Ian Clegg may or may not have started studying a law degree - but he never graduated and never went to law school nor did he ever complete pupillage. But that didn't stop his ambitions to be an advocate.

The UK government has set up a new body to deal with complaints against lawyers. The six-figure job has just been advertised - with the stipulation that it must go to a non-lawyer.

Ford says it doesn't need state aid, at least not yet. GM says it's on the verge of bankruptcy. And Chrysler says so little it seems stunned as the US Senate says it will not make direct loans to the Auto sector, pointing out that this is the job of the banks which have been told they can have USD700,000 million to fix the economy.

Beresfords, the law firm based in the UK's Midlands that became the favourite of the UK's Union movement for claims by employees against employers has been found to have been more interested in its own commercial interests than in acting in the best interests of its clients. Its partners have been struck off.

William C Thompson, Jr. says that he expects far more job losses than originally forecast.

Washington manufacturer Danaher announces 1700 job cuts over the next year

As HSBC's management rolls around the world conducting its staff and efficiency review, an additional 500 jobs have been earmarked to be cut from the UK workforce of more than 58,000.

As the financial crisis hits the top end of spending Aston Martin, which had previously announced an extension of its Christmas shutdown has now said it will have to cut 600 jobs from its manufacturing plant.

Global banks are in global crisis and Credit Suisse says that it is to cut 650 jobs, mainly in its flagship investment banking division.

Barclays' Bank announced 3,000 job losses in October - but it is now thought to be preparing for more.

Around 25,000 jobs at Woolworths retail arm and 5,000 at the entertainment division are under threat as the 800-store retail giant collapses as the UK economy founders.

MFI, which suffers badly in every UK housing slump, has called in the administrators, putting 1,200 jobs at risk.

The UK has backtracked on a high-cost "showroom tax" on cars, and whilst the cost will reduce substantially for all cars, for some the tax will actually turn into a rebate. But it won't save the UK car industry. And behind it all, there are some very questionable dealings.

Spain, Belgium and Sweden will be the primary places that the pharmaceuticals giant will cut most of the 1400 jobs it has announced it will remove - but over a period of up to 2013.