Controversial plans to improve access to the legal profession by forcing law firms and chambers to publish internal diversity and social mobility data on their websites have been approved by the Legal Services Board.

The College of Law, in collaboration with the City Solicitors’ Educational Trust, hosted a forum to investigate the best ways of promoting social mobility in the legal sector on 28 September.

Prominent in-house appointments have made the news this month, with Royal Dutch Shell naming Donny Ching as its new legal director and HSBC Holdings hiring Shawn Chen to lead its global litigation and regulatory affairs group.

The most recent Queen’s Counsel appointments have been announced by the independent selection panel, as it confirms the strongest promotion round for three years.

Don’t let the soaring temperatures distract you from the task at hand; namely, improving your understanding of the commercial world.

The Solicitor Regulation Authority’s plan to allow solicitors to practise from unregulated businesses has been met with criticism and lobbying, although solicitors in small firms are still mainly ignorant about the proposed changes.

The government has announced a 5% budget increase for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and an extra £80 million for the Crown Prosecution Service, but lawyers see the increases as nowhere near sufficient to deal with problems in the justice system.

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.

National firm Mills & Reeve has revealed its staff will receive a bonus of at least £966 this year, following positive financial results that saw the firm’s turnover increase to £114.1 million for the year ending 31 May.

The Low Commission has released its report into the impact of cuts in funding for social welfare law advice.

There’s only one story this week: VW. Things have gone badly wrong for the global automotive giant, as it admits that it “totally screwed up” and heads start to roll.

The “macho culture” at chambers and the overall extent of gender inequality at the Bar “invites a level of wonder”, according to a new report by a specialist discrimination law firm.

The Legal Services Board has published statutory guidance following the Legal Education and Training Review, urging regulators to increase flexibility in education and training.

Cornish law firm Stephens Scown has agreed a new shared-ownership partnership, similar to that made famous by John Lewis, which will see all members of staff - including trainees - entitled to an equal share of the firm’s profits.

Ten students from Notre Dame sixth form college in Leeds have spent a week’s work experience with Walker Morris, which concluded with a mock trial run in conjunction with 11 South Square.

Want to get a handle on what’s happening in the commercial world and how it might affect your clients of the future? Read this collection of stories from the past couple of weeks to get a glimpse.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority should tighten its rules on non-disclosure agreements, MPs have been told.

“Material errors” in previous rulings on whether a plumber working for Pimlico Plumbers should have ‘worker’ rather than ‘self-employed’ status mean that the case is now to be heard in the Supreme Court, with the outcome set to have far-reaching implications for the gig economy.

Leading legal lender VFS Legal has gone into administration, leaving law firms at a loss for financing.