The Law Society Gazette podcast brings the journal of record for solicitors in England and Wales into conversation. Every fortnight, the Gazette team goes beyond the headlines to examine the decisions, disputes and developments shaping law and legal practice. Expect informed discussion on regulation, access to justice, legal aid, ethics, economics and accountability. The podcast poses and tries to answer direct questions, provides clear analysis, and hosts key voices from across the sector.
Episodes
Who Will Bear Witness? The Decline of Court Reporting
Court reporting has long been a cornerstone of open justice, but the number of specialist court reporters covering England and Wales has fallen dramatically in recent decades. In this episode, Sian Harrison, former law editor at the Press Association, and Bianca Castro, courts editor at the Law Society Gazette, discuss what is being lost as press benches sit empty across the country's courts.
Much ado about... gherkins: what the Budget means for solicitors and their clients
The Budget is always of both personal and professional interest to solicitors. Lawyers pay taxes and run businesses too.This was the case even more so this year, as the profession waited to hear whether law firms would be specifically targeted to help fund the justice system and the good news came with regards to what wasn't in it. Legal aid fee rates and the means test were on the wishlist se
The great wealth transfer: are families ready?
As trillions of pounds pass from one generation to the next, private client lawyers are playing an increasingly important role in helping families manage wealth, expectations and potential conflict. In this episode, Clare Stirzaker of Boodle Hatfield and Oliver Embley of Wedlake Bell discuss the "great wealth transfer", examining succession planning, family governance, philanthropy, tax
Can litigation funding survive the PACCAR fallout?
In this episode we are joined by Rachel Rothwell, editor of Litigation Funding magazine, to examine a sector facing one of the most turbulent periods in its history. From the continuing fallout of the PACCAR ruling and delays to promised legislation, to growing political scrutiny and the prospect of formal regulation, litigation funders are feeling the heat. Rachel explains how these developments
Are law firms letting women down?
Women now make up the majority of new entrants to the solicitors’ profession, yet remain underrepresented in its most senior and influential roles. In this episode of the Law Society Gazette podcast, Ed Reyes is joined by Professor Rosemary Auchmuty and Alison Eddy of Irwin Mitchell, to examine whether law firms are still failing women, and what meaningful change would require. From the profession
Private equity and the legal industry: boom, bubble or a new normal?
Private equity has poured more than a whopping £1bn into UK legal services, but has it really transformed the profession? Paul Rogerson is joined by Jeff Zindani and Michael Cross to discuss where the money is going, why some firms attract investment while others do not, and what consolidation, AI and changing regulation has meant and could mean for the future of law firms.
Uniquely positioned - the pressures and opportunities of life in-house
Corporate counsel used to be the profession's poor relation. Not anymore. Ed Reyes sits down with Winona Chan (legal counsel, Moneybox) and Jonathan Pearl (arbitrator, ex-EVP at Sony) for a no-filter conversation on what it takes to thrive in-house.They get into the ethics of staying in the room when a business starts to veer off course, why privilege is still the profession's sharpest too
Should England and Wales raise the age of criminal responsibility?
England and Wales has one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in Europe. In this episode of The Law Society Gazette, Paul Rogerson speaks to Bar Council chair Kirsty Brimelow KC and Dr Laura Janes KC about calls to raise the threshold from 10 to 14, the evidence on children’s development and offending, and whether alternatives to prosecution could better protect both children and the pub
When AI makes up the law: are lawyers ready for court?
AI is already finding its way into court papers, and sometimes, notoriously, it is making things up. In this episode of the Law Society Gazette podcast, John Hyde is joined by courts editor Bianca Castro and news editor Michael Cross to unpack Cork v Smith, the latest warning sign for lawyers using generative AI. From fictitious authorities and fabricated quotations to supervision, professional ju
Jury trials saved? What an Andy Burnham premiership could mean for law and justice
In this episode of the Law Society Gazette podcast, Paul Rogerson is joined by Michael Cross and Moni Fouzder to examine what an Andy Burnham premiership could mean for lawyers in England and Wales. From the future of the lord chancellor and the Ministry of Justice budget to jury trials, legal aid, SLAPPs, Welsh justice devolution and the possibility of a levy on corporate law firms, the panel exp
Can the SRA rebuild trust? Sarah Rapson’s regulatory reset
In this first episode of the Law Society Gazette podcast, editor-in-chief Paul Rogerson is joined by deputy news editor John Hyde and reporter Moni Fouzder to assess the challenges facing the Solicitors Regulation Authority under new management.Sarah Rapson inherited a beleaguered watchdog facing intense scrutiny over spectacular law firm collapses, missing client money, regulatory overreach and s
Welcome to the Law Society Gazette podcast!
The journal of record for 200,000 solicitors in England and Wales is now in conversation.For 123 years, the Gazette has reported on the decisions, disputes and developments that have shaped the law and legal practice. From reform of regulation to market liberalisation - from legal aid to human rights. From profits to ethics. All legal life is here, and now it's here in a fortnightly podcast.
