The Lex 100 Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Legal 500
The Lex 100 Podcast is all about information for aspiring solicitors and law students looking to train and study in the UK. Join the Lex 100, a comprehensive guide to the UK solicitor training and legal education, and its Editor, Peter Tweedley, for quality discussions with industry leaders, universities and students on trends in current and future training and legal education – as well as anecdotes you don’t hear or read in legal marketing. Whether you are just starting to think about becoming a lawyer, making a career change, or already on a training contract, this podcast is for you.
This week, we sit down with Chrissie Wolfe, legal influencer, content creator, and Partner at Nexa Law, to talk about her unique route into law. We talk about:
- The importance of building your network and broadening your horizons
- Learning resilience through rejection and redirection
- What it’s really like working in medical negligence & cosmetic injury law
Isabel Lightbody - International Arbitration Associate at Freshfields
We catch up with Isabel, an arbitration lawyer at magic circle firm Freshfields, as she shares her international journey into law, from studying abroad and working as a lawyer in Germany to qualifying in the UK through a unique cross-border training setup. Isabel reflects on finding confidence and balance in her professional life, developing self-assurance as a junior lawyer and the importance of maintaining interests outside of work to build a sustainable legal career. We go into detail about the specifics of her role as an arbitration associate, from drafting submissions and conducting cross-examinations to what it's really like to manage long-running cross border disputes.
In this episode of Brief Encounters, we speak to Maris Ologeh, a trainee solicitor at HSBC. Maris shares journey from growing up in Nigeria to starting her legal career in the UK. We discuss how working part-time jobs and doing extracurricular activities gave her a competitive edge when applying for training contracts, the realities of working in-house for one of the world's biggest banks, and the importance of mentorship, sponsorship, and getting an early start in building a successful legal career.
Joining us this time is Thorrun Govind - The Legal Pharmacist - a dual-qualified pharmacist and solicitor at law firm Brabners.
Thorrun is a former Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and a powerful advocate for diversity in the profession. In a wide-ranging and thought-provoking discussion, we cover:
- How Thorrun's healthcare background enhances her legal practice and advocacy.
- The myth that law is only for those with perfect grades or traditional backgrounds.
- The importance of mentorship, staying adaptable in your career, and finding purpose through variety, collaboration, and a passion for public service.
Sharing his journey with us is Walker Syachalinga - An associate at Leigh Day.
Walker talks to us about growing up in Zambia and witnessing first-hand how the law can be a force for justice, why trying out different practice areas during your training contract is key to finding your best fit, and the importance of staying focused on your own path - and not falling into the comparison trap.
Asiyah Randera - Trainee at Staffordshire County Council and emerging LinkedIn influencer.
- On the brink of qualification, Asiyah spoke to us about training at a council as opposed to a law firm, the importance of perseverance and self-belief on the long (and daunting!) road to getting a training contract, and her top tips for deciding what area of law you want to work in.
Jon Gregson - Partner at Weightmans' Employment practice and popular LinkedIn Legal Influencer.
- A longtime partner and prolific LinkedIn poster, Jon spoke to us about demystifying the process of getting a training contract, how to know when you've found the right firm, and about the challenges, both personal and professional, that he faced throughout his career.
In this episode, Peter is joined by Chris Jorgenson, Director of Institutional Partnerships; Odessa Alm, Manager of International Student Support; and Jasmine Gratton, an alumnus who passed the February 2021 New York Bar Exam preparing with BARBRI. They discuss the US bar exam prep course and the opportunities the course offers UK law students, lawyers and career changers.
In this episode, I speak with BDB Pitmans' Fiona Fleming, Diversity and Inclusion manager, Nicolas Le Riche, Employment partner and training principal, and Virginia Szepietowski, newly qualified trainee in restructuring and insolvency in the Reading office. We discuss the firm's community feel, the recruitment experience and qualifying into a regional office, and the firm's longstanding firm commitment to diversity and inclusion.
In this episode, I speak with Culture Shift, a UK-based tech for good developer, which creates reporting software for universities and law firms, among others, on anti-harassment, bullying and discrimination within organisations. I speak with Vimla Appadoo, Head of Experience at Culture Shift, and Chelsea Maher, Head of Marketing, about their work at universities, in the legal industry and the importance of D&I in applicant decisions. We discuss Culture Shift’s research report into D&I within organisations in the UK and its meaning for the legal industry. We also discuss what students should ask about a firm’s D&I, and what to look out for.
In this episode, recorded in December 2020, Peter is joined by Victoria Cromwell, Director of UK Programmes and the SQE Prep course development project leader, at Barbri, a global legal education provider. They introduce the SQE, discuss its effect on the profession, Barbri’s place at the forefront of its delivery, and the results of a report on the SQE, that Barbri commissioned from Hook Tangaza.
The second in a double-bill of episodes with the University of Law, we cover the legal employment landscape in 2020, much of which is still applicable in state of the world early in 2021. My guest on this episode is John Watkins, Employability Director at the University of Law. We discuss gaining work experience during the Covid crisis, and cover what kind of experience is needed, how to get it and how to make the most of it. This episode was recorded in September 2020.
As part of a double-bill of episodes featuring the University of Law, Peter's guest on this episode is Peter Crisp, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Law. The Peters talk about the university’s response to the Covid pandemic and its teaching. They also delve into the SQE and the transition to legal training under the new regime. In this first episode of the new year, it is fitting that we look back at the year that was 2020, which remains pertinent as we unfortunately are in a similar position at the start of 2021. (This episode was recorded in September 2020. )
In this episode, Peter is joined by Clifford Chance discussing the firm’s Global Virtual Internships program, as well as its SPARK and LIFT initiatives. Speaking with Peter are: Laura Yeates – Head of Graduate Talent at Clifford Chance; Yasmina Kone – Graduate Recruitment Manager – who is responsible for SPARK and LIFT; Annabel Corcoran – Graduate Recruitment Specialist – who is responsible for Global Virtual Internships; as well as Saif Jalali – first seat trainee and former LIFT participant; and Shoshanna Leibovici – former SPARK and LIFT participant.
In this episode, The Lex 100 editor Peter Tweedley is joined by Olivia Bushell, Pro Bono Senior Coordinator/Attorney, and James Anderson, Tax Partner, both from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP. They discuss Skadden’s newly launched UK JUST Programme, and its relationship with the Skadden Fellowship Foundation in the US. They also cover Skadden’s other Pro-bono initiatives in its London office and the relationship between that work and its global pro-bono practice.
The first episode from The Lex 100, the guide to legal education and training in the UK, is all about solicitor training during the pandemic and beyond. Hosted by Peter Tweedley, Editor of The Lex 100, it features an interview with Victoria Widdows, Director of International Legal Recruiting and Development at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld. Join us for a discussion of the challenges of maintaining training opportunities for aspiring solicitors, continuing high quality firm practise, handling the rapid transformation of the legal workplace, and more.