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 29, 2022 • 41min
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 negative impact such major life events can have on someone’s career. It’s a complex facet of diversity and inclusion in employment law, and we’re grateful to Michelle for such an insightful look at this from both a personal and legal perspective. To listen to the related interview with Joeli Brealey (Founder of Pregnant Then Screwed) which Yasmin refers to, head to episode 72 (http://pod.fo/e/c0129)
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Aug 17, 2022 • 15min
EP. 102 – Zaneta Sedilekova (Biodiversity & Climate Risk Lawyer)
MY LEGAL JOB & ME – Behind the scenes at The Hearing we speak to so many people across the legal industry, around the world. So we hear countless interesting and inspiring career stories. And it feels selfish to keep this knowledge to ourselves. So we’ve decided to share these insights into the various different roles that together make up the legal profession. We hope this series will help you better understand what your industry peers do. And also give you inspiration for your own career, as you discover what people love about their work and the aspects they find challenging. This is: My Legal Job & Me. First up, we have Zaneta Sedilekova discussing her portfolio career as a solicitor and biodiversity consultant. Enjoy!
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Aug 1, 2022 • 32min
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 have come to the fore, firms are having to take an honest look at their corporate culture. But as well as focusing internally, it’s clear there are some brave conversations to be had about being equally as mindful to those we work with externally. Guests: – Lucy Shurwood, Partner, Pinsent Masons – Anthony Seale, CEO, Legatics Mindful Business Charter – https://www.mindfulbusinesscharter.com
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Jul 18, 2022 • 42min
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 into what makes her tick. It's been an awesome four years producing this podcast. So Kaley Botting and Ben Clayton (the behind-the-scenes nerds responsible) would like to say a huge thanks to you (yes, YOU) for voting with your ears and listening. It means a lot.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Jul 4, 2022 • 44min
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 in its lawyers. Troy says his hospitality background is what fuels his unmistakable passion for client care. Troy explains how he juggles a busy caseload with his training as a power lifter. He also shares his tips around mental health resilience and how he deals with any setbacks or lows . The pair also discuss ways that law firms can support those earlier in their careers, by providing an open forum and having managers that firmly steer juniors towards a healthy work/life balance.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Jun 20, 2022 • 38min
EP. 98 – Trust and scepticism for lawyers: getting the balance right
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION – This episode is a panel discussion where Becky and three guests – Dr. Larry Richard, Ann Rainhart and Michael Callier – examine the meaning of trust and how it relates to the perception of lawyers in their work. As a lawyer, you rely heavily on interpersonal trust, but you also need to be sceptical. And is this scepticism – an essential lawyering skill – hindering your professional relationships? Together, the group delve into the complex layers of these opposing necessities of trust and scepticism. They discuss the personality traits that can help lawyers succeed on behalf of their clients without compromising integrity, and they reveal a need for vulnerability that may surprise you! Guests: – Dr. Larry Richard, Founder & Principal Consultant, LawyerBrain – Ann Rainhart, Chief Strategy Officer, Taft – Michael Callier, Vice President & Global Head of Consulting, Factor
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
May 30, 2022 • 44min
EP. 97 – Dr Charlotte Proudman (Goldsmith Chambers)
In this episode Yasmin catches up with a previous guest – Charlotte Proudman: feminist, family barrister and agent for change.Charlotte talks about her work fighting for the survivors of sexual violence and what the problems are with our current justice system. The pair also discuss the introduction of no-fault divorces in the UK and why this change is long overdue.This episode won’t disappoint if you’re a fan of straight-talking advocates. Do you agree with Charlotte – do we need a feminist revolution?
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
May 9, 2022 • 45min
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 human rights performance of contracts and supply chains. They talk about how supply contracts often inadvertently increase human rights and environmental risk, by being too onerous. This episode shows how you can be an ally to this cause, and make a meaningful difference, simply by reviewing the supply contracts used by your firm. Guests: – Olivia Windham Stewart, Business & Human Rights Specialist – Sarah Dadush, Professor of Law at Rutgers Law School
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Apr 18, 2022 • 44min
EP. 95 – Julie Jaggin (Howard Kennedy)
Here at Hearing HQ, we love to hear the real life stories of the people who make up the legal industry. And it’s been a pleasure to speak to Julie Jaggin, from Howard Kennedy, about her career and experiences as a lawyer with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which wasn’t diagnosed until she was 41. Julie and Yasmin talk about the power of labels and the myriad of positives that differently wired brains can bring to a firm. They also discuss the negatives – how a lack of understanding can really damage people's self-perception, as well as their careers. Julie outlines how she has navigated her career to date. And she shares practical ways that neurotypical lawyers can be allies and champions for their neurodiverse colleagues. Related links:– The article Julie wrote for the Law Society - https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/en/topics/lawyers-with-disabilities/the-need-for-different-minds – Law Society guidance on disability inclusion - https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/lawyers-with-disabilities/reasonable-adjustments-in-organisations-best-practice-for-disability-inclusion – Legally Disabled: Career experiences of disabled people in the legal profession - http://legallydisabled.com
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Apr 4, 2022 • 47min
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 the case and why the judge believed a trial by jury was the right approach. They also discuss how jury trials support the legislative process, the ways in which our jury system can be criticised, and the challenges facing practitioners in this area. With this mini-series receiving such positive feedback, we look forward to continuing our deep dive into the role of jury trials. As always, if you have any feedback, guest suggestions or topic ideas, please get in touch.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
