Law for All Society: Commercial Awareness Officer

Hi everyone! I’m Jake, a first-year History student.

Commercial awareness is constantly stressed as essential for aspiring lawyers, yet many students find it difficult to know where to begin. Reading the news is only the first step; the real challenge is understanding why developments in business, politics and regulation matter to law firms and their clients.

Securing first-year scheme offers from Slaughter and May, Simmons & Simmons, and Brabners would not have been possible without developing this perspective. As part of this process, I successfully passed the interview stage for the Simmons & Simmons First-Year Scheme, and recently prepared for and completed an interview for the Linklaters Pathfinders Scheme, with the outcome currently pending.

Key to developing this understanding has been extensive networking with trainees and lawyers at firms like Latham & Watkins, Linklaters, Slaughter and May and Hogan Lovells, who shared the kind of practical advice about applications that is rarely written down. I have also been able to practise applying commercial awareness through the UCL Law Society Negotiation and Client Interviewing competitions, as well as a mock assessment centre through the UCL Law Society × TCLA mentorship scheme.

If elected as Commercial Awareness Officer, I would aim to help members move beyond simply following the news and instead develop the confidence to analyse commercial developments and explain why they matter for law firms and their clients.

I’m standing for Commercial Awareness Officer because I genuinely believe that understanding the commercial world is essential to becoming a strong, well rounded law student. It’s not enough to understand legal principles in isolation. We need to understand how law operates within markets, businesses, and real economic pressures.

Too often, commercial awareness feels intimidating or abstract. I want to make it practical, structured, and accessible for everyone in the society, whether they’re applying for City firms, exploring corporate law, or simply trying to better understand how legal decisions affect businesses and the wider economy.

If elected, I would introduce:

• Regular commercial news breakdowns 
• Interactive workshops on how firms make money and how transactions work
• Mock interview sessions focused specifically on commercial awareness questions
• A weekly Commercial Brief summarising key business and legal developments

I’m organised, proactive, and genuinely interested in the intersection between law and business. I don’t just want this to be a title rather I want it to be a role that tangibly improves members confidence in interviews and deepens their understanding of the legal market.

Commercial awareness shouldn’t be something people cram two weeks before a vacation scheme. It should be something we build consistently and I want to help make that happen.

Hello! I am standing for the role of a Commercial Awareness Officer as I value the support that the Law for All (LFA) Society provides and would like to play a part in leading it. Applications for legal positions can be demanding and being commercially aware is a key factor in ensuring success. I wish to help you develop strong commercial awareness skills and gain confidence when progressing your career.

If elected as a Commercial Awareness Officer, I would be excited to implement events such as case studies, sessions on application tips, discussions of recent deals and deep dives into different areas of commercial law. I would also take account of your suggestions through surveys or group discussions, to ensure that commercial awareness events are tailored to you. 

Co-founding my sixth-form student law society enabled me to develop useful skills I would bring to the role of a Commercial Awareness Officer: 

• Organisation: planning commercial awareness events that suit your needs
• Teamwork: working closely with other committee members and YOU – to ensure that your voice is heard
• Legal research: discovering the latest complex commercial issues to analyse
• Leadership: leading valuable discussions that benefit everyone in the room

The opportunity to use the skills I’ve gained to contribute to LFA Society’s growth strongly motivates me. I am an enthusiastic and determined individual who is committed to helping you build lasting commercial awareness habits that boost your legal career!