The Hearing – A Legal Podcast
The Hearing is a legal podcast from Thomson Reuters that features insightful discussions with lawyers, legal experts, and other interesting people connected to the legal industry. The show covers a wide range of topics including trailblazers in the law, legal innovation and trends, and how the profession is evolving. Hosts are based in the UK and the US, providing a global perspective on legal issues.
Episodes
EP. 188 – Book banning in the US: a legal perspective on a cultural divide (Roger Horner, Practical Law)
In this episode, host Teneé Frazier and Roger Horner, a municipal law expert at Practical Law, discuss the contentious topic of book banning. Roger outlines the background and current landscape for book bans in the US, including their rise in frequency and intensity. He sheds light on the constitutional challenges, divergent state laws, and the critical role of government speech in re
EP. 167 – Kent Halkett (Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services)
In a recent survey, 79% of legal professionals said they felt the profession had negatively affected their mental health. And over 15% had even considered suicide. These are two of the worrying statistics we learned from this episode's guest, Kent Halkett. Kent is an attorney with the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services who has written articles about mental health in the legal commun
EP. 19 – Priscilla Coleman
Cannibals. Terrorists. Serial killers. Movie stars. Megastars. Musicians. Meet the person who's been in court with them all. This episode's guest is courtroom artist Priscilla Coleman. She's the public's eyes in court, and she does it all from memory. Say 'howdy' to the Texan who spends more time at the Old Bailey than hardened criminals. Court can be weird and wonderful, and
EP. 89 – Special *2021 Yearbook* Episode
We could try to make a witty or poignant comment about this year, but we respect you all too much for that. We all know what 2021 was – and it wasn't the antidote to 2020 we'd hoped for (oops, there's the comment). We know what is was, however – it was another smashing year for The Hearing. We introduced two wonderful new hosts – Yasmin Sheikh and Becky Annison – to join Joe Raczynsk
EP. 135 – Lubna Shuja (Law Society of England & Wales)
In this episode, Yasmin sits down with Lubna Shuja – the outgoing President of the Law Society of England and Wales. Lubna is the first Asian, first Muslim and only the seventh female President in the Law Society's nearly 200-year history. The pair reflect on Lubna’s term as President – what she’s achieved, what her typical working days have been like (hint: long!), and why she never
EP. 122 – Victoria Lewis (byrne·dean)
If we were to suggest “blending your personal and professional life, to bring your whole self to work”, how would that make you feel? Perhaps that sentiment aligns perfectly with how you approach your career too. Or maybe it makes you feel like stuffing carrots in your ears to avoid yet more corporate speak. Whatever your reaction, listen up! Yasmin's next guest – Victoria Lewis, CEO
EP. 16 – S Chelvan
Not all heroes wear capes. Some of them wear gowns. Few guests on The Hearing could legitimately claim to be a lifesaver. But in episode 16, Kevin meets a man who is precisely that. S Chelvan stands as a reminder of why those who work in the law got into it in the first place. Uphold justice. Protect the innocent. Change lives. Personal, thought-provoking, honest and blunt, Che
EP. 165 – Matthew Campbell (Native American Rights Fund)
Native Americans are fighting for their legal rights across many important fronts in the US. In this episode, Janelle Wrigley speaks with Matthew Campbell, Deputy Director of the Native American Rights Fund, about NARF's legal and advocacy work.
Matthew and Janelle's wide-ranging discussion covers issues such as voting rights, the protection of places that are sac
EP. 179 – Jenna Leventoff (American Civil Liberties Union)
Societies are grappling with how to help keep children safe while navigating online spaces, including through legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) in the US. In this episode, Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), joins host Janelle Wrigley to talk about KOSA and America’s First Amendment.
Jenna and Jane
EP. 142 – Mirna Santiago (Girls Rule the Law)
"Show up. Speak up. Woman up." This is the motto of Mirna Santiago, a lawyer, DEI expert, and nonprofit founder and CEO. Through the many roles Mirna has held during her career, which has also included law firm partner and chair of the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Mirna epitomizes someone who walks her talk. In this episode, Jenn and
EP. 183 – Reforming health laws for better outcomes (Mandeep Dhaliwal, United Nations Development Programme)
Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director of the HIV and Health Group at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) joins host Janelle Wrigley to discuss how legal frameworks and governance shape health outcomes worldwide. Drawing on more than 25 years at the intersection of health policy and human rights, Mandeep explains the UNDP's mission and her experiences showing that leadership and partic
EP. 10 – Karen Jackson
Karen Jackson is an inspirational lover of problem-solving, passionate for French and a self-styled protector of the underdog. In this episode Kevin meets the founder of didlaw, one of the UK's leading disability discrimination practices. A former City trader, Karen talks candidly about the roundabout route she took into law and how a heart transplant helped guide her to a new path –
EP. 53 – Gail Gove (Reuters)
We’re taking you Stateside this week as our very own legal futurist Joe Raczynski is joined by Reuters General Counsel, Gail Gove. Gail takes us behind the scenes of the case that grabbed the world's attention in 2018: the incredible story of Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were imprisoned in Myanmar while investigating reports of mass murder. Gail talks to Joe about
EP. 03 – Lord Michael Howard
In this episode Kevin is joined by Lord Michael Howard of Lympne. Although best known for his time as a Government Minister and a former leader of the Conservative Party, Michael's life before Westminster involved a distinguished career at the Bar. As a vocal supporter of the 'Leave Means Leave' campaign, Michael's views on Brexit are crystal-clear, but we also hear he has some perso
EP. 05 – Sir Rupert Jackson
In this episode Kevin is joined by Sir Rupert Jackson – barrister, former Lord Justice of Appeal and legal reformer. As well as his infamous reform of civil litigation costs, Rupert has authored some of the industry's leading texts during his 50-year career. Now, back at the Bar, he talks through the fresh challenges facing lawyers, and discusses his new role as a justice in the AIFC
EP. 78 – Stevie Ghiassi (Legaler)
Question: What do the Iranian national football team, NFTs, Hotel Rwanda and Andy Murray have in common? Answer: Stevie Ghiassi, Co-founder of Legaler and Legaler Aid. And Joe’s guest this week! In this episode, Stevie chats to Joe about his unlikely journey from running a chain of souvenir shops to becoming a legal tech entrepreneur. He also talks about the important work that Leg
EP. 166 – Derek Walker (Future Generations Commissioner)
We are leaving future generations to face more challenges than ever. Yet it can be incredibly difficult for governments to act for the long term when so many of their incentives encourage short-term thinking.
In this episode, host Becky Annison chats with Derek Walker, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, about how Wales is attempting to solve this probl
EP. 59 – David Brown (TLDEF)
In this episode Joe is joined by David Brown, Legal Director of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF). TLDEF is a transgender-led organisation fighting for transgender rights through litigation and other legal avenues. Working with numerous law firms, David and his team bring lawsuits to demonstrate how statutes are unequal and discriminatory. David tells Joe how h
EP. 150 – Lord Tim Clement-Jones CBE
Governments around the world are grappling with how to regulate AI on issues ranging from copyright protections to ethical standards, competition rules and beyond. In this episode, host Becky Annison explores AI governance issues with Lord Tim Clement-Jones CBE, member of the UK House of Lords and former chair of its Artificial Intelligence Select Committee. The pair discuss the chal
EP. 126 – Florence Brocklesby (Bellevue Law)
TWLL TAKEOVER – Many lawyers love the challenge of the job but reach a point where the long hours of law firm life become untenable – often, after starting families. But what’s the solution? In our second episode of the TWLL Takeover, host Janelle Wrigley chats with Florence Brocklesby, who solved that problem with creativity and courage in starting her law firm Bellevue Law. Florence
EP. 49 – Paul Adams (Old Square Chambers)
Shopping trips, designer sweatshirts, dynasties and staying in shape. No, this isn't Legally Blonde the podcast; this week we're discussing the glamour and grunt work of the clerking world. Kevin gets the lowdown on life as a clerk from Old Square Chambers’ Paul Adams, also known as Cliff! They discuss the range of skills needed to be a successful clerk, how the profession is keeping
EP. 143 – Fiona Rutherford (Justice)
This episode’s guest is Fiona Rutherford, the Chief Executive of Justice, a UK law reform and human rights charity. Justice strives for a fair, accessible, and equal justice system and is also the UK section of the International Commission of Jurists. Fiona chats to Yasmin about a landmark report the charity recently published addressing the erosion of the rule of law in the UK, which
EP. 139 – Linzi Bull (Penningtons Manches Cooper)
Modern families come in all sizes and configurations – and often the law is playing catch-up with the issues raised by contemporary family relationships. In this episode, Linzi Bull, partner at Penningtons Manches Cooper, chats with host Yasmin Sheikh about her modern family legal practice. They focus in particular on the complex legal and ethical issues that surround surrogacy law in
EP. 129 – Margaret Owen (Widows for Peace)
We feel honoured to have spent time in the presence of a true great for this week’s episode: Margaret Owen OBE. She’s a human rights barrister specialising in women’s rights, with a career spanning decades and a passion for justice that won’t stop. Margaret and Yasmin talk about the start of her career – the things that have and sadly haven’t changed – how her practice evolved and how
EP. 51 – COVID-19: the economic implications for lawyers and law firms
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION – Welcome to our first "The Cross-Examination" episode of The Hearing! We're taking big issues and examining them through a legal lens. And where else to start but with COVID-19? Becky Annison, a commercial lawyer and Practical Law Senior Editor, talks to an economist, insolvency practitioner and business leader to look at how COVID-19 is impacting the legal and b
EP. 118 – Rossana Arteaga-Gomez (American Civil Liberties Union)
On this week's episode, our host Lauren Sobel sits down with Rossana Arteaga-Gomez – a partner at AXS Law Group in Miami, Florida, and President of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida. Rossana and Lauren chat about Rossana's unique legal career in both civil litigation and criminal defense work, as well as how Rossana cracked the code on marrying her passions with her
EP. 82 – Julia Cooper (Breastfeed in Peace)
Breastfeeding is legal. Breastfeeding in public is legal. But did you know that taking intimate photos of a woman breastfeeding in public without her consent is also legal? In this episode Yasmin talks to new mother, designer and now women's and mother's rights campaigner, Julia Cooper. She's another woman warrior using political process to change the way the law treats women. Julia
EP. 12 – Charlotte Proudman
Before the #MeToo movement, publicly speaking out against sexual harassment was a much riskier exercise. Calling out behaviour could find you isolated and even alienated in certain industries, both professionally and personally. Despite these risks, that's exactly what our latest guest did – challenging a senior solicitor over a now infamous message he sent via LinkedIn. In episode
EP. 101 – Mindful lawyering: reducing stress, avoiding burnout & re-humanising the profession
This episode examines the high prevalence of stress and burnout amongst lawyers, and what can be done to reduce it. Yasmin talks to Legatics CEO Anthony Seale and Lucy Shurwood from Pinsent Masons – one of the founding members of the Mindful Business Charter. The trio discuss what burnout is, some common causes and what we can learn from the pandemic. Now that wellbeing conversations
EP. 180 – Vicki Nash (Oxford Internet Institute)
In this episode we continue exploring children's online safety and cross the Atlantic to unpack the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA). Vicki Nash, Director of the Oxford Internet Institute, joins host Yasmin Sheikh to discuss the rationale of OSA and how it aims to protect children from illegal and harmful content online. Vicki talks about the difficulty of producing rigorous empirical stud
EP. 112 – Charles Bagot KC (Head of Chambers & Judge)
MY LEGAL JOB & ME – In the hotseat for this episode is Charles Bagot KC from Gatehouse Chambers in London. Charles has many strings to his bow – he's a barrister, part-time judge, and joint head of chambers. He's also well known in the profession for his legendary courtesy. Listen to Charles as he talks about overcoming imposter syndrome, bouncing back from set-backs, and why it p
EP. 26 – Rt. Hon. Nicky Morgan MP
Why are there so many lawyers in parliament? Because lawyers are articulate? They understand the law? Have had varied life and professional experience? Are confident public speakers? Our latest guest has all of these attributes and more. In episode 26, Kevin sits down with the Rt. Hon. Nicky Morgan MP, where they discuss Britain’s political culture, character education, equality and
EP. 62 – Ron Levine (Herrick, Feinstein LLP)
In this week's episode, we showcase a conversation between Ron Levine, General Counsel at Herrick, Feinstein LLP, and host Joe Raczynski. Ron, a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, speaks as a thoughtful realist, proponent for good, and a practitioner of what he preaches. He bears witness as a 40-year litigator, discussing the fascinating dealings of what happen
EP. 60 – Radd Seiger (Confluence Crisis Management Services)
We've all heard of the tragic Harry Dunn case, and that's because of this week's guest, Radd Seiger. He took the case on simply because he was a concerned neighbour of Harry’s grieving family. Radd talks to Becky about his motivations, and what's involved in working to get justice for a client, in this case, a family. For international legal cases, such as this, it can be easy to get
EP. 134 – James Egan (Epperson & Owens)
One day you’re a partner at a small US law firm, where you typically defend medical malpractice actions and have tried a few cases. The next, you’re working on a trial that’s being livestreamed around the world – and your client is Gwyneth Paltrow. Plus, you've gone viral because the internet is calling you the “Superman lawyer” due to your likeness to Clark Kent. That’s exactly what h
EP. 30 – Alex Aldridge (Legal Cheek)
Before our Kevin was the high-profile, polished podcaster he is today, he cut his teeth co-hosting a pioneering and often controversial weekly podcast with our latest guest. Often equated to the Popbitch of law, everyone knows Legal Cheek – as it's the most read legal website in the UK. But does everyone know the man behind it? In the final episode of season 3, Kevin catches up with
EP. 08 – Ayesha Vardag
The 'Diva of Divorce', Ayesha Vardag, sits down with Kevin in the luxurious Vardags offices in St. Paul's, London. They discuss Georgian mahogany, her high net-worth clientele and the Var-Bot – Ayesha's personal office robot that'll be familiar to fans of The Good Wife. During her divorce, Ayesha had an Erin Brockovich-esque transition from commercial to family law, which ultimately
EP. 88 – Trevor Sterling (Moore Barlow)
This is an episode that may resonate with many of you. Yasmin speaks to Trevor Sterling about the chance turn of events that led him to pursuing a career in law. And, in spite of Trevor’s unconventional route into the profession, in July 2021 he made history by becoming the first black senior partner at a top 100 UK law firm. Trevor, a personal injury and clinical negligence practitio
EP. 84 – Andy Wishart (Agiloft)
This week, Joe takes a break from legal futurology and tries his hand at being a pub singer. We’re here for it. And so (much to his horror) is Andy Wishart – Chief Product Officer at Agiloft and all round technology guru. Joe and Andy discuss the beginnings of Contract Express, Andy's 21 years in legal tech, and the changes and challenges he's seen along the way. They also chat about
EP. 29 – Rowena Samarasinhe (Level)
When your job involves advising UEFA, taking photos with Usain Bolt and guiding the next generation of sports stars, you know you're onto a good thing. With a career spanning football, swimming, athletics, volleyball and the Olympics, Rowena Samarasinhe is a sports-loving lawyer, living a sports lover's dream. Kevin caught up with Rowena, who's now a partner at Level – a niche sports
EP. 182 – Lucy Letby: the role of expert testimony in criminal trials
This episode delves into the infamous case of Lucy Letby – a neonatal nurse convicted of multiple murders and attempted murders of babies at a UK hospital. Our guest is Dr Sarah Bennett – a lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University's School of Law and Justice Studies.
Sarah's conversation with host Becky Annison explores the complexities of expert evidence in c
EP. 66 – Christina Blacklaws
Star Trek gave us prototype mobile phones. In Back To The Future, Doc Brown and Marty McFly predicted voice recognition technology. And, as this episode discusses, it was Minority Report in 2002 that foresaw predictive policing. This week, Yasmin chats to Christina Blacklaws – a strategic consultant and the 174th president of the Law Society. Christina is also an expert on legal techn
EP. 140 – Laura Arnold (Arnold Ventures)
In this episode, Lauren sits down with billionaire philanthropist and former lawyer Laura Arnold, co-founder of Arnold Ventures. Arnold Ventures has spent over $2.5 billion (USD) on more than 3,200 projects in many areas of need, like criminal justice reform, healthcare, democracy and contraceptives, to name a few. The organization, which in part seeks to change laws, was founded on t
EP. 94 – Jury trials pt.2 (Audrey Cherryl Mogan, Garden Court Chambers)
In the second instalment in our jury system mini-series, Becky Annison speaks to Audrey Cherryl Mogan, a barrister at Garden Court Chambers. The pair chat about Audrey's inspiration for her work and her recent case successfully defending one of six Christian Climate Change activists who obstructed a DLR train during an Extinction Rebellion protest in London. They look at the facts of
EP. 15 – Barry Matthews
'Kids from council estates don't go to university and don't become lawyers.' When Barry Matthews sat down with his careers adviser at 17 and said he wanted to study law, that's exactly the response he got. Now ITV's top lawyer, Barry is determined to kill off this stereotype. Barry's modest beginnings have been the driving force behind the Social Mobility Business Partnership. SMBP
EP. 100 – Becky Annison
WE'RE 100 EPISODES OLD! To celebrate, we decided to turn the spotlight (mic) on our beloved host, Becky. She had mixed feelings about it, but you're going to love getting to know her better. Yasmin and Becky talk about where her passion for the law came from, her interesting career journey, and the work she does now to combat climate change. She's a hero and we're glad to dig deeper i
EP. 93 – Jury trials pt.1 (Liam Walker QC, Doughty Street Chambers)
This is the first instalment in our special mini-series on the jury system. Following some recent cases, we decided to examine the integral role of jury trials in our justice system, and why it’s important that defendants have the opportunity to be judged by their peers. In this episode, Yasmin talks to Liam Walker QC, who successfully defended one of the Colston Four. Liam appeared f
EP. 96 – The Model Contract Clauses for Human Rights Project
Devoted listeners to The Hearing will be familiar with the work of The Chancery Lane Project – which helps lawyers use contracts to fight climate change. This episode is about using a similar concept to tackle modern slavery and other human rights abuses. Becky speaks to Olivia Windham Stewart and Sarah Dadush about their work with the American Bar Association to help improve the huma
EP. 55 – COVID-19: emerging culture and new opportunities for the legal industry
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION – We looked at the business and economic impact of COVID-19 in the first Cross-Examination episode. This week we're turning to its impact on our working culture. Becky speaks to an occupational psychologist, diversity consultant and a head of knowledge management, to find out more about how lawyer's working and personal lives are being affected by lockdown. Inte
EP. 04 – Robin White
In this episode Kevin is joined by barrister Robin White. Robin was the first barrister to transition from male to female while in practice at the employment and discrimination bar. They chat about Robin's early life and career, and how dealing with personal discrimination in her late twenties became a catalyst for a career change into law. Now specialising in transgender rights, R
EP. 83 – Image-based sexual abuse and the law
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION – Back from our summer hiatus, in this episode Becky Annison examines the growing issue of non-consensual image sharing. Or, as it’s more commonly known, revenge porn. Becky talks to Elena Michael, a campaigner and co-founder of #NotYourPorn, and Honza Cervenka, a lawyer at the women’s rights firm McAllister Olivarius. They discuss the prevalence of image-based se
EP. 91 – Jo-Anne Pugh (BPP University Law School)
In this episode, Yasmin goes back to school to meet the dean of BPP University Law School, Jo-Anne Pugh. They discuss what legal education is like for students who are at the beginning of their careers, and how the learning is evolving to fit (and indeed informing) the modern legal ecosystem. The pair also chat about the concept and real life experience of 'o-shaped lawyers' – a term
EP. 32 – Brie Stevens-Hoare QC
In this episode we meet a woman who describes herself as a thrill seeking, motorbiking, bungee jumping, feminist, activist and pansexual. From that intro, who would have thought we'd be speaking to a top QC? This week, Kevin catches up with good friend Brie Stevens-Hoare. And, after 5 minutes of listening, it will feel like you've known Brie for years too. Not one for conforming or s
EP. 104 – Frances Murray (Financial Crime Partner)
MY LEGAL JOB & ME – Next up in our series looking at the myriad roles across the legal profession, we have Fran Murray, a cross-qualified criminal law partner at Russell-Cooke. Fran talks about her day-to-day working life, the career journey that got her to where she is now, and her philosophy on the special relationship between a client and their lawyer.Thank you for all the encou
EP. 159 – Jury nullification in the US (Glenn Reynolds, University of Tennessee College of Law)
Imagine you are a juror in a criminal trial. The evidence is overwhelming that the defendant is guilty. But you can’t shake the feeling that it would be unjust to convict. Maybe you don’t believe what the defendant did should be treated as a crime. Or maybe you simply believe the defendant deserves mercy. Can you vote to acquit, or must you vote according to the evidence? It turns out
EP. 123 – Camille Vasquez (Brown Rudnick)
When lawyers represent celebrities, they don't typically become celebs themselves. But that’s what happened to Camille Vasquez, who represented Johnny Depp in his defamation trial against Amber Heard. In this episode, Lauren sits down with Camille, who rose to fame in no small part because of the way she commanded the courtroom in Depp v. Heard, all while the world watched. As you'd e
EP. 113 – Peter Daly (Doyle Clayton)
In this episode, Yasmin sits down with Peter Daly, an employment law partner at Doyle Clayton, to discuss his career and the high-profile philosophical belief cases he's been focused on recently. They discuss the significance for employers of the judgment Forstater, as well as the wider societal impact of such cases. For more episodes that touch upon related themes, we invite you to l
EP. 124 – Daniel Hoadley (Mishcon de Reya)
ChatGPT is probabilistic and not deterministic, which has important implications for how lawyers might use it. Did you understand that sentence? If not, you will after listening to this episode. How does the tech that’s launched a thousand think-pieces actually work? Should we be excited about the opportunities that large language models offer or scared of a robot revolution? Whateve
EP. 120 – Redundancies, layoffs, and cutbacks – oh my!
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION – With corporate layoffs making headlines around the world, Becky Annison explores the pitfalls of handling redundancies across borders, and where companies go wrong. Speaking with experts from the US and UK, Becky delves into the widely varying rights that employees have in different places, and the consequences that businesses should consider before reducing he
EP. 106 – King Charles III's role in British government: how much power does he really have?
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION – In this episode, Becky explores the unique role the monarch plays in British government, and considers what changes may come now that King Charles III has ascended to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Becky talks to Sir Jonathan Jones KC, a consultant in constitutional law at Linklaters, and Robert Hazell, a professor of governme
EP. 86 – Houman Shadab (New York Law School & ICME)
Bitcoin: bringing FOMO since 2013. What would your scream sound like if you had dismissed Bitcoin as a joke in your law class in 2013 at $100 dollars – when it sits at $60,000 today? Joe's guest this week is Houman Shadab, the Director of the Innovation Center for Law and Technology at New York Law School. He's here to tell us how lawyers can navigate, benefit from and translate today’
EP. 121 – Helen Wan (The Partner Track)
If the best childhood gift you ever received was a typewriter to write mystery stories, perhaps it's no surprise when you end up writing a novel that inspires a hit TV show. In this episode, host Jennifer Thibodaux sits down with Helen Wan – lawyer, author, and DEI consultant.Jennifer and Helen chat about Helen's debut novel, The Partner Track, which follows a young, Chinese-American w
EP. 103 – Michelle Last (Keystone Law)
In this episode, Yasmin sits down with employment law partner (and old university friend) Michelle Last. Michelle’s passion to see those who experience fertility issues of all types treated more fairly at work has informed both her practice and her public advocacy. The pair have a wide-ranging discussion that covers IVF, miscarriages and the menopause – amongst other things – and the
EP. 72 – Joeli Brearley (Pregnant Then Screwed)
Imagine being fired, by voicemail, after telling your boss that you're pregnant. It seems like something from a different era, or at least, akin to a bad dating story. Yet this is exactly what happened to this week's guest, Joeli Brearley, the CEO and founder of Pregnant Then Screwed. Joeli sits down with Yasmin to talk about how her high-risk pregnancy prevented her from taking legal
EP. 99 – Troy Atkin (The Weightlifting Lawyer)
Yasmin is doing the heavy lifting for this latest episode: interviewing The Weight Lifting Lawyer, Troy Atkin – a trainee solicitor at Biscoes in Portsmouth. The pair talk about Troy’s social media brand, his first career in hospitality and the incident that led him to the law. Troy's route to success is a testament to a profession that increasingly values other industry experience i
EP. 173 – Kerry Lawlor (The Workplace Collective)
In a profession that celebrates achievement and relentless work ethic, what happens to the mental and physical wellbeing of those caught in this culture? Following our previous exploration of the mental health crisis in the legal community, this episode delves deeper into practical solutions. Join host Teneé Frazier as she welcomes Kerry Lawlor, psychotherapist, and co-founder of the
EP. 44 – 'Judge' Jules O'Riordan (Sound Advice)
It's the weekend, you're in Ibiza, you're ready to party, and a lawyer takes to the stage… Best. Night. Ever! Of course, it helps when that lawyer is superstar DJ, 'Judge' Jules O'Riordan. In this episode, Jules sits down with Kevin to talk about how he went from reading law at university, putting on illegal raves with his friends, to being one of the world's best-known DJs, and
EP. 37 – Legal Debate: Sanctions are fair and effective
Welcome to The Hearing's first Legal Debate. In this special episode, we feature a blockbuster bout between legal, political and media heavyweights. Listen in as the Rt Hon. the Lord Darling of Roulanish and the 'Queen of Sanctions' Maya Lester QC go head-to-head with journalist and author Alastair Campbell, and Monckton Chambers' own Ben Emmerson QC, debating on whether sanctions ar
EP. 109 – Zelda Perkins (Can't Buy My Silence)
With the increased focus on ethics in the legal profession, we were interested to learn more about the work of Can't Buy My Silence (https://www.cantbuymysilence.com). This campaign group was set up in September 2021 by Zelda Perkins and Professor Julie Macfarlane. Their mission is to end the misuse of non-disclosure agreements to silence the victims of crime and wrongdoing. Zelda was
EP. 43 – Sandie Okoro (World Bank Group)
This week’s distinguished guest is Sandie Okoro, the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the World Bank. Sitting down with Thomson Reuters futurist Joe Raczynski, Sandie talks about how, from an early age, she learned that when someone limits your ambition it can become something to fight for and drive you on to enormous success. In this inspirational episode, Sandie talks a
EP. 39 – Lucy Garrett QC (Keating Chambers)
How does a construction barrister based in London, end up in Sierra Leone, advising local government on faecal sludge? After 19 years as a Construction Barrister, Lucy Garret QC, was getting a little bit bored and wanted a change of scenery. So, she did what most of us can only dream of and took an 18-month sabbatical. Leaving London, and travelling over 4,000 miles south to Freetow
EP. 85 – Nazir Afzal OBE
In this episode, Yasmin sits down with a former Chief Crown Prosecutor and formidable force for justice, Nazir Afzal OBE. Nazir, a practising Muslim, talks about the racism he endured as a child growing up in Birmingham and how this fuelled his determination to stand up for the most marginalised and victimised members of society. Nazir also chats about his illustrious career at the C
EP. 14 – David Kerr
The last 10 years have been phenomenal for Bird & Bird – with a keen and fruitful programme of global expansion. And this is in no small part to the firm's hard-working CEO, David Kerr. Kevin sits down with David to discuss his 22 years at the helm. Bird & Bird may have a history dating back to 1846, but it has innovation at its core. How does David feel about getting into
EP. 187 – Lawyer's duty of care in a changing climate (Navraj Singh Ghaleigh, Edinburgh Law School)
Is your duty of care climate‑ready? Extreme weather, shifting regulations and liability exposure are no longer environmental side notes – they're core to competent legal advice across a range of practice areas. In this episode, Navraj Singh Ghaleigh, Senior Lecturer in Climate Law at the University of Edinburgh, joins host Becky Annison to translate climate risk into concrete legal du
EP. 42 – Zachary Whyte & Molly De Dios
Workers unite! Have you ever considered the crossover between sex workers and paralegals, or questioned whether Kevin is the enemy? In this eye-opening episode, the answers to those questions are just the tip of the iceberg. Kevin is joined by Zachary Whyte and Molly De Dios. A second-year trainee at Hodge Jones & Allen, Zac co-founded Legal Sector Workers United, an affiliate of
EP. 13 – Miriam González Durántez
Michelle. Melania. Herr Merkel. If (big if) there was a "Political First Partners" WhatsApp group, they'd be there. And until October 2018, so would Miriam. But her husband has gone to Facebook to be their new Head of Global Affairs and Communications and she has (metaphorically) left the group. This week, Kevin says a great big "hola" to Miriam González Durántez. Not Mrs Clegg.
EP. 18 – Catherine Mayer & Dr Ann Olivarius
Two giants of the feminist movement, one chatterbox host, and just 30 minutes to cover a lot of ground. Dear listeners, we're sorry. This week, time is not our friend. Institutionalised discrimination, media giants, failing global icons, Trump, and the gender pay gap are just a few of the small (yeah right) topics that Kevin, Catherine Mayer and Ann Olivarius cram in. It's almost t
EP. 20 – Dave Rowntree
It's 1994 and a bespectacled pre-pubescent Yorkshire lad unpeels the wrapping from the new CD by Blur. He carefully places it in his mini-HiFi and presses play. PARKLIFE! Giddy with excitement, he picks up a couple of biros and tries to keep pace with the beat on his yellow legal notepad. Fast forward 25 years and that same lad, our Kevin, is sitting across the table from the man w
EP. 23 – Chris Lochery (Popbitch) and Duncan Lamont (Charles Russell Speechlys)
Naming no names, which host of a well-known legal podcast was recently seen disappearing through a suspicious-looking black door in London's seedy Soho? We'd hate to start scurrilous rumours, but our secret sources tell us that this natty dressing, spec wearing, Yorkshire Tea drinker was heard discussing all manner of smut, celebrity gossip, the Leveson Inquiry, super-injunctions, de
EP. 17 – Millicent Grant
In the movie "When Harry met Sally", there's that famous scene in the coffee shop. "When Kevin met Millie" is definitely a less racy affair. But it's not one that holds back on the positive vibes. Set backstage at the Women in Law conference (where she was a keynote speaker) Millicent Grant sits across the coffee shop table from our Kevin to talk about the power of saying "yes", and
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