DAC Beachcroft LLP, Hill Dickinson LLP, Mishcon de Reya LLP and Pinsent Masons LLP have each been named as one of the UK’s top 10 family-friendly employers. 

The Legal Services Board has published an interactive map and two reports aimed at understanding and tackling the barriers that individuals face when pursuing a legal career, regardless of background and circumstance. 

‘Commercial awareness’ needn’t be a frightening phrase that law firms throw around to bamboozle you. It’s broadly about understanding that lawyer advise clients who operate in the business world – plus a law firm is a business too.

On almost every job or internship application form – legal or otherwise – there will be a section detailing any past experience you may have. This is frequently a tricky section for students to complete. How are we meant to gain experience when the role we are applying for is experience but requires prior experience to secure it?

The Association of Law Teachers has criticised the Solicitors Regulation Authority over the regulator’s “disingenuous” reporting of the widespread criticism of its plans to introduce a new Solicitors Qualifying Examination.  

AI adoption in the legal sector has accelerated over the past year, with software company Clio reporting that 89% of lawyers use it “in some capacity” and 70% saying they began doing so in the past 12 months.

Is depolarisation the way to solve the savings gap?

A large proportion (53%) of future barristers are Oxbridge graduates, according to new research by Chambers and Partners, which also found that only 11% of pupils come from non-Russell Group universities. 

Magic circle firm Slaughter and May has set social mobility targets, aiming to increase the representation of lawyers and other employees from lower socioeconomic backgrounds in the firm. 

The charity LawCare has urged the solicitors’ profession to change its culture after a junior solicitor who had committed dishonesty offences was allowed to continue practising because her firm had failed to support her when she began showing signs of anxiety and stress. 

The full version of an internal Ministry of Justice report detailing the concerns of judges about people forced to represent themselves in court due to legal aid cuts has been leaked, despite the government’s attempts to conceal its existence. The government has now been reported to the Information Commissioner for an alleged breach of freedom of information law.

Many of you may have had a similar experience when it comes to the application process – sending application after application with no response. Training contracts, pupillages, paralegal or clerk work for far too many of us seem to be going the way of the dodo.

What on earth are the Equator Principles?

Brexit has been causing all sorts of bother this week, with several high-profile companies’ announcements revealing just how worried they are about the future of business in the UK. No-one knows exactly what might happen after Britain leaves the EU, but it’s certainly a good idea to keep your finger on the pulse of how the business world is reacting, and what concerns firms might have about how Brexit will affect their business. 

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. 

The Law Society of England and Wales has welcomed the Bar Council’s review into bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar, commending “the leadership of the Rt Hon. the Baroness Harriet Harman KC and the review team for their thorough and thoughtful work”.

Our recent commercial awareness case study video uses the PESTLE technique (Political Economical Social Technological Legal Environmental) to analyse the implications of the recent Flybe government bailout.