CLLS Training Committee

🚨NEW- “#SQE fails” guidance from The Law Society 🚨 The CLLS Training Committee has been actively collaborating with The Law Society, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and the Legal Services Board for several years to ensure the successful implementation and operation of the SQE. Our goal has been to represent the perspectives of CLLS member law firms and their current and future solicitors throughout this process. 📉 Good luck to all candidates receiving their SQE1 results today. To date, pass rates for both SQE1 and SQE2 have been lower than expected, and lower than on the PGDL and LPC - this has presented new challenges for many employers. Dealing with future colleagues not passing the necessary regulatory exams has been an unusual occurrence for some firms requiring consideration of the complexities and consequences involved. Over the past couple of years, we have published guidance for employers on how to manage SQE fails. We are pleased that this guidance has been well-received and widely used. Recently, the Training Committee, led by A&O Shearman's Louisa Mendes da Costa, has been working closely with Nicole Poole at TLS to create updated guidance on how firms should manage SQE fails; this is now available on the TLS website here: https://lnkd.in/ehd7gPrj. 🔐Key Points of the New Guidance: 📍 Understanding the SQE Standard: The SQE assesses candidates at a day-one solicitor standard, which is a higher benchmark compared to the LPC. This makes the SQE more challenging and requires additional support and flexibility from employers. 📍 Managing Resits: Given the rigid SQE assessment timetable, employers need to consider policies that allow for resits. This includes deciding whether to defer the start date of qualifying work experience or allow resits during employment. 📍 Supporting Candidate Welfare: Employers should have resources in place to support candidates' mental health and well-being, especially if they need to resit exams or face deferrals. 📍 Policy Considerations: Employers should have clear policies on how to handle various scenarios, such as deferrals, resits, and potential cancellation of employment offers. These policies should be empathetic and respectful, taking into account factors like extenuating circumstances and reasonable adjustments. Guidance: 🔀 Be Flexible: Adapt policies to accommodate the unique challenges posed by the SQE. 🎙️ Communicate Clearly: Ensure both candidates and employers understand the actions to be taken under different circumstances. 🔍 Review Policies Regularly: Keep policies flexible and open to adjustments as more data on SQE pass rates and candidate experiences become available. We remain committed to supporting employers and incoming lawyers. Please reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance. #SQE #LawSociety #CLLS #LegalTraining #SolicitorsQualifyingExamination #LegalProfession #LawFirms

⁉️ Have you mastered the development of your firm’s partners? Honed your leaning activities? Identified the best competency acceleration methods? No? Thought not. Many of us are in the same boat as the demand on our businesses, partners and HR and L&D functions constantly evolve. 🛶 It’s tricky! And critical. CLLS Training Committee is pleased to announce a new workshop on Optimising Partner Development featuring contributors: Alexandra Beidas, Colin Passmore, Dr. Farzana Aslam, Holly Stapleton-Walshe, Jonathan Watmough, Kathryn Lippert Rousin, Michal Berkner, Peter Carrick, Rachel Wevill, Richard Macklin, Rosie Warren Cafferty, Usha Puri-Dewage 📅 Tue 1 October 2024 morning 📍 McDermott, Will & Emery, 22 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4BQ 🎟️ Our workshops typically sell out - this one will for sure, email Liz.Thomas@clls.org fast to secure your spot - max two per firm. #PartnerDev #LegalLearning #MarketDifferentiation

🚨URGENT: Calling any and all potential employers of current and future trainee solicitors. PLEASE HELP. 🚨 Please see attached the attached letter City of London Law Society (CLLS) Chair, Colin Passmore sent out yesterday to member law firms asking whether any of them can help to place *ten* current and future trainee solicitors of a US-HQ’d law firm which is shutting its London office imminently, leaving them without roles. The firm originally contacted Patrick McCann, CLLS Training Committee Chair. There are four trainees about to qualify, two in train and four to join (two next week). This situation has come to light only very recently and is now urgent. If anyone might have any roles that could suit these ten early lawyers, please get in touch with liz.thomas@clls.org or patrick.mccann@linklaters.com and they will put you in touch with the right representatives at the firm. We anticipate employers other than law firms would be of interest. Last summer, CLLS and others stepped up to help out Ince & Co trainees as that firm imploded. We hope for a similar outcome this time. Thank you for reading. CLLS Training Committee

🚀Fearless Growth: Developing resilience and embracing learning in law Katie Dyer, CLLS Training Committee member, law firm partner and coach, shares her tips on building #resilience and #continousdevelopment 🌟 Is a "mistake" ever really a mistake or just an opportunity to learn? 🧠 #LegalLearning #LearningandDevelopment #Growthmindset #Lifelonglearning

Lucie Allen breaks the silence and taboo around #menopause, shedding light on why we all need to join this crucial conversation. With a higher proportion of women in Learning and Development roles across law firms, understanding menopause is a collective responsibility. Lucie not only shares powerful personal perspectives but also provides a practical guide for firms to support their people during this significant life stage. Dive into this essential read and discover how you can help foster a more inclusive and understanding workplace. #menopausematters #learninganddevelopment #menopauseawareness #diversityandinclusion #empowerwomen #workplacewellbeing

🔊 Exciting news! Booking is now open for the CLLS Training Committee Autumn Workshop! 📚 Event: Supporting Internal Coaches in City Law Firms 📅 Date: Monday 16 September ⌚ Time: 2-4pm 💻 Location: Zoom There is a fantastic panel lined up. Don't miss this opportunity! Sign up now and help us spread the word by sharing this invitation. 🙌 #LegalTraining #ProfessionalDevelopment #CityLaw #InternalCoaching #LearningandDevelopment

🚀 Ready to supercharge your training budget? 🚀 L&D professionals in the legal field, this one's for you! 📚✨ We all know the importance of continuous learning, but how do you ensure every 💰 of your training budget is maximised? Cathy Wilcox offers actionable insights and strategies tailored specifically for the legal profession ⚖️💼 Let us know what you think! #LegalTraining #LearningAndDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #TrainingBudget #LegalProfession

🤩 Showing itself to be on top of trends. CLLS Training Committee is now indulging in #ThrowBackThursday. Or #ThrowBackOneThursday, in fact. 🌈 Last week, on this very day, our *new* development programme - #TheLLP! - opened at the gorgeous offices of McDermott Will & Emery (thank you, Charlotte Rhodes). Featuring a faculty of Alicia Millar, Chris Edwards, Colin Shaw, Daisy Reeves, Liz Ward, Neil Mitchell, Patrick McCann and Richard Fisk, this multi-firm leadership programme informed, educated, inspired, galvanised and accelerated the next generation of #LGBTQLawyerLeaders. We are grateful to City of London Law Society (CLLS) for platforming this innovative programme, reflecting its modern vision. Thank you to Colin Passmore, Kevin Hart and Sarah de Gay. The LLP! is needed: ⚡️ the percentage of Gen Z identifying as LGBTQIA+ in the UK is in the high 20s/low 30s 📉only 3% of law firm partners identity as LGBTQIA+ 📈 hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation are up 112% since 2018 and by 186% for trans people ❗️we are aware of only three 🏳️🌈 top 200 City law firm CEOs in the last three or more decades (acknowledgment to Michael Chissick and Justin D'Agostino MH). 3️⃣0️⃣ attendees from 2️⃣0️⃣ firms shared a significant experience. They heard from significant City players people from a dozen top firms and also #LGBTGuru, Geffrye Parsons who covered: 📝 how to identify your identity and, from that, power 📝 what is - and will be - impacting the City, the business of City law, the legal areas we practice, the global queer community 📝 how to deliver your own career plan 📝 what great leadership LOOKS like, how to do it and how to optimise your #Onlyness, including uplifting yourself and others 📝 how to maximise your brand, build a network that moves and what leveraging your queerness on a global scale requires 📝 how to develop a million-view LinkedIn presence 📝 how Lawyers Give Back Together More (#LGBTPlus) ⏩ Attendees will now get follow-up acceleration coaching from our #QueerCareerPeers, Alicia, David Sheldon and Maria Antoniou. 💷 The LLP! also raised *£30,000* for *13* LGBTQIA+ charities. 💻 Next year’s dates are already locked in - 5 & 6 June 2025. Contact our chair, Patrick McCann, for pre-booking and/or info. #ModernLawyering #InclusiveDevelopment #LGBTQIA+

Studying for the #SQE? CLLS Training Committee member Kirsty Wilkins interviewed three recent graduates for their #toptips. Whether you're just starting your journey or are in the midst of your preparation, read on. A huge thank you to Jenna Bennett, Sarah Hunt and Rohan Samrai for sharing their experiences and wisdom. #SQE #LegalEducation #StudyTips #CareerAdvice #ProfessionalDevelopment

🚨‼️🔔 CLLS Training Committee ALERT FOR LAW FIRM HR, L&D AND COMPLIANCE PROFESSIONALS (AND ENGLAND AND WALES SOLICITORS): THE Solicitors Regulation Authority HAS CHANGED THE WORDING OF THE CONTINUING COMPETENCE REGULATION DECLARATION. 🚨‼️🔔 The SRA’s latest update (issue 129) says: “Practising certificate and registration renewals will take place from 1 to 31 October 2024. This year, there are no new questions in the renewal application. However, we have reworded the continuing competence declaration to make it even clearer what we expect from you. We have written to your organisational contact and authorised signatory to explain more, and provided information on our website.” 📝 On the SRA website, it says that solicitors will be asked to confirm that: ✅ they have an up-to-date understanding of the legal, ethical and regulatory obligations relevant to their role AND ✅ they have reflected on and addressed any identified learning and development needs AND ✅ they are competent to perform their role. 💻 ⚠️ If your firm uses bulk renewal, you will need to update your LMS or whatever internal process you use to confirm that your lawyers have made the declaration. ⁉️CLLS Training Committee is very interested to hear how employing organisations are adjusting to comply with this change! ❓Drop a comment below.