BPP University Law School has unveiled the details of its new Solicitors Qualifying Exam courses, which have been designed to give aspiring lawyers a competitive edge in a thriving recruitment market.

If you’re lucky enough to still be a student like me, then chances are that your Easter break has just begun – yay! As a lover of lists, here are my suggestions for items to add to your to-do list this holiday.

Valentine’s Day is here and we have something to taco ‘bout! We thought we’d kick off hump day by asking nearly 18,000 of you what you despise about studying law. Here’s what you had to say.

After a long summer holiday, it can be hard to keep up with fast-paced and intense university life. As a law student, you may be struggling with doing all your reading, seminar preparation and career planning on the side. It’s important to remember that this is normal, that your peers are in the same situation and you'll adjust to your new setting over time. Here are a few tips that aim to help you ease back into university and help with organisation.

The UK legal sector, which the government has described as a “national asset and an engine of economic growth”, has been recognised as an area to be supported in the government’s 10-year industrial strategy. This is a move that’s been welcomed by the Law Society of England and Wales.

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) has published the results of its first CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) assessments, with 61% of students passing the first stage. 

The latest sitting for part one of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) was passed by fewer than half of candidates – down from the 56% pass rate for the January 2024 sitting.

Following Labour’s landslide general election victory, the UK’s new Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised reforms to improve the criminal justice system amid a critical prison crisis.

LawCareersNetLIVE has not only grown my confidence, but it’s also expanded my knowledge and understanding of law firms and the industry. I urge all aspiring commercial lawyers to apply!

What are the concerns for employers in relation to redundancy in a credit crunch?

In a week in which MPs prepare themselves to vote again on the Brexit deal at the start of next month, and the Jeremy Kyle Show was cancelled after a guest’s death, there have been plenty of noteworthy news stories to keep abreast of. For in-depth analysis of the latest legal and commercial issues, we would always recommend signing up to Lexology. 

You may have been reading headlines like “sewage dumping leaves fish full of cocaine”, which sounds more akin to an Alan Partridge radio headline than serious news. However, this is in fact from an official marine expert, following the recent sewage dumping over the last few weeks. 

One thing I didn’t consider when pursuing a career in law is whether I was prepared to sacrifice ‘me time’.

The role of general counsel (GC) has become an increasingly popular appointment at top law firms, mirroring its rise among commercial companies. To become a GC, you must be a qualified lawyer with an array of legal and business experience.

The pressures faced by aspiring and early-career lawyers were examined in the latest episode of the LawCareers.Net Podcast, with CEO of mental health charity LawCare Elizabeth Rimmer highlighting that “long hours are so deeply embedded in legal culture that junior lawyers often don’t feel they have permission to speak up”.

Bulb Energy is a large energy supplier with 650 employees, serving around 1.5 million people in the UK. It launched in 2015 with a focus on providing renewable energy at a fair price.

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has drawn up plans to shut down and sell off ageing and run-down court buildings within the next decade.

Read this week’s commercial news round-up for some of the latest news relating to the business and legal worlds.