The number of practising solicitors in England and Wales has grown in the last year while the number of registered training contracts has fallen slightly, the Law Society’s annual statistics report has revealed.

Autumn tends to bring with it a renewed sense of vigour and the chance for a fresh start – make one of your autumn resolutions a commitment to honing your commercial awareness skills in a bid to impress future employers. Where to start? Look no further than this selection from the past week.

The use of video-link technology as a replacement for face-to-face hearings is not yet “sufficiently advanced” enough to be effective, says Jo Hynes, a PhD researcher at Exeter University.

Addleshaw Goddard, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Hogan Lovells have made it into the Times' Top 50 Employers for Women list.

MPs have sharply criticised the government’s courts modernisation programme because it “risks excluding the most vulnerable in our society from access to justice,” and called for a halt in the process of court closures.

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.

The annual Law Society Diversity Access Scheme (DAS) has reopened its system and is accepting applications until 6 April 2016.

Just as the media frenzy surrounding Andrew Marr's confession that he took out a superinjunction to supress news of an extramarital affair died down, another storm erupted over a premiership footballer's injunction to supress reports of his alleged extramarital affair with a reality TV star.

New statistics revealed in The Solicitors’ Charity Big Report highlighted that in 2022 the charity helped 50% more new clients.  

What’s to be done when you feel that your commercial awareness is lacking? Here’s an idea: try absorbing what our Feature has to say on maximising your chances at interview by honing your commercial awareness skills well in advance – and that means now. In addition, check out the following key business/economic stories from the past week.

Mental health charity LawCare’s recent report revealed a 35% increase in people reaching out for support in 2024. 

A new report shows that two-thirds of junior lawyers want the right to refuse work for ethical reasons. However, the research, which was led by Dana Denis-Smith and published by Obelisk Support, found that this right is currently provided at only 18% of the respondents’ workplaces.

Students from across the United Kingdom gathered on 25 March for the annual LawWorks & Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards 2015.

This round-up is big on banks; they seem to have featured heavily in the past week’s news cycle. For tales of their varying woes, plus much more, read on.

What is private equity?

A new conference aimed at anyone hoping to land a training contract with one of the international firms in the City has been announced.

The National Association of Licensed Paralegals has revealed that the Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship Standard is being completely overhauled. 

The Law Society’s annual report on the make-up of the profession has revealed several key stats, including that (i) the number of registered training contacts has risen, and (ii) the growth in numbers of practising solicitors has been led by women, at a rate that if it continues, will see women outnumber men in the profession by 2017.