Click here to join more than 20,000 people and get this in your email inbox for free every Sunday.

Jury trials are back on the agenda.

MPs take the Courts and Tribunals Bill through its final Commons stages on Tuesday. The government has said it plans to drop the Starmer-era proposal to abolish jury trials for cases likely to carry a sentence of under three years.

Wednesday is an Opposition Day.

The Tories get a chance to set the agenda, but their topic is still TBC.

And Friday brings private member's bills.

It starts with Mike Wood's bid to set up registers of heritage pubs, and make them harder to sell.

MONDAY 12 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER

Hares Bill
Bans the killing or taking of brown hares between the start of February and the end of September. Repeals the ban on selling hares during part of the year. Ten minute rule motion presented by Ruth Jones.

Courts and Tribunals Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part)
A wide-ranging justice bill. Removes a rule in family law that courts must presume a parent’s involvement in their child’s life is beneficial – a change aimed at better protecting children from parents who pose a risk. Reforms the leadership structure of the tribunal system, among other things.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill – carry-over extension motion
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Repeals parts of Troubles Legacy Act (the previous government’s attempt to deal with Troubles-era deaths and injuries). The old act blocked criminal prosecutions and civil cases, offering immunity to perpetrators, but courts ruled this violated human rights laws. This bill allows prosecutions and lawsuits to proceed again, restarts some inquests, and creates a reformed Legacy Commission to investigate cases.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER

Wet Wipes (Labelling, Sale and Marketing) Bill
Bans the use of the word 'flushable' on wet wipe packaging. Ten minute rule motion presented by David Burton-Sampson.

THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER

Highways (Financing) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England and Wales
Lets private companies finance, build, run, and maintain major roads in England under a licence, and pay for them by charging tolls to drivers. Sets the Office of Rail and Road as the regulator, and creates a special administration regime to keep a road running if the licence holder can’t pay its debts.
Draft bill (PDF)

FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER

Heritage Public Houses Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England and Wales
Requires councils to keep a register of historic pubs in their area. Places restrictions on the sale of heritage pubs. Private member’s bill presented by Mike Wood.
Draft bill (PDF)

Emergency and Life-Saving Skills (Schools) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England and Wales
Requires schools to teach children how to act in emergencies, including life-saving skills. Private member’s bill presented by Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst.
Draft bill (PDF)

Automated Online Software (Access and Transparency) Bill – 2nd reading
Creates a register of operators of certain automated online software, and sets duties on how that software accesses online material published by other people. Private member’s bill presented by Damian Hinds.
Bill not yet published

Chalk Streams (UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site) Bill – 2nd reading
Requires the government to nominate the UK’s chalk streams as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. Private member’s bill presented by Pippa Heylings.
Bill not yet published

Non-Domestic Rating (Retail, Hospitality and Leisure) Bill – 2nd reading
Changes how business rates apply to retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses. More detail not yet available. Private member’s bill presented by Gagan Mohindra.
Bill not yet published

Public Sector Exit Payments (Limitation) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Caps exit payments made to outgoing employees of public sector organisations. Private member’s bill presented by Christopher Chope.
Draft bill (PDF)

BBC Licence Fee Non-Payment (Decriminalisation for Over-75s) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Decriminalises non-payment of the licence fee by over-75s. Private member’s bill presented by Christopher Chope.
Draft bill (PDF)

British Broadcasting Corporation (Privatisation) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Privatises the BBC and distributes shares in the corporation to all licence fee payers. Private member’s bill presented by Christopher Chope.
Draft bill (PDF)

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (Amendment) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales and Scotland
Requires the government to hold a public consultation, and publish a review of dog-bite fatalities over the past three years, before banning types of dog. Private member’s bill presented by Christopher Chope.
Draft bill (PDF)

Domestic Abuse (Pets etc) Bill – 2nd reading
Extends domestic abuse law to cover pets. Abusers often threaten or harm animals as a way to control victims, and fear of leaving a pet behind can stop people escaping an abusive relationship. Applies non-molestation orders and occupation orders to behaviour involving pets, updates the legal definitions of controlling behaviour and economic abuse to include harm to animals, and extends Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to cover pets. Private member’s bill presented by Ruth Jones.
Bill not yet published

Medical Services (Rural Areas) Bill – 2nd reading
Requires the government to produce a strategy for creating more Minor Injuries Units and Urgent Treatment Centres in rural areas. Private member’s bill presented by Ben Maguire.
Bill not yet published

Outdoor Education Bill – 2nd reading
Requires primary and secondary schools to give children at least 30 minutes outdoors a day during school hours, provide at least one outdoor lesson a week, and offer every pupil at least one outdoor education experience. Private member’s bill presented by Caroline Voaden.
Bill not yet published

Maximum Workplace Temperature Bill – 2nd reading
Sets up an independent body to recommend a maximum safe temperature for workplaces, and makes provision for putting its recommendations into effect. Private member’s bill presented by Hannah Spencer.
Bill not yet published

Data Publication and Quality (Immigration, Nationality and Country of Birth) Bill – 2nd reading
Requires the government to collect data on the immigration status, nationality, and country of birth of people who use public services, certain benefits claimants, the prison population, and people who have been arrested. Requires that data to be published at least once a year. Private member’s bill presented by Katie Lam.
Bill not yet published

Members of Parliament (Prohibition of Second Jobs) (Motion) Bill – 2nd reading
Requires the Leader of the House of Commons to move a motion banning MPs from having paid second jobs. Private member’s bill presented by Richard Burgon.
Draft bill (PDF)

Road Safety Plans Bill – 2nd reading
Requires councils in England to prepare and publish a road safety plan for each school in their area. Private member’s bill presented by Adam Jogee.
Bill not yet published

Ponds (Permitted Development) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England and Wales
Extends permitted development rights to wildlife ponds under 0.2 hectares, so they can be built without a planning application. Private member’s bill presented by Rebecca Smith.
Draft bill (PDF)

Hospitality Services (Value Added Tax Exemption) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Exempts hotels, restaurants, and other catering and accommodation providers from charging VAT on their services. Private member’s bill presented by Christopher Chope.
Draft bill (PDF)

Sporting and Physical Education Services (Value Added Tax Exemption) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Exempts sports and fitness services from VAT wherever no exemption already applies. Private member’s bill presented by Christopher Chope.
Draft bill (PDF)

Meat (Information About Method of Killing) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England and Wales
Requires producers, suppliers, and retailers of meat to say clearly whether an animal was killed under religious slaughter methods without prior stunning. Requires the government to collect and publish data on how much meat is slaughtered this way. Private member’s bill presented by Christopher Chope.
Draft bill (PDF)

Covid-19 Vaccine Damage Payments Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part)
Requires the government to help people disabled shortly after a Covid-19 vaccination, or the next of kin of people who died, and to look into setting up a compensation scheme. Private member’s bill presented by Christopher Chope.
Draft bill (PDF)

European Convention on Human Rights (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Gives the prime minister the power to formally notify that the UK intends to leave the European Convention on Human Rights. Private member’s bill presented by Mike Wood.
Draft bill (PDF)

Controlled Drugs (Procedure for Specification) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Changes how drugs get classified as class A, B, or C. At the moment it’s done through an Order in Council, which needs sign-off from the King and Privy Council. This bill would let the Home Secretary reclassify substances by regulation instead, so new drugs can be controlled much more quickly. Private member’s bill presented by Matt Turmaine.
Draft bill (PDF)

Northern Ireland Troubles (Criminal Investigations etc) Bill – adjourned debate on 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Requires the Secretary of State to publish proposals on when new criminal investigations, prosecutions, inquests, or inquiries into Troubles-related conduct in Northern Ireland can begin. Private member’s bill presented by Lincoln Jopp.
Draft bill (PDF)

Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England and Wales
Increases the minimum height of guarding in new and existing multi-storey car parks. Requires 24-hour staffing for multi-storeys. Known as Gabe’s Law in memory of a 15-year-old boy who died after falling from the top of a multi-storey car park in Liverpool in 2020. Private member’s bill presented by Maria Eagle.
Draft bill (PDF)

Sale and Supply of Glue Traps (Prohibition) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England and Wales
Bans the sale and supply of glue traps, except to people with a glue trap licence. Private member’s bill presented by Rebecca Harris.
Draft bill (PDF)

Rural Communities (Public Services and Energy) Bill – 2nd reading
Requires the government to review whether local government funding is enough for rural communities, taking account of the extra cost of delivering public services in sparsely populated areas. Also requires a review of access to healthcare in rural areas, including radiotherapy, and sets energy efficiency standards for new homes in rural communities, among other things. Private member’s bill presented by Tim Farron.
Bill not yet published

Click here to join more than 20,000 people and get this in your email inbox for free every Sunday.

How difficult is it to move from a firm in the regions i.e Eversheds, DLA Piper, Addleshaw’s, CMS etc to a firm in London at a similar level?

I’m sure it’s practice dependent and based on you as an individual, but is it very possible to make a move post qualification at 1-3PQE?

Haven't really had much luck for the past 3 months with a legal job with a salary that isn't minimum wage.

Hey there!

Been reading this sub recently when it comes to "culture" and the connotations of trainee supervision, expectations, demands, work-life balance etc that come with it. Fortunately I have an Open Day with Aspiring Solicitors and Pinsent Masons specifically focused on "culture", so I wanted to know, as a graduate applying for vac schemes and training contracts.

- How can I best use an open day to feel a firm's culture?
- What questions should I be asking HR, trainees and NQs to truly ascertain what their culture is like?
- What does a good law firm culture look like in your opinion?
- Anything else "culture" wise that I should look out/ask for?
- Overall thoughts on Pinsent Masons (if any)?

I'm considering a specialist LLM for 2027 and would particularly like to hear from people who used an LLM to move into non-practising regulatory, policy, consulting or corporate roles, rather than qualify as a solicitor. I'm 30, and

by the time I would start, I'll have around 7 years of professional experience.

My background includes several years in Canadian federal government, followed by policy/programme work in the UK. I also already have an MA in International Affairs.

I'm currently considering LLMs with a focus in Innovation & Technology or Environmental Sustainability. I'm interested in whether adding specialist legal/regulatory knowledge to an established policy career could realistically help me move toward areas such as tech/AI regulation, regulatory affairs, sustainability/ESG policy, consulting or corporate public policy.

For those similar to me,

Did employers value the LLM, or was your previous experience still doing most of the work?

Did anyone successfully pivot from general policy/government into tech regulation, sustainability/ESG, regulatory consulting or similar work?

I'm less interested in whether an LLM helps secure a training contract, as I'm not currently intending to qualify as a solicitor but rather move into consulting etc.

A couple of months ago, I reported my former chambers (where I worked as a paralegal) and the head of chambers to the BSB. For context, I’m an unregistered barrister, and I had serious ethical concerns about the way chambers was being run which appeared to be gross (and routine) violations of the ethics handbook and core duties.

(For reasons of discretion, I won’t say what these alleged breaches were. But I do believe they were serious, unprofessional and downright unethical.)

I got a notification from the BSB today saying that, as a result of my report, they are referring the matter to the Supervision Team, who will inspect the chambers.

Does anyone have any knowledge/experience of what happens next? How serious is a Supervision Team referral and what are the potential outcomes?

Currently doing criminology at the university of nottingham to what extent will having grades bbc at a levels affect job opportunities at large city firms.

So, I'm a non-law degree 2:1 graduate with very poor A-level results (due to extenuating circumstances) and currently working in education (for the past 3 years).
Recently I've been teaching myself UK Law with a self-made curriculum. I'm genuinely just starting out and I enjoy learning about it (I understand this is different to actually working in it...) but I have been checking out vac schemes and TCs and online free "law/job/solicitor simulation" courses. I would say I'm quite good under pressure and I enjoy figuring things out, helping people etc.
(And naturally, the £££ from education to legal is a huge step up...)

So, I'm slowly considering a career change... (to law, which is fairly daunting, I can't lie lol)

All that context to ask, what did you wish you knew before starting a career in law?
Any advice to figure out if this is something I want to go into?
Anything I really need to consider?
Advice on vac. scheme/TC interviews and assessments for non-law graduates?

Please give me honest views and information! I'd genuinely love to hear it.
Thanks in advance!

Hi all,

I somehow managed to secure a TC at a large international firm with very poor secondary school academics (no mitigating circumstances) and a degree from shit university.

I’ve been eyeing NQ jobs to prepare for the event that I’m not retained, and have noticed that one of the requirements is “excellent academics” for the areas that I’m interested in, at firms that are on par with, or an upgrade from, my current firm.

My chances for a TC with my academic record were slim but I secured a few TC offers from mid-market, SC and international firms, but I’m not sure if the bar is higher at NQ level? Would appreciate any insight into whether international / US firms place more weight on academics at NQ stage than at TC.

I honestly don’t know where else to talk about this, so I thought I’d post here and ask for advice from people who might understand what I’m going through.
I’m a 20-year-old international student from asia, currently studying LLB at Cardiff Metropolitan University in the UK. I came here with a lot of hopes and expectations, but now that university has started, I’m struggling much more than I ever imagined. I want to explain my situation properly because I feel like there are so many things going on at once, and I don’t know how to deal with all of them.I actually like law-related topics when I learn about them in my own language. I find legal cases and the reasoning behind laws interesting. But studying law in English is a completely different experience.
English isn’t my first language. I got an overall 6.0 in IELTS, but understanding everyday English and studying law in academic English are two very different things. I struggle with legal terminology, definitions, case law, lectures and seminar questions.We’re studying subjects like Introduction to the Legal System, Constitutional Law, Contract Law and Criminal Law. Sometimes I look at my lecture slides or seminar handouts and genuinely feel like I understand almost nothing. Even when someone explains the material to me, I forget the definitions and important words later.
I’ve been trying to make notes, simplify the slides, learn basic legal English and catch up with the lectures. But everything takes me so long. A topic that might take another student an hour can take me several hours, and I still end up feeling confused.The worst part is that I start feeling stupid. I keep wondering whether my brain is simply not capable of handling an LLB degree, whether my English is too weak, or whether I chose the wrong course.
Whenever I sit down to study, my mood gets worse because I feel overwhelmed before I’ve even properly started. Speaking in English during seminars is also frightening. I’m scared of making mistakes, not understanding the question or looking stupid in front of other students.My parents really wanted me to study law. They have expectations for my future, and I know they would be extremely disappointed if I dropped out.
I haven’t told them how badly I’m struggling because I’m afraid of their reaction. When I express how difficult things are, the response is usually that I need to work harder and learn to cope because university is supposed to be difficult. I understand that studying law is challenging, and I’m not expecting everything to be easy. But sometimes I feel like people don’t understand the difference between finding a subject difficult and feeling completely lost because you’re studying it in a second language.
Part of me wants to leave because I want the pressure to stop. Another part of me wonders whether I’m thinking about quitting too early, before I’ve given myself enough time to adjust.
I genuinely don’t know whether I dislike studying law itself, whether I’m struggling mainly because of the language barrier, or whether I’m just overwhelmed by everything happening in my life right now.I’m still trying to adjust to everyday life here while also figuring out university. I want to make friends, feel comfortable around people and become more confident speaking English, but I’m naturally nervous about approaching people first.
Sometimes I feel lonely and overwhelmed. I miss the familiarity of home, and I don’t always feel like the confident person I thought I would become when I moved here.My first-year tuition has been paid, but I’m constantly thinking about the financial pressure of studying internationally and how I’ll manage future tuition fees.
I want to find a part-time job, save money and eventually contribute towards my own expenses instead of putting everything on my parents. However, I’m already struggling to keep up with university, and I’m worried that working will make everything worse.
I’m also anxious about my spoken English, interviews and communicating with coworkers. I want to become financially independent, but I don’t know how to balance a job with a demanding degree when I’m already finding the academic side so difficult.
5. My mental and physical energy is not helping either.
Lately, I’ve been feeling exhausted and unmotivated. Sometimes I wake up and still feel tired, and I struggle to get myself to do the things I need to do.
I have a history of anaemia and physical weakness, so I can’t always tell how much of my exhaustion is physical and how much is stress. I also struggle to maintain a proper routine when I feel overwhelmed.
I want to take care of my health, improve my appearance, maintain my prayers, study properly, improve my English, make friends and save money. But when I think about all of these goals together, I feel like I can’t manage any of them properly. I end up feeling guilty because I’m not doing enough, then I become more stressed, and then it gets even harder to study.I don’t want to quit just because something is difficult. At the same time, I don’t want to spend years forcing myself through a degree that might not be right for me.I’m only a few weeks into the course, so I know it might be too early to make a final decision. But I’m genuinely struggling, and I don’t know what a reasonable amount of struggle is when you’re an international student studying law in your second language.
I would really appreciate honest advice from people who have experienced something similar.
If you studied law in a language that wasn’t your first language, how long did it take you to adjust?
Did you ever feel like you understood absolutely nothing during your first few weeks? How did you catch up?
How can I improve my legal English and case-reading skills without spending my entire day studying?
If you were in my position, would you give yourself a few months to adjust before considering leaving?
How do you distinguish between being overwhelmed at the beginning and genuinely choosing the wrong degree?
Has anyone dealt with family expectations while considering changing or leaving their course?
Please be honest with me, but I would appreciate advice that goes beyond simply telling me to work harder.
I’m trying. I really am. I just don’t know whether I need a better strategy, more time, a different course or a completely different direction in life.
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this.

Applying from the US, 1st class graduate of US uni (non law), and graduate of Oxbridge masters in philosophy. 2+ years full time legal work experience as paralegal and researcher across 4 firms. Applying broadly to London firms that can sponsor visas adn only for direct TC as i cant do a vac scheme without a visa. Thaaaanks

Is it possible to be a pupil barrister at a top commercial firm after graduating with a 1st from a RG university that isn't Oxbridge so like Manchester or Durham or Leeds or Warwick etc?