Diversity, equal opportunity and the end of the ‘old boys network’ remain a long way off in the legal profession, a study by the Sutton Trust and PRIME showing that three quarters of judges and 71% of Queen’s Counsel (QC) barristers were privately educated has revealed. 

Bridget Polkinghorne is a senior associate in the leveraged finance team at Mayer Brown International LLP. In this LCN Says, she gives an insight into finance practice and the role commercial awareness plays.

How is the gig economy impacting employment status?

The Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) has outlined the serious impact that coronavirus is having on junior lawyers, including Legal Practice Course (LPC) students, solicitor apprentices and trainee solicitors - adding to pressure that has forced the solicitors' regulator to respond.

Despite the majority of UK law firms experiencing a rise in revenue this year, a new 2023 benchmarking report from national audit, tax, advisory and risk firm Crowe found that this failed to turn into higher profits amid continued rising costs over the past year. 

I’m planning to take some time out to travel before starting a Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) preparation course next year – will this affect my chances of securing a training contract in the future?

Injury law experts National Accident Helpline has reopened its annual law competition, Future Legal Mind, for the ninth consecutive year. The competition, open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students, is one of the leading law essay competitions in the UK.

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.

The Law Society of England and Wales has welcomed the Bar Council’s review into bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar, commending “the leadership of the Rt Hon. the Baroness Harriet Harman KC and the review team for their thorough and thoughtful work”.

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.