GCU Law Podcast: Recent Episodes
GCU Law
GCU Law podcast is a student run podcast. We talk to individuals in the Scottish legal profession about their career journeys, their experience in the profession and any advice they have for our students.
For Pro Bono Week, Neil Mackenzie KC, talks us through his career, the vitality of pro bono work and the introduction of the Pro Bono Guide.
Jamie Stewart, a Trainee Solicitor at BTO Solicitors, speaks to Amanjit, Seonaid and Jodie about employability.
In this podcast, we welcomed Lauren Bowie, founder of Legable, to speak to us about social mobility in the legal sector!
Cameron-Wong McDermott, a Scots-qualified solicitor working for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in Scotland, talks to Seonaid and Eisa about his career journey.
Cameron speaks about his career journey, from law student to working at the European Court of Human Rights and now at the EHRC.
Cameron goes on to speak about equality and diversity in the profession and speaks about his own experiences.
Lastly, Cameron gives some great advice to young law students who want to work in human rights law.
Caitlin Alexander an LLB and Diploma graduate speaks to Seonaid and Eisa about her Career journey in law.
Caitlin talks about what the career is like for someone who identifies with 3 minority groups - woman, disabled and LGBTQIA+.
Caitlin additionally speaks about what her advice for law students would be and what the profession needs to do to become a more equal space.
Amanda Millar, the first visibly LGBTQ+ President of the Law Society talks about her experiences within the field of law.
Amanda talks about her career so far, what it’s like being the first visibly LGBT President, her hopes are for equality in the profession, and her advice to students on how to be better LGBT allies?
Eisa Mahmmod a current third-year LLB student and Media Manager of the Law clinic talks about his experience as an ethnic minority law student.
In this Podcast Eisa talks about why he got into law, the struggles being an ethnic minority in law, the help he has gotten and what he believes needs to be done in the legal field regarding ethnic diversity.
Rachel Bond is a GCU Law alumna and was the first woman to be Student Director of the Law Clinic. In this podcast she talks about the Clinic, further study after the LLB, and her passion for healthcare law.
Taylor Pollock is a GCU alumna and a previous Student Director of the GCU Law Clinic. She is currently studying for the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice. In this episode, Taylor talks about the award-winning GCU Law Clinic and the importance of access to justice. You can find out more about the Law Clinic here https://www.gcu.ac.uk/lawclinic/
Naeema is an experienced solicitor who has recently retired from private practice, where she was a partner in a Scots law firm. She is also a founding member of the Scottish Ethnic Minorities Lawyers Association (SEMLA). In this episode Naeema talks about her route into law; what it was like studying as a young mother from an ethnic minority background; and her work with SEMLA. You can find out more about SEMLA here https://www.semla.org.uk/
Drew McCusker is a solicitor and the founding president of The Glass Network, Scotland's first organisation for LGBT+ legal professionals. In this episode, Drew talks about his time working at the UNHCR; his search for a traineeship; his work in litigation in Scotland; and why equality and diversity are important in the legal profession in Scotland. You can find out more about The Glass Network here http://theglassnetworksco.squarespace.com/
Patricia Taylor is a GCU alumna and a newly qualified solicitor with DWF LLP. At University, Patricia volunteered with the Law Clinic. Patricia mentors students through the Law Society of Scotland’s Mentoring Programme and sits on the fundraising committee of the Law Scot Foundation - the Society’s social mobility charity. She is also a non-executive committee member of the Scottish Young Lawyers' Association. In this episode, Patricia talks about her time at GCU and her career so far; how she tackles imposter syndrome; and the importance of social mobility in the profession. You can find out more about the organisations we discuss in the podcast on the links below: http://www.syla.co.uk/ https://www.lawscot.org.uk/qualifying-and-education/lawscot-foundation/ https://www.legable.co.uk/
Alison is Professor of Healthcare and Medical Law at GCU and the Head of Department of Economics and Law. Alison specialises in public healthcare, clinical negligence, mental health law and professional ethics. In recent years, her interests have focused upon the practical application and the role of law in matters of public health and policy development. In this episode, Alison talks about her own career journey and why GCU is a great place to study law.
In this episode we talk to activist and author of Constitution Street: Finding Hope in an Age of Anxiety, Jemma Neville. We talk to Jemma about law and human rights, the importance of our rights in a post pandemic world and Jemma gives her advice for law students. Jemma also reads an excerpt from her book, taken from the chapter ‘Freedom of Expression – The Making of Us’.