Kennedys solicitor apprentice Tegan Johnson has been named as one of BPP’s apprentices of the year on the BPP website. Tegan was awarded ‘Apprentice of the Year - Level 5+’.

Full-service law firm Shakespeare Martineau LLP has welcomed 11 new trainees, as part of its largest ever cohort. 

As 2026 begins, LawCareers.Net explores the key commercial issues that are set to shape the year. For aspiring lawyers, becoming commercially aware involves understanding the environment clients operate in and recognising how wider events influence legal work. This guide rounds up a range of commercial topics and considers their impact on the year ahead.

Are quotas necessary to achieve gender equality in boardrooms?

Osborne Clarke LLP has achieved a 19% increase in global revenues with the firm planning to pay bonuses of at least £2,500 to UK staff.

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.

Let’s talk about one of the most important and often misunderstood areas of legal practice – environmental law. It’s where climate meets compliance, where forests meet the courtroom and where people who care about the planet can make real change using legal tools.

Two conflicting surveys paint a confusing picture of how consumers feel about the legal profession and the services it provides.

What impact will the credit crunch have on commercial property?

Anna is a first-year trainee in Shoosmiths’ London office. She is currently sitting in the real estate department after having completed her first seat in tax.

Kiran Sidhu’s varied experience at university and beyond led her to data protection and privacy work. As an associate at Bristows LLP, Kiran outlines her role in this area of law, the skills and strengths required to be successful and more in this Meet the Lawyer profile. 

It still hasn’t quite sunk in. When Westminster Law Society was announced as the winner of the ‘Best careers event’ category at the 2025 Student Law Society Awards, we were momentarily stunned into silence. This was quickly followed by cheers, hugs and a lot of blinking back happy tears.

Top 100 firm DMH Stallard has merged with another regional leader, Rawlison Butler. 

The partnerships of Charles Russell and Speechly Bircham have voted to merge their two firms.

This October, southwest firm Foot Anstey will add Bristol to its list of offices, which currently includes Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton and Truro.

Mishcon de Reya LLP is rolling out Legora, a leading collaborative AI platform for its lawyers, making it available for all fee earners across all practice areas at the firm. 

As both a corporate partner and the training principal at Addleshaw Goddard, Garry Elliott is perfectly placed to provide insights into the firm’s culture, training programme and work. Read on to learn more about life at this dynamic City firm.

The metaverse has been a burgeoning concept arguably since the dawn of the digital age itself.

Let’s break down the top stories that made headlines in 2024 and consider what you should look out for in 2025. Commercial awareness is a vital skill for all lawyers. For candidates applying for vacation schemes and training contracts, becoming commercially aware involves building an understanding of how law firms and their clients work as businesses, and how the wider world impacts them. This guide rounds up a range of commercial stories and talking points and considers their impact on the year ahead.