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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE CROSS-EXAMINATION – We, along with the rest of the legal industry, have talked at length about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on our profession. But this time we concern ourselves not with the efficiencies of machine learning and automation, but instead with potential injustice and the need for vigilance in the face of seismic developments. AI is already being used extensively in areas like recruitment, policing and the courts – as it's often assumed that machines, unlike humans, are objective and neutral. But, as this episode discusses, computer algorithms can easily perpetuate and amplify human biases. Becky Annison and our three guests – who are each working to understand and fight against algorithmic injustice – discuss the causes as well as the cumulative and damaging effects of coded bias. The computer scientist and digital activist Joy Buolamwini describes this phenomenon as the "exclusion overhead" – the cost of systems that exclude and discriminate against those with experiential differences who are outside the code writing room. CONTRIBUTORS:- Sandra Wachter, Associate Professor & Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford - Kristian Lum, Research Assistant Professor, Dept. of Computer & Information Science, University of Pennsylvania - Ivana Bartoletti, Technical Director - Privacy, Deloitte; Visiting Policy Fellow, University of Oxford Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing

Yasmin's guest this week hardly needs introduction – we're speaking to feminist icon Laura Bates. Laura is founder of The Everyday Sexism Project, a catalogue of day-to-day instances of sexism and gender inequality. Laura talks us through the events that led to her setting up the project – events that were so everyday, so commonplace, that she almost didn't notice. On her website, Laura describes these types of incidents as “so-used-to-it-you-almost-just-accept-it sexism”. But, as she explains to Yasmin, she couldn't just accept it – and so one of the greatest feminists of our time got going! Yasmin talks to Laura about her work with the legal industry – an industry that often doesn't think it has a problem with sexism; that doesn't believe harassment and inequality can happen to lawyers. They also discuss her new book, Men Who Hate Women – a shocking exploration of extreme misogyny. Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing