The Hearing – A Legal Podcast
Thomson Reuters
The Hearing is a legal podcast from Thomson Reuters. Listen to insightful discussions with lawyers, legal experts, and other interesting people connected to the legal industry. We delve into anything and everything – trailblazers in the law, the latest insights on legal innovation and trends, and how the profession is evolving. With hosts based in the UK and the US, we cover issues around the globe. Our current hosts: Becky Annison – Trained at a London law firm before moving in-house. Spent 12 years as a senior solicitor in a large international company, before joining Practical Law's In-house practice area team. Now, as Head of Engagement for The Chancery Lane Project, Becky uses her knowledge of contracting and law to help tackle the climate crisis. Janelle Wrigley – An attorney based in California. As head of the Antitrust & Competition team at Practical Law, leads a team of lawyers producing practical guidance for competition lawyers worldwide. Previously, Janelle was a litigator at the US Federal Trade Commission and at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York. Teneé Frazier – An attorney, editor, and speaker based in Alabama. As a member of the State and Local Government team at Practical Law, she uses her expertise in municipal law to produce substantive content for local government attorneys. Previously, Teneé was Assistant General Counsel at the Alabama League of Municipalities. Yasmin Sheikh – Executive coach, trainer, consultant, and speaker, with a background as a lawyer – practising for 12 years in a large international law firm. Founder of Diverse Matters – which helps promote equality, diversity, and inclusivity within organisations. Yasmin is also a former vice chair of the Disabled Solicitors Network at the Law Society of England and Wales. Find out more about The Hearing and other Thomson Reuters podcasts at tr.com/thehearing.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 22, 2021 • 36min
EP. 87 – I. Stephanie Boyce (Law Society of England & Wales)
Yasmin's guest for this episode is something of an inspiration. I. Stephanie Boyce is the 177th president of the Law Society of England and Wales. But she’s the society’s first black office holder, and only the sixth woman to hold the presidency. And, as you will hear, she had to overcome lots of barriers to get there. Yasmin and Stephanie talk about her route to becoming president and her mission to make the Law Society more inclusive and diverse. Growing up, she faced a unique set of challenges, but kept fighting and kept a revolutionary mindset that informs her work today. Stephanie also discusses the campaigning she is doing on behalf of female legal professionals in Afghanistan and the efforts of the global legal community to help ensure the safety of our Afghan colleagues.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Nov 8, 2021 • 41min
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’s new wave of rapid technological advances. Houman talks us through the greenroom snacks at the US Capitol before he testified – what we really wanted to know. And, in a throwback to Mark Zuckerberg's uncomfortable testimony before congress ("Sir, we run ads"), he tells Joe about his experience of sitting in front of the US government explaining the implications of various securities laws on hedge funds. We're a curious bunch at The Hearing, so we asked Houman to tell us what lawyers and legal students can do to better enable themselves for success. The answer seems to lie in no-code. Houman explains what the heck this is and why it matters to the legal ecosystem. So, get your notepad and digital wallet ready and press play!
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Oct 11, 2021 • 36min
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 Crown Prosecution Service and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, and how these roles and his commitment to fighting for others have fundamentally affected his life. This interview includes references to cases of sexual abuse and violence. So if these are sensitive issues for you, please listen with caution.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Sep 27, 2021 • 49min
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 the power of document automation, how the legal industry has evolved alongside this technology and Andy's rather cool career journey. If you're one for tech leaders in band t-shirts, Scottish accents (good and bad) or just want to know more about lawtech’s underground karaoke scene, this episode is for you. You’ll also hear some rather excellent efficiency advice too.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Sep 15, 2021 • 46min
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 sexual abuse and the huge challenges that survivors face when seeking justice against perpetrators. In what ways are our legal systems failing to protect victims? And why are website operators so slow to protect people against this type of exploitation? Contributors:- Elena Michael, #NotYourPorn- Honza Cervenka, McAllister Olivarius
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Aug 9, 2021 • 30min
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 speaks about the shock of being photographed by a stranger whilst breastfeeding her child outside, their confrontation and the steps she's taken since to help protect other mums. Both Yasmin and Julia are new mums and care passionately about giving other mothers the confidence to breastfeed in public. The pair talk about Julia’s campaigning journey, the frustrations and early successes, and what it's like getting to grips with the legislative process.
You can find out more about Julia’s petition here: www.change.org/breastfeedinpeace
Jul 19, 2021 • 40min
EP. 81 – Stanley Litow (P-TECH)
The achievements of this episode’s guest have been celebrated by the Council on Foreign Relations, Harvard Business Review, The Economist, The New York Times, Forbes and Wired. Joe is talking to the founder of P-TECH, and author of Breaking Barriers, Stan Litow. They begin by discussing Stan’s early career – working for the mayor of New York City – which opened his eyes to issues in the education system. This stuck with Stan through roles in public service, the not-for-profit sector and into IBM – where he created “the private sector version of a Peace Corps”. P-TECH is a global programme that blends high school with higher education and on-the-job learning. It bridges the gap between employment and academic systems that lack the provision of workplace skills. These opportunities are available to all students, regardless of race or financial status, in a way that benefits the private sector as well as society. This episode is for lawyers who want to see change in the industry but aren't sure where to start.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Jul 5, 2021 • 36min
EP. 80 – Brain injuries in sport: where is the duty of care?
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION – In this episode Becky talks to Katie Fudakowski, a safeguarding specialist at Farrer & Co, and Sophie Beesley, a personal injury barrister from Old Square Chambers, to discuss the law around duty of care to sports people who suffer head injuries as a result of their profession. Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson is one of eight rugby players who recently revealed they’re suffering from early-onset dementia. Steve says he can no longer remember winning that 2003 World Cup. The eight players are suing for negligence. They claim the sport’s governing bodies failed in their duty of care to players, despite risks of concussions being "known and foreseeable". With some experts predicting the case will settle out of court, Becky, Katie and Sophie examine the legal rights our sporting heroes are entitled to.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Jun 21, 2021 • 38min
EP. 79 – Freddy McConnell
This episode's guest doesn't give up: he didn't give up being himself, he didn't give up his desire for children and he doesn't give up fighting for others, even when that means taking the government to court. Yasmin is speaking to journalist, trans activist and father, Freddy McConnell. Freddy is a dad who gave birth. This story is excellently told in the film Seahorse, which documents his journey to becoming a single dad. Yasmin was also keen to talk to Freddy about his court battle to be named as the father on his son’s birth certificate. They discuss Freddy’s discovery of the legal realities for trans parents in the UK, and how the legal system views men who choose to give birth. Freddy's journey through the courts isn't over yet and he’s taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights next. He's part of a global LGBTQIA movement trying to use the legal system to help every family be recognised as their everyday selves.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Jun 7, 2021 • 53min
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 Legaler Aid is doing, and ways in which legal tech and blockchain have helped them pivot after Covid took away traditional fundraising streams. Yet again we’re seeing innovative ways that cryptocurrency and blockchain are being used, and how they offer real opportunities for the legal industry.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
