BPP University Law School is launching a new £1.5 million AI-powered learning platform from September to help train and prepare future lawyers for success in their exams.

A fantastic academic record isn’t enough to satisfy recruiters in the legal profession. They also want to know that you can represent the firm to clients and work well with colleagues. Equally, recruiters want to see that you’ve made an informed decision about becoming a solicitor or barrister.

Does the idea of interesting and varied work, an excellent salary and a good work/life balance appeal? Becoming an in-house lawyer could be your perfect vocation. We spoke to those in the know including several qualified in-house lawyers about what it means to work at the very heart of your client.

The popularity of smart home devices such as Amazon’s Echo (Alexa) has seen a rise in their presence within our homes. But with smart home assistant devices planted throughout our rooms, are our conversations really as private as we believe?

Maya Shah, senior early careers specialist at Ropes & Gray, outlines what the firm wants to see from candidates in their applications and at interview, as well how the firm is adopting the SQE and what candidates can expect from the vacation scheme. 

We chat to family lawyer Hebe Thorne about coming to law from a non-law background, the sort of work she gets up to at Burges Salmon and the characteristics that make the firm stand out. 

Twitter, the platform that’s been synonymous with microblogging and real-time updates, has undergone a radical transformation under Elon Musk’s leadership which purchased Twitter in October 2022. The iconic bird logo has been replaced with a new ‘X’ logo to align with Musk’s vision of creating a comprehensive “everything app” with more than just text-based updates.

High Speed 2 (HS2) is Britain’s longstanding project to build a new high-speed railway. It’s to be built from London to the North West, linking Manchester, Birmingham and London in particular. Let’s take a look at what this means in reality!

You don’t need a law degree to become a lawyer – in fact, the modern legal profession is full of non-law graduates, and the skills and experiences gained studying and working in other fields are assets that make you a stronger candidate.

With the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, the legal profession has embraced a more flexible and practical route to qualification. A key part of this is qualifying work experience (QWE) – a requirement that allows aspiring solicitors to gain real-world legal experience in a variety of settings.

Leena shares her journey from trainee to Islamic finance lawyer at Foot Anstey. Specialising in Sharia-compliant finance, she explains how problem-solving, and collaboration drives her work, what makes Foot Anstey’s culture stand out, and why gaining varied life experience is key for aspiring solicitors.

Shipping law is one of the oldest and most developed branches of commercial law.

How does the example of the Sainsbury’s takeover of Argos demonstrate the two different types of UK M&A deal and the importance of lawyers being commercially savvy?

Naomi Winston outlines how she discovered a career at the Bar would suit her, the benefits of Ten Old Square’s open-door policy and how she’s managing work/life balance with long covid.

Issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, the demand for global sustainability and the need for alternative energy sources make environmental laws more important than ever.

Working as a paralegal before securing a training contract is increasingly the norm for thousands of candidates. It is even possible to qualify as a solicitor by gaining relevant experience as a paralegal, instead of a formal training contract – a route which could become even more popular with the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). However, this stepping stone also has potential downsides to watch out for…

You don’t need a law degree to become a lawyer – in fact, the modern legal profession is full of non-law graduates. The skills and experiences you gain from studying and working in other fields are assets that can make you a stronger candidate.

Curious about becoming a lawyer without a law degree? Here's everything non-law students need to know about legal careers, qualification routes and getting started.

Carl Rix is a tenant at Old Square Chambers. He gives advice to aspiring barristers, discusses the importance of trusting your own judgement and explains how the debating society at Swansea University led him to the Bar.