Reimagine Law

The spirit of online aptitude tests is to provide an objective way to test candidates.  Some are tests with right answers (e.g. ability tests) and others are personality profiles with no ‘correct’ answers. Jump into the discussions with Kerry and Simon to see how to approach and succeed to your full potential. Don’t forget you can engage with your careers teacher/service or Job Centre Plus.  Usefu...

This is the first episode in our mini-series about applications.  We start with an episode exploring how to write successful CVs and online application forms. In this episode Kerry and Simon explore the top tips to help you stand out from the crowd and get off to a good start in the application process. 

Networking is not about taking: it is about generously giving, and connecting.  In this episode, Nigel and Fran are joined by Anne Marcotty and Beth Crocker who discuss how to build your networking ‘muscle’, and how important it is to focus on this activity from your time in education as well as in the workplace.  We often think about networking in a very short-term, transactional way, but in real...

Listen in to Sass Clyde’s overview of the ReImagine Law Skill-kit mini-series. This mash-up outlines her favourite tips and comments from the series.

When the pandemic struck in March 2020 the court system in England and Wales had to adjust - and quickly.  Adaptations included making some hearings virtual, ensuring other face-to-face hearings could be made ‘Covid secure’, and introducing ‘hybrid’ models which uses elements of both approaches.  This episode welcomes Her Honour Judge Sarah Cove, a Circuit Judge in the Family Court, and Rudi Forts...

If Albert Mehrabian is right and only 7% of communication are the words that we use, what is the other 93 %? In this episode Kerry and Simon from the Re Imagine Law team get under the skin of what is involved in the two way process of communication. How do you make sure that you are totally present in the conversation, and really listen to the other person? And what difference does tone and body l...

Reflection is an important tool to turn an experience into a moment when learning is captured for the future.  In this episode Nigel and Fran explore why it is important to reflect and how to do this practically.  They discuss the importance of ‘journaling’ (or even ‘double journaling’) and how your peers and networks can help you with reflection. Useful resources -       What is reflection (The O...

We often think of innovation and risk-taking as being linked to big, stressful ‘eureka’ moments. The truth is that change can be quite small, simple and uncomplicated.  Innovating is about connecting with the person you are trying to communicate with, or the person who might use your product or service. How does this link with the principles of delivering legal services?  In this episode Fran and...

In this episode, Kerry and Simon discuss the balance between being authentic to yourself, and purposefully creating the right impact.  What do you want people to say about you when you are not in the room? In an increasingly consumer-oriented society, authenticity is important – and you need to get the balance right between raising your profile and not ‘over-selling’! So look deep and let your val...

In this episode, Nigel and Simon discuss what emotional intelligence is and how you can use this skill to build self-awareness.  They share tips and tricks about how these capabilities can help you to develop your career, increasing your impact in key situations and building strong networks.    Useful resources       Daniel Goleman (psychologist – 5 core elements of emotional intelligence) https:/...

Nigel, Simon and Fran from the ReImagine Law team discuss the interconnectedness of resilience and agility, as well as giving some key tips to listeners to help them develop these skills. Most of us learn most from when we fail at something, so one key to building resilience is to try something different where you’ll find it a stretch.  Keep a curious, mind-set, and have ‘fail fast and learn fast’...

Law firms and chambers often list project management as a key competency, but what does it actually mean and how can you develop this skill? In this episode Simon and Kerry demystify what project management is and help listeners identify where it exists for all of us in our daily lives.  They discuss the ‘nuts and bolts’ of managing a process of activities to reach an outcome, with simple, yet pow...

This episode discusses how to develop your creative mind-set in ways you might not have considered. Nigel and Kerry discuss the fact that creativity includes; having an open mind, experimenting and thinking ‘what if we did X’. They give practical ways to increase creativity as you work towards a wider goal.   See how far you can go with a creative mind-set, and be persistent, continuing to explore...

Is anyone actually a ‘self-made’ person? The team deconstruct what collaboration actually means and give suggestions of how to get into a collaborative mind-set.  Nigel and Simon stress the benefits of diversity of thought, openness and saying “yes and” rather than “yes but”!  If one plus one equals three, can you think of all the less obvious times you have collaborated?  Useful resources https:/...

Clinical legal education is a type of experience-based learning which mixes the theory and practice of law.  This episode explores the different types of clinical work that students can get involved with and how it can be beneficial to your future career.  The ReImagine Law team are joined by Professor Elaine Hall from Northumbria University and Lauren Fisher (a graduate from the Student Law Offic...

In a changing legal landscape where transactions or litigation cases are increasingly complex, and often cross-border, clients (and therefore employers) expect more from their lawyers; they require practitioners with a flexibility of approach and thinking, and an international mind-set. This episode discusses how international educational experiences can build exciting careers for the lawyers of t...

The legal sector is vast and has so many career options.  The legal system and private practice involves a lot of talented, professional individuals who do not work as lawyers earning fees from clients. This episode shines a light of the various roles in human resources, information technology, business development, marketing, and learning and development. The Re-Imagine Law team meet Abena Poku,...

In this episode of Re ImagineLaw we speak with David Halliwell, Partner for Client Solutions at law firm Pinsent Masons to consider how the legal services landscape is changing and what that means for those developing their careers.  What career paths and skill sets will be key in the future? The discussion begins by exploring the impact that changes in regulation have had on the types of business...

In episode 17 of Re ImagineLaw, we welcome self-employed barrister Sonal Dashani and the Deputy Director of Clerking Emma Makepeace, from 25 Bedford Row.   This episodes explores how self-employed practice at the criminal bar differs from the role of an employed barrister.  Our guest give a real insight to business of a set of chambers and the individual businesses of the barristers within them. ...

In this episode of Re ImagineLaw we speak with two experts who have developed careers in the financial side of law firms: Gillian Cobb (Finance Director (Europe) at Kirkland & Ellis) and Chris Ward (Law Firm finance expert and trainer/consultant on law firm finance).  Gillian and Chris explain to listeners the ‘nuts and bolts’ of how law firms make money.  How can firms create a profitable bus...

In this episode of Re ImagineLaw we speak with two lawyers who work in the field of public interest law, solicitor Helen Mowatt from the Public Interest Law Centre and employed barrister Matthew Aluwahilia from the Public Law Project.  Helen and Matthew talk about how their work takes them to the front line of live social issues ranging from policy issues, to education and homelessness.  This epis...

The title Barrister conjours up all kinds of images, and it is easy to think careers as a barrister always take one form.  But that is not always the case.    In this episode the ReImagine Law team are joined by Angharad Price, a Welsh, employed Barrister, at the Equality Human Rights Commission.  Angharad talks about how her non-traditional background, has been a catalyst for a successful career...

In this episode, Deepak Malhotra, Corporate Adviser and former senior in-house lawyer (General Counsel) explains how he developed his career as an in-house lawyer. He discusses the experience of moving to a role where from day 1 was literally ‘sitting amongst your clients’ in corporate business. Deepak speaks about the critical skills of communication, building trust, influencing, being proactive...

In this episode, Kishan Mathy (trainee solicitor, insta @sqbrkt ) speaks about how he tried to stand out from peers in a competitive job market, seeking a role at a City law firm, especially as he did not ‘tick all’ the traditional boxes; e.g. his academic grades.  Job hunters can focus too much on the employer they want to work for and rarely look from the point of view of the clients of the orga...

Anyone can say that they have transferable skills, but demonstrating these skills in the context required of you can be the challenge.  In this episode, the ReImagine Law team consider law as a second career.  What are the challenges and advantages of undertaking law as a second career, and what lessons can be learnt for aspiring lawyers who are on their first career. Our two guests Robert de Souz...