Although you would expect the news to be in full-on “silly season” mode, there are still a good number of scintillating business stories to keep an eye on – here are just a few.

The UK’s Supreme Court President Lord Reed announced that he'll step down on 10 January 2027. Law Society of England and Wales President Mark Evans stated: “We pay tribute to his service, leadership and dedication and wish him well in the future.”

A record number of solicitors and legal colleagues took part in the 20th London Legal Walk, which took place on Tuesday 18 June. Around 18,000 people walked or ran one of the 10k routes, raising more than £900,000 to support frontline free legal advice agencies.

The chair of the Criminal Bar Association has warned that “very vulnerable people who have to go through the system are being let down” by a criminal justice system that penalises the innocent more than the guilty, with the crisis further intensified by the coronavirus pandemic. 

For many, the first week back after the Christmas break can be a trying time, requiring a slow and painful reintegration to the work environment.

City firms have lined up in support of diversity organisation Rare’s new ‘Vantage’ scheme, an online recruitment tool designed to help candidates from less-privileged backgrounds break through the artificial barriers holding them back from careers in law.

A team from The University of Law has won the Annual Mooting Competition, run by the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting.

International firm Ashurst has become the latest to launch a ‘new law’ graduate training scheme which enables candidates to pursue careers in new and emerging legal roles.

We hope that you are spending a good chunk of your time today (i) voting, and (ii) following the rolling news coverage, but do take a moment to cast an eye over these commercially interesting stories as well.

Magic circle giant Allen & Overy has joined top-end firms Clifford Chance, Hogan Lovells, Herbert Smith and Travers Smith in signing up to a specialist agency which actively recruits high-achieving African Caribbean graduates.

Mayer Brown, the only City firm to run an ‘articled apprenticeship’ programme, has recruited a third apprentice.

Global law firm DLA Piper UK LLP has raised its London newly qualified (NQ) salaries by 18%, moving from £110,000 to £130,000. 

Budding advocates take note: Herbert Smith and The Times have announced their annual student advocacy competition.

The chair of Parliament’s justice select committee has called for fee-charging McKenzie Friends to be banned after the High Court ruled that an unqualified “legal adviser” was negligent in his handling of a clinical negligence case.

Three US law firms are among the top five earning legal practices for UK corporate work, researchers at The Lawyer reveal, stating that the figures demonstrate further “Americanisation” of the UK’s legal market.

Applications are now open for LawCareersNetLIVE Virtual, which will take place on 1 and 2 December 2020.

The proposals published by the Legal Services Board following the Legal Education and Training Review have been heavily criticised by the City of London Law Society.

The Legal Aid Agency has been accused of being in denial about severe glitches in its client management and cost system.