Category: Metro

Exclusive: Reference to D&I networks taken down

Skadden appears to have removed a section from its UK graduate recruitment website that outlined the diversity networks available to trainee solicitors, Legal Cheek can reveal, amid mounting criticism over the firm’s $100 million pro bono deal with the Trump administration.

Skadden’s UK law students and graduates page previously included a Diversity FAQ, which answered the question: “Are there any affinity networks that trainees can join?”. It listed several internal groups — such as Black Lawyers for Diversity, the Skadden Women Attorney Network (SWAN), and a Social Mobility network — and emphasised their role in promoting workplace inclusion and community building at the firm.

This question no longer appears on the current UK grad rec page but is still viewable through the Internet archive site known as the Wayback Machine. It’s unclear when exactly the section (screenshot below) was removed.

Skadden didn’t respond to our requests for comment.

Skadden isn’t the only law firm to revise its online diversity and inclusion (D&I) content. Legal Cheek previously reported that Hogan Lovells renamed its “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” pages to “HL Inclusion,” removing references to LGBTQ+, disability, and “institutional racism.” The firm also replaced its DEI video with a message from its CEO. Similarly, Latham & Watkins redirected its DEI webpage and removed language referencing institutional racism and its Diversity Leadership Committee. Its “Diversity Scholars Program” has also been rebranded as the “Pathways Scholars Program.”

The removals come amid growing pressure on major US law firms over their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, following a broad crackdown by the Trump administration. Twenty top firms, including Skadden, received an 11-page letter from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), requesting detailed demographic and recruitment data. The letter suggests that certain DEI practices may be in violation of discrimination laws.

Skadden has taken some flack over its decision to strike a pre-emptive deal with Trump that will see it provide $100 million in pro bono support to initiatives supported by both administration and the firm. Other firms to have reportedly struck similar deals include Paul Weiss and Willkie.

Rachel Cohen, an associate who helped organise an open letter condemning the administration’s actions, resigned from Skadden last month. She has since launched a digital “toolkit” encouraging junior lawyers at affected firms to boycott graduate recruitment initiatives until firm leaders publicly oppose Trump’s actions.

She was joined earlier this week by Brenna Trout Frey, another Skadden associate, who also resigned — this time via a viral LinkedIn post. Frey criticised an internal firm email referencing the deal which she described as “craven” and “capitulation”.

Cash rewards for reaching one million prompts on Microsoft Copilot

Shoosmiths has become the first major UK law firm to announce it will tie bonuses to how much lawyers use artificial intelligence (AI), encouraging its staff reach one million prompts to unlock a £1 million payout.

The firm has launched a scheme in which staff are encouraged to prompt the Microsoft Copilot AI one million times. If — or when — the one million prompt target is hit, Shoosmiths will “unlock” an extra £1 million for the collegiate bonus pot. All staff, except partners and business services directors (who are nevertheless encouraged to use the technology), will benefit.

According to the firm, if each employee used Copilot just four times per working day, the target would be easily reached.

“We don’t fear AI”, said Shoosmiths CEO David Jackson, who linked the scheme to the firm’s innovative side as well as seeking client “benefits”. Shoosmiths hopes the initiative “frees” lawyers’ time to do “the human-to-human work that really matters: solving problems, building trust, and supporting clients through complexity.” The statement added that AI “won’t replace” any staff.

Shoosmiths’ initiative is backed by a partnership with Microsoft, which includes training and a firmwide “knowledge hub” where teams will share AI use cases and success stories. New internal roles – including “innovation leads” under a “head of legal innovation” plus a “data manager” – have also been launched. The firm also claims AI usage will help them achieve their net zero goals by 2040. This will mean managing “upstream emissions from AI” in approaching sustainability.

The move to offer a financial reward for using AI signals Shoosmiths’ commitment to “embedding AI into the day-to-day work” for lawyers and support staff. This follows Shoosmiths’ recent advice, where in a blog post for training contract seekers, Shoosmiths described AI use as “tool to refine and develop your own original thoughts, not replace them”, Legal Cheek reported.

AI is being embraced by some major law firms. A&O Shearman launched guidance for using AI in TC applications issued last year. The firm had previously hired the “Harvey” AI tool, which was also adopted by Macfarlanes.

But Shoosmiths strategy with integrating AI — not least with monetary rewards for using it – also diverges from other firms’ more cautious approaches. Hill Dickinson, for example, recently restricted AI tools following a surge in staff use. Meanwhile, prospective barristers were barred from using ChatGPT or other generative AI tools in their pupillage applications this year. Nevertheless, over 70% lawyers thought AI was a “force for good” last year, when Legal Cheek also reported over 40% lawyers used the technology already.

Willkie follows Paul Weiss and Skadden

Willkie Farr & Gallagher has become the latest US giant to strike a deal with President Donald Trump in order to avoid a potentially costly executive order.

The deal will see Willkie provide pro bono legal support amounting to $100 million to projects agreed upon with the current US administration and end diversity-based hiring practices. It follows similar agreements struck with Paul Weiss and Skadden.

Trump has been targeting prominent US law firms that currently or previously employed lawyers involved in investigations into him or who have led legal challenges against his policies.

At least some firms, including Perkins Coie, have taken steps to challenge the sanctions imposed by Trump, while others have chosen to cut deals.

In an internal email to staff, Willkie’s leadership team described the move as an “incredibly difficult decision” and acknowledged that it is “not welcomed by some”.

Legal Cheek previously reported that Paul Weiss had agreed to a $40 million pro bono deal, with chair Brad Karp explaining that an executive order “could easily have destroyed our firm”. Meanwhile, Skadden reached a $100 million agreement with the president, with executive partner Jeremy London stating it was in the best interests of the firm’s lawyers and clients.

Scottish Suits?

Legal Cheek readers may be interested in a new drama confirmed by the BBC, which follows the lives of young lawyers working Scotland’s “high-octane” legal scene.

The BBC’s latest original drama, Counsels, is set in Glasgow and spans eight, hour-long episodes. It centres on five lawyers navigating high-stakes courtroom battles and equally intense personal lives, brought to life through “punchy” and “characterful” storytelling.

Scattered across the legal profession since graduating from an “elite” law school, the BBC press release says “some will rise to the top, while others risk losing everything” when the friends-turned-opponents/learned friends “lock horns” in heavyweight litigation. Besides the “legal battlefield” viewers can bank on scandalous love affairs, toxic relationships, and fracturing friendships where, quote, “the fight for justice threatens to tear them all apart.” Electrifying.

Expect authenticity, thanks to the immersive research led by co-writers Bryan Elsley and Gillian McCormack, a Glasgow native, into the city’s legal scene. According to Elsley, they’ve had unique access to Glasgow lawyers’ experiences. McCormack describes their resulting characters as just like Glasgow itself — “gritty” but “humorous”.

With the focus on court, don’t expect too many “punchy, fast-moving” scenes prepping disclosure in a skyscraper at 3am to keep BBC viewers hooked. And besides advocacy tips, you’re not likely to get much tort revision binging Counsels, given the distinct Scots legal system…

McCormack graduated from the BBC’s homegrown Drama Room after a PR background. Elsley, meanwhile, has a strong CV in ensemble pieces from his Skins, the iconic drama based on sixth former life. Elsley also wrote The Young Person’s Guide to Becoming a Rock Star — a 90s comedy about a Glaswegian band seeking success. No doubt the law called for a more dramatic angle. Viewers may otherwise know Elsley’s work from Netflix drama Kiss me First.

Counsels is set to air on BBC One and iPlayer.