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
Aug 5, 2024 • 32min
EP. 156 – Shaun Wallace (The Chase)
At 15 years old, Shaun Wallace was told that he would most likely end up in prison. Instead, he became a barrister and a TV personality famous for his knowledge mastery – first as a champion of the BBC quiz show Mastermind, and since 2009 as one of the chasers (professional quizzers) on UK television show The Chase.
In this episode, Shaun chats with Yasmin Sheikh about how his love of law, learning, and football led to a career in law and on television, and the setbacks he has overcome along the way.
Jul 22, 2024 • 37min
EP. 155 – Aika Stephenson (Just For Kids Law)
This episode explores the heart-wrenching subject of youth justice. Guest Aika Stephenson is the founder of Just For Kids Law, a UK charity that represents and advocates for children in contact with the criminal justice system. She’s also the author of In Their Defence: Fighting for Youth Justice One Child at a Time (https://www.mombooks.com/book/in-their-defence/). Join host Janelle as she chats with Aika about the extraordinary cases she’s dealt with in her career and how her own background led her to become an advocate for children. Aika provides eye-opening insight on the failures that she has witnessed in the legal system, from the police station to the courtroom, and the impact this has on children and young people.
If you’re interested to hear more about youth justice advocacy, check out episode 22 with Aika's colleague Shauneen Lambe: [https://pod.fo/e/1a42f]
Jul 1, 2024 • 42min
EP. 154 – Zaneta Sedilekova & Ryan James ((re)purpose law)
In this episode, we dive into the philosophical depths of the legal profession – exploring some of the assumptions underpinning Western legal thought and the implications of such assumptions. So nothing we can’t handle. Join host Becky Annison as she talks to Ryan James and Zaneta Sedilekova, the founders of (re)purpose law – a personal development course for lawyers. The trio discuss how legal practices could be harmonised to help tackle the multifaceted crises facing the modern world, and they unravel the mechanistic and anthropocentric mindsets that have long influenced our legal systems. Prepare to learn about the concept of "two-eyed seeing" – which marries Western and Indigenous ways of knowing to forge a path forward that is both holistic and interconnected.
As we navigate the complexities of climate and biodiversity risks, The Hearing offers a platform for innovative concepts that aim for a more socially and ecologically just future. This episode might challenge your perspectives and perhaps help guide us all towards a more equitable and sustainable legal landscape.
Jun 17, 2024 • 40min
EP. 153 – Stuart Grossman & Alex Arteaga-Gomez (Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen)
In the US, June is no longer just June – it is also National Gun Violence Awareness Month. To that end, this episode delves into one of the most pressing issues facing the US today: school shootings.
Lauren sits down with Stuart Grossman and Alex Arteaga-Gomez, two attorneys at the forefront of US legal efforts to help curb gun violence in schools, to discuss their work on the deadliest mass shooting at a high school in US history – the Parkland shooting. Lauren also chats with Stuart and Alex about the unique aspects of their work, including the sensitivity and understanding of human psychology required, and why litigating cases stemming from tragedy isn't for every lawyer.
Jun 3, 2024 • 32min
EP. 152 – Neil Hudgell (Hudgell Solicitors)
Over decades, hundreds of Post Office employees in the UK were wrongly prosecuted for crimes such as fraud and theft due to accounting errors resulting from faulty software. Many lives were devastated by the false accusations. This week, Yasmin speaks to Neil Hudgell, the Executive Chairman of Hudgell Solicitors, a firm representing many of the claimants in the post office scandal, about the case and his experiences representing individuals who have been through tragic events.
Find out more about The Hearing and other Thomson Reuters podcasts at tr.com/thehearing
May 20, 2024 • 54min
EP. 151 – Jake Heller (CoCounsel, Thomson Reuters)
Jake Heller, CEO of a legal tech company, shares his journey from coding to founding a successful AI product for lawyers. He discusses the evolution of CoCounsel, the impact of AI on the legal field, and balancing entrepreneurship with family life.
May 6, 2024 • 48min
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 challenges of balancing enthusiasm for a new technology with the need to manage its risks. They also chat about areas where AI developers need to be more transparent regarding the construction of their models, and global efforts to set commonly accepted governance standards for AI.
Find out more about The Hearing and other Thomson Reuters podcasts at tr.com/thehearing
Apr 22, 2024 • 51min
EP. 149 – Joe Green (Gunderson Dettmer)
Joe Green, Chief Innovation Officer at Gunderson Dettmer, discusses the evolving legal world, skills lawyers need for new technologies, and his career pivot from corporate lawyer to legal tech influencer. Topics include AI integration, career transitions in law, and the intersection of law, tech, and innovation.
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/
