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 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. Jennifer Thibodaux – An attorney, speaker, and writer based in New Jersey. A member of the Litigation team at Practical Law, where she creates procedural and substantive content, plus professional development resources. Previously, Jennifer was a partner at Gibbons P.C. in Newark, New Jersey, focusing on commercial litigation. Lauren Sobel – An attorney, editor, and frequent presenter on trending legal topics based in New York City. At Practical Law, she uses her experience as a litigator and federal law clerk in multiple jurisdictions to help other attorneys in their practice. Before joining Thomson Reuters, Lauren was a partner at Shutts & Bowen LLP in Miami, Florida, specialising in business litigation. 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
Mar 30, 2020 • 42min
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 up with modern times, and sandwiches. Recorded in the good old days before Coronavirus lockdown, when crisis management meant filling up a barrister’s diary after an early settlement, Paul talks us through the many quirks of clerking. Enjoy—and stay safe!
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Mar 16, 2020 • 56min
EP. 48 – Gerald Shamash (Edwards Duthie Shamash)
Politics and scandal have shaped the career of this week’s guest. Cash for Honours, MP’s expenses, phone hacking, he was there for it all — on the right side of the law, of course!Kevin sits down with Gerald Shamash, whose remarkable and diverse career has led to him being described as a celebrity lawyer, Labour Party lawyer and a legal aid lawyer—but he could have been a dentist! In this brilliant discussion, Gerald shares some great anecdotes about driving home with Alastair Campbell and representing Gazza—yes, that one—and he speaks incredibly passionately about his ardent commitment to public work despite the cuts to the legal aid budget in recent years. This isn’t an episode you’ll want to miss!
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Mar 2, 2020 • 40min
EP. 47 – Elizabeth Rimmer (LawCare)
Justice, mindfulness, biscuits! You’re in for a real treat this week, as Kevin sits down with his friend and CEO of LawCare, Elizabeth Rimmer. Though Elizabeth started her career in zoology, her international upbringing combined with a sense of justice led to a career change. As a solicitor, Elizabeth could stand up for people and give them a voice. She gives her insights into being a medical negligence solicitor and talks about why she questioned whether the legal system was designed to deliver the kind of justice that her clients really wanted. As CEO of LawCare, the charity that promotes and supports good mental health and well-being in the legal community, Elizabeth has does incredible work not only to raise awareness of these issues, but to tackle them. While originally focused on drinking culture at law firms, LawCare has evolved to work with lawyers on mindfulness and looking after their mental health as much as their physical health. Elizabeth is also a passionate advocate for ensuring that legal education includes education on looking after mental health. Finally, Elizabeth talks to Kevin about Fit for Law, a new initiative designed to promote emotionally healthier ways of working within law, as well as her desire to build an army of people who want to do something about improving mental health and wellbeing in the legal profession.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Feb 17, 2020 • 43min
EP. 46 – David Winnie (CDS)
It really is a career of two halves for David Winnie, the ex-professional footballer who now heads up the Sport Law department for Charles Douglas Solicitors. In this week’s episode, David talks to Kevin about his love of football—and studying—from a young age, and his desire to become a professional player. David recalls having to make a big decision when he was 16 – and then dreaded telling his mother on the bus home. The journeyman defender went on to win the Scottish Cup and captain St Mirren FC, before plying his trade Iceland and Australia. David talks about his brief coaching and managerial career in Iceland and Scotland and the pressures placed not just on footballers who live their life under great public scrutiny, but also managers who are only as good as their last game. As his football career came to a close, David went to university and, after methodically deciding what he didn’t want to study, chose law. He talks about the day-to-day sports law issues that arrive on his desk, whether it be contractual negotiations, tax issues or getting compensation for wantaway footballers. David tells Kevin about recently setting up a sports agency, and how his experiences as a professional footballer help him to empathise with, and occasionally mentor, his clients, particularly when it comes to mental health safeguarding.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Feb 3, 2020 • 35min
EP. 45 – Meredith Williams-Range (Shearman & Sterling)
In this week's episode, Joe Raczynski is joined by the pre-eminent thought leader in legal tech, and Chief Knowledge and Client Value Officer at Shearman & Sterling, Meredith Williams-Range. Taking us on a journey from her small-town, rural upbringing just outside of Memphis (where you'll find the absolute best bbq) to the bright lights of New York, Meredith tells how family tragedy and a decade-long lawsuit led to a career in law. Meredith talks about her career at Baker Donelson, where she worked with colleagues steeped in American history, including President Reagan's Chief of Staff, and eventually became involved with legal tech. The hustle led to a fascinating new position at Shearman & Sterling, a position that Meredith notes was designed on a napkin! The firm's great vision and wonderful people meant that Meredith knew from the start that she could do great work there… and have the best geeky conversations. In a fascinating discussion about the growth – and the daunting pace of growth – of legal tech and big data analytics, Meredith and Joe consider the biggest legal tech changes of recent years, and talk about the exceptional new tools that serve a true need, with the added bonus of giving the enormous power of data to lawyers.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Jan 20, 2020 • 40min
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 now an entertainment lawyer with Sound Advice. We hear how the combination of getting older and juggling a family life with the exhausting DJ lifestyle, contributed to a career change that has sparked plenty of curiosity among his legal peers. Jules tells Kevin what he loves about practising law and talks about the contrast between being a successful, self-centred artist and a lawyer focused primarily on his clients. Jules speaks passionately about fighting the good fight, and how that mentality continues to drive his legal career. And he tells of his efforts to pass on his expertise and experience in helping young artists avoid the mistakes and pitfalls that he encountered early in his music career.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Jan 6, 2020 • 46min
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 about the work behind the World Bank’s goal of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030 and also behind their efforts to promote the rule of law and access to justice. And she brings to light some of the incredible work done to tackle gender inequality and rebuild post-conflict societies. Discussing the exciting evolution of her career, from a barrister to a solicitor and then general counsel, she explores the similarities and differences, and speaks passionately about the tangible outcomes in the public sector, where she sees the life-changing effects of her team’s work. Finally, she shares her fascinating insight into the interplay between culture and the law, and how social movements change the law and, in turn, change cultural attitudes and drive social progress.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Dec 16, 2019 • 48min
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 United Voices of the World, where Molly sits on the Executive Committee. In this passionate discussion, Zac and Molly speak out against what they call the exploitation of paralegals. And they outline the work being done to ensure the best possible conditions for all legal sector workers, from barristers and solicitors to cleaners and security staff. We hear about the immense challenges of securing the London Living Wage for a range of workers at the Ministry of Justice, and their campaign to restore the legal aid budget. Finally, Zac and Molly make a stirring case for all in the sector to get involved to help improve the justice system.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Dec 2, 2019 • 30min
EP. 41 – Alistair Darling
In this episode, we talk to Labour MP, Alistair Darling, about how his Aberdeen law degree helped to shape his political career (spoiler alert: lawyers should be lawyers, not politicians). Although Alistair does admit that law is a solid discipline that enables you to ask critical questions, which are useful skills for politicians. Alistair gives us his thoughts on the deeply divisive nature of referendums, including his take on Brexit and the inherent problems with a hard border. He talks about the success of his memoir, ‘Back from the Brink’, which spent 1,000 days at number 1. He also divulges why he wouldn’t write another book for fear of picking fights. Now away from frontline politics, we pose the question: would you be quick to return if there were to be another Scottish referendum? His answer may surprise you.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Nov 18, 2019 • 40min
EP. 40 – Ann Olivarius
From a young age, Ann Olivarius saw that men ruled the world. A mother whose potential was left unfulfilled. A male-dominated college where sexual harassment was rife. An investment bank where no amount of talent and expertise could ever make her part of the team. It was a message she received time-and-time-again. In this week’s podcast, you’ll hear how she turned that message into her motivation to make the world better through the power of law. Our first returning guest, Ann chats to Kevin about her life and storied career, during which she consistently uncovered, called-out and addressed inequality. Ann talks about coining terms like sexual harassment and date rape, but delves beneath the terminology to discuss the necessity of change, the importance of paying privilege forward and how her ‘scary side’ has driven her to take on the institutions she once trusted. She also talks about her recent work in the UK, navigating the challenges of our connected world. You’ll hear how Ann combines her influence with an underdog spirit to tackle issues like cyberbullying, cyber rape and regulating the internet. From Alexander v. Yale to an innovative new way to help young people take action in response to revenge porn, it’s essential and inspirational listening.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
