On the 24 February, the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 was enacted, marking a significant moment in the UK’s journey in tackling water pollution and holding water companies accountable.

Aspiring lawyers have many decisions to make over the course of their journey into the profession, including where to train and the types of firm to apply to. Discover the benefits to training in a niche firm like Bolt Burdon Kemp LLP in this LCN Says.

Would banning 'meaty' names for meat imitation products have increased clarity for consumers?

Is the United Kingdom really one of the best places in Europe to start, finance and grow a business?

HMRC has been dealing with a phishing attack and Shein has been accused of “dark patterns” such as “shaming” customers into buying more than they need to. Meanwhile, Nintendo fans have queued overnight to get their hands on the newly launched Switch 2 console and Amazon is trialling humanoid robots that could one day replace delivery drivers. Read on for a summary of this week’s commercial story picks!

How does competition law affect a business which doesn't make 'widgets'?

With a major training contract application deadline looming at the end of this month, what are you doing to improve your commercial awareness ahead of any interviews? Take a look at this week’s news round-up and consider the commercial impact of these stories. 

To what extent must directors and other professionals consider climate risks in discharging their duties?

If you’re aiming for a career in business or law, whether it’s in an international or City firm or just generally, commercial awareness is a concept you’ll come across frequently. But what does it really mean? Simply put, it’s about understanding the inner workings of businesses and staying updated with current market trends.

I used to get slightly irritated at the mention of commercial awareness. To me, it seemed like an esoteric buzzword, reserved only for those who had been strategically attentive to the trends and updates of different business industries over the years.

Ingrid Yun is a Korean-American lawyer who sits in the mergers and acquisitions department of an elite New York law firm, where she has been working for six years.

Italy is removing same-sex parents from children’s birth certificates, the NHS is worse off than it was in 2011, Just Stop Oil protests continue, the government is increasing the demand for physical education in schools and anger rises regarding the two-child benefit debate. There’s lots to unpack in this week’s commercial news round-up.

People may choose to use medication to manage ADHD presentations. While the UK is in the middle of a national ADHD medication shortage, which is likely to continue until at least December 2023, people are having real difficulty accessing their prescribed medication to help them manage their presentations.

Hear from Ed Weidman, graduate recruitment partner at leading media and commercial law firm Simkins LLP, as he shares his advice on what the firm wants from its future lawyers and how you can impress in applications. 

Dear reader, a few LCN blogs later, I have officially completed and received the results for my first exam season for law!

Working as a paralegal, or in any day-to-day legal support role, is often seen as just a steppingstone to qualifying as a solicitor. However, particularly in the UK, paralegals are increasingly valued for the legal work they perform. Many firms are using paralegal roles as talent pipelines for trainee solicitors and barristers. This blog explains how to extract maximum professional value from routine paralegal duties, boosting your legal knowledge and enhancing employability.

On 23 July 2025, in a decision that’s already being called historic, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its long-awaited advisory opinion on states’ obligations in relation to climate change. The key takeaway being states can’t sit on their hands while the planet burns. Failing to act on climate change can now amount to an internationally wrongful act, with real legal consequences.

It’s 2024! Cue the ‘new year, new me’ vows, right? But maybe this is the year for ‘new year, less garbage from the last year’. Maybe 2023 was a rough year for you, or maybe it went great. Either way, there’s no doubt there are some habits we should leave in 2023.