The University of Law Podcast

In this episode of our "Inside the Case" podcast series, we dive deep into complex investigation of John Worboys, one of the UK’s most notorious serial sex offenders. Harriet Wistrich, the legal force who championed the victims of this serial sex offender, reflects on the initial failures in the case. She details how she pioneered a groundbreaking legal strategy using the Human Rights Ac...

In this episode of our "Inside the Case" podcast series, we speak with Lord David Pannick KC, the barrister who led the landmark constitutional challenges arising from Brexit and helped define the limits of executive power in the UK. Lord Pannick reflects on the historic Supreme Court cases known as Miller 1 and Miller 2, explaining how they reshaped the balance between government, Parli...

In this episode, Alumni Manager Nic Ashton sits down with Lesley Kenny, a The University of Law alumna, who has built a global career in ethics and compliance, working across the UK and the United States. Lesley reflects on her journey from early roles in the civil service and the Serious Fraud Office to leading ethics programmes in international organisations. She shares insights into working acr...

In this episode of our “Inside the Case” podcast series we speak with Paul Bowen KC, a leading practitioner in public and human rights law who acted for Tony Nicklinson in his right-to-die case and landmark legal battle.  Paul discusses how he brought about the case, the challenges it faced through different levels of court and how he continued to act for Tony’s widow Jane after his passing in one...

In this episode, Alumni Manager Nic Ashton is joined by Martin Spiller. Martin is a Chartered Accountant and non-practising barrister whose career has spanned corporate finance, entrepreneurship and early-stage investing. Martin discusses what shaping long-term success looks like, as well as how he supports growing businesses, builds credibility as a trusted financial voice and uses initiatives li...

In this episode, Alumni Manager Nic Ashton is joined by Paul Loynes. Paul trained at Clifford Chance, worked as a partner at a major US law firm and now runs his own consultancy - Lemox Consulting. Paul shares insights from his varied career and reflects on the importance of mentoring. Drawing on his pro bono and mentoring experiences with our students in the pro bono advice clinics, he offers adv...

The second episode in our “Inside the Case” podcast series features an interview with William Clegg KC, a celebrated criminal defence Barrister who successfully defended Colin Stagg, the suspect in the 1994 trial for the murder of young mother Rachel Nickell out on Wimbledon Common. Mr Clegg recounts the unprecedented police tactics of entrapment which led to Colin Stagg being charged, and how a l...

In this episode, Alumni Manager Nic Ashton is joined by Baljinder Singh Atwal, Senior Commercial Lawyer with West Midlands Police, and Chair of Birmingham Law Society In-House Committee.  Baljinder discusses his choice to move to West Midlands Police making the move In-house and the work that he does with the Birmingham Law Society raising awareness of the opportunity and variety of working in-hou...

In this episode, Jo Lunnon is joined by Myria Anthony, who recently made the transition from the corporate sector to a career at the Bar.  Bringing all the insights from her diverse professional background, Myria discusses the challenges of applying for pupillage, the role that networking played in shaping her journey and the strategies she used to prepare for applications and interviews.

Trigger Warning: Please note the content does contain references to murder and abduction. This inaugural episode features an interview with Brian Altman KC, the barrister who led the prosecution of serial killer Levi Bellfield for the abduction and murder of 13-year-old Milly Dowler. In a candid and detailed discussion with journalist Frances Gibb, Altman describes the professional and emotional w...

In this episode, placements manager Sally Docherty is joined by students Sidra Mann and Anmol Sidhu about their transformative placement experiences. They discuss the skills they developed, the challenges they faced, and the best advice for current students about to take on their placement year.

In this podcast series our Head of Computer Science, Dr Paul Sant, is joined by a variety of guests within the technology sector to learn more about their journey and how AI is challenging the landscape in their industry. In this episode Elle Farrell-Kingsley, an AI ethics expert and youth policy advisor, shares her journey into the world of tech. She explains how she’s helping shape AI policy in...

In this podcast series our Head of Computer Science, Dr Paul Sant, is joined by a variety of guests within the technology sector to learn more about their journey and how AI is challenging the landscape in their industry In this episode Patrick Grant, Associate Professor at The University of Law, talks about how he got into the legal technology and AI space and the work he is doing to help keep st...

Alex Chalk KC was Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary in the last Conservative Government. He is now a partner with international law firm, Jones Day.  In this wide-ranging interview with journalist Frances Gibb, Alex discusses his views on sentencing in the UK and the role of the independent Sentencing Council in advising judges, how he supports a “Singapore on Thames” approach to embrace free...

In this podcast series our Head of Computer Science, Dr Paul Sant, is joined by a variety of guests within the technology sector to learn more about their journey and how AI is challenging the landscape in their industry In this episode Henry Warner, Senior Legal Engineer at Juro, talks about how his carer path and the diversity within the industry and how legal technology is creating efficiencies...

David Gauke has held several key ministerial positions, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for justice, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and Secretary of State for work and pensions. He has now been appointed by the Labour Government to recommend measures to tackle the prison crisis, with the final report due in May 2025. In this wide-ranging interview with journalist Frances Gibb, David discu...

In this podcast series our Head of Computer Science, Dr Paul Sant, is joined by a variety of guests within the technology sector to learn more about their journey and how AI is challenging the landscape in their industry. In this episode Hannah Claus, an AI and robotics enthusiast, talks about the importance of making the sector more diverse, her work with the Ada Lovelace Institute and her aim to...

Sir Robert Buckland, is a senior conservative politician and barrister. Under Boris Johnson he was made Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, a role he held until 2021, and oversaw the criminal justice system during the Covid 19 pandemic.  As a backbencher and minister, he favoured reforms such as increased prison sentences for grooming gangs and better protections for victims of crime. In this w...

Jack Straw was Home Secretary under Tony Blair from 1997 to 2001; Foreign Secretary from 2001 to 2006 and then Justice Secretary/Lord Chancellor from 2007 to 2010 under Gordon Brown.  The member of Parliament for Blackburn for 36 years until 2015, he was only one of three individuals to have served in Cabinet continuously during the Labour governments from 1979 to 2010. In this wide ranging interv...

In this episode, recent alumnus Ben Weisz is joined by Leah Vaghela, co-founder of My Law Solicitors and a specialist in employment law. Leah studied her LLB and LPC at the University. Leah discusses the reasons behind setting up her own firm, managing her career whilst raising children, and how sitting down for an extra hour with a client can sometimes be the answer to winning a case. 

A senior politician and former Justice Secretary, Michael Gove, delivers a blistering attack on the whole criminal justice system as badly managed - from the police service through to the courts.  Michael Gove's comments come in an interview on our new podcast series, “The Lord Chancellors: Where Politics meets Justice” hosted by journalist Frances Gibb. It will examine the ancient post of Lo...

In this episode, LLB student Alex Gill talks with Psychology lecturer Dr Jonny Dudley who shares his journey into the field of forensic psychology.  Jonny shares insight into his previous studies and work within the prison system and what he learnt through the experience; explains what forensic psychology is all about; and the advice he would give students interested in studying psychology, the tr...

When he was Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer was responsible for ushering in constitutional reforms that abolished the role of Lord Chancellor as head of the judiciary; set up a Supreme Court and a judicial appointments commission. The changes were hugely controversial at the time - not least because judges were not consulted on them in advance.  Lord Falconer’s comments come in an interview on our...

In this episode, LPC/SQE Programme & Student Lead, Elizabeth Farrell, is joined by LLM student Andy Lee who shares his experience of studying for the SQE 1 exam having passed with one of the highest scores.  Andy discusses the structure of the exams, his preparation, what he learnt from the process and advice he would give to students beginning their SQE studies.

In celebration of Dyslexia Awareness Month, in this episode Student Learning Development Manager for neurodiversity, Ruth Le Duc, is joined by Senior Lecturer Andrew Grice, who shares his story to becoming an entrepreneur and lecturer, and provides some tips and key learning resources.  Despite leaving school early and eventually getting a diagnosis for dyslexia when he was an adult, Andrew return...