With the increased range of routes to qualification available to aspiring solicitors, opportunities to train and qualify in-house at a company, a previous rarity, has become more prevalent.

Looking for an ‘in’? Open days and insight schemes – virtual and in person – are invaluable opportunities to meet the people that work for the law firms you’re interested in. You will learn about life in the organisation, its culture, the work on offer and much more. Plus, if prepped well, it’s your chance to ace that initial interaction, which will set you up nicely for future encounters and could eventually lead to a training contract.

Who’s in the spotlight this week? Your favourite smoothie company, known for their on-point marketing, is in trouble, new partnerships are being signed in various industries, Brexit continues to wreak havoc and Warner Music Group enters the world of P2E gaming (are you as clueless as us?!). 

In this week's round-up, find out about the Meta layoffs, Barclays' payment protection insurance (PPI) breach, Vodafone’s sale of its mobile-phone masts business, housing prices and a look into law firms’ future employment plans. 

To secure a training contract, you need to familiarise yourself with four areas of knowledge.

The European Commission is concerned about the introduction of TikTok Lite, the Scottish government is set to scrap environmental plans, new legislation has criminalised the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes and drug shortages are set to continue. Read on to find out more.

Last year I sent off more than 40 training contract applications but didn’t get one interview. What am I doing wrong?

AI in law is a curious concept. Take a sector that’s, rightly or wrongly, greatly impacted by human perception and feelings, strip it of everything that’s subjective and you have the legal system under AI in the perhaps not-so-distant future.

What is the commercial impact of the European Union's new sanctions against Iran?

The AI Act (the act) was first proposed by the European Commission in 2021 due to the risk posed by the technology. Although the act hasn’t yet come into force in Europe, it’s likely to do so sometime within the coming months.

Shadowing a judge, often referred to as judge marshalling, is a beneficial form of work experience for both aspiring solicitors and barristers. While both groups can benefit, it’s aspiring barristers who usually endeavour to secure the scheme, as it gives a huge insight into their future career (ie attending court, practising advocacy). As part of the experience, some students even get the chance to sit on the judge’s bench.

Thames Water is warning that it may not survive unless it’s allowed to increase water bills by almost 60% over five years and the British Retail Consortium reports that shop prices in the UK have fallen for the first time in nearly three years. Meanwhile, Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has been charged for allegedly allowing criminal activity on the messaging app, and vape manufacturers in the UK are adapting their products to avoid a legislative crackdown on single-use devices.

When I first enrolled onto the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), I knew it’d be a challenging journey. I was working and studying part time, and was determined to do well in an exam that people knew little about.

What’s going on in the news this week? US President Donald Trump has pressed pause on steep trade tariffs and UK secondary schools have been forced to cut more staff.

How are international joint-venture deals struck and what role do lawyers play?

Why is violence bad for business?

The business world is underpinned by the ‘rule of law’, whose protections enable firms to trade or resolve disputes with confidence about their rights and protections.

Law fairs are an important stage of the recruitment process that provide the chance to meet recruiters, trainee solicitors and partners from the law firms you could be joining in the future. This year law fairs will be different as employers and universities adapt to the challenges of covid-19, with new virtual law fairs replacing face-to-face events throughout the autumn term. Find out more about the opportunities available below.

What’s debt refinancing and why do businesses use it?

Described as "the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation", the Employment Rights Bill, first published on 10 October 2024, lays out the Labour government's detailed plans for implementing its employment reforms. Whether you're an employee, an employer or just an aspiring solicitor interested in the legal world, read on to find out more about this bill and its return.