Joanna Clark is keen that prospective trainees know all about the friendly culture and diverse practice that characterise Winckworth Sherwood. Read on to deepen your understanding of this interesting, central London firm.

What is the commercial role of a bill of lading?

I didn’t go to a selective school, but have good A-levels and my ambition is to be a City lawyer – what does this mean for my chances? What are law firms doing to improve the representation of people from low socioeconomic backgrounds?

Plans to cut legal aid spending by introducing price competitive tendering have been abandoned, justice secretary Chris Grayling has revealed in an interview in the Times newspaper.

How do companies (and governments) make well-informed decisions about the future?

Nearly 20% fewer Bar Professional Training Course students had completed the course in 2019/20 as of May 2021, compared with the 2018/19 cohort, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) reported in July – an additional 2.5% had withdrawn from the course at this stage. 

The Law Society’s financial benchmarking survey for 2016 recorded income rises and strong profit margins for mid-sized UK law firms, in what is encouraging news for the sector.

What does the Bribery Act 2010 mean from a commercial perspective?

Norton Rose Fulbright has confirmed that it will offer trainee solicitors the opportunity to spend six months of their training contracts in Johannesburg.

The ‘Tesco law’ revolution continues apace with the news that two more top 50 firms, Kennedys and Hill Dickinson, have confirmed plans to convert to alternative business structure status

The law is stepping up its game when it comes to diversity and we’re starting to see a real push to make things more inclusive these days, which is pretty exciting to see. There are more and more initiatives aimed directly at underrepresented groups. It’s all about creating opportunities and making sure that everyone, no matter their background, has a fair shot at success. A few standout examples of this shift include scholarships, charities, open days and broader diversity access schemes.

I started my legal career as a solicitor. Thereafter, I transferred to the Bar to gain the opportunity to become more involved in oral and written advocacy, and to maintain an independent practice.

Linklaters is running a commercial awareness event on 4 December as part of its LinkUpEatUp campaign, which is designed to enhance participants’ understanding of the work of a leading global law firm.

Shoosmiths and Edinburgh-based Archibald Campbell & Harley have merged following the development of a close working relationship over several years.

Further to news last week that Cobbetts planned to go into administration, with DWF intending to buy the ailing firm, the deal has now gone ahead.

How will the Labour government's proposals impact the work of commercial lawyers? 

You may have seen the latest SQE1 results from July 2025 and if you're considering a career in law, particularly from a non-law background, they might’ve given you pause. However, in this article, I’ll be setting out how, with proper preparation and support, you can buck that trend.

Picking up the pieces: what are the unique challenges of insurance law in 2020?

Can Rome II handle pure economic loss?