If you want to succeed as a lawyer, it’s important that you develop your commercial awareness.
The Principle is your live commercial awareness hub. We’ll help you stay on top of the latest news and give you expert insights into commercial issues.
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World Health Day 7 April: Get involved in a new era for health law
In its 70th anniversary year, World Health Day is calling on world leaders to live up to the pledges they made when they agreed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 and commit to concrete steps to advance #HealthforAll. This means ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access essential quality health services without facing financial hardship.
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SQE given tentative approval by LSB
The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) has been given a tentative approval by the Legal Services Board (LSB). After a collective of legal professionals and academics put pressure on the LSB to reject the SQE, today it said that there were “no grounds” to reject the SRA’s application.
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Talking to NLS about its Autism Law Service
Nottingham Law School has a unique pro bono service in place - the Autism Law Service works to ensure the autistic community can access legal advice effectively. We spoke to Callum Scott, a legal officer at NLS advice centre, to find out more.
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"Racist and vile": law students face repercussions as racist WhatsApp chat exposed
Members of the Bracton Law Society at the University of Exeter are being investigated after screenshots from a WhatsApp group chat revealed racist comments.
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To delay or to reject: lawyers and academics call for rejection of SQE
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Vital contributions: the roles of Legal Secretaries and PAs
We spoke to Emma Stacey, the Chief Executive of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs (ILSPA), about the vital role of legal secretaries and PAs in law, as well as the opportunities provided by ILSPA.
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International Women's Day: the women who have shaped law
Historically, many women have challenged the law, whether by defying odds and becoming legal professionals, or by publically calling for updates to archaic and oppressive legislation. Events of the past year, in particular the #MeToo campaign, reflect the ongoing struggle for women to be safe and accepted in their workplaces. This International Women’s Day, we take a look at just a few of the women who have shaped the legal sector as we know it today.
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The beast from the East - what does the law say about working in low temperatures?
From the most northerly points of the UK to the beaches of Brighton, snow has been making a rare appearance in the UK, leading to cancelled trains and closed schools. But in a country where snow on the ground is a rarity, what exactly are your work rights when the big freeze sets in?
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Across the pond: what’s happening with American gun laws?
Following a deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, there has been a huge call for reform of American gun legislation, with many survivors of the shooting taking to social media to protest the ease with which Americans can obtain firearms. The shooter at Douglas High School was 19 years old, meaning he was able to purchase the firearm he used legally.
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Putting your commercial awareness into practice - RPC's perspective
It’s all well and good to be commercially aware, and to know everything that’s going on in the world of law. But it can be difficult to figure out how to demonstrate this when you’re attending interviews or even once you get onto a vacation scheme or training contract. How exactly does commercial awareness fit in once you’re inside a top law firm? What’s the best way to use it – and how can you keep building upon your commercial awareness? We spoke to Umut Bektas, a trainee solicitor at RPC, to find out exactly how commercial awareness fits into your future career as a lawyer.
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Diversifying the future
Diversity is a common goal which spans the legal sector, and it is gradually taking shape. Firms large and small are now cultivating safe and frequent opportunities for underrepresented people to work in law, and are identifying routes in order to do this more successfully. We spoke to Emma Makisimovic, who is the Engagement & Inclusion Manager at RPC, to see what is in place at RPC to promote diversity.
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What is life like as a legal trainee within the Government Legal Department?
With the strong focus on training contracts at private sector firms, the opportunities available within government can sometimes be forgotten – but it offers a unique and alternative route into law. We spoke to Pinky Tanna, a trainee currently working in the Government Legal Department (GLD), to see what it’s like to be a trainee solicitor within government.
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How will GDPR affect the UK's SMEs and fintech firms?
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Cyberattacks: are law firms ready for disruption?
A significant cyberattack in 2017 brought company-wide disruption for a leading law firm and raised a question: are law firms prepared for a business outage, and how would they service clients’ requirements?
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Beauty or the Beast?
Rupert Murdoch has announced a deal with Disney to sell assets, including his Hollywood film studio, a controlling stake in Sky (in the UK) and a 30% stake in Hulu. As the Federal Communications Commission in the US has also voted to dismantle rules regulating the businesses that connect consumers to the internet, we take a look at what all these potential changes mean for the media landscape, plurality, and net neutrality.
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Ireland to hold referendum on abortion law
The Republic of Ireland will hold a referendum on abortion in May of this year, after years of campaigning for reform to the country’s controversial abortion laws. Leo Varadkar, the Taoiseach (prime minister) of Ireland, announced the decision to hold a referendum on the evening of 29 January.
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The Day of the Endangered Lawyer – professionals unite in solidarity with Egyptian lawyers
24 January marks the Day of the Endangered Lawyer – an annual commendation of professionals across the world who do not have the freedom to practice law without persecution.
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“We’re no criminals!” women with criminal records due to prostitution take on government
Today (17 January) and tomorrow (18 January), the Divisional Court will hear an application for judicial review of the Government’s policy in relation to the retention, recording and disclosure of criminal convictions arising from soliciting offences.
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Mindfulness in Law – the good habits to get into now
My interest in mindfulness and ways to remain resilient when practising law began ten years ago. At the start of my legal career I, like many others, was faced with a lot of responsibility early on. As a result, I thought it valuable to learn techniques that would keep me calm, resilient and well in the office. Learning these techniques, and making my inner wellbeing a priority, had an unexpectedly positive impact on my work as a lawyer.
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First case of spiritual abuse brought against Oxford priest
In a case that is the first of its kind in relation to a priest, an Oxfordshire vicar has been convicted of spiritual abuse by a tribunal. Reverend Timothy Davis of Christ Church, Abingdon, spiritually abused a teenage boy within his congregation for a period of six months in 2013.
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From vacation scheme to training contract - the Freshfields perspective
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Nuclear Weapons: Trump administration to develop “more useable warheads”
The Trump administration has plans for constraints to be loosened on nuclear weapons, as well as plans to devise a new low-yield nuclear warhead which will be “smaller” and “more useable”.
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Taking stock of the gig economy: lessons for technology companies
With big names like Uber and Deliveroo emerging on a global scale, the gig economy has become a prominent topic of debate in terms of how companies employ workers. Charles Pigott, a professional support lawyer at Mills & Reeve, talks through what you need to know about the gig economy and employment status.
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The Real Woodside Farm - Supermarkets threatened by legal challenge to fake farm branding
Tesco’s packaging has come under scrutiny in the past for it’s false-rustic “Woodside Farms” packaging - but now a Nottinghamshire farm which shares this name is fighting back. Backed by the Feedback charity, Woodside Farm is threatening to take legal action against Tesco unless it drops the woodside farm branding on its packaging.