The UK has a housing problem, but in an exciting attempt to aid aspiring first-time buyers in securing their place on the property ladder, Skipton Building Society announced the UK’s first 100% mortgage since the 2008 financial crash.

Every February since 2005, LGBTQ+ History Month has been celebrated across the UK to recognise and commemorate the LGBTQ+ community. Let’s look at the laws that have landed us where we are today.

As many of you will have been completing online exams this week, this commercial news round-up aims to bring you recent updates from the legal and business world to facilitate your commercial awareness development.

What are the unique legal considerations surrounding the growing popularity of NFTs?

Are NFTs exempt from IP restrictions placed on tangible goods?

It’s Easter, and that means late-morning starts and excessive consumption. However, we would suggest that you intersperse the indulgence of the holidays with a level of interest in the big commercial news stories. As a reference point, here is our selection from last week.

Following the success of the First 100 Years powered by Spark21, the team behind the initial project has just launched the Next 100 Years, which is dedicated to achieving equality for women in law.

The Next 100 Years, a project founded by Dana Denis-Smith, has launched a new £100,000 scholarship campaign, Paving the Way, “to give the next generation of game changers help on the first step of their journey into a legal career”.

The Next 100 Years has launched an annual lecture series, Heilbron Lectures, named after Rose Heilbron QC – the first female senior judge and joint first female Queen’s Counsel (QC). The series of annual lectures will promote rising female legal experts and balance out the current male-dominated lecture format.

How will new-wave technology change the way that lawyers work?

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has officially confirmed its shake-up of the route to becoming a solicitor with a new ‘super exam’ which all prospective solicitors will have to pass in order to qualify. 

Law students and aspiring lawyers' life paths can easily become overcomplicated throughout the year, as you tackle applications and exams (among other things). It's important for individuals dealing with such workloads to slow down and take stock to stay confident, motivated and avoid burnout. 

Specialising in all aspects of family law relating to children, The Modern Family Law Company has been launched by solicitors Melissa Kelly and Deborah Baxter to cater for the “modern family”.

How is new UAE legislation addressing discrimination and hatred  likely to impact employers in the United Arab Emirates?

Proposed new anti-terrorism laws could deny basic legal rights by allowing police to question suspects before they can access a solicitor, the Law Society has warned.

A new survey of UK law firms with revenues of more than £100 million revealed that competitors with strong tech-driven business models, a surge in lateral hiring and a sharp growth of US law firms are all likely to cause major disruption.  

A new social impact start-up, 30 Minute Chat, aims to break down barriers for aspiring lawyers trying to get into the legal profession by connecting students and paralegals with high-profile lawyers for one-off 30-minute chats.

Hannah Daly is a junior barrister at 4 New Square. In this profile, she discusses the importance of mini-pupillages and her work in civil fraud, international arbitration and professional negligence. 

Foot Anstey has confirmed that it will launch an in-house school leaver academy from September 2014.