Activist Lawyer

In this inspiring episode, host Sarah Henry speaks with Lucy Barnes,  a Pupil Barrister at East Anglian Chambers.  Lucy is also Co-Founder and CEO of Lawyers Who Care, the UK's first organisation to facilitate mentoring, community and legal opportunities for care-experienced aspiring lawyers.  Lucy shares the story behind the movement she started advocating for meaningful change within the legal p...

In this special episode of the Activist Lawyer Podcast, we explore a topic that’s incredibly important, yet still not properly understood – the state of mental health in the legal profession.  Host Sarah Henry speaks with Activist Lawyer co-founder Jonathan McKeown who, as a solicitor and owner of multiple businesses, shares his journey and personal insights into his own mental health struggles th...

In this compelling episode, host Sarah Henry speaks with the acclaimed and inspirational Dr S Chelvan – a multi-award-winning Activist Lawyer, Head of Immigration and Public Law at 33 Bedford Row Chambers, and Adjunct Professor at Southampton Law School. Dr Chelvan shares his personal and professional journey into law, offering insights into refugee and human rights cases centred on sexual or gend...

A short reminder of the Activist Lawyer Book club with registration details is discussed in today’s episode.  The next Book Club Meeting features 'Righting Wrongs’ by Kenneth  Roth. Tune in to find out more!

In this special episode of Activist Lawyer, we continue the conversation on gender apartheid with a focus on youth activism and international advocacy. We're joined by Emily Humphreys from the Irish Campaign to End Gender Apartheid (ICEGA), alongside two passionate student activists, Rachel Forrest and Phoebe Sexton, from Midleton, County Cork. Rachel and Phoebe share how they’re mobilising young...

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Tayab Ali, Director of the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), to discuss the organisation's critical work in response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the Occupied Territories. The conversation explores ICJP’s efforts and introduces Global 195, a new initiative aiming to coordinate legal interventions across multiple jurisdictions to hol...

Host Sarah Henry is joined by Partner Solicitor Nusrat Uddin, Head of the Public Law and Human Rights department at Wilsons Solicitors. In this episode, Nusrat shares insights into her work, with a focus on modern slavery, forced labour, and human trafficking. She discusses several groundbreaking cases she has worked on, as well as her involvement in Business and Human Rights cases, particularly t...

A short reminder of the Activist Lawyer Book Club with registration details are discussed in today’s episode.  The next Book Club Meeting features ‘The Power in the People, Not the People in Power,’ by Michael Mansfield KC! Tune in to find out more.

In this episode, Sarah interviews Dr. Gearóid Ó Cuinn, Director of the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), to explore the organisation's innovative cross-border legal actions. They discuss key initiatives, including climate justice cases and GLAN’s recent legal challenge against the UK government over its ongoing weapons exports to Israel. Tune in for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation...

In this special episode, our host and co-founder, Sarah Henry, takes the hot seat, interviewed by solicitor and fellow co-founder, Jonathan McKeown. We’ll reflect on the podcast’s journey so far, what we've accomplished, and our goals for the future of the Activist Lawyer community. Are there any favourite episodes you’d like to highlight? Let us know! Thank you to all of our listeners, podcast an...

We kick off the New Year and the new season of the Activist Lawyer podcast with an interview featuring family law expert Anne Marie Featherstone. Anne Marie, a solicitor at Rafferty and Co Solicitors in Newry, shares insights into her legal career and her journey to specialising in all areas of family law. In this important conversation, Anne Marie and Sarah delve into the legal system's response...

In today’s episode, we are joined by renowned solicitor Michael Madden from Madden Finucane Solicitors in Belfast. Michael takes us through his journey into law, beginning as a junior legal assistant on landmark legacy cases such as Bloody Sunday, and evolving the firm into one of the most respected names in human rights and criminal justice. Sarah and Michael also discuss the recent UK government...

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Katie de Kauwe, a senior lawyer with Friends of the Earth, to discuss the vital role of legal actions in holding the UK government accountable for its climate obligations. They explore significant cases, some of which have disrupted the fossil fuel industry, including the Horse Hill (Finch) case which reached the UK Supreme Court, High Court challenges over the...

As part of our mini-series on Becoming an Activist Lawyer, host Sarah Henry discusses highlights from our guest contributors when asked to comment on the relationship between Activism and the Law.   

Megan Sethuraman is currently studying a Master’s in International Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin. She joins Sarah on the podcast to discuss her recent visit to Palestine as a human rights monitor.  Megan shares her observations and discusses how anyone can get involved in advocacy and support for communities across the region who are suffering because of the escalating conflict. Megan al...

In Episode 94, host Sarah interviews immigration expert, Dr. Sue Conlan about the state of immigration in Ireland and the UK. The conversation offers an exploration of various pressing issues, including the legal landscape, the impact of political decisions, and the rising tide of xenophobia in both regions. The conversation touches on pivotal moments such as Brexit, which has reshaped the immigra...

Join award-winning barrister Oscar Davies and host Sarah Henry as they discuss Oscar's journey to their practice at Garden Court Chambers. Oscar shares personal insights into becoming a barrister and offers practical advice for aspiring legal professionals. They also address the lack of legal protections for trans and non-binary individuals, along with Oscar's upcoming book on non-binary recogniti...

Sarah is joined by a distinguished panel contributing to the conversation on a timely and critical issue: the campaign to recognize Gender Apartheid as a crime against humanity.    'United Against Gender Apartheid,' is discussed in detail by renowned journalist, author and campaigner, Robbyn Swan, Afghan lawyer and campaigner Mahbooba Faiz and Mahya Ostovar, a professor and long-time activist for...

Join us on the latest episode of the Activist Lawyer podcast as our former co-host, Jack McClelland, calls into the studio to share his travel adventures and offer insights into navigating a career in law. If you’re feeling uncertain about your career path, especially in human rights law, this episode is for you! Sarah and Jack will also revisit some standout episodes featuring recent guests who o...

In this week's episode, Sarah is joined by Daniel Machover from Hickman & Rose, one of the UK’s leading solicitors in inquests, public inquiry work, complex civil litigation, and human rights cases. Daniel has represented clients in high-profile cases, including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Azelle Rodney Inquiry, and prisoners at Wormwood Scrubs Prison. Recently, he has also represented the...

Sarah is joined by barrister Franck Magennis from Garden Court Chambers.  Franck discusses UK asylum cases involving Palestinian applicants, his time working with Al-Haq human rights organisation as well as a swell in employment cases involving dismissals around a person’s activity in relation to what is happening in Palestine.  This is an interesting discussion on what could be described as a fre...

We pick up our discussion on legal developments impacting Palestine as we are joined by Miranda Cleland in Washington DC. As advocacy officer with Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P), Miranda touches on the significance of the case against the Biden Administration for complicity in genocide. The case, which was dismissed, was taken by the Center for Constitutional Rights who fil...

In this week's episode, Sarah is joined by Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC as she discusses her career in law, her role as a judge at the Old Bailey as well as her fascinating new book, ‘Rough Justice.’ Until March 2022 Her Honour Wendy Joseph QC was a judge at the Old Bailey, sitting on criminal cases, trying mainly allegations of murder and other homicide. She read English and Law at Cambridge, was c...

In this week's episode, Sarah is joined by Marc Willers KC who specialises in environmental law and climate justice, planning law, administrative and public law, civil liberties, human rights and discrimination law, and Gypsy, Traveller and Roma law.   Marc shares a number of climate justice success stories including the ground-breaking decision in KlimaSeniorinnen v Switzerland (ECtHR) as well as...

In this week's episode, Sarah is joined by traveller activist and aspiring barrister, Martin McDonagh. Martin is currently furthering his career in law through the University of Ulster, Access to Justice LLM hoping to work in human rights and social justice. He recently set up Northern Ireland’s first Traveller-led support group. Martin touches on some of the challenges faced by the Irish Travelle...