The majority of practising solicitors are women, but men still occupy a disproportionate number of positions at partner level, according to the Law Society’s latest annual statistics report.

Women are outperforming men in relation to some judicial appointments up to and including the High Court, statistics published by the Judicial Appointments Commission have revealed.

Women solicitors are less likely than men to pursue partnership at their firms, according to a career satisfaction survey of over 3,000 lawyers.

As summer draws to an end, that ‘back to school’ feeling is certainly lingering. Why not top up your commercial awareness before returning to university next month? This week’s commercial news round-up covers a variety of business news stories you should know about.

A fantastic academic record isn’t enough to satisfy recruiters in the legal profession. They also want to know that you can represent the firm to clients and work well with colleagues. Equally, recruiters want to see that you’ve made an informed decision about becoming a solicitor or barrister.

The University of Law in Bristol is hosting a 'Choose Law' event on 1 April, where students have the chance to win work experience at Burges Salmon, TLT, Bond Dickinson and Irwin Mitchell.

In recent years, there’s been a growing dialogue around mental health in the law – a profession that has a reputation for long hours and intense work. A number of studies and changing priorities have put working hours under the microscope, with more people beginning to ask questions about working practices and the demands often expected of lawyers.

In recent years, there’s been a growing dialogue around mental health in the law – a profession that has a reputation for long hours and intense work. A number of studies and changing priorities have put working hours under the microscope, with more people beginning to ask questions about working practices and the demands often expected of lawyers.

As the Lawyer reports, flexible working has come under scrutiny at Ashurst as part of a long-term project to improve the firm's working environment.

When the pandemic hit back in 2020, and most of the country started working from home, people rejoiced at being able to work remotely – including me!

Working from the comfort of your home, while may seem like a blessing in one of the most challenging years of our time, can very easily become a curse. The reality is, there is a fine line between ‘working from home’ and ‘living at work’. In my experience, I’ve found it extremely easy for work to consume my home life. It seems that the legal profession is embracing this change and that a return to office life as we know it is unlikely for the near and distant future. Therefore, it’s important that we all find a way to make working from home work for us. 

Coronavirus: What should employers be thinking about when considering home working for their employees? What might covid-19 mean for the future of home working?

Has the pandemic irrevocably changed the nature of work and the employment relationship in the UK?

In the wake of the recent UK referendum vote to leave the European Union, what issues have been raised for those working in European offices of international law firms?

Working in-house involves representing a single client whereas private practice lawyers are outsourced, advising multiple clients. As the number of in-house lawyers has been rising in the past few years, this blog will outline what the role involves, helping you decide whether this route is particularly appealing to you.

Research published at the end of last year suggests that a working-class accent could damage your chances of finding a training contract.

The World Cup may well be taking a lot of your time and energy at the moment – and fair enough – but spare a thought for concerned pub and bar owners worried that the shortage of CO2 in Europe could mean a lack of beer and food during what is a very lucrative trading period. The horror. For other commercial news of interest, read on.

I recently graduated with my law degree (which still feels odd to write) and, call me nosy, one of the most interesting things following this has been hearing about the plans of my fellow graduates. These conversations have reminded me how versatile a law degree is and forced me to think of life outside of legal studies.

How does blockchain interact with law and business?

Slater & Gordon, the Australian practice credited as the world’s first listed law firm, has agreed to acquire PI specialists Russell Jones & Walker for £53.8 million in a landmark transaction for the legal world.