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
Apr 8, 2024 • 42min
EP. 148 – Reena Parmar (Disabled Solicitors Network)
For lawyers who are disabled or neurodivergent, finding role models and support in the legal profession is a huge challenge. After becoming disabled eight years ago – and grappling with how to navigate her health and her work as a lawyer – Reena Parmar set out to address that problem.
Now Chair of the Disabled Solicitors Network (DSN) at the Law Society of England and Wales, Reena chats with host Yasmin Sheikh about the initiatives underway at the DSN to promote disability inclusion and to support legal professionals looking for guidance or mentorship.
Mar 18, 2024 • 36min
EP. 147 – Alan Barinholtz (Jury Duty)
In this episode, Lauren sits down with Alan Barinholtz, lawyer and star of the hit TV series Jury Duty. Though Alan spent most of his life as a litigator and arbitrator, he dreamed of being an actor. After 40+ years as a lawyer (and, as he puts it, being patient and rehearsing for close to 50 years), Alan's dream came true when he landed the role of Judge Alan Rosen on Jury Duty. The Amazon show went on to earn an Emmy nomination and won the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series, in no small part thanks to Alan's talented acting. Lauren and Alan chat about Alan's journey from lawyer to actor, including how he leaned on his legal experience to play a judge on TV. Alan also reveals the advice he got from his sons, Hollywood stars Ike and Jon Barinholtz, and shares an inspiring message for anyone else considering a career change.
Find out more about Jury Duty here: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/realism-or-ridicule-what-jury-duty-show-says-about-system-2023-05-10/
Mar 4, 2024 • 40min
EP. 146 – Environmental activism in law firms: how to be a more climate conscious lawyer
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION – Lawyers who are concerned about climate change increasingly want to see environmental values reflected in their practice. It can be difficult to advocate for change, especially for early career lawyers and those who feel that climate law is outside their expertise. But it turns out you don’t have to be an environmental litigator or a managing partner to make a difference. In this episode, Becky speaks with two activists leading organisations that help provide lawyers and law students with tools to make a difference on climate change within the legal profession. Haley Czarnek, from Law Students for Climate Accountability (LSCA), and Ming Zee Tee, from Legal Voices for the Future (LVF), both believe that any lawyer has the skills and leverage to have a positive impact on the climate. Haley and Ming Zee discuss their views on the growing need to incorporate climate change issues into law school curriculums, the ethical duties of law firms in representing fossil fuel companies, the most exciting developments taking place in climate law, and the practical things those concerned about the environment can do to make a difference, no matter what your practice or stage of career.
Guests:– Haley Czarnek, National Director, LSCA https://www.ls4ca.org – Ming Zee Tee, Chair, LVF https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/climate-change/legal-voices-for-the-future
Feb 19, 2024 • 48min
EP. 145 – Michele Meyer-Shipp (Dress for Success Worldwide)
In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Michele Meyer-Shipp, the Chief Executive Officer of Dress for Success Worldwide. Dress for Success (https://dressforsuccess.org) is a global not-for-profit organization operating in 22 countries.Michele tells us about the organization's mission – helping women achieve economic independence and, as she explains, dress women "from the inside out" by providing professional attire and development opportunities. Michele also shares what it's like being the CEO responsible for affiliates across the globe.
Jennifer and Michele discuss her path to Dress for Success – from private practice to the public sector, to in-house counsel to Chief Diversity Officer, and to become the highest-ranking woman in Major League Baseball. Along the way, Michele shares practical and meaningful career advice for lawyers – be a lifelong learner and find work that brings you joy(!) – that makes it easy to see why she's been successful every step of the way.
Feb 5, 2024 • 56min
EP. 144 – Freedom of speech in the workplace
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION – In today's culture, people are used to expressing their views on social media and entering into often polarised debates on potentially emotive issues. Amid the ethos of "bringing your whole self" to work, we have seen this outspokenness permeate into the workplace. There can be a range of differing views which can result in conflicts between employees and challenges for employers to manage. Employees have the right to hold and express certain protected beliefs, but how should an employer balance these conflicting protected rights and ensure they don't result in discrimination or harassment? Can an employer limit freedom of speech in the workplace, and also in the provision of services? What counts as a proportionate response, and are zero-tolerance policies achievable? These are some of the questions tackled in this episode.
Hosts:– Elanne Pimstone, Director, Practical Law Employment– Sophie McGuinness, Senior Specialist Legal Editor, Practical Law EmploymentGuests:– Sarah Gilzean, Partner, Morton Fraser MacRoberts– Darren Newman, independent consultant, writer and trainer on employment law– Elizabeth McGlone, Partner, didlaw
Jan 22, 2024 • 32min
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 you can access here: https://justice.org.uk/the-uks-longstanding-commitment-to-the-rule-of-law-is-under-grave-threat-according-to-landmark-report-from-justice/.
The pair also discuss what it really means to live under the rule of law and have access to justice, Fiona's career journey from barrister to policy and advocacy work, and a particular case that deeply impacted Fiona and motivates her work in helping to make our justice system more humane.
Jan 8, 2024 • 38min
EP. 142 – Mirna Santiago (Girls Rule the Law)
Mirna Santiago, a lawyer and DEI expert, talks about her commitment to busting bias as a Black Hispanic woman. She discusses the biases in the legal field and the importance of mentorship and allyship. Mirna also shares her motivation to become a lawyer and introduces her nonprofit, Girls Rule the Law, which empowers underprivileged girls. The organization provides mentoring and internship programs for girls interested in pursuing law.
Dec 18, 2023 • 27min
EP. 141 – Dan Neidle (Tax Policy Associates)
This episode's guest pulls off the impossible: he'll make you wonder if maybe you should have been a tax lawyer. Dan Neidle is described by some as “possibly the UK’s leading tax lawyer”. After spending 25 years at Clifford Chance, including as their UK head of tax, he set-up Tax Policy Associates – a not-for-profit company aiming to improve tax and legal policy and educate the public.
Dan chats with Becky Annison about the fascinating and complicated puzzles he enjoyed solving for clients in practice, why he chose to retire (while still in his 40s) to focus on public policy and advocacy, and why tax law is far more interesting and important than you might think.
Dec 4, 2023 • 39min
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 the belief that bipartisan policy is the most sustainable change you can make as a philanthropist. Laura and Lauren talk about what makes Arnold Ventures unique in the philanthropic world, including its structure and its evidence-based approach to philanthropy, as well as how Laura and her husband John began their journey as world-renowned philanthropists.
For more about Arnold Ventures, see https://www.arnoldventures.org/.
Nov 20, 2023 • 50min
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 the UK, the emotional connections involved in representing families, and the gaps in the law surrounding polyamorous family units.
(Please note: The UK government announced on 8 November 2023 that the Law Commission proposals on surrogacy, which Linzi and Yasmin discuss, will not “be taken forward at the moment.” (https://lawcom.gov.uk/project/surrogacy/)
