Need to know

• Martyn’s law aims to ensure public venues are prepared for potential terror threats.

• Places hosting 200–799 people (like schools, local theatres, and community halls) now fall under the standard duty, meaning they must have evacuation plans and risk assessments in place.

• Local Firms will be called to help update policies, contracts, and compliance documentation to meet the new requirements.

Welcome to TSL’s Weekly Edge, whether you’re aiming for a regional or high-street practice, or just want to get a feel for how law works in the real world beyond textbooks, you’re in the right place. 

No corporate jargon, no massive deals, just real useful information designed to give you that extra edge in your legal journey.

🧠Wilson’s Weekly Wisdom

When it comes to training contract applications, more isn’t better.

I made what seemed like a bold (and slightly risky) decision, I only applied to a few firms. 

Everyone around me was panicking, sending off 20-30 applications at a time like confetti at a wedding. It felt like the more you sent, the better your odds. But here’s the truth: that’s not how this game works.

By applying to fewer firms, you give yourself time to do what really matters: research properly, tailor your answers, and show genuine understanding of the firm’s work and values. That’s what stands out!

Fewer applications might feel like fewer chances, but you only need one “yes”.

💡Spotlight Article

Terrorism law… in schools?!

The answer would be yes!

And if you’re heading into high street or community-focused practice, your future clients, from local academies to small venues, will soon be legally required to step up their security game. 

🔎What’s happening? 

Martyn’s Law, officially the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, got Royal Assent back in April. 

This Act’s all about making public places, like schools and venues, better prepared in case of a terror attack, and it’s named after Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. 

The idea is that places where 200 or more people gather need proper plans in place for what to do if the worst happens, and the bigger the crowd, the tighter the rules.

The Act makes clear two levels of protection as follows:

• Standard duty for places with 200-799 people.

• Enhanced duty for 800+.

Schools get a bit of a break; even if they’ve got more than 800 people on site, they will stay under the standard duty. 

Still, they’ve got homework to do, as they must:

• Review how open the school is to the public.

• Update emergency and safeguarding plans.

• Train staff on how to react if there’s a threat.

• Tighten up visitor and communication procedures.

• Mix all of the above into their Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) frameworks.

There’s a two-year grace period before it all properly kicks in, but schools and venues need to start thinking about it now because once it’s in force, the clock’s up!

❓ Why it matters to high street firms

So what does that mean for the legal side of things?

All the usual suspects, schools, academies, community centres, church halls, nurseries and the rest, fall under Martyn’s Law.

And who do they call when they need to make sense of new legal duties? 

Local law firms, that’s who!

But please note it’s not about becoming a counter-terror expert; it’s about making sure policies, contracts, and risk assessments stack up. You’ll see this pop up in things like:

• Health and safety updates.

• Insurance wording.

• Safeguarding and compliance reviews.

For trainee solicitors, this is a great example of how big national policy trickles down into day-to-day local work. 

Standard vs Enhanced Duty

Standard duty = have a plan for what to do if there’s an attack.

Enhanced duty = show you’ve definitely thought about the risks and can prove your plan works.

In shorter terms: “have a plan” versus “show your plan actually works.”