The new centralised ‘super exam’ for qualifying solicitors which will replace the Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course (LPC) does not amount to a “robust and effective measure of competence” and may end up costing students more than the current system, the University of Law has said.

It’s Thursday, which means business as usual; we’re bringing you the top trending commercial news. 

Vacation schemes are now getting closer as the summer months approach. Soon, excited students will be finding out if they’ve secured a place on the coveted scheme!

As the days turn colder and we move into the autumn term, the devastating impact of coronavirus continues to sweep through the UK. This commercial news round-up summarises various coronavirus-related stories from the past week, as well as other updates from the legal and business worlds that could serve as excellent starting points to help you build your commercial awareness.

What is the commercial role of a bill of lading?

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has drawn up plans to shut down and sell off ageing and run-down court buildings within the next decade.

US firms White & Case LLP, Vinson & Elkins RLLP and Covington & Burling LLP share their trainee retention rates for autumn 2023, while Baker McKenzie and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner bump newly qualified (NQ) solicitor salaries as the competition to attract the best future talent continues. 

Read this week’s commercial news round-up for some of the latest news relating to the business and legal worlds.

Bulb Energy is a large energy supplier with 650 employees, serving around 1.5 million people in the UK. It launched in 2015 with a focus on providing renewable energy at a fair price.

I can’t quite correctly term what I experienced last weekend. However, processing it in one of my blogs felt like the perfect place to express my thoughts and experiences.

London School of Economics and Political Science undergraduate Imaan Kamran Malik is due to be recognised at this year’s Student Social Mobility Awards for overcoming socioeconomic challenges to break into the legal profession and her efforts to improve access to the field.

The UK legal sector, which the government has described as a “national asset and an engine of economic growth”, has been recognised as an area to be supported in the government’s 10-year industrial strategy. This is a move that’s been welcomed by the Law Society of England and Wales.

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) has published the results of its first CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) assessments, with 61% of students passing the first stage. 

The latest sitting for part one of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) was passed by fewer than half of candidates – down from the 56% pass rate for the January 2024 sitting.

What are the concerns for employers in relation to redundancy in a credit crunch?

In a week in which MPs prepare themselves to vote again on the Brexit deal at the start of next month, and the Jeremy Kyle Show was cancelled after a guest’s death, there have been plenty of noteworthy news stories to keep abreast of. For in-depth analysis of the latest legal and commercial issues, we would always recommend signing up to Lexology. 

Following Labour’s landslide general election victory, the UK’s new Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised reforms to improve the criminal justice system amid a critical prison crisis.

LawCareersNetLIVE has not only grown my confidence, but it’s also expanded my knowledge and understanding of law firms and the industry. I urge all aspiring commercial lawyers to apply!

You may have been reading headlines like “sewage dumping leaves fish full of cocaine”, which sounds more akin to an Alan Partridge radio headline than serious news. However, this is in fact from an official marine expert, following the recent sewage dumping over the last few weeks.