A pilot scheme launched by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, which gives law students the chance to help unrepresented doctors who have been referred for a fitness-to-practise hearing, is enjoying early success.

The University of Law will provide Solicitors Qualifying Examination training to Mischon de Reya LLP’s future trainees and solicitor apprentices as they enter a new exclusive partnership. 

The topic is in for this year’s Times Law Awards essay competition sponsored by One Essex Court, and it is “Cameras in court: justice’s loss or gain?”

Stobart Barristers, a subsidiary of the Stobart Group, is to provide a new intermediary service directly linking barristers' services to businesses and members of the public.

Last year LawCareers.Net reported that 17  law firms had joined the pledge to combat career obstacles faced by minority ethnic lawyers, in partnership with Rare Recruitment. 

UK businesses, including law firms, are to be ranked on their openness to talent from all backgrounds in a joint initiative by the Social Mobility Foundation and Social Mobility Commission. 

Commercial law firm Kennedys has launched a virtual work experience programme, which will enable aspiring lawyers globally to gain experience at one of the world’s leading law firms.

The way aspiring barristers train and qualify is set to change as the Bar Standards Board lays out its new rules.

The Ministry of Justice tried to stop the publication of research that expressed crown court judges’ misgivings about the number of people representing themselves in criminal cases due to cuts to legal aid.

Dentons has cut emissions by 44% through a new pilot scheme, which sees lawyers work from home, digital dashboards and a ban on printing.

Following the announcement of LawCareersNetLIVE Virtual over the summer, the LawCareersNetLIVE London and Manchester conferences have also been moved to virtual events due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Clifford Chance has launched its third annual Intelligent Aid student competition, challenging students to "think critically about reducing greenhouse gas emissions".

For the second year running, Shoosmiths has grabbed the top spot in the Black Solicitors Network's annual diversity league table.

As summer draws to an end, that ‘back to school’ feeling is certainly lingering. Why not top up your commercial awareness before returning to university next month? This week’s commercial news round-up covers a variety of business news stories you should know about.

Hundreds of university law society members have participated in the LawCareers.Net survey to discover the best student law societies across the country.

The Bar Standards Board has ordered an external review of its professional conduct complaints processes after discovering that black and minority ethnic barristers were overrepresented in the complaints system.

The first barristers’ set to address elitist discrimination at the Bar by adopting contextual recruitment practices has been accused of “virtue signalling,” according to its head of chambers.

The High Court has launched a new initiative to improve the diversity of its judges by supporting and mentoring people from "non-traditional backgrounds".

The Bar Standards Board has announced that aspiring barristers wishing to take the Bar Professional Training Course will now have to pass an exam – the Bar Course Aptitude Test.

Criminal barristers have narrowly voted to end their strike action and accept a new funding deal offered by the government, but senior figures at the Bar have warned that the dispute remains unresolved.