From a young age, I knew that I wanted to attend university and pursue a career which was intellectual and challenging. However, messages that I had internalised – that my sexual orientation was ‘bad’ – and a vast lack of LGBTQ+ role models were barriers. My only lesbian ‘role models’ were celebrities, and as a result, I had a hard time imagining how ‘someone like me’ could achieve highly in the career path that I desired.

Solicitors provide legal advice and representation. They work directly with their clients and are usually the first point of contact for anyone seeking legal advice. In general practice, solicitors may be called on to advise on issues ranging from crime, personal injury, contracts and wills to buying houses and taking over a business.

So, you've got no training contract, you've just graduated with a non-law degree and you're faced with the decision of whether you want to self-fund the first part of your solicitor’s journey.

I’m an international student pursuing a career in the UK legal profession, how do I qualify as a solicitor?

Graduates of Russell Group universities and Oxbridge are overwhelmingly favoured by law firm recruiters, research by Chambers Student has indicated. 

In an era of sky-high fees, what is being done to ensure that universities comply with consumer law?

‘To moot or not to moot?’ is the question asked by law students at various stages of their legal education. From first years on the LLB to those undertaking the Graduate Diploma in Law, chances are you will have heard of mooting competitions or societies. If you’re anything like me, you will have also felt a shiver of intimidation whenever the topic is even brought up. For those who have yet to participate, a good starting point is to outline exactly what a moot is.

As the deadlines for training contracts all come crashing in on you, and the emails flood in about whether you’re moving on to the next stage or not, it’s hard to focus on what life might be like as a trainee solicitor, so here’s a glimpse into my life as a trainee.

Whether you’re a first-year university student or you’re making training contract applications as we speak, building on your commercial awareness should be a top priority and is key to your success. Use LawCareers.Net’s weekly Thursday round-ups and our commercial awareness hub to help to keep you in the loop.

Fiona Stewart is a family law barrister at Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB). Read her advice on mini-pupillages, choosing a practice area and chambers to apply to, and find out what makes QEB stand out in this Meet the Lawyer.

Attending a law firm’s open day, workshop or presentation is a great way to meet lawyers and recruiters, and gain valuable insights that will improve your applications. Read on for tips on preparing and making a good impression on the day, whether it’s virtual or in person.

Anti-strike laws, the digital pound and TikTok advertising are among some of the stories we look at in this week’s round-up. Read on for a summary of our commercial story picks of the week, but don’t just leave it there – how might these stories impact the industry, your shortlisted firms and their clients?

Daniel Jeffrey shares his journey and experiences as a barrister at 29 Bedford Row Chambers, highlighting his career transition from police officer to lawyer, the extensive application process he undertook and the importance of hard work and individuality in securing pupillage. 

Dentons’ Rosie Buckley offers insights into the firm’s online application form and vacation schemes.

Isabel Elsey explains why completing a vacation scheme at Milbank is integral to securing a training contract with the firm. She also sets out the skills she wants to see from aspiring solicitors in their applications and highlights the best way to research the firm. 

If your university runs on a similar timetable to mine, you are currently in a bit of a lull if you have chosen exam-assessed units. Substantive teaching had all but finished by the Easter holidays, and now we have had the final few conclusion and revision sessions, it is up to us to prepare ourselves for the upcoming exam season.

Banking and finance is a global industry involving a wide variety of financial products, ranging from simple bank loans to companies, to highly structured financing arrangements across multiple jurisdictions.