. The Judge awarded Mr Firsht and Applause Store £15,000 and £5,000 respectively to compensate for these false and defamatory allegations. He also awarded a further £2,000 to Mr Firsht for breach of privacy for the publication of information on the fake profile about his religion, false allegations that he was gay, and various other private details.

Mr Firsht commented:
"What Mr Raphael did was extremely offensive, embarrassing and may have caused serious damage to the reputation of myself and Applause Store, which I have spent years building into what it is today.

The case never needed to go this far. Had Mr Raphael owned up at the beginning and apologised, the matter could have been dealt with without the need for a lengthy and distressing legal process. Instead, Mr Raphael stuck his head in the sand and will now have to pay the consequences for having lied to both myself and the court. I hope that this Judgment will at least send a warning out to users of Facebook and other social networking websites that they cannot recklessly post defamatory and private material with immunity. Having been vindicated by the Court, I now look forward to getting on with my life and putting this episode behind me."

When Mr Firsht discovered the Facebook material, it was anonymous. He complained to Facebook, which cooperated and removed the offending material immediately. He then obtained a disclosure order to discover that the fake profile and group had been created from the home of Mr Raphael on the 19 and 20 June 2007. When asked by Mr Firsht's lawyers, Olswang, for his explanation, Mr Raphael claimed that he had had a party and that strangers who attended that party must have been responsible for the Facebook material. Mr Raphael then signed an affidavit of that effect, which left Mr Firsht with little choice but to sue.

In his judgment, Richard Parkes QC said that he found Mr Raphael's case to be a lie, and that his explanation of the events on 19 June was "utterly implausible from start to finish". Mr Raphael was a “glib and loquacious” witness who was “always prepared…to talk his way out of a difficulty, with no apparent insight into the implausibility of some of his answers”. He was a witness who "believed in his own ability to talk himself out of trouble".

Ashley Hurst, an Associate at Olswang who acted for Applause Store and Mr Firsht, said:
"This decision is likely to send shock waves amongst the social networking community. There are many similar instances of libel and breach of privacy which go unchecked every day. People need to realise that libel and privacy laws in the UK apply just as much to online media as they do to newspapers. The case also goes to show that with a combination of sophisticated tracing techniques, use of the court process and careful assembly of evidence, anonymous users of the internet can be brought to justice." Counsel for the Claimants (Applause Store and Mr Firsht) at the trial was Miss Lorna Skinner of Matrix Chambers.

Barrister Jailed for five years after £17.5m fraudulent VAT claim

2008-07-23T10:23:00.000+01:00

John Wilmot, a Nigerian barrister, has been jailed for five years at Southwark Crown Court after making fraudulent VAT repayment claims totalling £17.5m. Wilmot claimed to have sold aircraft engines mane by a UK company to an Iraqi businessman for £100m. A search of his office, where he had also been living, in Temple Avenue, London, uncovered a laptop which had been used to create purchase and sales invoices, export documents and contracts.

Checks by HM Revenue & Customs revealed that the ship which Wilmot claimed had carried the engines to Iraq was actually carrying a cargo of beans to the Black Sea. The aircraft engines, which Wilmot claimed to have sold for £25m each, were valued at less than £5m on the manufacturer’s website.

The Iraqi national involved, who Wilmot names as “Mr Al Majari of Basra” could not be traced.
One of the VAT numbers he used was a redundant number belonging to the Argos Catalogue Company.
Wilmot was also unable to show any bank accounts relating to payment for the engines.
Passing sentence, Her Honour Judge Taylor said “It was an audacious attempt to obtain a large amount of money by fabricating evidence.”

Wilmot was recommended for deportation at the end of his sentence and disqualified as a company director for eight years. Robert Gray, assistant director at the Criminal Investigation Directorate of HMRC, said “Wilmot is a barrister – he was in a position of knowledge and trust. He chose to abuse his privileged position to mount an extremely serious attack on the VAT system. “This massive fraud would have worked were it not for our rigorous checking of VAT repayment claims together with the diligence of local staff.”

{Source: Solicitors Journal, 8th July}

Field Fisher Waterhouse boosts financial services practice with Partner hire

2008-07-23T09:08:00.000+01:00

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP recently announced the appointment of partner Duncan Black who joins the firm from Dechert's London office.

Duncan specialises in financial services regulatory matters. The core of his practice is in regulatory enforcement, risk assessment, resolving regulatory problems (including FSA and SEC) and financial services disputes generally, with a particular focus on the asset management and hedge fund sector.

His appointment will strengthen the firm's highly regarded financial services and funds practice. Field Fisher Waterhouse has a leading funds practice with well recognised strengths in the fund management sector. Duncan's appointment will enable the firm to build on the range of services it can offer to its asset management and other financial services clients.

Kirstene Baillie, head of the Financial Services and Funds Group at Field Fisher Waterhouse said: "We are delighted that Duncan has chosen to join our team. We are actively seeking to develop the strength in depth of our thriving financial services practice, and Duncan's expertise in financial services regulatory matters will be a great asset."

For your next Partner move, visit SimplyLawJobs.com/PartnerJobs

Andrew launches debt recovery service at DWF Leeds

2008-07-16T12:31:00.000+01:00

The Leeds office of law firm DWF has appointed Andrew Howard to launch a new service to help businesses and local authorities to recover outstanding debts. Andrew, who will be a senior manager in the business recovery department, has over 20 years experience in debt recovery, insolvency and litigation.

Born and brought up in Leeds, he began his legal career with Eversheds in Leeds and went on to work for Hammonds and Drydens in Bradford. Most recently he was business development manager with Carrick

Read in Leeds.

Andrew's appointment follows the firm's recent move to new 32,000 sq ft offices in Bridgewater Place, four times the size of the previous premises in West One.
Andrew Gregory, head of business recovery at DWF, says: "Ensuring prompt payment can make the difference to an organisation's success or failure.

Andrew will be helping us to build a new team of debt recovery specialists who can provide professional help to those facing problems with outstanding payments.

"The firm already has well established debt recovery teams based in Manchester and Preston. This is another step in the development of our Leeds office, which continues to grow and add new specialist skills following the recent expansion into new premises."

For Legal Opportunities in Leeds visit Simplylawjobs.com/Leeds

For Debt Recovery, Insolvency and Litigation Jobs go to SimplyLawjobs.com/BusinessRecovery

Norton Rose announces new debt capital markets and Islamic finance partner

2008-07-07T20:57:00.000+01:00

Norton Rose LLP, the international legal practice, today announced that Farmida Bi has joined their London office as a partner in the international securities group. Farmida joins from Denton Wilde Sapte where she was partner and head of Islamic finance.

In her new role she will work on debt capital markets and securitisation work, including sukuk - shari’ah-compliant bonds. She joins partners Laurence Garside, Tak Matsuda, Sandrine Sauvel, Dean Naumowicz, and Neil D. Miller in the international securities group. Farmida Bi has specialised in capital markets transactions for over 15 years. She is a member of the New York Bar and of the Law Society of England and Wales and has experience of debt and equity capital markets (including Islamic finance and securitisations), emerging markets, regulatory issues, structured finance and mergers and acquisitions.

Stephen Parish, Global Head of Banking, Norton Rose LLP commented:“Farmida is a prominent securitisation and debt capital markets lawyer, who also has excellent Islamic finance credentials. She will add further depth to our market-leading Islamic finance capabilities and boost our offering in international securities” Farmida Bi commented:“I am very pleased to be working with the team at Norton Rose LLP.

The international securities group provides an excellent synergy with the areas I work in, namely, securitisation, debt capital markets, and sukuk.” Neil D. Miller, head of Islamic finance, Norton Rose LLP commented:“We are pleased to be welcoming Farmida to the team. In addition to her conventional capital markets work, she is well-known and respected for her work in the Middle East and Islamic finance. Her expertise in Sukuk and especially her recent securitisation work will be an attraction to both existing clients and new business alike.”

For Capital Markets Jobs visit SimplylawJobs/CapitalMarkets

Criminal Justice for Barristers on TV?

2008-07-04T09:46:00.005+01:00

Criminal Justice for Barristers?

There is currently a spat going on in the letters page of the Guardian between the bar council and the writer of BBC current prime time drama Criminal Justice. The bar council have objected to the portrayal of barristers in the show. Timothy Dutton QC, chairman of the bar council wrote to the Guardian on the 2^nd July. His letter took issue with the way in which the barristers were displayed as underhand, unprincipled and overtly aggressive. The writer Peter Mofat has hit back by stating in a letter published on the 3^rd July. “It's about time the bar faced up to the fact that, like every other profession, it has brilliant and fair-minded practitioners, those of average ability, and the violent, dishonest and stupid all working within it.”

Moffat is not a callow youthful writer with an axe to grind and no knowledge of the legal system. He is a trained barrister who practiced law for six years. He has an insider’s knowledge of the system. He has written on the legal system before including Kavanagh QC and North Square. Is Moffat holding up a mirror to the underbelly of the criminal justice system or just dramatic license? I am not sure but it does make great TV.

Timothy Dutton Letter

Peter Moffat Letter

Visit Simply Law Jobs for a new barrister jobs.

A centurion success for Weightmans

2008-07-01T11:23:00.002+01:00

Birmingham based lawyer Verona Cocks of law firm Weightmans has become the firm’s 100th Partner following her promotion from Associate early June.

Her promotion comes at a busy time for the firm after it recently announced record turnover of £50 million for the 2007/2008 financial year – a rise of 14% (£6.2 million) on last year.

Verona joined the firm as an Associate in 2006 to launch its Commercial Dispute Resolution and Insolvency team in the Midlands. Working out of the firm’s Birmingham and Leicester offices where she and her team of four service clients across the whole region, she now has a significant client base. Said Andrew Cox, head of Commercial Dispute Resolution at Weightmans:

“Verona has established a strong dispute resolution team in the Midlands and she fully deserves to be recognised for her commitment and achievements. We now plan to build on her success by pursuing further strategic growth in the Midlands.”

Weightmans’ commercial business line posted a record 35% growth on last year’s performance; a result fuelled by home grown talent, a number of high quality lateral hires and client wins. Verona's promotion amongst others signifies the firm's commitment to its midlands operations and to being recognised as a major national commercial practice.

Verona has broad experience in all areas of commercial disputes and contentious insolvency. Commenting on her promotion Verona said:

“This is a great achievement for me personally and I now aim to continue to drive forward the development of our dispute resolution and insolvency offering in the region and to strengthen the platform from which we deliver our commercial services in Birmingham and Leicester.”

Verona launched her legal career with corporate law firm Martineau Johnson where she spent five years before joining Cobbetts’ Birmingham operation and finally Weightmans in 2006.

Weightmans is a top 60 UK law firm with offices in Birmingham, Leicester, Liverpool, London, and Manchester. Visit Simply Law Jobs for legal jobs in the West Midlands.

Cardiff Law Society: Summer Party

2008-06-30T11:47:00.001+01:00

Despite the nightmare traffic on the M4 and the venue not being picked up by my sat nav I eventually arrived at the New House Country Hotel with half an hour to spare to get glammed up. With a 'Nite in Vegas' theme we all had a fantastic time at the Confederation of South Wales Law Society Summer party on Friday 27th June.

There was a casino table and SimplyLawJobs.com donated £100 cash for the 1st prize, which was one by a firm of Solicitors in Cardiff. We enjoyed dancing and good old fashioned crooning to the 'voice of Dave Dean'. For legal roles in Wales please visit Simply Law Jobs - Law Jobs Wales .

Annual Summer Ball: Devon & Somerset JLD

2008-06-29T19:51:00.002+01:00

A great time was had by all at the Devon and Somerset Junior Lawyers Division Annual Summer Ball on Friday night. A Mobsters and Molls theme got the party off to a flying start and before long 'rock the boat' baby was too hard to resist.

Simplylawjobs.com sponsored part of the event and attended the evening. You can see all the photos on their Facebook page.

Visit Simply Law Jobs - Lawyer Jobs

Legal Events: Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter

2008-06-23T15:19:00.000+01:00

Simplylawjobs is involved in 3 events over the next 2 weeks and we will of course share with you the photos and all the shenanigans. In the meantime, here are the details:

Cardiff - CONFEDERATION OF SOUTH WALES LAW SOCIETIES - Summer Party - Friday, 27th June. 'A Nite in Vegas' is the theme and we are donating a cash prize for the Casino table winner. Two representatives of Simplylawjobs.com will be there, so if you have a ticket we look forward to meeting you.

Exeter - Devon & Somerset Junior Lawyers Division Summer Ball, Friday 27th June @ Thistle Hotel, Queens Street, Exeter. With a Gansters & Molls theme it is set to be a great evening. Again, two representatives of Simply Law Jobs will be there, so if you have a invitation we look forward to meeting you. We are sponsoring part of the event.

Bristol - Ilex Bristol's 'event of the year' - the Summer Ball -will take place at the Marriott Hotel Bristol City Centre, Castle Green, Bristol on 4th July. There will be a welcome drink, four course dinner, charity rafflet in aid of Survive and dancing until late. SimplyLawJobs are attending and contributing to the dinner. Are you an ILEX member and seeking work in Bristol? Visit jobs for Legal Executives/Bristol.

Unique offering in the Legal Recruitment Sector

2008-06-18T16:19:00.001+01:00

Catalyst Recruitment, the new name in Legal Recruitment has a unique offering, with a very experienced recruiter at the helm. Robert Dimler, Partner and Head of their Legal Recruitment team brings over 20 years experience of recruiting for the Legal Private Practice arena.

Catalyst Legal may be a new name to the legal recruitment stable but it has a pedigree that stretches back over 20 years with a totally unique offering, not found anywhere in the legal recruitment sector.

As part of Catalyst Legal unique recruitment package, all permanent legal placements receive a dynamic, innovative bespoke training programme, to ensure their ongoing success within their new role. Programmes from Catalyst’s experienced training team, provide successfully placed candidates with varying levels of experience, the opportunity to achieve much more and make a real impact on both a personal and commercial level.

Catalyst has an experienced training team who can also offer bespoke and public training programmes for existing staff. In summing up Robert explains “It helps to have modern offices in Tottenham Court Road which boast seven fully equipped training/conference rooms with video conferencing facilities. We can also offer testing and appraising services and have private interviewing suites that can be made available for clients off site recruitment needs.”

View all jobs advertised from Catalyst Legal on Simply Law Jobs

Senior Legal Advisor: Fantastic Opportunity

2008-06-18T16:16:00.000+01:00

Due to the recent acquisition by AkzoNobel of the ICI group, a fantastic opportunity has arisen for an experienced legal adviser to join the legal team supporting the Decorative Paints businesses in the UK and Europe. As an important member of the legal function and a partner to the business, you will be working on a very diverse range of legal matters. For more details about this In-House Legal Counsel role and to apply, visit Simplylawjobs.com/ICI

LOVELLS PROMOTES 46 TO OF COUNSEL

2008-06-11T09:45:00.000+01:00

Lovells has made 46 appointments to the position of Of Counsel, Counsel or Consultant (depending on jurisdiction) with effect from 1 May 2008.

The jurisdiction spread reflects the international nature of Lovells' practice, covering each of the firm's four regions:

· 27 in Continental Europe
· 11 in London
· Six in Asia
· Two in the US

Areas of specialisation reflect the broad spread of Lovells' practice:
· Six in Banking
· One in Business Restructuring & Insolvency
· One in Capital Markets
· Three in Competition
· One in Construction
· 13 in Corporate
· Four in Dispute Resolution
· Two in Employment/Pensions
· Seven in Intellectual Property, Media & Technology (IPMT)
· Six in Real Estate
· Two in Tax

These appointments were confirmed in a firmwide announcement by Managing Partner, David Harris. David Harris said:

"I am delighted to be able to confirm these appointments to what is a senior and now well-established role within our international practice. This status recognises those senior lawyers who perform at the highest level and who contribute to the firm in a variety of ways beyond pure fee-earning. Promotion to this role therefore represents a significant career milestone."

Herbert Smith announces further expansion in the Middle East

2008-06-09T11:00:00.002+01:00

Herbert Smith confirmed today that it will be opening its office in Abu Dhabi later this month. Underlining the importance of the legal market in Abu Dhabi, Neil Brimson, the firm's Middle East head, will relocate to Abu Dhabi to lead the development of the office, which will be based in Al Bateen Towers. In addition to Neil, the office will initially be staffed by six associates.

The move follows Herbert Smith's announcement last month that it has set up a formal association with Al Ghazzawi Professional Association ("GPA") in Saudi Arabia. The firm already has an extensive track record of advising on major work in Abu Dhabi, particularly in relation to the growing number of major infrastructure and energy projects in the Emirate. Earlier this year, for example, it announced its role advising Hydrogen Energy, the joint venture between BP and Rio Tinto, on plans to build a clean power plant in the Emirate, as part of Abu Dhabi's Masdar multibillion dollar initiative to develop sustainable energy in the region.

Other Abu Dhabi-based clients of the firm include Etisalat, the United Arab Emirates national telecommunications operator, that Herbert Smith has been regularly advising over the last year on its international acquisitions.

Neil Brimson commented:
"We are delighted. It is an opportune and exciting time to be opening in Abu Dhabi and we are committed to developing our presence there. Having an office in Abu Dhabi will enable us to enhance our service to existing clients based in the Emirate and to participate in the extraordinary development of Abu Dhabi that will occur over the coming years."

NORTH WALES BRANCH: Events

2008-06-09T10:44:00.001+01:00

- 12th July 2008: End of Exams and 1st Anniversary, Celebration Day at Chester Races
Entrance fee £12.00 pp
- CPD EVENT: Topic And Date to be confirmed
- August 2008: Summer Drinks, Come and Join us after work
- 18th October 2008: Ghost Walk, Bodelwyddan Castle at 18.00 to 20.00, £8.00 pp
- Christmas Party: Date, venue and cost to be confirmed!

If you are interested in any of the above events please email Katie or Sally,

Job interview with: Emma Stacey, Senior Executive at The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs

2008-06-05T09:10:00.000+01:00

- You currently work for The Institute of Legal Secretaries & PAs; how long have you worked there & tell me more about your role within the ILS.

I have worked at the Institute since 2004. My role within the company is varied, interesting and I enjoy my work very much. I make important decisions about how the company operates, help to manage our courses and qualifications, provide career guidance to Students and Members as well as liaising with other companies who can help our Members.

- What attracted you to them as a Company? / How did you get your current job?

I previously worked for the National Association of Licensed Paralegals who promote qualifications and career development for Paralegals and used to run a Legal Secretary course. I was very interested in the career path of Legal Secretaries and what was available to them in the way of qualifications and career help. Fortunately, The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs contacted NALP in 2004 and I was given the opportunity to work for the company.

- What would you like to change about your industry?

Legal Secretaries are occasionally undervalued for the fundamental and hard work that they do for law firms so it is important to raise their profile so that they receive more recognition. The Institute helps their Members with this by increasing their knowledge and skills, encouraging personal and professional development and bringing awareness to the profession.

- Greatest challenge:

My greatest challenge is when we introduce new concepts and integrate them with our existing work so that it all runs smoothly. We are always open to change and improvements within the company.

- Favourite aspect of your work?

Receiving regular and positive feedback from Students and Members who we have helped with their careers. It reminds me of how worthwhile my work is.

- Who do you most admire?

I admire people who are honest, open and compassionate.

- What would you do, as a career, if you weren't working for the ILS?

I would like to work with disadvantaged children around the world.

- Any recommendations for job-seekers looking at a similar career path to you, or indeed working as a Legal Secretary?

Do as much research as possible about the career you want to pursue. Find out what qualifications or experience you need and how you can enhance the skills that you already have. Be dedicated and positive and you will succeed.

- Previous Jobs:

Legal Secretary , Ashfords Solicitors.
Senior Administrator, the National Association of Paralegals.
Manager, the National Association of Paralegals.

- What was your new years resolution and have you stuck to it?

To exercise regularly. Going to the gym after a hard day’s work isn’t always appealing but once I’m there it feels great.

- Interests:

Travelling to experience different societies and cultures – I have been to many countries in Europe, the USA, India, Thailand, South Africa and Japan. I read books on personal development as they keep me in tune with myself, and those around me. Dining and cooking with friends and family is always enjoyable. I love nature as I was brought up in the countryside and like to take walks in the woods or by the sea and watch documentaries such as Planet Earth and Tribe.

Many thanks to Emma for taking the time to share her career experience with Simply Law Jobs

Man arrested for licking toes!!

2008-06-04T12:12:00.000+01:00

Yes you read it right! This is such a strange news story I had to tell you about it .......

"A mugger in America was arrested after ignoring rule number 1 of mugging: after robbing your victim, don't stop to lick their toes before making a quick getaway. The incident occurred when a 24-year-old woman was leaving work around 1a.m. on Saturday. The suspect, a 27-year-old man, approached her and demanded her keys and phone, according to authorities. After that, instead of running away like you're supposed to, he took time out to remove her shoes and licked her toes. Police arrested the man a few minutes later about four blocks away." (metro)

How mad is that!? For Police Station Representative jobs Visit Simplylawjobs/Criminal

Strength to strength - promotions take Brodies passed 60 partner barrier

2008-05-28T14:08:00.000+01:00

2007/8 has been another ground-breaking year for leading Scottish firm, Brodies LLP. Committed to delivering premium quality client service, the firm is continuing to drive and achieve its ambitious agenda to recruit and retain the best legal talent in Scotland, and as a result is delighted to announce 6 partner and 7 associate promotions effective from 1 May 2008. These promotions, along with recent lateral hires, take the firm to a 61 strong partnership – firmly cementing Brodies’ position as the largest law firm headquartered and solely based in Scotland and the outstanding firm in its region in terms of leading lawyer numbers, focus on core markets, sustained profitable growth and quality client service.

These developments come in a continued period of investment in people and resources and follow the recent announcement of the lateral hire of restructuring and insolvency partner, Rachel Grant, from Semple Fraser, and new Director of Corporate Tax, Isobel D’Inverno, from MacRoberts. The firm also announces the appointment of shipping specialist, Rosie O’Donnell from HBJ Gateley Waering, as an associate in its Litigation department.

Brodies LLP Managing Partner, Bill Drummond, commented:

“As always recruiting, rewarding and developing our legal resource is fundamental to the success and growth of the firm. We are delighted to announce these promotions and appointments in line with our ongoing strategy to place legal talent precisely where it’s needed ahead of the market, to best serve the needs of our clients. Recruiting within the Scotttish market and bringing great lawyers back to Scotland will continue to be a key tactic in delivering our client-focussed strategies."

Continued growth is strategic and focused around key sectors and client requirements.

Brodies LLP is a top-quality, client-focused, leading UK commercial law practice delivering the highest level of legal services to a strong UK public and private sector client base, with an international perspective and delivery capability. The firm has grown to become a market leader in Scotland for Scottish jurisdictional work while presenting a clear option to the market for major Scottish and cross-border transaction work. It regularly supports the international strategies of its clients and membership of European and global legal networks strengthens its offering in foreign jurisdictions.

Britains Got Legal Talent

2008-05-27T08:36:00.001+01:00

The 1st semi-final of Britains Got Talent sees trainee Lawyer, Suleman Mirza, go through to Saturdays live Final.

Winners of the public vote, 'Signature' mix a fantastic Michael Jackson dance impersonator with traditional Indian dance. So, what do you think of the trainee lawyer by day, Michael Jackson wannabe by night? Has he got what it takes to perform at the Royal Variety or will he be going back to his day job as a lawyer in London very soon?

Secretarial Salaries - How to ask for a pay rise

2008-05-22T11:34:00.000+01:00

When it comes to asking for a pay rise, even the most confident people can suffer a crisis in confidence. Here are some top tips to help you get the pay rise you deserve.

Decide how much to ask for - consider the state of the economy. If you’re playing it safe, go for a figure that’s in line with inflation levels, currently around 5%.
Prove your worth - show how the work you’ve done in the last year has had a positive impact on the performance and efficiency of your team.
Research what other jobs are out there - do they pay more or less than you’re currently paid? Show examples of jobs that are similar to yours but pay more.
Consider your options - are you in a position to walk into a different job that pays more? If you are, make sure your boss knows this as it’ll give you more leverage.
Justify why you deserve a bigger pay rise - especially if you are asking for a rise outside your normal annual review. If your job has grown, remind your boss that you’ve taken on additional responsibilities and this should be reflected in the pay deal you agree.
Look at the company’s profits - if it’s been a bumper year, with senior managers receiving hefty bonuses, argue that you deserve a share of the profits too.
Check out shareholder activity - are they getting healthy handouts? If they are, then you can also argue that you should.
And finally, if your boss plays for time, suggest they might want to settle quickly. If inflation continues to rise, as economists predict, you’ll be in a position to put a new figure on the table in the coming weeks.

Source: http://www.secretarialblog.co.uk/

To find legal secretarial and support roles please visit http://www.simplylawjobs.com/

Be nice to your staff or risk losing them due to post bank holiday blues.

2008-05-22T11:02:00.000+01:00

While most people are worrying about the weather this bank holiday Brit bosses need to make sure their staff are as happy as possible before they go off for their bank holiday break or risk losing them upon return.

Research by Monster.co.uk has revealed that almost half of UK workers are likely to look for a new job after that extra day off, 735 respondents were questioned and 49% responded that a bank holiday would make them more likely to look for a new job with 33% responding that they would definitely plan to job search.

According to Monster's life coach Jenny Ungless, People use their weekends to recover from the week at work, catch up with chores, see friends etc, the bank holiday Monday gives them that extra day to take stock and consider issues such as job satisfaction, career progression etc.

Employers need to make sure their staff start their bank holiday in a positive frame of mind, even giving them an early finish on the Friday for those with travel plans. This act of good will costs the employer little and will help staff to feel valued and ensure they come back from the long weekend refreshed and energised rather than ready to job hunt.

Source: Onrec.com

Legal Accounts Salary Survey 2008

2008-05-13T12:08:00.003+01:00

For all you lovely legal accounts personnel we knew you would be keen to read the latest results for a salary survey produced by the ILCA and legalsupportnetwork.co.uk. The survey shows Regional and London firms minimum and maximum salaries for all accounts job roles, including:

Purchase Ledger Jobs
Legal Cashier
Accounts Manager
Billing & Revenue
Credit Control Jobs
Practice Manager Roles

Download the latest Legal Accounts Salary Survey

Stay connected with Free Toolbar

2008-05-07T18:05:00.000+01:00

Stay connected to us - and get so much more - with the simplylawjobs Community Toolbar! To Download our Free Toolbar {with job links & access to your account} click: http://simplylawjobs.ourtoolbar.com/

Interview with Nick Hanning, ILEX Lawyer and Advocate

2008-05-06T10:45:00.000+01:00

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Nick Hanning - he was one of the 1st to qualify as a Legal Executive Advocate and he specialises in PI, Occupational Stress, Harassment & Bullying. Read and enjoy ....

· You currently work for RWPS LLP in Dorset; how long have you worked there and have you always specialised in Occupational Stress Claims?

I have been with the practice since it started in 2000 as Reynolds Williams (it changed to RWPS when we merged with another local practice and became an LLP in October 2006).

My specialisation in occupational stress claims (more specifically bullying and harassment cases) began with what was said to be a groundbreaking case widely reported back in 2001. This led to me being asked to deal with various similar cases one of which was very widely reported and has so in turn led to more similar cases.

· How did you start in the legal profession?

I more or less 'accidentally' did a Law 'A' level which I found fascinating. I discovered there was such a thing as a Legal Executive and after about a year of searching and thanks to the help of a local specialist legal agency found a post as a trainee. The rest, as they say, is history - of a sort anyway!

· Why an initial interest in PI?

My first principal was a sole practitioner who specialised in crime and family work. It fell to me and a series of assistant solicitors to handle everything else which was mainly conveyancing and personal injury. Both are rewarding in their own ways but I preferred the 'cut and thrust' of litigation and especially enjoyed the fact that in personal injury you are helping the victims of accidents who have a real need.

· How did you get your current job?

Two friends and I were all independently thinking of leaving the firm we worked for and decided to set up our own practice. Perhaps oddly, I've really only had 3 jobs in over 20 years. The first took me about a year to find and meant I had to relocate. My second was back in my 'home' area and was advertised as being for a solicitor but I applied anyway. I thought I had done brilliantly to get the job but it was a peripatetic post between two offices and I later discovered the only other applicant did not drive!

· What would you like to change about your industry?

Make it more accessible and affordable to ordinary people; by ordinary I mean the majority of us who cannot afford the tens of thousands of pounds needed to litigate pretty well anything other than an open and shut case. The Legal Services Act, by allowing the creation of different models of legal practice, provides an opportunity for improvement but care must be taken that this does not lead to compromises in quality. Access to the law should available to everyone but the providers of such services should be properly qualified. The increasing complexity of the law and its process increases the need for qualification and that in itself drives up cost so there is a dichotomy there but one we have to try to resolve.

· Greatest challenge / Most challenging case?

The greatest challenge is time; 48 hours a day would help get everything done. That said, this is probably self-inflicted by my taking on too much and being poor at time management.

In terms of cases, all bullying and harassment cases are challenging especially as the Courts have demonstrated an obvious distaste for them.

· Favourite aspect of your work?

Achieving a good result for a client is what it is all about. As lawyers, we have a special privilege and responsibility to make a beneficial difference in the life of every client and sometimes to many others too by changing or clarifying the application of the law. Succeeding brings a huge amount of satisfaction while failure can be devastating.

My work for ILEX as a Council Member is hugely enjoyable. The perspective is totally different but that sharpens the appetite for 'normal' work. Working with and for the benefit of the membership and being at the cutting edge of developments in the legal profession is both fascinating and hugely rewarding.

· Who do you most admire?

There are far too many to name!

· What would you do, as a career, if you weren’t a Legal Executive Advocate?

I was hopelessly lost when I 'found' law so what would have happened had I not been able to become a lawyer is impossible to say. If I contemplate other areas now, I would lean towards IT, writing, lecturing or professional services; ideally a combination of these.

· Any recommendations for job-seekers looking at a similar career path?

Never give up. It can be a hard slog to find work or achieve the next level of qualification but if you keep working success will come.

I remember a teacher stressing the importance of having the capacity to make choices rather than being forced down a particular road. Of course I ignored that then but in time came to realise how right he was. Obtaining qualifications and experience in as many fields as possible empowers you to choose between different paths and to take advantage of fresh opportunities. The more strings to your bow the better (though I can't help but think archers wouldn't agree with that . . .)

· Previous Jobs:

I had a very chequered job history until I started in law. I spent long periods of time without work and joined what was then called the Youth Opportunities Scheme (with a computer supplier so giving rise to my interest in that field). I also had spells working in a hotel kitchen, as a full time bar person then head waiter in a restaurant as well as (a very poor) photocopier salesman and petrol pump attendant. Lots of 'life experience'!

· What was your new year’s resolution?

I'm afraid I cheated on these some years ago by resolving never again to make any new year's resolutions. It is the only one I've ever kept.

· Interests:

Besides being a superb armchair sportsman I love books and films. I read a lot of science fiction, fantasy and historical novels and can watch pretty well any film though I particularly enjoy the many high quality TV series which are now produced and have a inexplicable soft spot for romantic comedy.

Simply Law Jobs Celebrates Fourth Birthday with Record Results

2008-04-30T15:16:00.001+01:00

This week sees the fourth birthday of Simply Law Jobs, the leading niche law recruitment jobs board.

The site was launched in the spring of 2004 and unlike many other recruitment sites that have been launched and fallen by the wayside; SimplyLawJobs.com has gone from strength to strength during this time.
Since joining the Simply Online Services group of jobs boards at the end of 2007 and a subsequent re-brand in January of this year, this success has been even more marked.

There are currently over 15,000 live jobs on the site and nearly 18,000 unique visitors were recorded in March this year.

Clients of Simply Law Jobs are benefiting greatly from the site’s success in many ways. Not only are there more job seekers than ever before (over 10,000 at present) and a growing CV database, but also application rates have doubled month on month compared to a year ago
In addition to this, there are dedicated account managers who are on hand to advise clients and help them get the most out of their recruitment advertising campaigns.

Michelle Jones, Project Manager for Simply Online says "I am ecstatic to see the business doing so well and firmly establishing itself as a top industry player.
“Since Simply Law Jobs became part of Simply Online it has grown dramatically and our client advertisers are certainly reaping the benefits.”

For more information about SimplyLawJobs.com please contact Ian Partington on 01772 639030 or email ian@simplygroup.net.

Fear keeps you on your toes

2008-04-30T15:07:00.000+01:00

The commercial court of Mr Justice Andrew Smith was stuffed with barristers last Thursday, but one QC was the main focus of attention. The case was the challenge to bank charges that could affect every bank current account holder in Britain. At the original hearing in February, Laurence Rabinowitz represented the Royal Bank of Scotland, one of eight lenders accused of levying unfair overdraft charges. It also fell to him to put the lead argument to the court for all the banks, saying that the alternative would be to charge on every transaction.

Mr Justice Smith’s ruling last week was hailed as a first-round victory for the customers. But the banks, who are likely to appeal, also won key points. Rabinowitz will be back in the public eye.

The son of a South African lawyer, Rabinowitz was an Oxford Rhodes scholar. Sydney Kentridge, QC, who left South Africa in 1977 and joined the English Bar, provided a role model as to what could be done. Called to the Bar in 1987, Rabinowitz chose One Essex Court “because it was different”. He was attracted by the personalities. “Sam Stamler, an astonishing man, and Tony Grabiner set the tone. It was very informal, things were focused on what you could do, rather than who you were. It was meritocratic — as the Bar as a whole has become. The other commercial sets had more of an establishment tinge around them. The model that we adopted worked and is working.”

As a pupil he was sent to a criminal chambers to get experience. After some misunderstanding, a cantankerous criminal judge told him: “You know that pink ribbon, you’re supposed to unwind it and read the papers.” He threw his pen at young Rabinowitz. “I thought: ‘Crikey, if this is what being at the Bar is like, maybe I should find another job.’ Until fairly recently, I have been terrified on my feet.”

Fear, he believes, is important: “Fear of failure, fear of exposure and fear of letting down people: fear creates an adrenalin, it keeps you on your toes. I suspect it’s similar to the sensation that sportsmen have when they’re playing. You feel that you’re on a high — in a zone of some sort. When it finishes, sometimes you can’t really work out how you did what you did.”

To read the whole article please click here.

For legal jobs please visit http://www.simplylawjobs.com/.

8 in 10 aggravated bosses have used Sir Alan Sugar's 'You're fired' tactics, illegally!

2008-04-24T13:00:00.000+01:00

Employers taking the Sir Alan Sugar "You're Fired" line of dismissing employees may end up in the dock as 8 in 10 employers admit that they have fired staff without following procedures, according to new research today by Peninsula the employment law firm. But Peninsula warned bosses who follow Sir Alan's lead for firing that they could end up being sued. In contrast Peninsula surveyed 459 workers who have been dismissed with 63% claiming they had been fired on the spot with no warning and certainly no opportunity to argue their case.

Deb Gibbons, Head of Employee Relations at Peninsula said today “I'm sure there is no doubt that Alan Sugar is a good employer but his lead by example on ‘The Apprentice’ may be seen as a bad example and is something I would advise employers not to do. Dismissing workers without following proper procedures is without doubt not a good idea. The reason we conducted the research is because we found an increase in calls from employers to our legal advice line asking whether it was fine for them to dismiss "on the spot". The research showed that 8 in 10 bosses have at some stage followed Sir Alan’s example and fired without proper procedures. We’re not saying employers are in the habit of dismissing on the spot, but we do see it happen despite the number of laws in place to protect employee rights.”

New grievance procedures have been put into place to ensure employee's are fairly treated, the rules also go as far as allowing them to be accompanied at a disciplinary meeting. Deb Gibbons continues; “It's amazing that some employers, despite the age of protected employee rights, fire people on the spot. There are a number of reasons why, they can either be in a bad mood, or they just have a dislike for the individual, or when tempers boil, unfortunately what they are doing may be wrong. A disgruntled employee may decide to take their complaint to court and it could go very wrong for the employer resulting in substantial penalties imposed at a tribunal hearing.”

Gibbons provides advice to both employer and employee, “The law now makes it very hard to sack on the spot, so if you’re an employer think about what you’re doing. Are you following the law? Is the reason justified? Have you given them a warning? Obviously there will be times when dismissing is the only option and it can be perfectly justifiable. Finally it's all about following procedures. If you’re an employee then if you’re asked to attend a disciplinary meeting then you may be entitled to be accompanied and check to ensure the company is following disciplinary procedures.”

So what aggravates bosses leading them to dismiss? Well it seems according to Peninsula's research poor timekeeping was the main reason followed by sickness, and a lack of productivity.

Source - Onrec.com

Professional Paralegal Qualifications: By Home Study

2008-04-23T13:24:00.000+01:00

Ever thought of qualifying as a Paralegal but not had the time to fit in around your job/family? CLT Professional Training have designed & developed a specialist paralegal practitioner programme that you can undertake at home to fit in with other commitments such as work, family etc. Entry requirements do ask for ideally 2 years experience in a legal environment such as working as a legal secretary, paralegal or HR practitioner. You could be working in a court environment, with the police or indeed be a Claims Handler or Will Writer.

For more information and to book online, go to www.paralegaldistancelearning.co.uk

Paralegal Survey 2007

2008-04-18T12:07:00.001+01:00

The Society of Specialist Paralegals first carried out a survey of demographics and attitudes among its members in November 2004. Since that time, much has changed. More paralegals than ever before have gone on to complete a recognised formal course of study through CLT. Paralegal training in association with the University of the West of England has launched across England and Wales, in January 2007.

In the wider world, the role of the paralegal within the legal environment is becoming more widely recognised. Fundamental reform of the legal profession is currently underway in both Scotland and in England and Wales, and although the full extent of the implication of these reforms has not yet been revealed it is more than likely that they will lead to more opportunities for the professional paralegal practitioner.

Type of employment
Law firm: 86%
Public sector: 10 %
Private sector: 4%

What is your job title?
HR Staff: 4%
Legal/Specialist Assistant: 8%
Legal Executive: 4%
Paralegal: 73%
Other: 11%

Working Hours
Part time: 13%
Full time: 87%

Gender
Male: 14%
Female: 86%

Age
20-29: 25%
30-39: 43%
40-49: 23%
50-59: 8%
60+: 1%

Jurisdiction qualified in
England and Wales: 10%
Scotland: 85%
Both: 5%

Salary Band
£0-£10,000: 1%
£10,000-£14,999: 7%
£15,000-£19,999: 28%
£20,000-£24,999: 48%
£25,000-£29,999: 11%
£30,000-£34,999: 4%
£35,000+ 1%

Specialisation
NOTE: These figures add up to more than 100% as several respondents were qualified in more than one discipline.

Civil Court: 7%
Commercial Conveyancing: 8%
Consumer Law: 1%
Criminal Law: 2%
Debt Recovery: 8%
Employment Law: 5%
Family Law: 9%
Immigration: 1%
Intellectual Property/FOI: 2%
Licensing Law: 2%
Personal Injury/Reparation: 6%
Regulatory: 1%
Residential Conveyancing: 48%
Wills & Probate/Executry: 14%

Do you have a university degree?
Yes: 18%
No: 82%

Are you intending to qualify as a solicitor?
Yes: 4%
No: 53%
Maybe in the future: 32%
Don’t know: 11%

What is your view of the status of paralegals among solicitors?
Low: 23%
Medium: 64%
High: 13%

What is your view of the status of paralegals among members of the public?
Low: 40%
Medium: 53%
High: 7%

Should the monopolies solicitors currently hold in the legal services market end?
Yes: 48%
No: 18%
To a certain extent: 1%
Don’t know: 33%

Should paralegals be accredited or licensed?
Yes: 77%
No: 7%
Don’t know: 16%

What do you think will happen to the number of paralegals over the next 3 years?
Increase: 83%
Decrease: 1%
Remain the same: 11%
Don’t know: 15%

Please visit www.specialistparalegals.co.uk

Margaret Mountford: A Lawyer in the Media

2008-04-04T21:56:00.000+01:00

Margaret Mountford is a British lawyer and business woman originally from Northern Ireland. She was educated at Girton College, Cambridge before becoming a Solicitor in Private Practice. Mountford is one of Sir Alan Sugar's advisors in every episode of The Apprentice. She has been a non-Executive Director of Amstrad plc since 1999 and prior to that she had many years corporate law experience as a law firm partner at the Herbert Smith law firm (from which she retired in March 1999). It was during her time at Herbert Smith she met Alan Sugar and was doing his legal work for Amstrad's flotation on the Stock Exchange.

Interestingly, Mountford has never been directly employed by Alan Sugar, but she has assisted him in winning lots of deals over the years and have worked together on projects for 20+years.

Paralegals Working In Legal Aid: An Unhealthy Dependency?

2008-04-02T10:51:00.000+01:00

A Report By Young Legal Aid Lawyers recently published shows results suggesting that paralegals are frequently exploited and underpaid by law firms, and that this is a particular and growing problem in the field of legal aid. Despite doing similar work to trainees and in some cases solicitors, they are paid 'peanuts'.

For the full report visit the Young Legal Aid Lawyers website.

Naked Law: Nothing can stop a good Policeman

2008-04-01T20:46:00.000+01:00

Nude policeman confronts thief while off duty – yes he was stark naked when a thief tried to steal his wife’s car in the early hours.

Metro.co.uk reports “Faced with the sight of a naked, torch-wielding man running towards him, the offender made a run for it – only to be apprehended by the policeman's (clothed) wife, who grabbed him by the collar. He managed to get away again briefly – perhaps spurred by the fact that a naked guy was ordering him to lie on the ground – but was quickly picked up by some properly dressed policemen shortly afterwards.”

For Police Station Accredited roles to uncover the naked truth, click HERE

The Apprentice: Episode One Case Dismissed

2008-03-29T10:13:00.001Z

Episode 1: The Apprentice: Case Dismissed

I am sure that you all watched The Apprentice on Wednesday night to see the Trained Barrister and “Chav Hater” (The Mirror), Nicholas de Lacy-Brown, fall with an almighty bang at the 1^st hurdle. Throughout the task he did himself no favours and the time in the Boardroom he had to defend himself by using those fine tuned skills you need for working as a Barrister, it was literally case dismissed. Speaking after he was fired, Nicholas said: "I feel a mixture of disappointment at being the first to go and relief to be out of there. I am glad to have saved my reputation which I will need to become a lawyer." "I found myself relying on my skills as a barrister in the boardroom and Sir Alan even said I looked like a lawyer, which filled me with pride."

Personally, although I know we are only shown the bits that make good telly, but if I was Nick I’d be pretty disappointed with my boardroom performance considering his Legal background.

I was also gob-smacked to hear him say something along the lines of not getting on with other men in the team as he didn’t like football & it wasn’t sophisticated enough for him – not a great impression to give when the person you are sat in front of, the potential Employer, has been a Chairman of a premier football team and is a massive football fan. Not very clever Nick.

Alan Sugar came out with some classic lines, one referring to Nick’s BVC qualification being ‘Outstanding’ – “Outstanding? Does that mean you haven't got it yet?"

One other line I have to mention which Recruitment Consultant/Sales Manager, Lee McQueen came up with on his return to the house: ‘Alright girls, you scrub up well’ – oh please Lee how could you!?

Michelle Jones (C)

The London Legal Support Trust: 2008 Sponsored Walk

2008-03-26T15:32:00.000Z

The 4th London Legal sponsored walk will be held on May 19th at 5.30. The walk is a 10 km circle round London’s legal landmarks which starts at the Royal Courts of Justice at 5.30 and ends at the Law Society. Walk Leaders include the Lord Chief justice, the Master of the Rolls, the President of the Law Society, the Chair of the Bar Council and the President of ILEX.

They lead all elements of the legal profession in raising funds for legal advice charities. In 2007, 1,800 walkers raised over £200,000 and we aim to improve on that this year.
For details and to enter a team contact Bob Nightingale.

Simply Wonderful - The Return of the Apprentice

2008-03-23T09:39:00.000Z

The Apprentice: It’s Back!!

We in the Simply Online office cannot wait for the return of The Apprentice, which returns to our screens this Wednesday, BBC1 9pm. We are particularly interested this year as the majority of candidates are from a Sales & Marketing background, including a Recruitment Sales Manager and there is also a trainee Barrister and a Qualified Barrister, the now traditional ‘entrepreneur’ and even a bank manager. There are 16 aspiring candidates looking to secure the coveted prize of a six-figure salary and the opportunity to work for one of the most successful business moguls in the world. The contenders have been hand-picked from 20,000 hopefuls desperate to appear on the award-winning BBC show. Here are a few that we will keep a close eye on;

Jenny Celerier, age 36, a Sales Manager who has been named Sales Person of the Year 3 times says "If you’re sitting on the fence, you’re taking up too much space." Well Jenny, if you don’t succeed in The Apprentice you can always look for a Sales Manager role on Simply Sales Jobs:

Search Sales Manager Jobs

The two candidates from a legal background; trainee Barrister Nicholas De Lacy Brown and Qualified Barrister Sara Dhada have vastly differing aspirations. Nicholas achieved his LLB Law degree from Kings College London and passed his Bar exams. Although from a working class background he is content to seek the life of an artistic, country-hopping lord. He has even adopted his Grandmothers’ surname in an attempt to sound more aristocratic!

Sara Dhada decided to ‘save the family business’ after qualifying as a barrister. She now works as an International Car Trader. Her father was a self-made millionaire at the age of 25 and Sara hopes to follow in his footsteps. Sara achieved her BA (Hons) Law and Economics at the University of Leicester. For Barrister jobs, if all else fails for these pair, they can visit Simply

Law Jobs: Roles for Barristers

Jennifer Maguire is a Marketing Consultant and claims she can ‘sell anything’ and is the ‘best salesperson in Europe’!! Quite a declaration, but then she did survive in Advertising Sales and the Advertising Marketing Sector . With such a bold statement, you’d think she is on track to be a winner – watch this space.

Recruitment Sales Manager, Lee McQueen, has already got some attention in discussion forums and blogs – from how good looking he is, to the fact that he is from a Recruitment Background. As some people don’t regard Recruitment Consultants that highly, he is being called all-sorts! Come on Lee – help dispel the myth and fly the flag for all decent recruiters out there. He has over eight years experience in the recruitment industry gained predominately in IT. For opportunities in Recruitment Sales/IT Sector visit our leading Sales Jobs-board:

Simply Sales Jobs

Helene Speight, age 32, also had a ‘spell’ as a Recruitment Consultant during her career to date.
Simply Sales Jobs carries over 400 Telesales Jobs, which Michael Sophocles a Telesales Executive from London may need to fall back on with such strong competition. Michael says "I am single minded and will manipulate others if necessary to get to the prize.", mmmmm – my gut feeling, he will be one of the 1st to be pushed.

Software Sales Manager / Channel Manager

Ian Stringer, is a contender this year, but oh dear did he really say this? “There are two types of people in this world: winners and … I don’t know how to say the word, I can’t say it”. Go on Ian, if you are that strong you could say it easily, so stop being a wimp!

"I'm a stubborn cow who wants to have the last word", crikey that sounds like me! Shazia Waheb said this and it seems that she might be a front runner this year. Her career includes working as a Sales Assistant and several roles in Marketing.

Last of the Sales bunch, Alex Wotherspoon, Regional Sales Manager from Bolton, in his normal life is responsible for 30 Sales Agents. Alex reckons that he could win The Apprentice because of his tenacity and communication skills.

Tune in to see what boardroom classic lines Sir Alan will come up with this year.

Michelle Jones (c)

Money Can’t Be Me Love (but it can get you a good legal team!)

2008-03-19T16:07:00.001Z

On the steps of the High Court Heather Mills attempted to spin her divorce settlement as a victory. The fact that she had represented herself, saved approx £600,000 in legal fees & negotiated a settlement of £24.2 million was dressed up as a positive outcome. Unfortunately, like much of Heather Mills’ life the facts don’t quite add up.

The legal fees really are small change when compared to her initial petition for £125 million and the widely predicted settlement somewhere in the region of £30 million. To spend £600,000 to gain £4 million seems simple arithmetic. In the logarithms of Heather Mills’ mind for some reason it doesn’t. The loss in the region of £4 million is dressed up as win. I can’t believe she is really that self deluded.

The harsh reality is that the money Paul McCartney spent on his legal team was money very well spent. Mills hubris, her misplaced beliefs that lack even the basic rudimentary skills and with no legal training that she could negotiate a positive outcome has back fired spectacularly.

McCartney’s side of the case was represented by Fiona Shackleton of Payne Hicks Beach LLP. Shackleton who represented Prince Charles in his divorce from Diana, in contrast with Heather Mills total inexperience, is a lawyer at the top of her profession. Although McCartney has lost out on some minor points; the yearly amount for his daughter, the upper limit of salary for her nanny. In the cold light of day he has come out of the settlement much better than his ex-wife. The settlement has barely dented his vast wealth. In comparison to the divorce settlement of Michael Jordon £75.5 million, Neil Diamond £75.5 million and Steven Spielberg £50 million it can be seen as a huge failure. Heather Mills hasn’t secured even a pyrrhic victory, no she has just highlighted the need for quality legal advice and a top legal team.

Michelle Jones ©

For Family Lawyer Jobs & Libel Lawyer Jobs visit Simply Law Jobs

Commercial/Corporate Lawyer: JOB OF THE WEEK

2008-03-15T09:09:00.000Z

Are you interested in working for one of the most progressive online advertising companies? We have a fantastic opportunity for a Solicitor to work full time as ‘Legal Counsel’ in our corporate team, providing a broad range of corporate and M&A business services to support to the management. This role reports to the Group Chief Operations Officer.

You will be active in domestic and cross-border corporate transactions – mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and joint ventures. Ideally, you will have experience in both public and private M&A transactions. Other experience gained under the umbrella of commercial/corporate services would be useful including banking and financial services; infrastructure and project finance; telecommunications, media and intellectual property, intellectual property and tax.
Candidates with tax experience would be appreciated, in particular if you have a broad range of tax expertise in business taxation including mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructuring; joint ventures; capital markets; international tax planning; property taxation; developments and investment; value added tax and customs duties and tax finance. You will have worked for either a large accounting firm or a major international law firm. You should have a track record of providing clients with tax effective solutions, which are commercially workable in a cross-border transactional context.

Key Responsibilities: The role focuses on the fields Corporate law and law of Association, therefore the candidate will have substantial experience in general Corporate law, including capital increases and decreases, mergers, shareholder and board meetings. . Assist in commercial contracts, finalising legal documents - such as sale and subscription agreements. . Responsible for handling issues regarding banking law, capital market law, law of credit and securities, fund raising activities, equity investments. . Give advice in merger & acquisition activities. . Assist with all corporate governance issues. . Deal with multinational company matters and offer general advice.

Required Skills/Experience:
. Graduate degree in Corporate law. . 3+ years of working experience in general Corporate law, acquired in a leading international accounting firm or a major law firm, with profound experience in dealing with merger & acquisitions and private equity work, OR 3+ years experience working client side in a similar field . Proven track record of supporting the management on transactions. . Experience in dealing with cases for the technology or media sector is a plus, experience in data protection and privacy as it pertains to cookies and the internet and advantage. . The international orientation of your task requires business fluency in English, both written and spoken. Additional languages such as German and/or French a plus. . Highly organised, with ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously with minimal supervision. . Bright, charismatic, inspirational with the ability to win credibility internally. . Ability to work in a team, analytical and conceptual aptitude, flexibility, commitment and routine experience in using MS Office programs round off your profile.

The offer: You will gain the chance to take over a challenging, international assignment for a successful international ad network, with an excellent financial structure as a young company and strong growth potential. . You work directly with the COO with plenty of freedom in order to successfully act in an international field and further develop your qualifications and specialisation in law of association. . Opportunities to develop and advance your career within the international operating corporate group will be offered. . Remuneration appropriate to the position and the attractive benefits of an internationally successful corporation are a matter of course. . Participation in the attractive Adconion Group stock option program.

PLEASE READ - THIS JOB MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR EVERYONE
The successful candidates will thrive in a competitive and fast-moving business environment while adhering to high ethical standards; will exhibit confidence, empathy and intelligence in discussions customers and suppliers; will interact in a co-operative and friendly manner with coworkers and will perform at a consistent and high level with minimal need for supervision or management. If you have what it takes to deal with the demands of the commercial legal world then this is the perfect opportunity for you. If you think you qualify for the above position, please APPLY HERE

Awards ceremony for the UK online recruitment industry

2008-03-12T10:36:00.001Z

The Onrec.com Awards has been established to celebrate the success, growth, innovation and talent within the Online Recruitment Industry. This year it was celebrated on Wednesday 5th March at the Café Royal in London, with c400 attendees.

A few of us from Simply Online attended, along with entertaining clients from MKH Advertising and Barkers to name a few. Simply Sales Jobs was nominated for the Innovative Online Marketing Award for marketing it does on the Ecademy business networking website. Ian Partington, Managing Director of Simply Online Services was also nominated for Personality of the Year Award! Sadly, we were not winners on the night but it was certainly enjoyed by all.

Press Release: Simply bucking the online recruitment trend

2008-03-05T09:05:00.000Z

Leading law recruitment jobs website, SimplyLawJobs.com, has reported that February was its best month for job applications since its launch in April 2004. They were even higher than January, which traditionally is an excellent month within the recruitment industry.

Michelle Jones, Project Manager for SimplyLawJobs.com said: “Over the last few months we have seen a 100% increase in applications compared with last year. We have an excellent marketing plan in place which is really starting to pay dividends for our client advertisers.”

“Not only have we seen a massive increase in applications, our unique visitors have reached an all-time high and with two dedicated Account Managers, James Halstead and Lisa Johnson, our clients can expect attention to detail when promoting themselves and their jobs via SimplyLawJobs.com.”

Since becoming part of Simply Online, who operate a number of leading niche job-boards, including SimplySalesJobs.co.uk, SimplyMarketingJobs.co.uk and SimplyPRJobs.co.uk, the legal niche job board has gone from strength to strength.

As a group, all of the Simply job boards have recorded increases in some way – whether it be numbers of clients or job-seekers. David Capper, Sales Manager for Simply Online commented on February: “I am delighted with the team’s performance this month. For one reason or other, the recruitment industry in general has been a little quieter than normal; however this has not stopped any of the team and they have all managed to bring in high levels of new business.”

SimplyLawJobs.com currently hosts over 13,000 job vacancies of all levels, including support roles, across all of the legal practice areas. Found out what you could be missing out on: www.simplylawjobs.com/recruiters

For more information about SimplyLawJobs.com please contact Michelle Jones on 01373 865181 or email michelle@simplylawjobs.com

Simply Running for Cancer

2008-03-04T14:59:00.005Z

Our very own Michelle Jones is running (well lightly jogging!) the Race for Life this year and would really appreciate any sponsorship you can donate - even a few quid.

You can make a pledge online using the link below:

Michelle's Race for Life Page

The pic is of Michelle after the event in 2006 - quick get an ambulance.

Junkies, Judges & Jail

2008-02-27T08:37:00.000Z

Junkies, Judges & Jail is the second in Yorkshire solicitor Steven D. Smith’s comic legal memoir series, and there is no rest for our hero – by the end of the first chapter, there’s the “accidental death” of a boa constrictor to deal with, and that’s just the start of the mayhem!

If you enjoyed Boozers, Ballcocks and Bail, you’ll find much to love in this second title which follows roughly the same formula. It’s a combination of hilarity and pathos.
You can find out more about the author and read extracts from both titles at his website:
www.steve-d-smith.co.uk

Latest Offer for Law Job Advertisers

2008-02-26T12:47:00.000Z

How does £749+vat for 3 months unlimited job postings, full use of CV search, CVs by email alerts and CV Match sound?
Open to New Recruitment Advertisers of Simply Law Jobs only and offer ends 30th March 2008.
To get your hands on this cracking deal please contact James or Lisa on 01772 639033

Another 'monster' year for Simply!

2008-02-26T12:15:00.001Z

Looks like 2007 was definitely a good year Simply Online announcing that they smashed their sales target by c150%. Simply Law Jobs became part of Simply Online in October 2007 and they have a network of niche job boards including www.simplysalesjobs.co.uk, www.simplymarketingjobs.co.uk, www.simplyhrjobs.co.uk , www.simplynewmediajobs.co.uk, www.simplyitsalesjobs.co.uk, www.simplymediasalesjobs.co.uk and www.simplyprjobs.co.uk.

Manchester Law Society Recruitment’s First Birthday Party

2008-02-26T12:11:00.002Z

Our Account Manager, James Halstead, will be attending the Manchester Law Society Recruitment’s First Birthday Party tonight at the Purple Pussycat in Manchester. There will be free drinks, vodka jelly, party food and party bags, along with Upbeat music from DJ Ben Marsden of Watt Theory! No doubt James will have a story to tell after the event and perhaps even some pictures.

You can view JOBS from Manchester Law Society Recruitment, advertised on Simply Law Jobs here.

Manchester Law Society Recruitment

CLAYTON APPEAL FOR LEGAL TEMPORARY WORKERS

2008-02-26T11:06:00.002Z

Clayton Recruitment are launching an appeal to make local people aware of the current vacancies that they have available and are waiting to fill. The Clayton Group are attempting to abolish the myths that surround working on a temporary basis and explain why working for a recruitment agency as a temporary worker can fit in with a persons lifestyle and give them the flexibility they crave.

Clayton Recruitment place temporary workers into roles that are right for their profession and works closely with the candidate and employer through every stage. Clayton Recruitment provide positions into all different sectors including Legal. A recruitment agency places temporary staff in organisations and charges the employer. The worker is then paid by the agency. A temporary worker can be placed for different periods of time depending on the requirement of the company and the type of position that they need filling.

The Clayton Group has a dedicated Temporary Workers Consultant, Tracy Bolan, who aims to create an awareness of the need to recruit valuable temporary workers to place with the companies that are currently waiting for a candidate.

Tracy commented, “Temping, as it is commonly known, is an increasingly popular choice for employees and the demand is so high at the moment that we cannot place people quickly enough. Due to the high calibre of our personnel, it is often difficult to move the candidate to another company as they fit in so well wherever they are placed!! We want to promote the diversity of professions that are available to temporary workers and focus on the skills that individuals possess. Temporary work is so diverse, and an individual can gain so much from the different environments and roles that they will be covering.

Temporary staff enjoy the flexibility that a role offers, which includes the ability to work when they want to, with the added bonus of new experiences encountered from working within different organisations. Temporary workers can be used to cover holidays, illness or maternity leave and may only be required for a short period of time.

Lynn Sedgwick, Managing Director of The Clayton Recruitment Group concludes, "It is fantastic that demand for our services is so high and our extensive database of temporary workers is now at a stage where most of our candidates are placed with companies for the interim period. We are actively seeking more temporary workers available for an immediate start. We pride ourselves on providing, an efficient service, ensuring cover can be provided as and when required. We take care of all administration issues, allowing companies the freedom to carry on with their work day without any disruptive issues."

To view all of Clayton Recruitment Group's Jobs, please click here: www.simplylawjobs.com/jobs/current/clayton_legal/?client_ID=57

Bournemouth & District ILEX Quiz

2008-02-07T09:53:00.000Z

Simply Law Jobs is providing a prize for Bournemouth & District ILEX quiz due to take place after their branch AGM on Tuesday 26 February at the Gresham Court Hotel on Grove Road in Bournemouth.
The fun part of the evening is the Quiz. All proceeds of the evening (including the entry fee) go to their nominated charity which this year is the Osborne Day Centre. In attendance on the night it is hoped that the ILEX President, Leslie Graham and Chief Executive, Diane Burleigh, will be there too.
We will come back with an update after the event.

For more details about the event please contact Nick Hanning nhanning@rwpslaw.co.uk

Doom and gloom for online recruitment in 2008? No chance!

2008-02-06T12:21:00.000Z

Despite gloomy predictions for the online recruitment market in 2008 by many within the industry at the end of last year, Simply Online Services have received record levels of job applications and registrations in January to its niche job sites.

SimplySalesJobs.co.uk has seen applications increase by just under 4000, compared to January 2007, with registrations up 600. SimplyMarketingJobs.co.uk also saw application increase by nearly 4000, with 400 more registrations. And SimplyHRJobs.co.uk had 3000 more applications and 600 more registrations compared to the same time last year.

SimplyNewMediaJobs.co.uk, which only launched in May last year, has also seen its applications and registrations double.

David Somerville, marketing manager for Simply Online Services said: “We are really pleased to have had such an excellent start to 2008, with these sites recording their best ever figures for the number of application and registrations in one month.

“The marketplace is widely predicted to see a decline this year by many within the recruitment industry, but our sites are certainly bucking the trend so far and we are confident that they will continue in this vein.

“We believe that these figures further strengthen the position of niche job boards, both for job seekers and recruiters.

“More people than ever are using niche job boards to find jobs as they recognise they can easily find jobs within their industry and recruiters are taking advantage of these high levels of quality job applicants.”

For more information please contact David Somerville on 01273 837733 or email david.somerville@simplygroup.net.

SALARY SURVEY SHOWS SURPRISING RESULTS

2008-02-06T12:15:00.000Z

Clayton Legal have conducted a regional salary survey to demonstrate the diversity that stems from many local, cultural and professional variations within the North West region, which demonstrates surprising results for regional law firms.

Clayton Legal, part of the Clayton Recruitment Group is very much aware of the current diversity within the legal market. The report is aimed to help law firms understand the importance of scales of remuneration. Law firms can now have access to a report that they can refer to for guidance.

Although, in the past, there have been regional salary surveys, Clayton Legal have gone to the next stage and produced a survey that breaks down the individual scales of remuneration as they are reflected within each regional area of the North West.

Lynn Sedgwick, Managing Director of Clayton Legal, “We want to show law firms the differences in remuneration, benefits and incentives that are particular to each regional area within the North West. Our legal division have built a reputation for attracting and placing all levels of solicitors, legal executives and legal support staff. It is imperative that we can demonstrate that our experience and research will help negotiations for all our clients. Our recruitment consultants are of the highest calibre and that has been demonstrated in our success rate in recruiting legal personnel in 2007.”

Clayton Legal worked with over 500 law firms in the North West when conducting the research for the survey. The law firms varied in size and turnover.

More than 48% of firms that responded to the survey put their recruitment requirements in a medium or high category. Only 3% of firms said that they would not be recruiting more people. Recruiting legal secretaries continues to be a problem with 52% of law firms reporting facing a shortage. 15% of law firms also seemed interested in recruiting senior associates or salaried partners. Legal recruiters continue to source staff for 67% of law firms.

Law firms in the North West stated that their recruitment requirements as ‘robust’ over the last year.

Manchester continues to lead on the salary scale for junior or less experienced positions. Senior positions however, show almost no difference in salary levels compared with the rest of the North West, with many companies willing to match Manchester salaries, if it means finding the perfect candidate for their position.

Lynn continues, “Many law firms strive to find the perfect candidate and our legal recruitment process is often lengthy and time consuming. Our dedicated legal recruitment team continue to work with law firms, taking the pressure out of the process. The City of Preston has seen major investment from law firms over the last 12 months, resulting in Preston now boasting some of the leading law firms in the North West region. The Preston city status has been a major turning point, thus encouraging many lawyers to relocate to the City.”

Concluding the theory behind the success of Clayton Legal, Lynn summarised, “Our philosophy is, we strive to find the right people, for the right job, at the right time. Our growth plan is strong and having just secured key personnel on board for this coming year, 2008 is proving to be a fantastic year for Clayton legal”.

Clayton Legal is confident that the data collected by the survey is accurate but the trends shown may not apply to firms on an individual level. All data and conclusions are for guidance only. For individual research focusing on specific aspects of the survey, please contact Lynn Sedgwick at Clayton Legal.

To receive a free salary survey, please contact Lynn Sedgwick,
Managing Director of Clayton Legal at: ls@clayton-legal.co.uk

Five Reasons To Find a New Job in 2008

2007-12-28T12:43:00.000Z

The miserable weather, the arrival of the dreaded credit card bill and failing resolutions conspire to leave many of us feeling low when going back to work in the New Year. Television screens and magazines seduce us with a plethora of holiday advertisements that promise adventure, clear blue skies and white sandy beaches. And yet you are sat in the same office, every day, wishing you had a better job with better prospects and better pay.

So stop dreaming, and start living.

Here are five reasons why putting in the mileage now, will benefit you in the long-term.

1)You will have less stress - Workplace stress is predicted to be one of the biggest issues on the business agenda over the next few years, with one in five workers feeling stressed at work, according to the September 2007 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) report. However, another survey conducted by insurers Legal & General two months later, concluded that this figure is actually one in three workers with a further 20% complaining that they work too many hours; thereby justifying the term ‘sicknote Britain.’

And the biggest cause of this stress is Britain’s long-hours culture.

Britons work longer hours than our European neighbours and spend an average of 40 to 50 hours at work each week. And more than 4 million people spent more 50 hours a week every week, according to the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC).
Indeed, a survey by the Amicus trade union found that four in 10 people reported a negative impact of long-hours on their involvement in family life, 38% on enjoyment of their social life and 35% on their relationship with their children. One third said it harmed their relationship with their partner.

So do yourself a favour, renew your job search now.

2) You will get ahead in your career - The recruitment and retention of staff will be the biggest challenge facing recruiters over the next five years, affecting 81% of employers - a fourfold increase since 2002, according to the 2007 National Management Salary Survey conducted by the Chartered Management Institute and Remuneration Economics. And 73.2% of employers cite a lack of qualified candidates as the root of the problem.

Consequently, employers no longer have the luxury of waiting for good candidates to come knocking on their door which means that if you renew your job hunt, there is a good chance that you may be targeted by specialist head-hunting search agencies.

So, you need to make yourself known in your industry; register your CV and details on job boards, network at industry events and position yourself as an expert in your field by writing articles for your trade’s magazine or running seminars.

3) You will earn more money - According to the findings of the report above, there is an indication that employers are becoming increasingly desperate to find the right calibre staff, with 32.6% now offer ‘golden hellos’, compared to just 16.3% in 2006. And, 82% also indicated that they will make ‘referral payments’ to staff, up from 62.5% in 2006.

Added to the news that UK pay is projected to increase by 3.1% in 2008 with the average worker earning £32,256, this spells good news for job seekers.

4) You will receive a better benefits package - In the same report, organisations providing a ‘complete remuneration package’ continues to climb. For instance, childcare provision and life assurance have increased an average of 3% and 5% respectively since 2006. It is estimated that some benefits packages can add as much as 30-40% onto the value of your salary.

And, ‘flexible working’, which was once the preserve of the public sector, is now more widely available with most employers offer some sort of flexible working, according to a survey by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR). The Work-Life Balance Employer Survey showed some 95% of UK firms offered flexible working of some sort, whether it is working from home, flexible hours or job sharing.

5) You will have more time - Consider how far you commute to and from work everyday. A survey by Trinity Mirror revealed that most workers are willing to travel 20 miles to reach their place of work. However, commuting to work for an hour is one thing but, making the trip twice a day, five days a week and getting stuck in the rush-hour traffic, quickly loses its appeal. And, don’t dismiss the cost implications on your finances.

In a survey of City workers conducted by Robert Half International, 70% of City employees would prefer to work outside of the capital. Not surprising given the cramped conditions experienced on the London Underground. But elsewhere, traffic congestion is a major problem.
Opt to work somewhere closer to home or, better still become one of the 3.1 million workers who now work from home.

So log onto http://www.simplylawjobs.com/ and find a new job today!

Read the whole article here: http://msn.careerbuilder.co.uk/UK/Custom/MSN/ViewArticle.aspx?articleID=127
SOURCE - http://www.msn.careerbuilder.co.uk/

The Christmas Bash is Good for Business - The truth about work Christmas Parties

2007-11-29T10:59:00.000Z

An article found on the Onrec.com website, revealed the truth about christmas work parties, according to new research by Italian food chain, Pizza Express.

The Christmas party season is nearly upon us and that means bosses up and down the country will be bracing themselves for the usual drunken antics. But putting on the perfect bash can pay dividends in the long run: 9 out of 10 British workers say that a good office party helps them to work harder according to new research.

For employees the best thing about the annual bash is getting together with friends and colleagues, watching people making a fool of themselves on the dancer floor and seeing the boss relax for once.

No-one wants to hang their head in shame as they walk into the office the next day but what is the best way to avoid the annual festive embarrassment? It's easy to be wise before the event: just under half of people agree that sensible drinking and avoiding anyone you fancy is the correct approach. Eating is certainly not cheating: one in four people think a great meal to soak up the alcohol is the best way to keep things from turning sour.

Inevitably the best-laid plans are not always followed to the letter. One in five people have had a cheeky kiss with a colleague under the mistletoe and 1 in 10 men admit to leaving early with workmate and then regretting it the next day.We all enjoy a dance at the Christmas party but there are some songs we don't want to hear on the playlist. Cliff's 'Mistletoe and Wine' tops the list of our least favourite festive tunes, followed by Mariah Carey's 'All I want for Christmas is You' and East 17's 'Stay Another Day'.

By the end of Christmas we're all sick of the sight of turkey so for an alternative office meal, most of us would prefer a nice Italian, with all the trimmings!

Source: Onrec.com

Starting salaries for City lawyers soar to £60,000

2007-11-27T09:52:00.000Z

An article published in the Independent Online revealed that starting salaries for City lawyers have broken the £60,000 mark for the first time as demand for new talent soars, an analysis by a leading legal recruitment firm has found.

Newly qualified solicitors at London's top firms have seen salaries rise by 16 per cent in the past 12 months, with many now hitting £64,000 a year, according to the specialist legal recruitment company, Hughes-Castell. A decade ago, a newly qualified lawyer could have expected to earn £25,000 a year. But now they can earn double that through their basic wage, and many firms also top up the salaries with so- called "golden handcuffs" of more than £10,000 for their newest recruits when they sign up.

The law firm Slaughter and May announced a 2.3 per cent rise for its newly qualified lawyers this month, taking their salaries to £65,000. The US firm Reed Smith Richards Butler recently announced a rise to £63,000. By comparison, a junior doctor can expect a £20,741 starting annual salary, a newly qualified secondary- school teacher can expect £19,161, and an Army officer fresh out of training would be on £27,068. Hughes-Castell found the high demand for commercial transactional legal experts at all levels was driving the salary increases. Trainees are also paid well. In their first year, they can generally expect a wage of about £33,000, rising to £38,000 in their second year.

Demand for commercial litigation lawyers has also increased since August, particularly in the fields of financial services and banking litigation. This has "almost certainly" been triggered by the uncertainty on world financial markets since then, the report found.

However, many firms have been unable to increase their senior employees' salaries in line with those of new-starters, resulting in a narrowing of the gap between junior and senior staff wages. An equivalent rise for senior staff would have put them on a par with salaried partners. The number of job vacancies for commercial property lawyers has dropped in the past five years, but demand for property litigation, corporate restructuring and traditional insolvency lawyers has increased, the analysis found. Those areas of demand formed "a trend that was likely to increase if global liquidity continued to come under pressure," the report added.

Simplylawjobs.com is one of the leading niche legal jobsites offering a range of 10000+ Law Jobs from Legal Recruitment Agencies and Law Firms, across the UK, please visit www.simplylawj obs.com

Featured Job - Housing Litigator 0-2 PQE

2007-11-20T16:35:00.000Z

DOWSE & CO , a Category 1 legal aid general practice in Dalston Lane, Hackney London E8 established since 1894 seeks an experienced Housing litigator 0 – 2 years PQE or equivalent for publicly funded tenants’ work.

For more information please contact Myles Hickey at mh@dowse.co.uk.

Applications required by 31.12.2007.

To apply Please click on the following link and complete the application process http://www.simplylawjobs.com/vacancy_info.php?id=132951&StartCounter=&mode=&Change=N&title=Housing%20litigator%200%20–%202%20years%20PQE.
Previous applicants for this post need not apply.
No agencies please.

Tuesday lunchtime is peak time for job applications say Reed Employment

2007-11-20T16:24:00.000Z

An article published in Onrec.com today, tells us that Tuesday lunchtime is peak time for job applications according to Reed Employment.

Monday lunchtime in the office is around 1pm and according to the largest UK recruiter, Reed Employment, this is the peak time for jobseekers to search for a new role. According to the company’s analysis of 2.5 million jobseekers on its online database, 21% of candidates search for jobs at this time, however, the same number of job seekers return on Tuesday at 1pm to upload their CVs to apply for jobs.

Read the full article here:http://www.onrec.com/newsstories/19332.asp

SOURCE - Onrec.com

British firms could reduce employee illness losses through more home working this winter

2007-11-14T13:19:00.000Z

An article found on Onrec.com today explains that British firms could reduce employee illness losses through more home working this winter.
Study shows that two in three British people would work from home when illness prevented them commuting, reado the whole article here:
http://www.onrec.com/newsstories/19250.asp

Source: Onrec.com

YSG Pro Bono Awards 2007

2007-11-09T14:12:00.000Z

The aim of the awards is to recognise and celebrate the large amount of valuable work done by students, trainees and solicitors in providing free legal services in the community and to publicly applaud outstanding achievements by individuals and groups.

Examples of projects include providing legal advice in law centres, setting up an advice service to support business start ups, or being part of a team representing a UK national facing the death penalty.

The Young Solicitors Group encourages anyone who knows of a student, trainee or young solicitor involved in a particular project to put them forward for an award.

Nominations will be judged in the following categories:

Employed (eg in-house, local government, CPS, public service)
Large firm (more than 200 fee earners)
Medium size firm (20-200 fee earners)
Small firm (up to 20 fee earners)
Team (excluding student)
Student (team or individual)

There is also the Wig & Pen Prize for young solicitors working in the City, Westminster and Holborn areas of London.

Date: 14 November 2007 (during National Pro Bono Week) Closing date for nominations: 21 September 2007.

The nomination form, including criteria and nomination process, can be obtained by contacting Yvonne Treacy on 020 7320 5796 or e-mailing groups@lawsociety.org.uk.

Is the training of barristers fit for purpose?

2007-11-07T10:34:00.000Z

An interesting article published on the Independent News today, looking at whether Learning the law is only part of what it takes to qualify as a barrister.

It has been 16 years since the old Bar exams were swept away by a new vocational course designed to prepare aspiring barristers for the reality of a career as an advocate, this article looks into arguments for and against.

Read the whole article here: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article3135363.ece

Any of these sound familiar?

2007-10-25T14:00:00.000+01:00

We all have one - that annoying colleague whose habits and eccentricities gets right up our nose!
officebroker.com is the UK’s largest online broker of commercial office space and works with more than 97% of the UK’s serviced office space providers and landlords.

Here, the company reveals some of the most common workplace personalities and offers advice on how to stay sane throughout your working day:

The Hipster – He wears the shiniest suit, the loudest tie and the silliest socks and is a grand master of the fake golf swing, finger pistols, thumbs up or spin bowl action. Shout Fore! or Six! every time he swings into action and get everyone to email him details of the local bespoke tailor.

The Borrower – Something missing from your desk? Every office has a perpetual borrower. Tell them you’ll start charging ‘interest’ if they miss the deadline - one chocolate bar for every hour past the deadline sounds a reasonable amount.

The Snake – Slimy, limp hand shaker who slithers around and stares at colleagues for far longer than should be allowed. Intensify your own hand shake grip and start staring back in an attempt to out freak your colleague.

The Smacker – The colleague who slurps their way through lunch, talks with their mouth full and shares far more of their lunch than they should. Vomiting actions or comments on the nation’s poor eating habits should nip this in the bud.

Pussy Galore – sweet yet neurotic colleague whose desk is covered in pictures of ‘Fluffy’ and who loves to share stories of her pussy’s ‘cute’ and ‘amazing’ antics. Fight back with ‘Fido’ pictures or invent a few alarming shaggy dog tales about cat lovers.

Moaning Minnie – there’s always one person who we’d like to put a sock in it – sometimes literally! Counter the corporate Victor Meldrew by whistling ‘Always look on the Bright Side of Life’.

The Gossip Monger – loves a good drama and is always first to share any scandal. Tell your colleague a story ‘in confidence’ then watch it spread like wildfire. Then confront them publicly with the fact that you are not really moonlighting as a lap dancer to pay for your daughter’s gap year – surely they can understand a joke when they hear one!

The Sniffer – The woman (or indeed man) who overdoses on perfume or aftershave and wafts through the office. Invest in the cheapest, nastiest smelly you can find or break into fits of sneezing and talk about your severe allergic reaction.

The Message Mangler – Takes a message but always forgets to find out where the caller is from or take a contact number. Give them a message template with headings for name, company and number or remove their phone altogether.

officebroker.com was founded by Managing Directors Jim Venables and Andy Haywood five years ago and has grown into a multi-million pound enterprise with offices in the UK and US, and plans to launch divisions in Hong Kong and Amsterdam in 2008.
Managing Director Andy Haywood said: “Anyone who has ever worked in an office will have encountered these characters. We reckon humour, charm or beating them at their own game, are some of the best ways to deal with irritating colleagues and their habits. However, if things are genuinely getting out of hand, it is always advisable to speak with your personnel department whose role it is to nip any genuine problems in the bud.”
http://www.officebroker.com/

SOURCE - Onrec.com 25/10/2007

SAL Careers Advancement Seminar - Wednesday 24th October

2007-10-24T11:35:00.000+01:00

This is an important event hosted by the Society of Asian Lawyers for Students, Paralegals/ Trainees and Pupils as well as Solicitors and Barristers at the beginning of their careers. This will be an opportunity for you to hear from an Asian Partner and an Asian Barrister and learn from their experiences of how they became successful lawyers and how you too can advance your own legal career.

Date: Wednesday 24th October 2007
Time: 6pm
Tickets: £5
Location: Edwin Coe LLP, 2 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, London, WC2A 3TH

There are a limited number of places and therefore it is recommended that you book early to avoid disappointment. All reservations are on a strictly first come first served basis. For further information or to reserve your place please contact Niten Chauhan at Edwin Coe LLP on 0207 691 4000. Alternatively, please download this JPEG file - 235 KB

The Charles Fellowes Group celebrate 20th anniversary party

2007-10-23T16:20:00.000+01:00

The Charles Fellowes Group celebrated 20 years of service in the marketplace with a reunion of its original staff at an event held earlier this month. The Charles Fellowes Group (www.charlesfellowes.com), which has offices in Birmingham, London and Brussels, started in September 1987 with just three staff in a bedroom in Sutton Coldfield! Birmingham. Whilst the company is now based in the city centre, it now has a global presence and employs 35 staff across its three sites.

Tony Tomkins, Managing Director of Charles Fellowes, who started the company after a successful career at the Bar practising criminal law, decided that contacting the original staff was the most fitting way to mark the landmark anniversary. “Not many recruitment companies are around for 20 years,” he comments. “By that time many have been bought out, closed down or sold off, so we are proud to be thriving in such a competitive industry and felt that we wanted to mark this significant milestone. We also felt that it would be a test of our research department’s skill to track down the original staff and ask them to join us for the celebrations.”

Once contacted, all the original staff were keen to attend and were presented with a plaque to commemorate the occasion. “Our current staff were also interested to hear about their experiences of the early days of the company and how the industry has changed,” adds Tony. “It was a great way to celebrate how far the company has come.”

Guest and original staff member Gail Merriman also enjoyed the opportunity to relive old times. “Although we’ve lost touch over the years, we always got on well and it was great to meet up again. It’s fantastic to see how the company has evolved and how well Tony has done.”

Charles Fellowes now handles senior recruitment positions for many major national and international firms and specialises in strategic appointments within the legal, property, technology, sales and marketing and HR sectors.

http://www.charlesfellowes.com/

SOURCE - Onrec.com News Pages 23/10/2007

Featured Job: Intellectual Property LAWYER

2007-10-17T12:53:00.000+01:00

Intellectual Property LAWYER

West Midlands £ Competitive + Benefits

Applications are invited from UK qualified solicitors or barristers with good academics and 3 years or more relevant PQE to join the Group Legal Function of GKN plc.

GKN is a leading global supplier to the world's automotive, off-highway and aerospace manufacturers providing technology-based, highly engineered products to virtually all of the world's major manufacturers of cars and light vehicles, agricultural and construction equipment and aircraft and aero engines, employing some 40,000 people in more than 30 countries.

The Group Legal Function is responsible for legal matters for the Group worldwide and operates through offices in the US, Germany and China and from the Corporate Centre in the UK reporting to the General Counsel.

The Group has a focussed Intellectual Asset Management Strategy designed to maximise its competitive advantage. In support of this the successful candidate will be required to assist on a wide range of primarily non contentious IP related matters. These include advising upon and effectively documenting all types of IP agreements and supporting acquisitions, divestments and joint ventures. Advising on and managing contentious IP matters as they arise will also form part of the role.

The post is based at the GKN Corporate Centre, in Worcestershire but both domestic and overseas travel will be required on occasion.

In addition to at least 3 years PQE, preferably within the corporate/commercial department of a substantial law firm, applicants must be commercially orientated with the ability to communicate clearly and concisely with all levels of management.

Success will depend on high levels of skill, decisiveness and commitment to ensure that transactions are implemented quickly, efficiently and on target. A commercial and innovative approach to problem solving, dedication to client service and the desire to work as part of a highly committed team are also key requirements.

Experience in the automotive, off-highway or aerospace industries will be an advantage whilst relevant foreign language skills will be favourably considered.

The remuneration package will reflect the level of responsibility and includes the provision of a car allowance, defined benefits pension scheme and where appropriate relocation expenses.

Applications should be made in writing with detailed CV to Rebecca D’Amico, GKN Corporate Centre , PO Box 55, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 0TL, England or by e-mail to: rebecca.damico@gkn.com

Closing Date for applications 9 November, 2007

Judge's fireball death remains a mystery

2007-10-12T14:08:00.000+01:00

An article published in Yahoo online, details the case of the death of a judge who died in an explosion and fire at his Somerset farmhouse in 2001, just hours after he had asked his wife of 34 years for a divorce. He had been having an affair.

Read the whole story here http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20071012/tuk-uk-britain-judge-fire-fa6b408_2.html

Source Yahoo News Online

ILEX Annual Ball and Graduation Ceremony

2007-10-11T09:51:00.000+01:00

We are sponsoring the ILEX Annual Ball and Graduation Ceremony that is being held on 20th October 2007.

Description:
The Annual Ball & Graduation Ceremony Dinner and Disco Graduation to commence at 5pm Drinks Reception at 7pm Dinner at 8pm Followed by disco Carriages at 1.30am Tickets cost - £30. Branch Members and £35 non members Children are welcome up to 7pm - £10. Dress code - Gentlemen - dinner jacket Ladies - evening gown Numbers for Graduation required as soon as possible.
Booking Forms to be available soon but anyone interested should make contact as soon as possible

Venue:
The Park Inn, May Ann Street, Cardiff (formerly Jurys)

Contact Details
Frances Edwards Tel:02920 864888
E-mail: fg@caswelljones.com