The Alternative Business Structure model has facilitated two more firsts for the profession with the granting of ABS licences by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to long-standing advocates of the new ownership approach, Knights Solicitors and Quindell Portfolio.

CILEX Law School has been approved to deliver the new CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) – a training route that is open to those without a university qualification and has been redesigned to ensure it produces lawyers that have the skills necessary to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the legal market.  

The Law Society has awarded 14 scholarships to aspiring solicitors through its Diversity Access Scheme (DAS), which supports aspiring solicitors who are facing social, educational, financial or personal obstacles to qualifying.

Hello everyone! My name’s John, and I’m a new blogger here on LawCareers.Net. I’m currently in my third year of a four-year Scots law LLB at the University of Aberdeen, and like many of you, I’m an aspiring solicitor.

When is a contract frustrated?

I believe that LawCareersNetLIVE has enhanced my employability and that it was a great way to express my dedication to a career in law in applications and interviews.

Scottish law firm Biggart Baillie has been tasked with advising administrators from Duff & Phelps regarding the case of Glasgow Rangers Football Club, which went into administration on 14 February.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner has been awarded the annual Commendation for Diversity as judged by LawCareers.Net, Aspiring Solicitors and Rare.

What are the implications of Hurricane Katrina for the insurance industry?

Full-service law firm Shakespeare Martineau LLP has welcomed 11 new trainees, as part of its largest ever cohort. 

Lawyers have welcomed the ‘breathing space’ provided by the government’s agreement on a Brexit phase 1 deal, where judgments in the UK and EU courts will continue to be mutually recognised and enforced for a period after Britain ceases to be a member of the European Union in 2019. 

Since my attendance, I’m thrilled to have accepted a training contract with Brabners, commencing in 2026. I truly believe that attending LawCareersNetLIVE was one of the contributing factors to my achievement.

I applied for places on a few summer vacation schemes but was unsuccessful. What other work experience can I pursue to boost my CV and future applications?

B Corps are not a new phenomenon. Some of our favourite brands have had B Corp certification for years – does Ben and Jerrys ring a bell?

A scholarship programme for Black law graduates which aims to provide work experience required to secure solicitor roles, funding for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and a practical way to “move forward with diversity in the profession” has been launched by Accutrainee.

I’m finding it difficult to identify which practice area I’d enjoy most – do you have any tips on choosing a practice area before qualifying as a solicitor?

Looking for an ‘in’? Open days and insight schemes are invaluable opportunities to meet the people that work for the law firms you’re interested in. You’ll learn about life in the organisation, its culture, the work on offer and much more. Plus, if prepped well, it’s your chance to ace that initial interaction, which will set you up nicely for future encounters and could eventually lead to a training contract.

David O'Donovan talks about the importance of work experience for training contract applications, his work in the renewable energy sector at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (UK) LLP and more in this Meet the Lawyer profile.