From associate to partner, Stevens & Bolton LLP’s Sophie Ashcroft reflects on coming out at work, building confidence with clients and why visibility matters in today’s law firms.

So, you’ve been lucky enough to secure a training contract (well done!). But what’s next? And what are ‘seats’?

As the deadlines for training contracts all come crashing in on you, and the emails flood in about whether you’re moving on to the next stage or not, it’s hard to focus on what life might be like as a trainee solicitor, so here’s a glimpse into my life as a trainee.

News stories are flashing up all over the country stating that Britain’s mortgage rates are sky-high and that the young people of today are never going to be able to afford to buy a house. But what are the implications of the high mortgage rates?

You may have seen the latest SQE1 results from July 2025 and if you're considering a career in law, particularly from a non-law background, they might’ve given you pause. However, in this article, I’ll be setting out how, with proper preparation and support, you can buck that trend.

Rabin Kok explains the importance of mini-pupillages for aspiring barristers, outlines the type of work he gets involved with at South Square and offers advice for those interested in a career at the Bar in this Meet the Lawyer interview. 

South West London Law Centres is an independent registered charity, giving individuals and communities free legal advice and support on issues relating to money and debt management, employment, housing, and immigration and asylum.

A busy legal advice centre helping those who live or are employed in the City of Westminster and surrounding postcodes.

How can private entities hold the state to account?

What are sovereign wealth funds?

Is the rescission of a share purchase agreement (SPA) possible where the seller has made misrepresentations?

Spark 21, the charity behind the First 100 Years project that works to celebrate, inform and inspire future generations of women lawyers, brought together leading women from the world of law and beyond at its annual conference on Wednesday.

What's happening in the UK’s energy sector and what more could the government do to regulate energy costs?

Speechly Bircham and Charles Russell have confirmed that they are in preliminary merger talks.

A spell check tool has been added to the Pearson assessment platform for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam’s (SQE) written assessments and will be trialled during the July 2026 SQE2 assessment window.

With 31 December looming, Brexit negotiations ongoing and Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s spending review, there’s lots of important news to take in this week. Catch-up below with LCN’s round-up.

Events such as the World Cup can be a brand owner's dream, but how can they be prevented from becoming a nightmare?