which newspapers are read by specialist in commercial law?

Hi

The area of commercial law is of my interest, can anyone tell me which newspapers would be a mine of information on commercial issues(and which sections)?

thanks

Reply 1

jacketpotato

20

The FT

Particularly for people at the level of just starting to apply for jobs, the internet is a good resource - www.thelawyer2b.com and www.lawcareers.net are helpful

Reply 2

Cloud Shine

The FT for current commercial affairs, the Economist for a true understanding of commercial affairs, although it can at times be quite technical. Both are in my view entirely necessary but very helpful and interesting :smile:

Reply 3

agatakmarosz

OP

thanks to all

but the FT has loads of sections, on which I should concentrate the most?

Reply 4

Cloud Shine

I personally don't read Companies and Markets. But I do read the whole of the other section.

Reply 5

*Star*Guitar*

17

Wouldn't relevant journal articles be more useful?

Reply 6

NoHands

17

Cloud Shine

The FT for current commercial affairs, the Economist for a true understanding of commercial affairs, although it can at times be quite technical. Both are in my view entirely necessary but very helpful and interesting :smile:

lol, try having my dad explain to you how CDO's, MBS's, SIV's and securities are processed. your mind will explode, mine sure did.

Reply 7

sulpicia

A general newspaper will never really deal in specifics. I would recommend the Guardian for a well rounded overview of events and issues. Specialist journals for the legal specifics. Don't read a newspaper for cramming on law, read it because you enjoy it.

Reply 8

Cloud Shine

sulpicia

A general newspaper will never really deal in specifics. I would recommend the Guardian for a well rounded overview of events and issues. Specialist journals for the legal specifics. Don't read a newspaper for cramming on law, read it because you enjoy it.

I personally think the Guardian is really awful, but your point is valid. But to learn more, try reading a few and seeing which one suits you (to the OP). The Times is in my opinion the best daily paper for news in general, but for commercial issues specifically the FT/Economist can't be beaten. Is this for interviews? Some work experience might also be useful for you. If there is a term/concept that I come across in general reading that I cannot get my head round, I will also Google it.

Reply 9

Redeyejedi

7

Companies & Market is the most useful bit of the FT - gives you industry and Financial Market insight. This is generally where the "commercial awareness" questions they ask you originate.

Not to suggest the main section isn't useful. It is. It just gives you a macro view.

Reply 10

Cloud Shine

Really? Because all of my commercial awareness questions have been more like:
'What started the economic crisis? Why has it affected Britain?'
Also: Royal Bank of Scotland, issues affecting their clients, and stories that have recently been featured in the main section of the FT.

Reply 11

agatakmarosz

OP

Cloud Shine

I personally think the Guardian is really awful, but your point is valid. But to learn more, try reading a few and seeing which one suits you (to the OP). The Times is in my opinion the best daily paper for news in general, but for commercial issues specifically the FT/Economist can't be beaten. Is this for interviews? Some work experience might also be useful for you. If there is a term/concept that I come across in general reading that I cannot get my head round, I will also Google it.

the thing is that I have got admitted to the GDL at BPP's, so my adventure with law has just started,im looking for an area of law which would suit, my mummy says that the commercial is awfully stressful, and... when applying for a training contract and (if interested in commercial law) law firms expect of you some knowledge of it, Am I right or wrong here?

and...Do law firms ALWAYS put those commercial awareness questions at interviews even if (for example)criminal law is of your interest?

any idea of the area of law wills and probate?

Reply 12

Cloud Shine

agatakmarosz

the thing is that I have got admitted to the GDL at BPP's, so my adventure with law has just started,im looking for an area of law which would suit, my mummy says that the commercial is awfully stressful, and... when applying for a training contract and (if interested in commercial law) law firms expect of you some knowledge of it, Am I right or wrong here?

and...Do law firms ALWAYS put those commercial awareness questions at interviews even if (for example)criminal law is of your interest?

any idea of the area of law wills and probate?

I mean this in a constructive way: if you are looking to work for a law firm you should try to improve your written English skills. I understand this is not easy when it is a second language but law firms will be very much put off by poor grammar and sentence structure.

If you want to work for a law firm in the City, most will expect you to have commercial awareness. Other than that, it really will depend on what type of firm you apply to and the work that they do. Work for a City law firm will be hectic, but no career in law is likely to be a walk in the park.

Reply 13

agatakmarosz

OP

I have read once again the paragraph I wrote and I admitt that it leaves a lot to be desired :frown:

...will improve

Reply 14

Cloud Shine

agatakmarosz

I have read once again the paragraph I wrote and I admitt that it leaves a lot to be desired :frown:

...will improve

It's much better to work on it now, trust me, and doing the GDL at BPP will improve your writing skills too. Your English is good, it just needs fine-tuning. The best way to do that (in my opinion) is to read classic, well written novels (at least I find that helps my sentence structure in German). Good luck with everything.

Reply 15

agatakmarosz

OP

thanks a lot, I know German too :smile:

but Im more into Spanish :smile:

are u a student of law or a happy trainee?

Reply 16

la sombra del viento

wow!!!

how much time should one dedicate to read all these newspapers everyday? it must be time-consuming :frown:

Reply 17

jacketpotato

20

la sombra del viento

wow!!!

how much time should one dedicate to read all these newspapers everyday? it must be time-consuming :frown:

I'm going to be rather controversial here, and say you don't need to.

Frankly, I think reading the FT everyday for months is largely a waste of time. You certainly need to read the editorial pages of a decent paper: this means the Guardian, Telegraph or Times. The point of this is really to see what the different viewpoints flying around are. If you get asked about these things at interview, you need to be able to explain it and express an opinion on it; not merely describe it.

You need to have a general awareness of what is going on, the net is fine for that.

I actually think the best resource for the kind of things you get asked about at interview isn't newspapers at all: its the internet, and sites like www.lawcareers.net and www.thelawyer.com who run articles doing things like explaining the credit crunch. They are also helpful in that they cover what is going on in the legal industry specifically.

The most important thing is for you to think through what is going on: don't try and have an encyclopedic knowledge of facts, figures and events because it really doesn't help: read a bit, and then sit down and think "what are the causes of all this?", "What are the consequences for law firms generally and for my firm?" and for other such questions.

Reply 18

TommehR

13

Following on from jacketpotato's internet point, it might be useful to sign up for the timesonline.co.uk Business Bulletin which is basically an email that you get every morning that has six or seven of the most interesting or high profile business stories of the day. If you're lazy it's perfect as it gives you some preselected stories to read which doesn't take very long to do and which will help you to build up your general commercial awareness. Some of the stuff you'll find dull, but hopefully there will be at least a story or two each day that you'll find interesting, which prompts you to look a bit more closely at the issues involved in other places (i.e. elsewhere on the internet, The FT, The Economist).

I can't find the exact link but you should be able to find it through this link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tools_and_services/subscriptions/e-mail_bulletins/

Reply 19

Cloud Shine

I wouldn't say it's controversial to say you don't need to read them everyday. I would read the FT 2-3 times per week plus I have an online student subscription so I have unlimited access online. I do subscribe to the Economist however, because it only comes once a week and I find it much more useful than reading newspapers, as it has a commercial focus and everything is neatly broken down (for e.g., if don't have much time can just read the Business section).

which newspapers are read by specialist in commercial law?

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