It’s been a busy week, with both Halloween and Bitcoin’s 10^th birthday falling on the same day (which one did you celebrate?), fracking-induced earthquakes stopping work at the Cuadrilla site in Lancashire and the Waitrose Food magazine editor lambasted for suggesting that vegans should be kidnapped and force-fed meat. We’re not sure which news story is spookier… happy Hal-law-een! (Sorry.)

At LawCareers.Net we know that commercial awareness might seem like a vague and meaningless term that law firms and recruiters throw around to bamboozle you. That’s why we’ve created our new commercial awareness hub to keep relevant information in one place, and we recently filmed a video offering some key insight into how to stay commercial aware, as well as a couple of case studies to think about in a commercial context.

Summer has vanished in a flash leaving us with cold mornings and dark nights. Soon it will be Christmas and you’ll be gathered around the TV drinking mulled wine and watching Home Alone.

Law firms transitioned to remote working just over a year ago as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, with government guidance confirming that the work from home ‘where you can’ policy will remain in place until 21 June at the earliest.

Happy new year aspiring lawyers! 

In the words of Nina Simone, “It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me, and I’m feeling good!” 

Students’ exceptional contributions to pro bono were honoured yesterday at the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards.

The University of Law has revealed its plans to reopen all its UK campuses for staff and students in September.

The Legal Services Board has launched an investigation into whether the Solicitors Regulation Authority is sufficiently independent – a move that will put further pressure on the Law Society, which remains the approved regulator of solicitors.

Two new apprenticeships schemes have launched this week, further cementing the importance of this new route into the legal profession.

I’m a humanities graduate planning to save up before taking a law conversion course. What paid work can I do that will be valuable for a career in law?

Commercial law firm Kennedys is among 14 leading law firms that have signed up to the Mansfield Rule to push greater transparency around diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, following its UK launch this summer.  

A study of 3,000 firms by the Solicitors Regulation Authority has found that many law firms do not know how to make reasonable adjustments for disabled staff and solicitors are concealing their disabilities at work.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has revealed that apprentices are achieving top performance levels across the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), averaging scores that are 8% higher than other candidates on SQE1 and SQE2.  

LawCare recently published its findings relating to male mental health within the legal profession. The legal mental health charity released the findings of its all male focus group which took place on 19 July 2022 in a bid to better understand the needs of men in law and the mental health support they need in the workplace.  

The Bar Council has come out in support of criminal barristers’ protests for a properly funded criminal justice system, which include plans for strike action.

Global law firm DWF Group Limited has partnered with technology business Stellar Omada through its 5 STAR Futures programme, a social mobility initiative DWF runs to inspire young people to explore careers in law and technology.

Lawyers and professional bodies across the legal profession have united in opposition to the government’s Investigatory Powers Bill which will put every person in the United Kingdom under surveillance.

A national fund designed to boost social mobility within the legal profession, address the recruitment and retention crisis, and ultimately improve access to justice has been launched. 

On 7 November 2023, King Charles III gave his first King’s Speech since becoming monarch, outlining 21 new proposed laws, including a Sentencing Bill, Criminal Justice Bill, and Victims and Prisoners Bill.