How do you come to feel like you belong in UK law when you don’t sound like anyone else in the room?

In this episode of Doesn’t Sound Right, Matt and Denise speak to criminal barrister John Dove and commercial solicitor–turned–legal educator Hayley Crombleholme. Now engaged and co-founders of the online advocacy initiative Speed Mooting, they share their journeys into the legal profession.

From growing up on a Liverpool council estate to being told to “lose the accent” by a Crown Court judge, Hayley’s story raises questions about class, confidence, and who truly gets to feel at home in legal spaces. John reflects on navigating pupillage and courtroom performance, while both reveal how their shared mission is rooted in creating the kind of opportunities they wish they’d had themselves.

Perfect for law students, pupillage applicants, training contract hopefuls, junior lawyers, and anyone passionate about social mobility, regional accents, advocacy, and belonging in the legal world.

🎧 Sponsored by Walker Morris, a leading Leeds-based firm of solicitors.
🎵 Title music: Yours Story by Diamond_Tunes

There's an old scouse saying: "If you can't change it, take pride in it". Does the same apply to accents in the legal profession?

Yes, according to leading international barrister Cherie Blair. She set up the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, has represented clients at the highest levels internationally in human rights law, and wrote an aptly-named memoir, Speaking For Myself.

Cherie tells Matt and Denise how she forged a career at the Bar from her working-class roots in Liverpool, and how accents may be modified, but never set aside, in order to be more persuasive in court.

Perfect for law students, pupillage applicants, junior lawyers, advocacy trainers, and anyone navigating the UK legal profession while staying grounded in their background. This episode explores how to stay true to your roots while getting ahead in courtroom advocacy.

Get in touch: [email protected]

🎧Sponsored by Walker Morris, a leading Leeds-based firm of solicitors.

🎵 Title music: Yours Story by Diamond_Tunes

“You belong here. Slow down. You’ve got this.”
That simple but powerful advice from a legal opponent helped criminal barrister James Bruce deliver the most impactful cross-examination of his career—in a murder trial, no less.

In this episode of Doesn’t Sound Right, Matt and Denise speak with James Bruce of The 36 Group, a criminal law practitioner from Lancashire. James shares how confidence, vocal clarity, and self-belief are critical for effective communication at the Bar—and how barristers can balance staying true to their regional accents while ensuring their advocacy is clear and compelling.

He also discusses how, as a student at an international event, he first realized his dialect could be a barrier—and why he chose to adapt his speech without erasing his identity.

Perfect for law students, pupillage applicants, junior lawyers, advocacy trainers, and anyone navigating the UK legal profession while staying grounded in their background. This episode explores the real-world tension between individuality and intelligibility in courtroom advocacy.

Get in touch: [email protected]

🎧Sponsored by Walker Morris, a leading Leeds-based firm of solicitors.
🎵 Title music: Yours Story by Diamond_Tunes

What does it really mean when aspiring barristers and lawyers are told to "just be yourself"? Can you stay true to your accent while mastering courtroom advocacy and professional communication in law?

In this episode of Doesn't Sound Right, Matt and Denise are joined by Chris Kessling, a barrister with over 20 years' experience at the criminal Bar and a trainer at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA). Chris shares how ICCA helps future barristers and lawyers develop clear, persuasive speech—without changing their accents.

"Accents are like jewels, beautiful in their diversity," says Chris. But despite this, he reveals why he once felt pressured to "dumb down" his accent after leaving boarding school. Together, they explore the balance between authenticity and professionalism, and what this means for pupillage applicants, law students, and junior lawyers navigating the legal profession.

A must-listen for aspiring barristers, lawyers, pupillage applicants, advocacy trainers, and anyone passionate about diversity, social mobility, and regional accents in UK law.

Get in touch: [email protected]

🎧 Sponsored by Walker Morris, a leading Leeds-based firm of solicitors.
🎵 Title music: Yours Story by Diamond_Tunes

Do some accents sound "guiltier" than others? Can the way you speak impact your career in law? And why do some lawyers feel their accent holds them back in pupillage applications and beyond?

In this episode of Doesn't Sound Right, Matt and Denise are joined by linguistics experts Professor Natalie Braber (Nottingham Trent University) and Professor Rob Drummond (Manchester Metropolitan University) to explore their latest research on accents, accentism, and the legal profession.

Natalie and Rob explain why our accents change over time, how bias against certain accents persists in the workplace and courts, and why they believe accentism remains "the last socially acceptable form of prejudice."

Essential listening for aspiring lawyers, barristers, solicitors, policymakers, and anyone passionate about social mobility, diversity, and the UK legal system.

🎧 Sponsored by Walker Morris, a leading Leeds-based firm of solicitors.
🎵 Title music: Yours Story by Diamond_Tunes

Should regional accents have legal protection in the UK? Mary Prior KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association and one of Britain’s top criminal barristers, makes a compelling case in this episode of Doesn't Sound Right.

Mary shares how her working-class roots in Stoke influenced her career and reflects on how she secured pupillage and succeeded at the Bar, where accents like hers were rare. She highlights why eloquence isn’t tied to a specific accent and offers invaluable tips for oral advocacy.

Perfect for aspiring lawyers, practicing barristers, policymakers, and advocates for diversity and social mobility, this episode shines a spotlight on the evolving role of accents in the UK legal system.

Sponsored by Walker Morris, a leading Leeds-based firm of solicitors.
Title music: Yours Story by Diamond_Tunes

Does your accent influence your success in the British legal profession? In this episode of Doesn't Sound Right, Matt and Denise explore the relationship between accents, career progression, and social mobility in the UK legal world. They’re joined by Richard Glover, a Partner at JMW Solicitors in Manchester, who shares his personal journey.

Richard reflects on embracing his Stoke accent while navigating the legal profession and reveals how he adapted it during his early career in London. He discusses the realities of "fitting in" within commercial litigation and the evolving role of regional accents in the pursuit of pupillages and training contracts.

This episode is a must-listen for aspiring lawyers, legal professionals, and advocates for diversity and social mobility in law.

This podcast is sponsored by Walker Morris, a Leeds-based firm of solicitors.

Got a story to share? Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Doesn't Sound Right, hosts Matt and Denise explore the challenges and biases surrounding accents in UK law with solicitor Carly Thorpe, a partner at Leeds-based firm Walker Morris.

Carly shares her experiences navigating law school and the legal industry with a strong Yorkshire accent—from awkward stereotypes about pies to adapting her voice to fit in.

Discover how her Huddersfield roots now shape her role as a construction lawyer and why embracing diversity in accents could benefit the legal system.

Perfect for law students, practicing lawyers, policymakers, and anyone passionate about social mobility, diversity, and the UK legal profession.

Got a story to share? Email: [email protected]

Title music: Yours Story by Diamond_Tunes

Coming soon...

Why is it that in the UK legal world, regional accents seem relatively hard to come by? Do we still live in an age where lawyers with accents are told: "that doesn't sound right"?

Doesn't Sound Right celebrates accent diversity and champions the regional accent.

Through candid conversations with leading lawyers - including solicitors, barristers and other legal professionals - we explore the hidden barriers to success and share insights on navigating the world of law.

Whether you're a law student, a practicing lawyer, or passionate about breaking down barriers in the legal system, this podcast is for you.

Doesn't Sound Right is generously sponsored by Walker Morris solicitors.

Title music: Yours Story by Diamond_Tunes