We are well into application season and with applications often comes rejections. During this time, it is easy to doubt our own abilities and question whether a career in law is the right path to take.

It’s been another week of political upheaval with several MPs from the Labour and Conservative parties breaking away to form the new Independent Group. With just over a month until B-Day – the day Britain officially leaves the EU – and with nobody really sure what will happen afterwards, the business world is already facing the repercussions. More on that, and other issues, in this week's commercal news round-up.

A day later than usual, our latest round-up of the commercial news stories that any aspiring lawyer should be up to speed with shows that the world does not pause in the run-up to the Xmas holidays – if anything, momentous events are accelerating while many of us wind down before hopefully enjoying some time off. This week we focus on the ambitions and problems of two media giants, upcoming industrial action in yet another sector, and the very real clashes between profit drivers and ethics in the pharmaceutical industry. 

As autumn knocks at the door, we’re sure that you’re all getting excited for crunchy leaves, pumpkin spiced lattes, and Chancellor Philip Hammond’s big reveal of the autumn budget (29 October, people, put it in your diaries!). Here at LCN the autumn term signifies the onset of traversing the country for law fair season.

UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson LLP has announced a new pro bono strategy, in partnership with LawWorks, as part of the firm’s “active commitment to pro bono work”. 

Qualifying work experience (QWE) is one of the four requirements needed to qualify as a solicitor via the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

People who attended state schools are still underrepresented in the legal profession, with criminal firms employing the highest proportion of state-educated solicitors and corporate firms the lowest, research by the Solicitors Regulation Authority reveals.

As the Tory leadership contest sees the four candidates whittled down to the final two today, and tensions between the US and Iran escalate, there really is never a dull moment on Planet Earth. Draw your focus for five minutes to the business world and you’ll see that there are many places that politics, economics and the law intersect.

The Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) discussions about reforming barrister training should be made more urgent by its latest statistics report, which shows that over 60% of those who complete the prohibitively expensive Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) never go on to secure pupillage.

The winners of the 2023 National Accident Helpline’s Future Legal Mind competition have been revealed, with Emily Eastburn-Pentreath taking the title for the postgraduate category and Stephanie Anais becoming the latest undergraduate winner. 

The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s detailed approach to financial penalties has come under fire from the Law Society. In particular, the penalties to link new fining powers to firms’ and individuals’ income have been deemed “unclear and unreliable”.

Just as the media frenzy surrounding Andrew Marr's confession that he took out a superinjunction to supress news of an extramarital affair died down, another storm erupted over a premiership footballer's injunction to supress reports of his alleged extramarital affair with a reality TV star.

Time to really get to grips with what firms are looking for from their future trainees – we published this feature recently, and among the long list of attributes, commercial awareness is pivotal. It is essential that you take an interest in the world around you and particularly the way in which the law and business sectors intersect. For this week’s selection of topical stories, read on.

The president of the Supreme Court and the chair of the Bar have both warned that cuts to legal aid must be reversed to some extent if the justice system is to function properly and the public are to be able to access their legal rights. 

Amid the building excitement around Halloween, don’t get so entirely caught up with how to be the most convincing zombie at the party that you forget what October is really all about – preparing to meet future employers at law fairs and wow them with your commerciality. To keep you on track, cast a (cycloptic) eye over this collection of (not very) ghoulish stories.

Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, Baroness Carr, is “really interested” in filming more trials in a wider range of courts to “promote open justice”.

The now compulsory Black Friday frenzy provided lots of shoppers with (perceived) bargains this past week, but does it really make economic sense for retailers in the lucrative pre-Xmas shopping rush? Some resisted the urge to discount, claiming that the Black Friday phenomenon is “bonkers” and that it simply moves the traditional January sales period to November. For more on this, and other business stories, read on.

Read this essential advice for first-year students covering legal work experience, extracurricular activities, law fairs and more. For lots more information and advice, see our dedicated First-year student hub.