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In a profession that celebrates achievement and relentless work ethic, what happens to the mental and physical wellbeing of those caught in this culture? Following our previous exploration of the mental health crisis in the legal community, this episode delves deeper into practical solutions.
Join host Teneé Frazier as she welcomes Kerry Lawlor, psychotherapist, and co-founder of the Workplace Collective (UK), for an illuminating conversation about recognizing the need for self-care and creating psychologically safe workplaces in the legal profession. Together, they delve into practical tools and strategies for individuals and firms to prioritize mental health and well-being. They discuss how implementing reflective practice strategies, and fostering environments where wellbeing is central to organizational culture can benefit the legal community as a whole.
This episode offers valuable insights for legal professionals seeking to thrive, not just survive, in high-pressure environments. -
Who protects women when the very systems that are supposed to protect them, like the police and the broader legal system, refuse to, or even worse, are causing the harm in the first place? This episode's guest has been fighting against the systemic challenges women face in securing justice for decades. And she has some extraordinary stories to tell.
Join The Hearing host Yasmin Sheikh as she sits down with Harriet Wistrich, a human rights lawyer, founder of the Centre for Women's Justice (https://www.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk/), and author of "Sister in Law" (https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/455720/sister-in-law-by-wistrich-harriet/9781804995990).
Dive into Harriet's compelling journey from activism to law, driven by her passion for women's rights and justice. Discover the groundbreaking cases she's championed, including the landmark Sally Challen case that reshaped the understanding of coercive control and the John Warboys case, which highlighted some of the headwinds women face when they do come forward to seek justice for crimes against them.
In addition, she discusses astonishing undercover police operations that infiltrated activist groups, often using women as a means to an end. Wistrich weaves personal stories into a discussion about broader societal implications. This episode is a powerful exploration of systemic challenges and the relentless pursuit of justice. Don't miss this inspiring conversation - or Harriet's amazing book! -
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Most people would agree that lawyers and doctors should have professional licenses and oversight to protect the public from malpractice. But does the licensing system actually serve its intended purpose?
In this episode, join host Janelle Wrigley for an insightful conversation with Professor Rebecca Haw Allensworth of Vanderbilt Law School, as she discusses her book, ‘The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work and Why It Goes Wrong’.
Professor Allensworth delves into the complicated, and occasionally fraught, world of professional licensing, including in law and medicine, exploring how the licensing system affects workers and consumers alike. They discuss the unintended consequences of self-regulation, impacts on innovation, and ideas for reform. With real-world examples and thought-provoking insights, this episode sheds light on a topic that impacts our daily lives more than most of us might realize. -
Those who could benefit most from the legal system are often those least able to access it. As this episode's guest, Stephen Kinsella, notes, "There are only so many cake stalls and jumble sales you can have in a local community, in order to raise funds to pay a lawyer." So that's where his organisation, Law for Change, steps in – as a Community Interest Company that helps provide financial backing and indemnities to cover legal costs for cases with significant societal impact.
Join host Becky Annison as she and Stephen discuss the motivations that led him to set up Law for Change and how the organisation selects its cases to carry out its mission. With an eye toward cases that will benefit society, or that could establish or refine important legal principles, the organisation has assisted with cases across a broad spectrum, including on issues such as fracking and police misconduct.
More broadly, Stephen talks about current challenges facing the UK legal system, including court backlogs and antiquated systems, and his concerns about a judicial system that relies on philanthropy to fill gaps.
You can find out more about Law for Change here: https://www.lawforchange.uk -
In this episode, Dan Nardello, the founder of top-tier investigative firm Nardello & Co., speaks with host Teneé Frazier about the evolving role of private investigations within the legal industry. They discuss the increasingly sophisticated nature of investigations, their essential role in complex litigation and dispute resolution, and the need for strict ethical adherence.
Their conversation delves into the methodologies used in special investigations, from public records reviews to strategic interviews. It also explores the challenges of navigating different legal systems, particularly concerning privacy regulations in the UK and US. And Dan shares tips on exercising due diligence to mitigate risk when hiring a private investigation firm. -
The world can feel hopelessly polarised at times, especially on topics such as racism and criminal justice. If your spirits need lifting, and if you need reassurance that respectful dialogue is possible, even if people disagree with each other, then this episode is for you.
Abimbola Johnson, a barrister at London's Doughty Street Chambers, speaks with host Yasmin Sheikh about her work as chair of the Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board, which addresses racism in policing. They discuss the importance of having challenging conversations in ways that maintain respect for differing viewpoints and Abimbola's hopes for the legacy of the Board's Police Race Action Plan (https://www.npcc.police.uk/our-work/police-race-action-plan/) as it enters its final year. -
In a recent survey, 79% of legal professionals said they felt the profession had negatively affected their mental health. And over 15% had even considered suicide. These are two of the worrying statistics we learned from this episode's guest, Kent Halkett. Kent is an attorney with the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services who has written articles about mental health in the legal community for a host of publications.
Kent chats with host Teneé Frazier about his journey to becoming an advocate for improving mental health within the legal profession. Kent shares the story of his own mental health challenges, which culminated with him attempting suicide. He explains how publishing his story catapulted him, and this often-taboo subject, into the spotlight.
During their conversation, Kent describes some of the warning signs of mental health issues, stresses the importance of a work-life balance, and outlines the support available for those in need. Kent also shares insights on how the problem could be addressed, such as by increasing awareness through better education – both in law schools and as part of continuous professional development.
You can find out more about the ALM and Law.com Compass mental health survey of the legal profession here: https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2024/05/17/mental-health-by-the-numbers-the-2024-survey-infographic/?slreturn=20250123165408
You can read one of Kent's articles, Mental Health in the Legal Profession: A Crisis, a Case Study and a Call to Action, here: https://www.tba.org/?pg=Articles&blAction=showEntry&blogEntry=59057 -
We are leaving future generations to face more challenges than ever. Yet it can be incredibly difficult for governments to act for the long term when so many of their incentives encourage short-term thinking.
In this episode, host Becky Annison chats with Derek Walker, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, about how Wales is attempting to solve this problem. Derek explains why Wales passed the Well-being of Future Generations Act, how this pioneering legislation obliges the Welsh government to act for the long term, and whether other nations can follow this example. -
Native Americans are fighting for their legal rights across many important fronts in the US. In this episode, Janelle Wrigley speaks with Matthew Campbell, Deputy Director of the Native American Rights Fund, about NARF's legal and advocacy work.
Matthew and Janelle's wide-ranging discussion covers issues such as voting rights, the protection of places that are sacred to tribal nations, and access to natural resources. They also discuss the sovereignty of tribal nations, their relationship with the US government, and the challenges of ensuring access to voting. -
"The legal profession is going through significant transformation, and I thought that was a wonderful thing to try and grab with both hands and see what role or part I could play in making that a success," shares this week's guest, Lucie Allen.
For this episode, Lucie Allen, the managing director of the legal education platform BARBRI, sits down with host Yasmin to offer her unique insights on the evolving landscape of legal career development and her experiences on becoming a voice in the industry.
They discuss challenges posed by the new legal qualification standards (the SQE), vulnerable conversations started by sharing on social media, and the growing need for legal professionals to cultivate skills like resilience, adaptability, and effective communication to thrive in a rapidly changing industry. They also discuss Lucie’s unplanned venture into the role of menopause warrior.
Listen to Yasmin's conversation with Lucie for more on this topic and on the evolution of the legal professional's development path and her personal journey. -
"From 1910 to 1997, Black Americans have lost 90 percent of farmland to heir property. The Department of Agriculture has deemed it the worst problem that you've never heard of." These are just two of the staggering facts we've learned about heir property from writer and author Terah Shelton Harris.
Terah chats with new host Tenee' Frazier about her recent novel, Long After We Are Gone. It's about a family trying to save their ancestral land from being taken from them – shining a light on the damaging effects of heir property. She explains what heir property is, the detrimental effects it has on property ownership in African American communities, and the steps heirs should take to avoid land loss. Terah also shares her journey to becoming an author and the life events that helped shape her writing style. -
"Mind your privilege, give not away your right!" With those words, William Penn urged the jurors in his 1670 religious freedom trial to remember the power and the responsibility of their role in the English judicial system. For this episode, we return to the topic of jury nullification – the power of juries to acquit despite evidence of the defendant's guilt – with a fresh take from the UK.
Professor Richard Vogler of the University of Sussex chats with host Becky Annison about the role of jury nullification, going all the way back to William Penn's trial in the 17th century up to its relevance in climate change cases of today. They discuss why legal institutions began viewing juries with more suspicion from the 1970s, and why it’s more important than ever to defend the jury's place within our legal system – including its power to nullify convictions.
For more on this topic, listen to Janelle Wrigley’s conversation with Glenn Reynolds, from the University of Tennessee, about jury nullification in the US (ep.159) – https://pod.fo/e/269d1a. -
Content warning: This episode discusses sexual violence, domestic violence, and criminalized survivorship. If you or anyone you know needs help, please safely contact one of the organizations in our show notes.
To mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Jenn sits down with Garrard Beeney to discuss his pro bono representation of Nicole "Nikki" Addimando and the issue of criminalized survivorship.
Garrard shares Nikki's story, which includes enduring years of repeated physical and sexual abuse by her domestic partner, Christopher Grover, who was also the father of her two young children. Events led to her fatally shooting him. But, as Garrard explains, "the abuse that Nikki suffered at the hands of Grover was then repeated in the criminal justice system."
Garrard reveals how and why he and his firm got involved with Nikki's appeal. You'll hear about the legal arguments and uphill battle to free Nikki, culminating in the appellate court's rejection of the trial court's "antiquated impressions of how domestic violence survivors should behave."
SHOW NOTES:
US National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or www.thehotline.org
UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 or www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Sanctuary for Families: www.sanctuaryforfamilies.org
We Stand With Nikki: www.westandwithnikki.com -
In this episode, Yasmin Sheikh interviews Bibi Badejo – a family law barrister at Four Brick Court chambers, in London, and an advocacy coach.
Bibi recounts her journey into law and how she pursued advocacy despite an initial fear of public speaking and a hefty dose of imposter syndrome. These challenges early in her career motivated Bibi to improve her skills through extensive training in the UK, the US and Australia. And she is now an accomplished advocacy coach in her own right, as well the founder and host of The Advocacy Podcast.
This episode is rich with insights and practical tips for anyone interested improving their public speaking. Yasmin and Bibi also discuss the value of mentors and coaches, the emotional challenges of family law, and the evolving legal landscape – especially in addressing domestic abuse.
You can listen to The Advocacy Podcast here: https://podfollow.com/1547600021 -
Imagine you are a juror in a criminal trial. The evidence is overwhelming that the defendant is guilty. But you can’t shake the feeling that it would be unjust to convict. Maybe you don’t believe what the defendant did should be treated as a crime. Or maybe you simply believe the defendant deserves mercy. Can you vote to acquit, or must you vote according to the evidence?
It turns out that, in the US and the UK, jurors do have the power to acquit, even if they believe a defendant committed the charged crime. This is known as jury nullification.
In this episode, host Janelle Wrigley chats with Professor Glenn Reynolds from the University of Tennessee College of Law. They discuss the history of jury nullification in the US, the role of the jury, and the debate on whether jurors should be told they have the power to nullify if they believe a conviction would be unjust. -
In the UK you’ll find spectacular beaches and rivers, a nation of wild swimmers and water lovers… and a big pollution problem! Untreated sewage, chemicals and plastic waste are creating a worsening toxic soup. Surfers Against Sewage (https://www.sas.org.uk) has been fighting back for over 30 years – through public campaigns, education programmes and, more recently, an app that lets you check the health status of your favourite swim, surf or sail spot.
In this episode, Becky Annison chats to Surfers Against Sewage CEO (and former lawyer) Giles Bristow about the environmental crisis affecting our beaches, rivers, lakes and ponds. The pair also discuss the need for accountability by polluters and water companies, the charity’s goals and how it all began. -
Following the recent release of the 12th Edition of Black's Law Dictionary, The Hearing is privileged to welcome its Editor-in-Chief, Bryan Garner, to the show. And to be honest, we're a bit nervous to write this description of our conversation with this esteemed grammarian, lexicographer, and lawyer!
You don't hear about fourth graders naming "shan't" as a contraction or teenagers amassing a large vocabulary to impress potential dates. And we don't know about you, but we were too busy staying afloat the first week of law school to begin working on a legal dictionary – and still too busy during our clerkship to see it through to publication. But none of us is Bryan Garner.
Bryan chats with Jennifer about his long-time love of linguistics and the obstacles he overcame – from unsupportive professors, uninterested publishers, uncongenial colleagues, and scarce funds – to pursue his passion and strike out on his own. Bryan also pulls back the curtain on the process of editing and updating Black's – and invites you to be a part of it!
To learn more about Bryan Garner, visit https://lawprose.org/bryan-garner/. -
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. -
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] -
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. - Se mer
