In this guide we outline some of the key issues facing the UK legal profession, as well as headline-grabbing cases and mergers – are you in the know?

In this guide we outline some of the key issues facing the UK legal profession, as well as headline-grabbing cases and mergers – are you in the know?

The legal profession is renowned for being an extremely competitive field that can be exceptionally demanding for aspiring lawyers, new recruits and experienced lawyers alike. When we add covid-19 it makes the situation even more pressing.

The laws surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) rights have been changing for decades. But how do we ensure the revisions to laws are reflected in peoples’ attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals? While there have been recent legal changes for the better, prejudices remain engrained in society.

Digital technologies pervade every aspect of our lives. From social media to critical government infrastructure, cybersecurity is of increasingly great concern for individuals, corporations and nations. Cybersecurity threats are complex and adaptive, requiring a holistic approach to understand, mitigate and remediate.

Commercial awareness is a vital skill for trainee solicitors. For candidates applying for vacation schemes and training contracts, becoming commercially aware involves building an understanding of how law firms and their clients work as businesses and how the wider world impacts them. This concise guide rounds up a range of key commercial stories and talking points from 2021.

Let’s break down the top stories that made headlines in 2024 and consider what you should look out for in 2025. Commercial awareness is a vital skill for all lawyers. For candidates applying for vacation schemes and training contracts, becoming commercially aware involves building an understanding of how law firms and their clients work as businesses, and how the wider world impacts them. This guide rounds up a range of commercial stories and talking points and considers their impact on the year ahead. 

Mooting is one of the best activities you can do to get a sense of what it's like to be a legal advocate, giving you the opportunity to think on your feet and argue your case. It is also an impressive addition to any CV, whether you’re pursuing a career as a barrister or solicitor.

For many years mental health and the legal profession have been at loggerheads. Long hours, high-intensity workloads and covid-19 are among a seemingly endless list of factors that continue to contribute to the profession’s mental health crisis. And what about those vying to get through the door? The competition is, as ever, fierce and expectations high.

A legal apprenticeship is a route to becoming a lawyer that combines a paid job at a law firm with studying for formal qualifications, funded by the government and your employer. It’s an alternative to the traditional route of going to university and training to be a lawyer afterwards. Graduate solicitor apprenticeships are also on the rise. Find out more about the different legal apprenticeship options in this guide.  

Labour has won the general election, with a landslide victory of 412 seats. But how will this affect businesses and law firms? If you’re an aspiring lawyer considering financial services (FS) as a practice area, read on to learn more about Labour’s regulatory plans and stance on relations with Europe, AI, net zero and how changes will affect FS firms.

Mooting is one of the best things you can do to get a sense of what it's like to be a legal advocate, giving you the opportunity to get up on your feet and argue your case. It is also an impressive addition to any CV, whether you’re pursuing a career as a barrister or solicitor.

What is the true cost of free trade?

Looking for an ‘in’? Open days and insight schemes are invaluable opportunities to meet the people that work for the law firms you’re interested in. You’ll learn about life in the organisation, its culture, the work on offer and much more. Plus, if prepped well, it’s your chance to ace that initial interaction to set yourself up nicely for future encounters that could eventually lead to you securing your qualifying work experience (eg, a training contract or apprenticeship).

Looking for an ‘in’? Open days and insight schemes are invaluable opportunities to meet the people that work for the law firms you’re interested in. You’ll learn about life in the organisation, its culture, the work on offer and much more. Plus, if prepped well, it’s your chance to ace that initial interaction to set yourself up nicely for future encounters that could eventually lead to a training contract.

Mooting is one of the best things you can do to get a sense of what it's like to be a legal advocate, giving you the opportunity to get up on your feet and argue your case. It is also an impressive addition to any CV, whether you’re pursuing a career as a barrister or solicitor.

What are Teckal companies and why are they attractive to local authorities, among others?

Traditionally, law firms have been run by partnerships – a group of senior lawyers who put their own money into the firm in return for a share of the profits. However, in the modern legal profession there are many different types of partnership, with huge variety in terms of how firms are structured.

Looking for an ‘in’? Open days and insight schemes are invaluable opportunities to meet the people that work for the law firms you’re interested in. You’ll learn about life in the organisation, its culture, the work on offer and much more. Plus, if prepped well, it’s your chance to ace that initial interaction, which will set you up nicely for future encounters and could eventually lead to a training contract.

Mooting is one of the best activities you can do to get a sense of what it's like to be a legal advocate, giving you the opportunity to think on your feet and argue your case. It’s also an impressive addition to any CV, whether you’re pursuing a career as a barrister or solicitor.