Slightly off piste, but we thought this was too good not to share. This article from the Guardian has excellent networking tips, especially for those of us not naturally inclined to forcing our way into conversations and being charming, all while balancing a plate and drink aloft.

As the country emerges from Storm Imogen to find itself bathed in glorious sunshine, the day feels full of possibility – why not harness that energy to improve your understanding of the commercial world? 

Commerciality; as far as law firms are concerned, you can never have too much of it, nor start developing it too early.

With CityLawLIVE happening tomorrow, and the LC.N team scurrying around trying to connect would-be City lawyers with actual City lawyers, we’re rounding up our commercial news a day early this week.

Before we go any further, here are a couple of longer articles to sink your teeth into. The first is all about what might be featuring in the global economy in 2016, while the second is an insider’s view of the mysterious Bank of England – both worth your time. As are the following news stories.

As we refuse to mention the fact that it is Friday 13th today or that it is Valentine’s Day tomorrow, we are left with very little to theme this intro around.

Ramp up your efforts towards achieving commercial amazingness by keeping up with current affairs and casting your eye over these interesting business news stories from the last few days.

This week’s business pages have been dominated by revelations of which retailers did well over Christmas and which did not. Here are a few headlines to whet your appetite.

More fallout from the leaked Panama Papers this week, as businesses and individuals scramble to distance themselves from the scandal (Bill Gates has said he’s more surprised by who’s NOT on the list). 

Post-election, probably the biggest related topic in the City is the prospect of a "Brexit" and what that might mean to investors and UK businesses.

There’s a bit of an oily theme this week, with news of American crude, talks of a merger between two of the industry’s giants, and a spat over mayonnaise (which, incidentally, is full of oil).

In advance of what is apparently the most depressing Monday of the entire year (third week in January, well known for its gloom-inducing properties) here’s some hard-nosed commercial news to take your mind off the fact that you’re broke and cold:

Take a look at this compact selection of high-profile business stories from the last week – with compelling themes of takeovers and anti-competitive behaviour, they will undoubtedly have you hooked.

It’s the story that just runs and runs; the week was again dominated by what’s been happening in Greece.

There is a bumper crop of interesting business stories this week, ready for you to read and digest.

A nuanced appreciation of the vast business world may be a bit much to hope for at this stage, but developing an interest in - and a broad understanding of - the commercial pressures and topics that will be a part of clients’ everyday lives is important.

Yesterday’s budget is on everyone’s lips, with analysis of who will benefit, who will suffer and general comment on what it means about the state of the UK economy.

In a week that has been dominated by a wealth of Magna Carta stories, there have also been business and legal stories that you need to know about.

Commercial awareness – it’s important. Read these stories to improve the level of yours.

Commerciality and business nous: these are prized skills among lawyers and exactly the kind of thing that recruiters are looking for their trainees to possess.