With the excesses of Easter behind you, it’s time to really commit to the task ahead: developing your commercial awareness and thus significantly improving your chances on the recruitment frontline. Start here with this week’s curated group of topical news stories.

As national elections of all varieties continue to dominate headlines, there is still space for those all-important economic stories. In fact, more often than not, the political and business worlds are inextricably linked. For a variety of both, read on.

Like the autumn term at university, the news is moving fast. Here is this week’s rundown of the commercial stories you really need to know.

We are supposed to be in the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”, but the business world is anything but mellow as it confronts a host of issues stemming from the country’s economic problems, as well as the prospect of Brexit. This report brings you up to speed on some of the week’s important commercial news as you continue to hone the wider business knowledge that you will need as a lawyer.

What’s to be done when you feel that your commercial awareness is lacking? Here’s an idea: try absorbing what our Feature has to say on maximising your chances at interview by honing your commercial awareness skills well in advance – and that means now. In addition, check out the following key business/economic stories from the past week.

Things have come to a pretty pass when you look to commercial news for some light relief from the terrifying political news that keeps bursting onto our screens with ever-more alarming headlines. However, as that is the situation in which we find ourselves, soothe your anxiety with this selection of relatively-stress-free business stories.

This week has been punctuated by political speechifying, with economic theory taking centre stage. For more business news that should be on your radar, read on.

Commercial property (or real estate) lawyers act for a variety of domestic and international clients – including investors and developers, governments, landowners and public sector bodies – on a wide range of transactions, involving everything from offices to greenfield and retail developments, infrastructure projects and the management of shopping malls.

Nearly 100% of senior commercial property law professionals said it will be ‘very likely’ or ‘quite likely’ that administrative tasks involved in commercial real estate transactions will be fully automated in the next three years, according to a report published by SearchFlow. 

The common law Bar remains an attractive option for those who believe that variety is the spice of life.

As explored in other articles, recruiters will likely seek to directly test your commercial awareness throughout applications and interview stages. Here are four common commercial awareness interview questions and some tips for answering them!

How does competition law affect a business which doesn't make 'widgets'?

What does the decline of the commute mean for UK railways?

Commercial lawyers operate at the nexus where law meets business, facilitating revenue growth and managing risk.

Is big tech too powerful for competition law to tame?

The president of the Supreme Court and the chair of the Bar have both warned that cuts to legal aid must be reversed to some extent if the justice system is to function properly and the public are to be able to access their legal rights. 

How do law firms price their work?

Contentious construction work involves the resolution of disputes, principally through arbitration, litigation, or mediation.

In the new era of crowdfunding finance, what level of protection does a consumer have?

Two conflicting surveys paint a confusing picture of how consumers feel about the legal profession and the services it provides.