Read our latest articles, news briefs and legal updates across all our different services.
An interview is likely to be required almost every time you apply for a role, and this is equally true when applying for training contracts. The process at Machins is currently split into three: (1) an application; (2) an initial interview and (3) a final partner-led interview. This post gives some tips from my experience
Beginning a training contract can be a daunting task for anyone even if you have previous experience. As a paralegal in the residential conveyancing department at two of my previous firms I found the experience to be invaluable in building up the key skills required to succeed in my training contract particularly in the following
Private Family Law is a fast-paced and unpredictable area of law as court hearings can be listed last minute and parties can issue without notice urgent applications to the court. There are some responsibilities that almost every private family law paralegal will come to experience and even though things can be daunting at first, the
As I enter my sixth month of being a paralegal in the residential conveyancing department at Machins, I would like to provide an insight into my experience so far and advocate on behalf of a practice area that is perhaps not seen as the most glamorous field to qualify into. Nevertheless, there is a lot
The Employment Tribunal has ruled that a civil servant who was sacked after she looked up her neighbour’s private data on a government database was not unfairly dismissed. The case involved Louise Kelly, who said her behaviour had been caused by a lack of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Kelly had worked for the Department of
The Employment Tribunal has ruled that a former employee was subjected to direct race discrimination after a client demanded that only “white female croupiers” deal for him. The case involved Ms Semhar Tesfagiorgis, who worked for Crown London Aspinalls for over 13 years. The casino’s patrons were wealthy individuals and the respondent kept records of
In short marriages—typically under five years—the court often aims to return both parties to their pre-marital financial positions. Equal division of assets is less common, especially where there are no children. Understanding your rights early can help protect your financial future.
The courts have taken firm action against a husband who failed to comply with the terms of his divorce settlement with his former wife. The couple had been in a relationship for 17 years and had two children. The financial provision order had been made by consent in December 2018. One of its provisions was
The case involved Oxford Said Business School v Heslop. Heslop had made protected disclosures to her manager concerning the lawfulness of the school’s actions in a procurement process, and potential over-charging and breach of contract in relation to a key client. The manager felt that the allegations were misconceived. Shortly after making those disclosures, Heslop
A university lecturer has lost her appeal against a decision that her employer was entitled to dismiss her before the end of her probationary period. Korthals Altes began working for the University of Essex in 2017. Her contract provided for a three-year probation period, at the end of which she was entitled to apply for