In this episode, John and Hayley answer questions from the Speed Mooting community about becoming a barrister, building the perfect advocacy CV, and what makes a truly great litigator. They discuss:1. Whether qualifying as a solicitor first is a good route to the bar2. The experiences that should appear on a top advocacy CV3. The difference between a good and great litigator4. How law students can build contacts and experience from scratchIf you're a law student, aspiring barrister, or junior lawyer, this episode is packed with practical advice and insight.Get involvedSend your questions to the podcast:📧 [email protected]📱 DM Speed Mooting or the hosts on social mediaDon’t forget to like, rate, and subscribe for more conversations about advocacy, legal careers, and life at the bar. Find out how we can help you with your legal career over at https://speedmooting.com/

In Episode 101 of the Partners in Crime Podcast, John and Hayley discuss why non-legal work experience can be one of the biggest advantages when starting a legal career.We also answer audience questions about:- How to build a professional reputation early in your legal career- The importance of providing excellent service to clients and solicitors- Whether advocacy can be taught or if it’s a natural skill; and- Practical ways to manage nerves before speaking or performing advocacyAlong the way, we share personal stories from our own careers, from working in retail and hospitality while studying law, to building specialist practices and learning advocacy skills over time. If you're a law student, aspiring barrister, trainee solicitor, or junior lawyer, this episode is packed with practical insight into the skills that really matter in the profession.👍 If you enjoy the episode, make sure to like, comment and subscribe for more legal career advice and advocacy insights.🌐 To learn more about what we do, visit: https://speedmooting.com#legalcareers #lawstudents #barristers #trainingcontract #advocacy #lawpodcast #speedmooting

In this episode of the Speed Mooting Podcast, we have a Conversations with Counsel special. With John Dove speaking to specialist costs barrister Darren Malone of 18 St John Street Chambers about his unconventional journey to the Bar.

We discuss becoming a barrister later in your career, securing BSB exemption, working as a costs advocate, detailed assessments, costs case management conferences (CCMCs), reported costs cases, and the importance of commercial awareness in legal practice.

If you’re an aspiring barrister, law student, or junior lawyer interested in advocacy, costs law, or non-traditional routes to the Bar, this episode offers practical insight and honest career advice.

100 episodes ago… we had no studio and no clue, but we had an idea and pressed record without knowing what would come next.In this milestone episode, Hayley and John look back at how a small side project turned into a legal community creating real opportunities for aspiring barristers and solicitors, from running four structured competitions a year to launching initiatives like the Northern Pupilage Fair.They share the turning points that changed everything, the early technical disasters, and the mindset shifts that helped them push through imposter syndrome and self-doubt.You’ll hear a sharp breakdown of mooting vs mock trials, why advocacy confidence is built (not born), and why feeling nervous is often the biggest sign you’re levelling up.If you’re a law student, aspiring barrister, or lawyer trying to find your footing; this episode is proof that you don’t need to start polished. You just need to start.100 episodes. Still building. Still opening doors.👉 If you’re serious about building confidence and breaking into the legal profession, hit subscribe and join the community.

Episode 99 dives into the civil litigation process from start to finish, with a practical breakdown of pre-action protocols, issuing claims, track allocation, case management, settlement pressure, trial, and cost recovery .

We also answer listener questions on:

• Judicial intervention in moots

• Moving away from scripts

• Handling impromptu advocacy

• Defending a client who admits guilt

  
  

Real advice. Real courtroom insight. One episode away from triple figures.

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We’re two episodes away from 100, and this week we’re answering your questions in a relaxed Ask Speed Squad special.

We discuss how to improve vocabulary recall in public speaking, the biggest mistakes we see in training contract and pupillage applications, and how to properly sell yourself without underselling your strengths. We talk about standing out early in your legal career, building experience before qualification, and why commercial awareness is about analysis and impact, not simply knowing the headlines.

There’s also a conversation about advocacy practice, volunteering, Speakers Club, and the small but costly errors that can undermine an otherwise strong application. And, as always, we find time for some off-topic moments, including a mooting story from a Primark interview and an unexpected Sunday lunch at the Inns of Court.

If you’re an aspiring solicitor or barrister, this episode is full of practical insight and honest advice about breaking into the profession.

If you enjoyed it, follow the podcast, leave a rating, and send in your questions for a future Ask Speed Squad episode.

In this webinar, Hayley Dove shares her journey into commercial law — from a working-class background in Liverpool to qualifying as a commercial property litigation solicitor and becoming Legal Director at Speed Mooting.

She breaks down what commercial law really looks like in practice, how commercial solicitors and barristers work together, and the realities of billable hours, career progression, and imposter syndrome.

The episode also covers practical advice for law students and aspiring barristers, including gaining commercial experience, securing vacation schemes and mini-pupillages, handling rejection, and building the core skills needed to succeed in commercial law.

In Episode 97 of the Speed Mooting: Partners in Crime Podcast, John and Hayley focus on interview preparation for aspiring solicitors and barristers. They share practical advice on how to prepare effectively for legal interviews, including researching firms and chambers, avoiding common mistakes, managing nerves, and asking strong questions at interview.The episode also features Ask Speed Squad, where listener questions are answered on handling uncertainty as a self-employed barrister, using LinkedIn and networking effectively, learning from career setbacks, and what really goes on behind the scenes at Speed Mooting.This episode is particularly useful for anyone preparing for pupillage interviews, training contracts, vacation schemes, or assessment days, and offers honest, experience-based guidance to help listeners approach interviews with confidence and perspective.To learn more about how Speed Mooting can support your legal journey visit: https://speedmooting.com/

In Episode 96, Hayley and John take on comparison culture — the pressure of seeing everyone else’s legal career “wins” online while feeling like you’re standing still.

With pupillage interview season approaching, they share honest reflections on delayed routes into practice, the reality behind social media success stories, and why not getting everything first time around is completely normal. Drawing on their own experiences, they explain why a legal career is a marathon, not a sprint.

The episode also explores:

• What advocacy experience pupillage panels really value

• Whether mooting is essential

• Switching between solicitor and barrister routes

• Changing practice areas later in your career

Plus updates on upcoming podcast guests, advocacy events, and the National Speed Mooting Competition 2026.

If you’re questioning your progress or feeling behind — this one’s for you.

What does intellectual property law really involve and what’s it like to build your own firm from scratch?

Speed Mooting Presents: Conversations with Counsel welcomes IP specialist Tom Broster, founding partner of Asenda Law, for an in-person conversation about intellectual property, advocacy, and building a legal career on your own terms.

Tom explains what IP law actually covers, reflects on his journey from studying IP at the University of Liverpool to working in Magic Circle firms, and discusses why he ultimately chose to set up his own practice. Alongside John Dove, he explores autonomy in legal careers, the realities of self-employment, and what motivates lawyers beyond job titles.

The episode also looks at advocacy within IP law, including opportunities before the UK Intellectual Property Office, the role of solicitors and barristers, and why attention to detail really matters. Packed with practical advice for students and aspiring lawyers, this is definitely an episode not to miss!