This round-up of the week’s commercial news includes some big stories – keep an eye on them as they develop over the holidays.

The University of Law has begun training its second group of solicitor apprentices this January, in partnership with several leading employers.

Students will be able to study the Legal Practice Course at UEA’s law school in Norwich from September 2019 following a new partnership with The University of Law.

Prominent in-house appointments have made the news this month, with Royal Dutch Shell naming Donny Ching as its new legal director and HSBC Holdings hiring Shawn Chen to lead its global litigation and regulatory affairs group.

CityLawLIVE and NationalLawLIVE, LCN’s one-day student conferences for aspiring solicitors, have announced that they are jointly extending their deadline to Sunday 5 November. Giving applicants an additional week in which to submit will hopefully attract those students who may not have had the time to get their applications in for consideration.

Chartered legal executives will be able to set up their own firms in 2015 after legislation passed successfully through the House of Lords.

The University of Law and the University of Reading have formed a new partnership to provide postgraduate legal training courses.

An event aimed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, with the tag line "Now you're out, let us help you get in", is being held on 4 December 2012.

The most recent Queen’s Counsel appointments have been announced by the independent selection panel, as it confirms the strongest promotion round for three years.

Specialising in all aspects of family law relating to children, The Modern Family Law Company has been launched by solicitors Melissa Kelly and Deborah Baxter to cater for the “modern family”.

The government has announced a 5% budget increase for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and an extra £80 million for the Crown Prosecution Service, but lawyers see the increases as nowhere near sufficient to deal with problems in the justice system.

Barking and Dagenham Council has become the first council to take on solicitor apprentices in-house.

Applications for H M Hubbard International Law Scholarship awards ranging up to £28,000 are now open to postgraduate law students wanting to study in Canada, France or Spain over the 2019-20 academic year.

The King approved the appointment of 94 barristers and one solicitor as new King’s Counsel (KC) on Monday.

The University of Law (ULaw) and international law firm Taylor Wessing have revealed an exclusive partnership, which will see ULaw deliver its postgraduate courses with the firm.

Legal Aid Minister Shailesh Vara has told the All Party Parliamentary Group on Legal and Constitutional Affairs that the planned £220 million legal aid cuts will not reduce the quality of lawyers operating in the field.

Magic circle giant Linklaters is to offer its lawyers the opportunity to work fewer hours for a lower salary – but the scheme remains a pilot in four of the firm’s German offices for now. 

The Law Society’s annual Diversity Access Scheme is about to open for submissions, this year including 10 awards offering financial assistance and mentoring, plus one new award for a law centre worker that guarantees a training contract.

The University of Law (ULaw) has partnered with Newcastle University to offer students specialised postgraduate training courses at the leading Russell Group institution’s Law School.