Following on from news that trainee retention rates are generally improving, a further six firms have announced healthy rates for their most recent group of 2012 qualifiers.

The disparity between law conversion and Legal Practice Course and law pass rates at different law schools has become even more extreme, according to a report by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

In this week’s commercial news round-up, we look at some recent updates from the ongoing situation in Gaza for Palestinians trying to leave the area. Plus, Storm Ciarán has caused disruption across the UK, the covid inquiry has raised more questions and concerns, and plans to remove rail ticket offices from train stations have been cancelled. 

After missing the official start date of 6 October 2011, the SRA will be ready to begin accepting licensing applications for alternative business structures from 3 January 2012.

Leading law firm Dentons has launched a new policy, developed in consultation with the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse, to provide support to any staff experiencing domestic abuse. The support was made available across the firm’s offices in the UK, Ireland and the Middle East.

Can advertisers use competitors' trademarks as keywords?

Barrister apprenticeships are set to be introduced next year in an effort to improve access to the profession. It’s hoped that the proposed new route to qualification will enable aspiring barristers to earn while they learn, avoiding the costly fees required to attend university and then Bar school.

One thing I didn’t consider when pursuing a career in law is whether I was prepared to sacrifice ‘me time’.

Nominees for the first ever UK Social Mobility Awards have been revealed to hail overwhelmingly from the legal profession. 

A large proportion (53%) of future barristers are Oxbridge graduates, according to new research by Chambers and Partners, which also found that only 11% of pupils come from non-Russell Group universities. 

Eight UK law firms have set ambitious net-zero goals as a part of the Net Zero Law Initiative, designed by Net Zero Now. Over the next five years, firms will aim to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 30% – an important step towards reducing the legal sector’s emissions and reaching net zero by 2050.

The family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler has appealed to the government to rethink the proposed reforms of 'no win, no fee' arrangements contained in its Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LAPSO) Bill.

Global law firm White & Case LLP has announced a firm-wide rollout of Legora’s AI platform for legal professionals across its 43 offices in 29 countries. The strategic partnership will see the firm make the most of Legora’s capabilities and solutions to enhance legal workflows and support complex matters across its global practices.

Students will be able to study the Legal Practice Course at UEA’s law school in Norwich from September 2019 following a new partnership with The University of Law.

After a long and gruelling three years of endless case law, reading and caffeine, my degree is slowly coming to an end, and (although I missed the first year of my ‘university experience’ due to covid-19) part of me believes there’s so much more I could’ve and should’ve done.

Priyanka Patel, associate in Mayer Brown International LLP’s corporate team, outlines her area of expertise, approach to client relationships and the importance of commercial awareness.

Professors Jonathan Choi and Daniel Schwarcz conducted a study using GPT-4 to examine the effect of using AI on student’s work. The study found that the results of low performing students improved by 45% when using AI, while higher performing students were affected negatively by the use of AI.

The legal education and training review's latest discussion paper claims that the current system of education and training must change if it is to provide lawyers with the necessary skills to practise in the future legal services market.