Bex Gerrard is a HR coordinator at Gowling WLG (UK) LLP. She opens up about her disability and experience at work, and outlines what she believes makes a truly inclusive workplace.

This week has been yet another week full of remarkable headlines. From the explosive release of the Casey report, which revealed some worrying truths about London’s police force, to Google’s late entry into the AI chatbot space, this week’s round-up isn’t one to miss.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an often-referred to, often-quoted, but often-misunderstood topic that without a doubt has the potential to change every aspect of our lives. As I guarantee all of you reading will have heard about the basics of AI, I won’t go into detail explaining what exactly it is and is not; however, I will say that AI is an incredibly broad and multifarious concept, which takes many different forms. This blog will focus on the impact that AI will have specifically on law firms, both positive and negative, and which aspects of AI law firms are most interested in.

What are the implications of updated EU data protection legislation for companies and individual citizens?

Legal aid is the assistance given to people who are unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. It’s essential in helping to provide equal access to justice to all – something that is crucial to ensure everyone has the right to a fair trial.

Justice is absolute. But the law is a heady mix of acceptable compromise, injustice, corruption and politics – whatever makes the wheels run smoother. This is one of the key themes of Criminal Justice, BBC’s impressive five-part drama.

I hope you’re all enjoying the new year. I tend to find it easier to keep up with commercial awareness in the new year, especially as my commercial awareness routine usually takes place when I’m getting ready for university!

The US and Ukraine have finalised a significant agreement to share profits from Ukraine's mineral and energy reserves, while Barclays will prohibit transgender women from using female bathrooms in its buildings following the recent UK Supreme Court ruling. Meanwhile, Microsoft has surpassed Wall Street predictions for a fourth quarter in a row and the Co-op has shut down parts of its IT systems due to a hacking attempt. Read on to find out more!

This week, like many in the UK, has been a hub for commercial news. We’re taking a look at The Sun’s handling of the BBC presenter story, the junior doctor strike, the coronation’s impact on the economy, Meta’s latest brainchild Threads and ever-increasing mortgage rates. 

If you've just started applying, or have already finished all of your submissions, well done! You've completed, in my opinion, the hardest part. The next step is converting those applications into placement offers. In this post, I'll describe how you can succeed in the next stage of psychometric testing, and some advice for post-application worries.

What are the reasons for optimism among entrepreneurs dreaming of success in the Asia-Pacific region?

Weight loss jabs, cryptocurrency, Rishi Sunak’s small boats policy, a universal basic income trial and the legal duties of universities. This week’s commercial news round-up has a diverse group of stories for you, so why not pick a topic and try the PESTLE method to test your commercial awareness?  

Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a social welfare proposal in which all citizens of a given population receive a regular guaranteed pre-tax income without any means test or the need to be in work, and it would be received independently of any other income.

The US-based IT firm Cloudflare is facing criticism for how senior staff handled the dismissal of an employee.

It wasn't long ago that UK private equity chiefs were found to be paying "less tax than a cleaning lady"; but has the Budget put at risk an entrepreneur-led recovery?

We’re rounding up the week, and oh have we got news for you! From Boris Johnson’s allies shaking up the Conservative Party to overcrowded prisons and Mars trying to save the planet one chocolate wrapper at a time, we’ve got your commercial awareness covered.  

How do leveraged buyouts combine private equity and debt finance to provide an attractive way to finance transactions?

Under the influence: why is there a DCMS inquiry into influencer marketing and what can we expect?

John Wick – arguably the best action movie series of recent times, but, did you know that there are points that aspiring lawyers can take away from it? Just not the over-the-top violence, obviously!

Media is something that we, whether intentionally or unintentionally, engage with daily. From shuffling your Spotify playlist to waiting impatiently to skip past a YouTube ad – there are countless legal hurdles that players within the media industry must overcome to reach the public. But what does ‘media’ mean in this context?