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The increasing prominence of ESG and AI have transformed the legal landscape and represent new opportunities for lawyers, but with evolving regulations and the ever-expanding reach of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, law firms should ensure that they have appropriate policies in place to adapt to these challenges, say Scott Ashby and Aimee Talbot at RPC.
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The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s recent anti-money laundering report conducted supervisory activities that revealed a variety of breaches, and with an increasingly regulated landscape, lawyers can play an important part in preventing criminal activity by taking responsibility for ensuring compliance, says Harriet Holmes at Thirdfort.
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In view of the U.K. National Cyber Security Centre’s recent report shedding light on the legal sector’s increased vulnerability to cyberattacks, law firms need not only establish robust defenses, but also to redefine their approach to data security by fostering a culture of continuous learning, adaptability and vigilance, says Katie McCullough at Panzura.
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Whether a junior attorney seeks to lay the foundation for a path to partnership, or a seasoned practitioner aims to leverage an extensive network, the road to legal industry success often involves cultivating sincere relationships, say Kathleen Hilton and Megan Senese at Stage.
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U.K. Black History Month is a good time to look at the importance of Black representation in the legal profession, and how mentorship can make a big difference in empowering Black lawyers, including by offering career coaching and building valuable relationships, says Christianah Babajide at Keating Chambers.
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U.K. solicitors come from the highest socioeconomic backgrounds compared with the wider workforce, and with the case for a greater focus on diversity and inclusion stronger in law than in any other sector, now is the time to challenge the status quo decisions that affect equality and representation, says Nik Miller at the Bridge Group.
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The news of libel law firm Schillings setting up its own public relations firm illustrates the equal importance of both lawyers and PR professionals in managing the reputations of businesses and individuals effectively, especially in the evolving media landscape, says Gus Sellitto at Byfield Consultancy.
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As the world faces immense changes across economic, environmental, political and social spheres, leaders in BigLaw are in a position to help address global challenges, while also transforming their business models to respond to historic shifts in the nature of legal work, says Duncan Weston at CMS.
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There are many benefits for lawyers in getting their articles, opinions and insights published in the media, and although writing about a topic can be easy, getting it published is tricky, says Steve Rudaini at MD Communications.
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In the wake of the post-pandemic hiring surge many law associates are reevaluating their priorities, and with midsize City firms offering a better work-life balance, greater focus on team fit and opportunities for upward mobility, the traditional legal career path offered at BigLaw firms is no longer passing muster, says Ria Karnik at Major Lindsey.
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A legal background can bring several advantages to the work of a legal public relations professional, from an understanding of the subject matter itself and the pressures that lawyers face, to a meticulous attention to detail and knowledge of the importance of following breaking news stories, says Kath Walkling at Herbert Smith.
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Obligations can get in the way of lawyers creating a regular communication cadence with their clients, but it is possible to rebuild and strengthen a relationship by employing empathy and showing a commitment to the client's success and well-being, says Megan Senese at Stage.
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A great legal public relations professional needs first-class writing skills, intellect and an attention to detail, but in addition to these core competencies, there are transferable skills and personal qualities that are vital, says Daniela Conte at Gibson Dunn.
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Roundup
As the importance of law firm public relations continues to grow and the role of communications teams evolves, in this Expert Analysis series PR professionals discuss lawyer media relations, reputation management and more.
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The rise of 24/7 media and far reach of social media has made crisis communication more likely and much harder to manage, highlighting the importance for law firms to be prepared and effectively deal with crises to avoid the risk of reputational damage, says Steve Rudaini at MD Communications.