Law firms’ spring vacation schemes are being postponed in response to the global coronavirus crisis.

Speechly Bircham and Charles Russell have confirmed that they are in preliminary merger talks.

Here is your weekly round-up of big business stories. Keep an eye on these, and others, to hone your commercial skills and make yourself an ever more attractive prospect for recruiters.

After setting up a £150 million funding pot, DLA Piper has become the biggest City law firm to join the third-party litigation financing market.

Asons Solicitors, based in Bolton, is seeking to recruit over 300 new staff following sustained growth since its launch five years ago.

Both the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Government Legal Profession (GLP) offer pupillages leading to permanent roles with fixed salaries, holiday and sickness pay, pensions and all the usual employment protection rights.

Women solicitors are less likely than men to pursue partnership at their firms, according to a career satisfaction survey of over 3,000 lawyers.

Top London chambers One Pump Court is introducing mandatory “anti-oppression” training for all members.

In effect, the GDL replaces the law degree. Its content focuses on the seven foundations of legal knowledge that represent the basic knowledge requirements for the LPC. 

International law firm Jones Day has revealed that it is retaining 100% of its qualifying trainees for a second year running.

Global law firm Dentons launched an open access virtual work experience programme – the ‘Experience Dentons’ – earlier this week, with all students over 16-years-old eligible to take part.

Six lawyers have been promoted to international firm Simmons & Simmons’ global partnership this year, in what is the firm’s smallest promotion round since the 2008 financial crash.

National law firm Hill Dickinson has formally announced that some of its training contract places will be reserved for internal candidates from among the firm’s existing paralegals. 

As reported by the Law Gazette, the number of students submitting applications to study the legal practice course is down 10% on 2013 figures.

Short and sweet this week, so as not to distract you from making your final training contract applications (not that we would never advise submitting on the deadline itself!).

The Access to Justice Foundation, which aids pro bono work, is running its third annual essay competition for law students

Bott & Co, based in Wilmslow, Cheshire, is the latest firm to announce a plan for the recruitment of legal apprentices to join its team.

According to recent reports in The Lawyer, City firm Norton Rose saved millions of pounds and around 100 jobs last financial year thanks to a flexible-working programme and the outsourcing of 60 members of support staff.

The lord chief justice has called for an independent investigation into the effects of the Legal Services Act 2007, and why increased competition has not led to a reduction in fees.

US law firm Milbank LLP has published its year-end bonus figures for its associates, which will be between $15,000 (£12,000) and $115,000 (£90,000) depending on their experience level.