Our round-up of the first commercial developments in 2017 picks up very much where 2016 left off. The maverick methods of President-elect Donald Trump are having a marked impact on the thinking of major businesses, while tensions between China and other economies continue to increase. There is also a mixture of encouraging and not-so-rosy omens for the UK economy to pick through. 

The Bar Council has warned that the government's plans to introduce competitive tendering for legal aid contracts and deny defendants the right to choose a lawyer will undermine the UK justice system's good reputation among the international community.

I plan on becoming a lawyer but will I be able to manage my work/life balance if I have a family?

How might AI affect the energy transition? 

This week’s commercial news round-up has stories spanning across technology politics and the economy to keep you in the loop and help build your commercial awareness.

Magic circle firm Clifford Chance launched its Racial Justice Award in October, following the killing of George Floyd and the increased awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement that followed.

From the intellectual challenges to the excitement of seeing her work in the news, find out more about Abbie's journey into law and career at Baker McKenzie.

Nottingham Law School has signed a deal with Dutch university Radboud which will allow NLS students to study for a Master's in European Law in the Netherlands.

Many law students have the unfortunate fate of exams after the holidays. It’s important to take a break, but it can be difficult to juggle relaxation with revision. Below are a few tips that work for me in terms of motivation and practical advice. 

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives recently held its annual graduation ceremony, with new CILEx members celebrating their new status as qualified lawyers.

What could Brexit mean for the UK energy sector, including Hinkley Point C, the oil and gas industries, and skilled EU workers in Britain? 

At an open day I attended last year, I partook in my first corporate negotiation workshop. Having only just begun my law conversion course at the time, the encounter was entirely unfamiliar to me. I was surprised at how quickly my peers seemed to be taking to the task − and a bit embarrassed at how little I knew by comparison!

US law firm Skadden’s London office has partnered up with The Legal Education Foundation (TLEF) in a bid to support the next generation of ‘social justice’ lawyers.

The Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) has announced that its 12^th annual conference and ball will take place on Saturday 6 April at the Law Society in London.