Aspiring criminal barristers and solicitors are now welcome to submit their applications for this year’s Legal Trainee Scheme with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The 2018 scheme opened on 28 February, and those interested have until 21 March to complete their applications. The scheme offers up to 30 places throughout England and Wales to applicants wishing to pursue a career in criminal law, and will provide a one-year pupillage with the chance to become a permanent Crown Prosecutor upon successful qualification. Potential applicants need a minimum 2:2 at undergraduate level and should have completed either a Bar Professional Training Course or their Legal Practice Course in time to begin their placement in November 2018. Further details can be found on the CPS website.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Freeths—Ruth Clare
National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester
Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon
Partner appointed head of family team
mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison
Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return
NEWS
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The dangers of uncritical artificial intelligence (AI) use in legal practice are no longer hypothetical. In this week's NLJ, Dr Charanjit Singh of Holborn Chambers examines cases where lawyers relied on ‘hallucinated’ citations — entirely fictitious authorities generated by AI tools
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
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