Litigation partner Maxine Davies of Addleshaw Goddard LLP explains how you can use your existing non-legal work experience to demonstrate commercial awareness, but also why legal work experience remains important.

Despite pressure from students, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) will not reinstate spring Bar Professional Training Course exams. The regulator said it would be impossible to create a “suitable, secure alternative” to in-person assessments by April.

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 to set yourself up nicely for future encounters that could eventually lead to you securing your qualifying work experience (eg, a training contract or apprenticeship).

Sixth-form students and undergraduates with an interest in a career at the Bar are invited to attend the Middle Temple open day on Saturday 14 March.

Mayer Brown has recruited two new apprentices on to its articled apprenticeship programme, run in partnership with The University of Law.

University law schools across the country are beginning to grapple with the use of AI models such as ChatGPT in the classroom, as students begin to use the programme to aid their work.

The rainbow flag has been raised above the Inner Temple for the first time to mark London Pride 2018.

During this time of year, the cold season sets in, hats and gloves come out, and most importantly for aspiring lawyers, deadlines for applications fall due. And with applications can come rejections. Some enjoy the rush of adrenaline as each CV is submitted, but I think the majority initially find the application process daunting and any rejections destabilising at best. 

Exclusively UK-based firms typically offer a broad commercial training, emphasising one or two specialist areas; some will also have a private client practice, reflecting longstanding relationships with wealthy individuals and trusts. 

Traditionally, law firms have been run by partnerships – a group of senior lawyers who put their own money into to the firm in return for a share of the profits. However, in the modern legal profession there are many different types of partnership, with huge variety in terms of how firms are structured.

This week big four audit firm PwC has revealed that it will boost its headcount, the Oatly trademark dispute continues and the government has announced a new trade deal, among other things. Read LCN’s round-up below for some updates to keep you in the loop. If you’re interested in a story, delve into it further to start developing your commercial awareness.

Law fairs are an important stage of the recruitment process that provide the chance to meet recruiters, trainee solicitors and partners from the law firms you could be joining in the future. This year law fairs will be different as employers and universities adapt to the challenges of covid-19, with new virtual law fairs replacing face-to-face events throughout the autumn term. Find out more about the opportunities available below.

To be eligible for the GDL, students must hold a degree from a UK institution or a foreign institution which the Solicitors Regulation Authority considers to be an equivalent. 

From politics to retail, there’s been a lot of newsworthy stories this week, but which do we think should be on your radar? 

We’ll keep it short this week as many of you are completing vacation scheme or pupillage applications. Commercial awareness is a key attribute that you must demonstrate in your applications as recruiters want to see that you have a knowledge of what is going on in the business industry, and how key issues might affect the law and the businesses that operate within it.