Traditionally, law firms have been run by partnerships – a group of senior lawyers who put their own money into to the firm in return for a share of the profits. However, in the modern legal profession there are many different types of partnership, with huge variety in terms of how firms are structured.

The Bar Council and Law Society yesterday issued a joint statement criticising Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s comments on the legal challenges brought against the government for their plans to send asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda.

The Law Society of England and Wales has embraced the UK’s adoption of the new Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. This is a milestone in the legal world globally as it signifies the first international treaty with a focus on the safety of lawyers, which was adopted by the Council of Europe in response to increasing reports of attacks on the legal profession.

The role of general counsel (GC) has become an increasingly popular appointment at top law firms, mirroring its rise among commercial companies. GCs are in-house lawyers at large companies tasked with overseeing legal issues and advice across their organisations.

Legal technology company Lawhive has put its new AI paralegal, Lawrence, to the test, posing 90 sample questions from the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) SQE1 assessment. Having answered 67 out of 90 questions correct, Lawrence’s total mark was 74%. 

During my work experience week with Lawyers in Local Government, I spent a notable amount of time working with property lawyers and paralegals. This introduced me to planning law − a subsection within property law that I’d never looked into before. This article, in turn, offers an opportunity for me (and you) to learn more about this niche practice area. What’s planning law?

At the LawCareersNetLIVE conference last December, I asked a trainee from one of the attending law firms for her best advice for trainees starting their training contracts. I expected to hear something along the lines of “networking” or “taking initiative and asking for work”. Instead, she stressed the importance of getting into the habit of “recording your hours”. That interaction, combined with my lack of knowledge surrounding the mysterious billable hour, resulted in the creation of this article.

Valentine’s Day is here and we have something to taco ‘bout! We thought we’d kick off hump day by asking nearly 18,000 of you what you despise about studying law. Here’s what you had to say.

Is it possible for solicitors to have a good work/life balance? If I start a family, are there part-time or term-time options? 

Pro bono lawyers play a vital role in expanding access to justice and supporting communities in need.

Since my attendance, I’m thrilled to have accepted a training contract with Brabners, commencing in 2026. I truly believe that attending LawCareersNetLIVE was one of the contributing factors to my achievement.

Issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, the demand for global sustainability and the need for alternative energy sources make environmental laws more important than ever.

There are many different kinds of career in the legal profession. On qualifying, many lawyers tend to specialise in one area of law which could be anything from intellectual property, to Islamic finance to family law. This article explores the process of choosing a practice area to specialise in and offers advice on the factors to consider.

Following the announcement of LawCareersNetLIVE Virtual over the summer, the LawCareersNetLIVE London and Manchester conferences have also been moved to virtual events due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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. 

It’s so easy to consume regular, up-to-date information in our modern world. Listening to podcasts and browsing social media are easy and interactive ways for candidates to work on their commercial awareness. And, as the world becomes increasingly digital, there are more podcasts and influencers than ever on the legal scene for you to follow and learn from.

Commercial awareness is a key skill that all law firms look for in their applicants. Understanding what commercial awareness is and how you can demonstrate yours is fundamental to your success.

Every two years the Solicitors Regulation Authority collects diversity information relating to education, age, gender, ethnicity and sexuality.

While the number of solicitors who went to state school is on the rise, those who went to fee-paying schools are continuing to dominate corporate work.