Is it possible for solicitors to have a good work/life balance? And if I start a family, are there part-time or term-time options? 

Most trainee-hiring law firms now run work experience schemes and events specifically for first-year students, so if you’re seriously considering becoming a solicitor, you’ll be doing yourself a big favour by making sure you attend one or two during your first year at university. Use this list of firms offering opportunities to first-year students to get you started!

How can unions know if they have met the correct requirements for a valid ballot before industrial action?

The government has announced its commitment to posthumously pardoning gay men historically convicted for having consensual same-sex relationships, in a move welcomed by family members and campaigners, as well as legal bodies such as the Law Society.

With the covid-induced backlog of cases pushing the already strained courts system to breaking point in the UK, commentators such as Simon Jenkins (columnist for The Guardian) are questioning whether now is the right time for the government to examine and overhaul the archaic system of trial by jury.

During my work experience week with Lawyers in Local Government, I spent a notable amount of time working with property lawyers and paralegals. This introduced me to planning law − a subsection within property law that I’d never looked into before. This article, in turn, offers an opportunity for me (and you) to learn more about this niche practice area. What’s planning law?

I’m beginning to understand the mechanics of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). In Autumn 2021 the Solicitors Regulation Authority will introduce a two-part assessment, including a multiple-choice element designed to test legal knowledge (SQE1) and a series of written and oral exams designed to test legal skills (SQE2). Eventually, all new solicitors will have to pass both stages and undertake two years of relevant work experience before they can qualify.

All my vacation scheme applications have been rejected. What do I do now?

Why has the government proposed a company register of beneficial owners?

A High Court order has ruled that Michael Gove broke the law when he awarded a £560,000 covid-19 contract to a research firm he had “personal connections” with. This blog post will explain the reasons behind the ruling and how a similar situation might play out in the future.

At LCN we usually focus on UK legal matters, but the unprecedented events involving hundreds of US lawyers and several principled judges in the United States over the weekend are of such global importance to those who value the law and legal process that we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t report them and compile some useful links for the aspiring legal practitioners who comprise our readers.

How do international banks and English lawyers help in the movement of global trade?

What is the GAAR and how will it affect what private client lawyers do in practice?

What is the B-corp movement and how do the social and environmental considerations of companies influence the work of lawyers?

The search to find this year’s Future Legal Mind has gained momentum as the deadline for aspiring lawyers across the UK to put themselves forward for the award draws closer.

CILEx Regulation has appointed The University of Law as its training and assessment provider to run its alternative route to authorising Chartered Legal Executives who want to apply for additional practice rights. 

I’m considering starting a legal apprenticeship, but are the career prospects the same as the university route? What are the main differences between a paralegal/solicitor apprenticeship and going to university?

Apprenticeships are also perfect for people who aren’t keen on more full-time study after finishing their A levels and want to kickstart their careers. 

Does size matter? Why UK law firms look to merge.

What are the implications of Brexit for the UK insurance and reinsurance markets in the short term and beyond?