Thursday’s here again and it’s time to devote a bit of effort to learning what the big business stories of the past week were; read on for a selection.

Metro Bank has launched a professional studies loan scheme for postgraduate students, available initially only to students at the University of Law.

National Student Volunteering Week kicks off on Monday 11 February, celebrating the impact students can make in the not-for-profit sector and looking at issues such as employability and public engagement.

Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance is considering rolling out its trainee stress-reducing programme to staff throughout the firm.

Kaplan Law School has today announced that effective September 2014, it will be discontinuing its BPTC course.

International law firm Dechert LLP has introduced mental health ‘first aiders’ among its staff.

An independent study looking at the SRA’s proposed Solicitors Qualification Examination (SQE) has determined that its introduction could lead to both improved diversity and increased social mobility.

As reported in Legal Futures, a best practice code aimed at preventing the biased granting of internships and improving social mobility for underprivileged students has received backing from the Legal Serves Board, Law Society and Bar Council.

Dechert has become the first City firm to sponsor a scholarship for The College of Law's new LLB, which starts in September and lists practice-based learning as its main selling point.

Professional services firm EY has announced that it will be offering training contracts to join its legal services team. EY received an alternative business structure (ABS) licence in 2014, allowing it to increase the size of its legal services team to over 30 people. It expects this figure to double within the next 12 months.

This year’s A-level results have heralded a record number of students securing places on degree courses.

Recently merged Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has been granted approval to provide legal services in Hong Kong and Singapore, further cementing its status as a leading international firm.

International law firm DAC Beachcroft is the latest to move permanently away from compulsory office attendance, but national firm Duncan Lewis has bucked the trend of organisations downsizing office space by relocating to central London.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC MP has opened Nottingham Law School's new Legal Advice Centre, which will support NLS's existing, already much used, clinic.

A consortium of London law schools have announced a one-day 'open access' law fair, designed to bring together law students and graduates from all backgrounds with employers.

City firms Nabarro and Simmons & Simmons have both won national recognition for the quality of their work experience and internship schemes at the National Council for Work Experience 2012 awards.

Careers advice provider Ultimate Law Guide is holding a one-day conference on 11 July, designed to help trainees and students learn more about the "radically changing profession" they hope to join and the skills they need to succeed.

Leading South East firm Cripps and London firm Pemberton Greenish will merge on 1 December to create a leading practice focusing on real estate, private wealth and growing businesses. The merged firm will be ranked in the top 70 of UK law firms with revenues of c£45 million and create a firm of 465 people, including 66 partners.