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The Company Sec in local government

As commercialisation grows, Azhar Ghose outlines the increasing importance of the Company Secretary role within local authorities and offers some tips on how it can be performed. Read more
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News

Jan 28, 2020

Birketts strengthens public sector team with Senior Associate hire

Regional law firm Birketts has bolstered its public sector team with the appointment of Claire Jones as a Senior Associate.
Jan 22, 2020

Super-regulator in call for evidence around ongoing competence of lawyers

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has launched a call for evidence on how legal regulators ensure the professionals they regulate remain competent throughout their careers.
Jan 22, 2020

Wellbeing charity reports rise in lawyers seeking support for depression, stress and bullying

The number of legal professionals contacting LawCare for emotional support continues to rise year on year, with 677 people seeking help in 2019.
Jan 20, 2020

Third of barristers see cuts and changes to legal aid as “critical challenge”, LexisNexis report finds

Family and criminal barristers handling publicly funded work consider the cuts and changes to legal aid as a major concern, a report by LexisNexis UK has revealed.
Jan 20, 2020

Bevan Brittan boosts Leeds office with hire of property disputes partner

Law firm Bevan Brittan has appointed James Teagle as a partner in its property disputes team.
Jan 16, 2020

Wellbeing charity and universities launch online resource promoting mental wellbeing practices for legal professionals

Legal mental health and wellbeing charity LawCare and academics at the University of Sheffield and The Open University have launched a free, online resource for legal professionals in hopes of teaching better wellbeing practices in the sector.
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Features

Places of learning

What is it like to work as an in-house solicitor in Higher Education? Sam McGinty reflects on the transition between local government and higher education and why he loves his job.

Being a legal locum in local government

An increasing number of legal professionals are becoming locums. Rayhaneh Tehrani and Laura Smith explain the reasons why this is the case, and set out what they think candidates should consider when looking for jobs in local government.

Making the right choice

Jennifer Mellani writes about her journey to being a local government lawyer specialising in health and social care.

Firm foundations

Are you intrigued about working in local government but hesitant to take the plunge? Real estate lawyer Matthew Dineen explains how he overcame his initial doubts and never looked back.
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The Legal Department of the Future
 

Bridging the gap

The Legal Department of the Future survey reveals that local government legal teams are employing a range of strategies as they face up to a challenging combination of increased workloads and severe pressure on resources. Philip Hoult reports.

Can’t get no satisfaction?

What effect have the cuts had on local government lawyers’ ambitions and morale? Derek Bedlow looks at the results of our exclusive survey of more than 300 local government lawyers and assesses the implications for local authority legal teams.

The shape of things to come

Derek Bedlow looks at the implications of the Legal Department of the Future survey for how legal departments organise, recruit and retain their staff.
 

 LDOF Supplement Front Cover 

Lead or follow?

A short guide to shared legal services

Up for the challenge?

Improving internal efficiency

The way ahead

 

Book Reviews

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Manchester on Alcohol & Entertainment Law

Professor Roy Light reviews the 4th edition of Manchester on Alcohol and Entertainment Law. Woods Whur Publishing, Leeds. £115 soft cover.
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Book Review: Button on Taxis

After an eight-year gap there is a new edition of Button on Taxis. Professor Roy Light reviews the publication and the changes made.
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Book Review: Cornerstone on the Planning Court

The law moves on with increasing speed nowadays, one significant recent development being the creation of the Planning Court in April 2014. That is already two years ago now, so Cornerstone obviously felt the time was right to start putting together…
Patersons Licensing

Book Review: Paterson’s Licensing Acts 2016

James Paterson, who introduced the work and authored the first ten editions, could never have foreseen that his book would be going strong 114 editions later; or that it would have an editor-in-chief, three general editors and a consulting editor;…
Cornerstone on Councillors Conduct

Book Review: Cornerstone on Councillors' Conduct

L.P. Hartley once told us that the ‘past is a foreign country; they do things differently there’. However, American astronomer and astrophysicist, Carl Sagan thought that to understand the present we need to know the past. And with the turbulent…

More News

Jan 15, 2020

New Family Court wellbeing protocol for Birmingham bids to tackle ‘by return, twenty-four-seven, last-minute culture’

The Wellbeing Committee of the Family Court at Birmingham has introduced a protocol this month with a view to professionals, practitioners, court staff and members of the judiciary being able to benefit from increased wellbeing, a reduction in…
Jan 13, 2020

Lord Reed sworn in as President of the Supreme Court

Lord Reed has today (13 January) been sworn in as President of the Supreme Court, in succession to Baroness Hale.
Jan 08, 2020

Weightmans adds two partners to London office through lateral hires

National law firm Weightmans has bolstered its London office with the addition of two lateral hires in its healthcare and regulatory teams.
Jan 06, 2020

Lawyers in Local Government calls for nominations for 2020 Awards

Lawyers in Local Government has launched the LLG Awards 2020, with a deadline for submitting nominations of 20th January.
Dec 28, 2019

Treasury Solicitor receives KCB, government lawyers recognised in New Year’s Honours List 2020

Four members of the Government Legal Service have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours List 2020.
Dec 19, 2019

Blackstone Chambers public law silk appointed High Court judge

One of the leading public lawyers in the country, Michael Fordham QC of Blackstone Chambers, has been appointed as a High Court judge.

More Features

A chance to make a difference

Hesitant about taking on management responsibilities? V. Charles Ward explains how it gave a real boost to his career, and gives some pointers for those taking their first steps.

A mentally healthy workplace

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Yasmin Allan considers the legal and practical issues linked to the employee wellbeing agenda.

Legal apprenticeships: getting started

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One of the great privileges of working with local authorities to deliver apprenticeships is observing the different approaches legal departments take to deploying and developing apprentice staff, writes Noel Inge.

The Company Sec in local government

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As commercialisation grows, Azhar Ghose outlines the increasing importance of the Company Secretary role within local authorities and offers some tips on how it can be performed.

Personal philosophies

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Chris Guy, a former local authority head of legal, sets out how he tried to overcome his weaknesses.

Aiming for the top

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How should you go about securing the position of head of legal at a local authority? Chris Guy shares some thoughts.

Creative or secure?

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Good relationships between lawyers and clients allow for more risk and more creativity which ultimately adds more value all round, writes Geoff Wild.

A Spring in your career step....

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Lawyers in Local Government is looking for talented lawyers to get involved in its special activity areas. Nicholas Dobson explains how this can boost your career.

Out with the DIP, in with the IP

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The Communities Secretary has unveiled a new regime for the disciplining and dismissal of senior staff, to replace what he called the "unnecessary and costly bureaucratic process" that currently applies. Olwen Dutton analyses the key issues for councils.

Life as a trainee

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What is it like to start your career as a trainee solicitor in the public sector? Amy Mills explains.

Faith, hope and clarity

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Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) is fortunate to have talented and expert lawyers operating at all local government levels. And these make a visibly positive difference to their authorities and communities.

Taking care

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Lee Parkhill, a barrister at leading set 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square, has previously worked for a regulator of social care providers, the largest local authority in the country and a major law firm. He tells Local Government Lawyer about moving to the Bar and why he practises health and social care law.