We’ve put everything that we know, and that you need to know, about commercial awareness into our brand new commercial awareness section on LCN. Use it as a starting point to work out what this valuable skill really means and how you can develop it. But before you do that, find out which commercial stories have been shaping the legal world this week.

Are energy-inefficient commercial properties at imminent risk of downgraded valuation?

Why is it so important that public bodies conduct proper consultations?

Public-spirited lawyers undertaking long, complex cases for free are the only people filling the “gaping holes in the fabric of legal aid”, a High Court judge has said.

Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have secured a historic victory in the third UK general election in four years, with Labour routed in its worst electoral performance since 1935.

What effect is the unpredictability of the upcoming general election result having on businesses, homeowners and renters?

The daily commute into the office often ensures that I have at least 30 minutes (subject to train delays) to organise my week, plan my upcoming events and educate myself further so that I can excel in the coming weeks.

Sparing a few minutes this Mental Health Awareness Week to think about your mental health and wellbeing could help you to start developing healthy habits that’ll build your resilience and enable you to flourish in your legal career.

International Women’s Day began in New York on 8 March 1857, when female textile workers marched in protest against unfair working conditions and unequal rights for women. Since then, it’s become a recognised day that occurs each year and is an important day to mark because women still face inequality around the world, in their education, work, pay, voting rights and more.

Pro bono is voluntary work undertaken by lawyers and law students aimed at improving access to legal advice. This article aims to set out the steps you should take to finding the right pro bono opportunity for you.

As a career changer, you’re certainly not on your own. If you’re serious about moving into the legal profession, read our five tips to help you get started.

Commercial awareness is understanding that being a lawyer involves much more than just knowing the law – you have to know your clients’ businesses and the sectors they operate in to be able to help them achieve their commercial aims.

In this LCN says we want to draw attention to the wealth of legal and political writing produced by Black authors. By highlighting these voices, we hope to not only expand your legal knowledge, but hope that you’ll also be entertained, educated and inspired.

As Freshers’ week draws to a close, exams and essay deadlines are already a looming reality for some. With this in mind, what can you do to improve your career prospects?

It’s so easy to consume regular, up-to-date information in our modern world. Listening to podcasts and browsing social media are easy and interactive ways for candidates to work on their commercial awareness. And, as the world becomes increasingly digital, there are more podcasts and influencers than ever on the legal scene for you to follow and learn from.

Are you qualifying via the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) and unsure how to request reasonable adjustments for the assessments? This short guide outlines the steps you need to take.

Strong women have shaped the legal industry into what it is today, with women now accounting for 62% of solicitors and 53% of all lawyers in the UK. In 2022, it was reported that women are becoming solicitors at three times the rate of men. Despite this, a seniority gap remains.

Hinkley Point C is the first nuclear reactor development in the UK since 1995. The site, which is being built in Somerset, forms part of the government’s plans to reach net-zero targets, with the aim to generate enough safe, reliable and low-carbon energy to power six million homes.