Societies are grappling with how to help keep children safe while navigating online spaces, including through legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) in the US. In this episode, Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), joins host Janelle Wrigley to talk about KOSA and America’s First Amendment.

Jenna and Janelle explore why free speech principles are so important in the "new town square" of the internet, and discuss the benefits and risks that young people face online. Jenna explains the ACLU's concerns with KOSA's duty of care and potential over-censorship, and advocates for alternatives centered on privacy, user controls, and digital literacy.

What if rivers, forests, and even individual trees had their own legal rights? In this thought-provoking episode, host Becky Annison speaks with Paul Powlesland – barrister, founder of Lawyers for Nature, and leading advocate for the legal rights of nature – about a revolutionary movement transforming our relationship with the natural world.

Paul explains how the "rights of nature" movement goes beyond passing new laws, aiming to fundamentally reshape how we view and protect the environment. Drawing on global examples and his own front-line experiences, Paul shows how granting legal rights to nature is already making a real difference. He also shares how lawyers from any field, not just environmental specialists, can become "guardians of nature", and why rights on paper must be matched by real enforcement. Paul makes the case for legal personhood for rivers, forests, and landscapes to empower communities and hold polluters accountable.

If you have ever wondered how legal innovation could help solve environmental crises – or how ordinary people can help protect nature – this episode is for you. Discover how every saved tree and every legal victory is building a movement to redefine the 21st century. Tune in for a fascinating conversation that will inspire you to see both law and nature in a new light.

Join host Teneé Frazier as she sits down with Professor Luke Shaefer, an expert on poverty and social welfare policy, for an in-depth look at the complexities of living in poverty in the US. They discuss the realities faced by those surviving on minimal resources, and what legal professionals and global listeners can glean from these powerful narratives.

Professor Shaefer shares observations from his extensive research on the realities of poverty, and shares insights from the books he co-authored, “$2 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America” and “The Injustice of Place”. Whether you're a legal practitioner, policymaker, or simply interested in the intersection of law, social justice, and real-world impact, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the challenges of tackling poverty within a legal framework.

Tune in to hear Teneé and Luke unpack the human stories behind the statistics and consider what justice truly means for those most in need.

Join host Yasmin Sheikh as she interviews British lawyer, writer and broadcaster Mark Stephens for this thought-provoking episode.

Mark shares his journey from representing artists in intellectual property cases to advocating for freedom of speech and human rights. He discusses his impactful work addressing global issues, such as decriminalising homosexuality and combating child marriage. They also chat about Mark’s high-profile cases, including his notable role defending WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation which highlights how the law can drive meaningful social change.

Legislative efforts in the US are starting to recognize that people can face discrimination and bias in the workplace based on the size of their bodies. In this episode, host Janelle Wrigley speaks with Kara Richardson Whitely, author of ‘Gorge: My Journey Up Kilimanjaro at 300 Pounds’ and founder of The Gorgeous Agency (https://thegorgeousagency.com).

They discuss the complex trauma that can arise from weight stigma, how companies and law firms can create inclusive cultures for all body types and sizes, and Kara's path to becoming an outdoor adventurer and champion for body diversity.

Host Becky Annison explores the UK's court backlog crisis and its troubling ripple effects throughout the justice system. Her guest, Adrian Usher, the UK’s Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, explains how delayed trials are creating a bottleneck in prisons, with some Crown Court cases now being scheduled as far ahead as 2028, and he outlines the human cost of these systemic failures.

Adrian explains why coming into his role as PPO after a long career as a police officer changed how he thinks about prison sentences, and he discusses with Becky the many difficulties inmates face under current prison conditions.

This thought-provoking episode challenges legal professionals of all specialties to consider their duty to an increasingly strained justice system.

In a profession that celebrates achievement and relentless work ethic, what happens to the mental and physical wellbeing of those caught in this culture? Following our previous exploration of the mental health crisis in the legal community, this episode delves deeper into practical solutions.

Join host Teneé Frazier as she welcomes Kerry Lawlor, psychotherapist, and co-founder of the Workplace Collective (UK), for an illuminating conversation about recognizing the need for self-care and creating psychologically safe workplaces in the legal profession. Together, they delve into practical tools and strategies for individuals and firms to prioritize mental health and well-being. They discuss how implementing reflective practice strategies, and fostering environments where wellbeing is central to organizational culture can benefit the legal community as a whole.

This episode offers valuable insights for legal professionals seeking to thrive, not just survive, in high-pressure environments.

Who protects women when the very systems that are supposed to protect them, like the police and the broader legal system, refuse to, or even worse, are causing the harm in the first place? This episode's guest has been fighting against the systemic challenges women face in securing justice for decades. And she has some extraordinary stories to tell.

Join The Hearing host Yasmin Sheikh as she sits down with Harriet Wistrich, a human rights lawyer, founder of the Centre for Women's Justice (https://www.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk/), and author of "Sister in Law" (https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/455720/sister-in-law-by-wistrich-harriet/9781804995990).

Dive into Harriet's compelling journey from activism to law, driven by her passion for women's rights and justice. Discover the groundbreaking cases she's championed, including the landmark Sally Challen case that reshaped the understanding of coercive control and the John Warboys case, which highlighted some of the headwinds women face when they do come forward to seek justice for crimes against them.

In addition, she discusses astonishing undercover police operations that infiltrated activist groups, often using women as a means to an end. Wistrich weaves personal stories into a discussion about broader societal implications. This episode is a powerful exploration of systemic challenges and the relentless pursuit of justice. Don't miss this inspiring conversation - or Harriet's amazing book!

Most people would agree that lawyers and doctors should have professional licenses and oversight to protect the public from malpractice. But does the licensing system actually serve its intended purpose?

In this episode, join host Janelle Wrigley for an insightful conversation with Professor Rebecca Haw Allensworth of Vanderbilt Law School, as she discusses her book, ‘The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work and Why It Goes Wrong’.

Professor Allensworth delves into the complicated, and occasionally fraught, world of professional licensing, including in law and medicine, exploring how the licensing system affects workers and consumers alike. They discuss the unintended consequences of self-regulation, impacts on innovation, and ideas for reform. With real-world examples and thought-provoking insights, this episode sheds light on a topic that impacts our daily lives more than most of us might realize.

Those who could benefit most from the legal system are often those least able to access it. As this episode's guest, Stephen Kinsella, notes, "There are only so many cake stalls and jumble sales you can have in a local community, in order to raise funds to pay a lawyer." So that's where his organisation, Law for Change, steps in – as a Community Interest Company that helps provide financial backing and indemnities to cover legal costs for cases with significant societal impact.

Join host Becky Annison as she and Stephen discuss the motivations that led him to set up Law for Change and how the organisation selects its cases to carry out its mission. With an eye toward cases that will benefit society, or that could establish or refine important legal principles, the organisation has assisted with cases across a broad spectrum, including on issues such as fracking and police misconduct.

More broadly, Stephen talks about current challenges facing the UK legal system, including court backlogs and antiquated systems, and his concerns about a judicial system that relies on philanthropy to fill gaps.

You can find out more about Law for Change here: https://www.lawforchange.uk