Section 137(1) of the Highways Act 1980 codifies the offence of wilfully obstructing a highway without lawful reason or excuse. Given the popularity of roadblocking as a form of peaceful protest, this provision has repeatedly been used as a catch-all clause with which many arrested protestors can be charged.

One of the United Kingdom’s oldest firms, Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, has merged with Canadian firm Gowlings to create an international firm boasting over £400 million in annual revenue.

As part of a revamped graduate recruitment policy, Wragge & Co has launched an exciting trainee secondment programme to China.

Lawrence Graham’s merger with Wragge & Co was completed today, with the combined firms now being known as Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co.

In a week where nobody really knows what’s going on, calm your bemused Brexit brain by taking a look at our summary of some relevant commercial news stories from this week.

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.

How does blockchain interact with law and business?

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

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

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?

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. 

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!

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.

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.