The Legal Cheek podcast is BACK! This week we kick off by discussing the recent rises in salaries for newly qualified lawyers. We dig into what this means for the legal industry as well as addressing complaints of "salary bunching" from lawyers further up the food chain.

And is this continual rise in NQ pay having an affect of the amount of qualifying trainees that firms keep on? We examine reports that retention rates are dropping and discuss the figures which firms have released so far.

Finally, we touch on a student-led petition to reform the Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE) which has garnered attention from mainstream media outlets as well as from former home secretary Suella Braverman. Is this an example of Gen Z snowflake culture (as Braverman suggests) or valid criticism of a flawed set of exams?

Read more about these stories on Legal Cheek:

https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/08/im-not-a-wet-lettuce-trainee-solicitor-behind-sqe-petition-hits-back-at-bravermans-snowflake-jibe/

https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/07/beyond-nq-whats-the-salary-progression-like-at-your-firm/

https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/08/clifford-chance-retains-49-of-57-qualifying-trainees/

https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/07/mayer-brown-matches-magic-circle-nq-pay-at-150k/

The Legal Cheek team discuss the aspiring barrister who went viral on LinkedIn for taking his job search back to basics. Is this the new strategy in an increasingly competitive job market? And what is this first-class AI and computer science graduate doing becoming a lawyer in the first place?

We also discuss the news that the "Godfather of AI", Geoffrey Hinton, told the Diary of a CEO podcast that AI spells trouble for paralegals. How often are these sorts of predictions true? And is the legal market as vulnerable to AI replacement as is often made out?

Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge and writer Lydia Fontes discuss the news that corporate law firm Hill Dickinson will sponsor Everton Football Club's new stadium.

While critics might call it a waste of money, we explain why it could be a genius bold marketing move.

Legal Cheek writers Lydia Fontes and Angus Simpson discuss the mixed messaging around AI, asking whether law students should view the technology as a necessary tool or a risky liability?

Articles we discuss:

Judge fury after ‘fake’ cases cited by rookie barrister in High Court: https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/judge-fury-after-fake-cases-cited-by-rookie-barrister-in-high-court/

SRA approves 'AI-driven' law firm: https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/sra-approves-ai-driven-law-firm/

Shoosmiths offers £1 million bonus pot to encourage AI use among staff: https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/04/shoosmiths-offers-1-million-bonus-pot-to-encourage-ai-use-among-staff/

‘Silly examples of bad practice’ are no reason to shun AI, says top judge: https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/02/silly-examples-of-bad-practice-are-no-reason-to-shun-ai-says-master-of-the-rolls/

Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge and writer Lydia Fontes discuss the law firms who have struck deals with the Trump administration following the President's hostile executive orders. We explore the options facing associates and partners at these firms and what this will mean for US law firms in the UK.

Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge and writer Lydia Fontes discuss the Bar Council's decision to ban the use of AI tools likes ChatGPT and DeepSeek in pupillage applications. We ask how effective these tools really are for law applications and offer some advice for aspiring lawyers considering using AI to secure their dream career.

Read the story here: https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/01/budding-barristers-barred-from-using-ai-in-pupillage-applications/

The Legal Cheek team discuss the news that Simmons & Simmons are raising their Bristol NQ salary to £96k, setting a record for regional junior pay. We explore how the salary increase will affect the Bristol legal market and what it means for those pursuing training contracts.

Read the story on Legal Cheek: https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/01/simmons-sets-record-with-96k-salary-for-bristol-nq-solicitors/

Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge and writer Lydia Fontes discuss a recent Reddit thread which reveals the longest days that lawyers have worked. We talk about how common these crazy working days are, the culture that encourages them and what you need to know about yourself before embarking on a career in corporate law.

Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge and writer Lydia Fontes discuss a recent LinkedIn post in which a law graduate vented their frustration after being rejected from a paralegal position. We ask how law students should approach posting on LinkedIn while trying to break in to the legal profession.

Read more about this story on Legal Cheek:

https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/01/law-graduate-rejected-for-a-paralegal-role-vents-frustration-on-linkedin/

What effect will AI have on junior lawyers? How many trainees will firms take on? Will we see another high-profile law firm merger? Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge and writer Lydia Fontes discuss what's coming for the legal profession in 2025.