The Legal Services Regulatory Authority of Ireland (LSRA) has published its Pathways to the Professions 2024 report in July 2025, detailing admissions to the solicitor and barrister professions and trends in training and practice. The report shows a slight decline in new entrants but continued growth in overall numbers, with 12,175 practising solicitors and 3,071…
New European money laundering authority anti money laundering authority launched on 1 July
The new European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) officially commenced operations on 1 July 2025, marking a significant step in strengthening the EU’s fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, AMLA was created under the EU Anti-Money Laundering Package, adopted in 2021 and in force since 9 July 2024. AMLA’s core…
The statistical reporting system for German lawyers: new study on the state of the legal profession
The latest round of data collection on the legal profession in Germany has recently been launched. The Statistical Reporting System for Lawyers (STAR), commissioned by the Federal Bar Association and conducted by the Institute for Freelance Professions at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg since 1993, is inviting participation in its latest survey on the professional and…
Report shows small firms keen to adopt technology but barriers still exist
On 19 June, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published new research revealing that while sole practitioners and small law firms in England and Wales are eager to adopt new technology, significant barriers continue to hinder uptake. A survey, conducted by Thinks Insight & Strategy, involved around 150 solicitors and eight technology providers through interviews,…
Artificial Intelligence action plan for justice
On 31 July, the UK Ministry of Justice published an AI Action Plan for Justice – a landmark strategy to integrate artificial intelligence across the justice system in England and Wales. The plan is designed to deliver “faster, fairer and more accessible justice” while maintaining public trust, protecting human rights, and preserving judicial independence. The…
What skills do new lawyers need? Lawyers asked to provide answers in new survey
The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) at the University of Denver and the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) have launched the Foundations 2.0 survey to gather insights from practicing lawyers on the skills and competencies new lawyers need in today’s evolving legal landscape. As artificial intelligence and emerging technologies reshape…
Guidelines for creating reciprocity between allied legal professional programs
With seven U.S. states now operating Allied Legal Professional (ALP) programs, momentum is building for greater reciprocity across jurisdictions. Building Bridges, a report released on June 18, 2025, by IAALS and authored by Michael Houlberg, Courtney Petersen-Rhead, and Kristy Clairmont, outlines a strategic framework to guide states in creating reciprocity rules that support the growth…
More legal services offered remotely, but prices continuing to increase in England and Wales
Consumers in England and Wales are increasingly able to access legal services remotely, but prices continue to rise, according to a new report by the Legal Services Board (LSB), published on 17 June 2025. Based on input from over 1,500 providers, the study covers commonly used legal services such as conveyancing, divorce, probate, estate administration,…
Progress in rule of law in European Union but further action needed, finds report
The European Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law Report highlights notable progress across EU Member States and four enlargement countries—Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia—while also calling for continued reform. The report evaluates developments in four key areas: justice systems, anti-corruption, media freedom, and institutional checks and balances. It confirms a positive trajectory in many countries,…
Ohio Supreme Court to review American Bar Association accreditation for lawyers as political pressures mount
Ohio has become the third U.S. state, after Texas and Florida, to consider dropping the requirement that lawyers must graduate from an American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited law school to qualify for admission to the bar. The Supreme Court of Ohio announced on July 18, 2025, that it has established an advisory committee to evaluate its…