Wright Hassall shortlised for major award

LEAMINGTON Spa solicitors Wright Hassall has been shortlisted for the Regional Law Firm of the Year at the British Legal Awards 2012 after entering the running for the prestigious gong for the first time.

The awards received a record number of submissions this year and Wright Hassall is the only Midlands-based solicitors to make it onto the shortlist of six in their category.

The 220-strong firm was included after demonstrating impressive innovation and development across the board as well as sustained growth and excellent levels of customer care.

The awards ceremony takes place at the Old Billingsgate Market in London on November 22.

Nick Abell, senior partner at Wright Hassall, said: “This is the first time we have entered a submission for these awards. To be the only firm in the region to have been nominated in a year when submissions increased by 10% is a fantastic achievement.”

BCL targets new graduates keen on legal careers

BIRMINGHAM-based legal recruiter BCL Legal has launching a new service targeting graduates looking to carve out a career at a law firm.

BCL, which also has offices in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol and Reading, has set up a new department, BCL Graduates, to manage the service.

It is available to graduates and paralegals with less than six months experience in the law and the firm has set it up as an added value service to its existing clients.

Graduates register their details on a website, upload their CV and complete their profile for free. They then indicate what and where they have studied, their grades, electives, the locations they have ties to, their interests and when they are available from.

Law firms also register and – once verified – they can directly search for candidates based on the key criteria.

James Batt, director of BCL Legal, said: “We know it can be tough for graduates to secure their first position so we wanted to devise a simple to use and accessible platform to help them.  We also wanted to give something back to all the law firms around the UK that have made BCL Legal a success over the past nine years.”

Anthony Collins offers support to Birmingham Diocese

ANTHONY Collins Solicitors has expanded its academy conversion work for the Church of England with new appointments to advise two Dioceses – Birmingham and Southwell & Nottingham.

The firm said that as the Church responded to the challenges identified in the recent Chadwick Report (The Church School of the Future Review) the need for specialist support had become more evident.

During the last six months the Education Team at the firm said it had seen significant growth in the number of enquiries from Dioceses seeking legal support.

These latest appointments follow the team being instructed by both Coventry and Gloucester Dioceses earlier this year.

Simon Ramshaw, the partner who leads the Education Team, said: “It’s fantastic to see the way the Church is working together so positively to help shape the future of education in the UK. Both Dioceses have a deeply ingrained commitment to secure the future of distinctive Christian education, and it’s a real privilege for us to serve the Church in its ongoing mission.”

Jackie Hughes, Diocesan Director of Education at Birmingham, added: “We’re delighted to be working with Anthony Collins Solicitors.  We have shared values and a common objective to enhance the provision of high quality Christian education.  It’s good to see their refreshing approach in bringing fresh ideas and thinking to the table.”