While aspiring lawyers are not expected to know everything about the law, you are expected to demonstrate commercial acumen at each stage of the application process. Don’t let yourself down by ignoring this factor. Get started today by reading our short round-up of some of the week’s stories below.

The Law Society of England and Wales believes that the adoption of hybrid and flexible working initiatives could provide a chance to improve social mobility within the legal profession. 

From my experience in the workplace and studying, the big city firms are everywhere. We

The Legal Services Board has published an interactive map and two reports aimed at understanding and tackling the barriers that individuals face when pursuing a legal career, regardless of background and circumstance. 

Summer’s over, it’s back to law school. What better way to begin the autumn term than LCN’s latest commercial news round-up. 

The government has announced its commitment to posthumously pardoning gay men historically convicted for having consensual same-sex relationships, in a move welcomed by family members and campaigners, as well as legal bodies such as the Law Society.

It’s been a difficult few weeks watching the surge of violence engulf Afghanistan and take many lives, including judges and lawyers. As an aspiring lawyer, part of your job is to be able to watch or read a piece of news that causes distress and analyse the following key factors.

As the UK continues to reopen society – albeit with a lot more hand sanitising stations, face coverings and distance markers – law firms are following suit. But unlike the virtually overnight move to working from home, the move back to working in the office will be slow, and perhaps may not ever happen for some.

This article aims to shed light on the pupillage process and offer encouragement to those of you who are on the same path and hope to also begin pupillage soon!

What’s causing the supply chain crisis and how is it affecting businesses, including law firms?

Barrister wigs have been a long-standing tradition since the 17th Century, but is the dress code outdated and alienating aspiring barristers from pursuing careers at the Bar?

Cooley has announced that it is offering all partners and staff £45,000 for fertility treatment as part of its new ‘family forming’ perk.

If prosecuting is all about advocacy, what's in it for a trainee solicitor?

It’s a busy time of year for everyone: LawCareersNetLIVE is just around the corner, universities have been holding their virtual law fairs and aspiring lawyers have application deadlines for vac schemes or training contracts looming. Developing your commercial awareness for these applications and any interviews you might have will be crucial to your success. Start now by reading this week’s commercial news round-up.

How is commercial awareness from a regulatory perspective applicable to acquisitions?

LawCareers.Net spoke to Apply4Law's Kate Stevenson about negotiating law firm application forms and useful tools to make the application stage easier.

Part of the Thomas Reuters Foundation, this is a community of lawyers and law firms forming a ‘go-to’ directory for beneficiary NGOs and social enterprise groups.

Evie Elsbury discusses her CILEX apprenticeship route into law and her career in the professional indemnity team at DWF Group Plc in this Meet the Lawyer profile.

At LawCareersNetLIVE 2022, we spoke to trainees from Addleshaw Goddard, Shoosmiths and Watson Farley & Williams LLP about how students should go about researching a law firm and its culture before applying.

Find out about DLA Piper’s insight programme and summer internship with Petra Smith, the firm’s graduate recruitment manager.