City firm Herbert Smith Freehills has elected 26 partners worldwide – its biggest partner promotions round since 2012 and four more than 2019 – despite coronavirus concerns.

Forget the upcoming general election, Brexit confusion and the increasingly cold weather: today is everyone’s favourite day of the year – John Lewis Christmas Advert Day! 

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has laid out its plans to regulate CILEX (The Chartered Institute of Legal Executive) members, including paralegals and students, in a new consultation document published earlier this week. 

Should Google's use of trademarks as keywords in its AdWords service amount to trademark infringement?

Nabarro recently ran a networking event for its work placement scheme students, designed to introduce vital skills such as: how to join and leave a group; how to introduce yourself; and how to get people to remember your name!

As we head into the autumn term, one of the best things you can do to prepare for the incoming milkround season is to get into good habits when it comes to commercial awareness. Reading our weekly summaries of the latest business news stories is an efficient way to keep up with the commercial world.

Banana puns aside, this week has highlighted the importance of secure and functional IT systems with both TSB and Dixons Carphone facing the financial and administrative repercussions of failing to secure their customer's data, or provide working online services for their customers. There's more on this, plus Burberry's burning clothes ban, and the energy bill price cap, in this week's commercial news round-up.

Nearly 80% of UK employers have a gender pay gap that favours men in 2022-2023.  

Phew, what a week. If you’re tired of seeing Donald Trump and his entire extended family having a jolly time being entertained by the royals, then you’ve come to the right place.

While Theresa May attempts to get her EU withdrawal deal through for the third time in the coming days (see #BrexitMayhem on Twitter), there is one thing we know for sure about Brexit: nobody knows what will happen and how it will affect the British economy. So, is it a matter of keep calm and carry on? 

With the madness associated with extreme temperatures abating (for one day at least), employ this brief period of coolness to gather your thoughts. We suggest stepping away from the fan and concentrating on improving your commercial awareness in advance of the interviews that you’re (hopefully) going to have lined up following your successful applications.

We’re keeping the news round-up Brexit-less this week and focusing on commercial issues elsewhere – including the new Britbox online streaming service launched by the BBC and ITV to rival Netflix, and struggling fashion retailers Laura Ashley and Ted Baker.

Kaplan and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have issued an apology after an error by Kaplan meant that 175 students were incorrectly told that they’d failed parts of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) assessments. 

Students never stop asking us what they can do to improve their commercial awareness, and aside from reading the weekly Commercial Questions written by top firms, the next best thing you can do is to learn about the business news stories being reported each week. Read on for a short summary of just that.

Are NFTs exempt from IP restrictions placed on tangible goods?

Graduates, like myself, often start their careers as a paralegal to gain insight and deeper understanding into the life of a solicitor. Often, paralegals who are aspiring solicitors will apply for a training contract at the firm they are already employed with. In this post, I set out my four top tips for paralegals wanting to take the next step into qualification.

Today’s collection of commercial news stories is as varied as the weather at the moment and much more likely to help you in your search for a legal career. It’s important to maintain a holistic view of the world of business and to stay up-to-date with the issues that might affect your future employers, and their clients. Use these four stories as a starting point for your research.

In an inaugural address at Inner Temple Hall last week, new chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales Barbara Mills KC set out her priorities for the year ahead, which include raising the profile of the family Bar and enhancing the wellbeing of the profession.

As the UK’s political parties set off on the campaign trail this week, there has already been scandal, resignations, pacts and many a promise made.