The Criminal Bar Association has announced that some of its members will not attend crown courts on the morning of 6 January, the first day of the new court term next year, in protest at the government’s legal aid cuts.

International law firm DWF has reported that the impact of coronavirus was balanced out by the firm’s strong trading in the first three months of the new financial year.

The first part of the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam – a series of online multiple-choice exams testing legal knowledge – is likely to be too difficult with fail rates higher than the current LPC system, says Patrick McCann, global head of learning at Linklaters LLP.

With more Brexit-related stories than you can shake a stick at this week, our commercial round-up aims to keep you apprised of the business stories that you should be keeping an eye on. Why? Well, first because you just should have a general interest in big UK and world news, and second, because you will be more informed when it comes to interviews and general interactions with potential employers.

Following the government’s pledge to end the cross-examination of domestic abuse victims by their perpetrators in court, a long-overdue and ‘enhanced’ version of the Domestic Abuse Bill recently returned to Parliament.

The government recently announced a pay rise for criminal legal aid solicitors, set out in a new publication by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The changes introduced, informed by 214 consultation responses, are expected to come into force on 22 December 2025.

So what’s happening in Davos? The World Economic Forum, that’s what. The world’s great economists, business leaders, journalists and politicians have again gathered to discuss the most pressing issues facing the planet (big remit). For live updates of today’s highlights, including Theresa May’s speech, follow the Guardian’s live business blog. For other news, read on.

Legal aid firms are being urged to claim a potential £100 million in unbilled fees as they try to weather the effects of the coronavirus crisis, a minister reported in early May.

UK businesses, including law firms, are to be ranked on their openness to talent from all backgrounds in a joint initiative by the Social Mobility Foundation and Social Mobility Commission. 

Much like last week’s round-up, there is only thing on the business pages and that is the effect that the referendum result is having on the pound, markets, deals, consumer spending and so much more. 

The requirement that prospective solicitors gain two years’ practising experience in order to qualify will remain when the Solicitors Qualifying Examination comes into force, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has confirmed. 

As a part of its efforts to support a sustainable, low carbon economy and reduce emissions by 90%, law firm DWF Group Limited has launched the ‘DWF forest’, in collaboration with carbon market specialists Climate Impact.

UK top 50 law firm Birketts LLP has achieved 40% female partnership ahead of International Women’s Day 2023, following its ongoing commitment to supporting gender diversity. 

This week, a rare collection of news without any Brexit-related items. Which is not to say that it’s not bubbling away in the background of course, but it’s nice to have a short break from its overt presence.

The aftershocks of Carillion’s collapse are still being felt a month on, not least by its former employees. Magic circle firm Clifford Chance has taken on Carillion’s in-house legal team, saving the jobs of around 60 specialist paralegals. 

With the biggest vac scheme deadline of the year looming (31 January), now’s the time to get your head back in the game, commercial-awareness-wise. You may find yourself being quizzed on your knowledge of economic affairs in vac scheme interviews, so it pays to be prepared. Here’s a selection from the past week to get you started.

The recommendations of the Legal Education and Training Review will quickly become irrelevant if they fail to address the rapid changes taking place in the legal services market, Professor Richard Susskind has warned.

London-based Macfarlanes LLP has released its gender pay gap data, becoming only the second City law firm to include partners’ pay in its results after Allen & Overy LLP revealed its partner gender pay gap data in September.