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I used to think LinkedIn was a tool for connections and nothing else. Even the first part of its name – “linked” – suggests this emphasis on networking and professional relationships. I’d use it to connect with people I’d met at insight events and conferences, reach out to trainees at firms I'd applied to with a polite query, and keep up with what people from my school or university were doing.

However, recently I've expanded my understanding of what LinkedIn can be used for. I've found that LinkedIn can be a very useful source of commercial news, legal industry news and updates from firms about the work they're doing (including the occasional self-promotion from someone you haven't seen in five years of course).

So, here are my top tips on how to curate LinkedIn as a three-in-one tool, rolling legal learning, commercial awareness and firm research all into one!

1. Follow the news

Follow news outlets: naturally, the first step to using LinkedIn as a learning tool is finding good sources to follow. Don't just follow friends, keep up with major news outlets like the Financial Times, Reuters, The Economist and BBC News (and any others that you prefer).

Follow 'client alerts': if you're interested in a specific topic, regularly search 'client alerts [topic of interest]' to find published posts by law firms explaining to clients how new laws might impact them. For instance, if your topic of interest is the recent Employment Rights Act 2025, have a scroll through the posts that come up when you search “Client alert Employment Rights Act 2025”. In addition to building your understanding of the topic, you'll gain a firsthand insight into how solicitors communicate information to their clients.

2.  Curate your feed

Like most social media platforms, LinkedIn is algorithmic – meaning curating your feed for learning requires more than just scrolling. Your best friend is the little ‘x’ button on the top right of posts. By clicking it, you can ensure that your feed stays relevant (and that you only see the kind of content you want to see).

3.  Move beyond consumption and into creation

Build a digital trail by posting your own insights or commenting your contributions to others'. This builds your digital footprint for recruiters, so that employers can see what you're interested in as well as demonstrable evidence that you’re as communicative and committed to a career in law as your application suggests!

4.  Participate in LinkedIn Groups 

LinkedIn Groups are professional communities where members can share insights and ask questions in focused discussions, united by a shared interest or industry. Although some groups are private and require approval, others are public – making them easily accessible. By participating in groups, you get to kill two LinkedIn birds with one stone, building both your connections and your commercial awareness. 

5.  Set up LinkedIn alerts

By clicking the bell on some LinkedIn pages, you can ensure you stay up-to-date with main changes without constantly opening the app. It's an easy way to stay in the loop without actively searching for updates – making commercial awareness a more effortless process.

With assessment centres and interviews coming up, there's no better time than now to perfect your commercial awareness routine. Hopefully, by configuring your LinkedIn to be used as a legal learning tool, LinkedIn can form a useful part of that rotation.

Don’t forget to put this information into action and follow LawCareers.Net on LinkedIn for the latest legal jobs, advice and opportunities to get into law.