Law students and trainee solicitors need to understand how AI interacts with legal practice. This includes how it works, which tools are best for which tasks and the ethical implications. This episode explores all these issues and more!
Law students and trainees will need to be able to use different AI tools ethically, efficiently and competently. Learning how to do this should start in Law School.
In this episode Catriona Filmer from Field Fisher LLP and Jimin Park (QMUL on placement at Simmons and Simmons) go through the nuts and bolts of AI in legal practice and how it is being used ‘on the ground’. They break down this big and sometimes overwhelming topic into digestible discussion. Lawyers are having to understand this new skill set to get the best out of AI and navigate this new world. That doesn’t mean coding but does mean understanding the framework and crucially the ethical implications. Also understanding how AI might impact different aspects of our legal profession from high street to city law firms.
They discuss how AI works from tokens, predictive models and context windows. From this it is easier to understand the advantages and disadvantages of different AI tools to legal practice.
We always encourage listeners to undertake practical actions after listening to the episode.
Here are a few suggestions.
- Look at the free online courses / resources prepared by the Open University alongside law firms such as Field Fisher. https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/course/index.php?categoryid=2150&_gl=1*1kwmwvu*_gcl_au*MTA4MDE3Njk5Ny4xNzU1NDk3MjQ5 - Test different AI models to see the inherent biases – analyse the information which is produced.
This episode welcomes Karen Watton (QMUL) and Prof. Emily Allbon (City St Georges University) to talk us through what is meant by legal design and how it can benefit both law students and the public.
The law is for everyone but structures can make it hard for everyone to access the legal system. Legal design is an increasingly popular methodology, helping to improve the mindset and output that lawyers can give.
In this episode Karen Watton (Queen Mary University of London) and Professor Emily Allbon (City St Georges University) explain the important role that legal design has in creating systems around the law that work for the end user. This episode discusses the design thinking methodology, the skills students can gain from looking at things afresh and examining a legal scenario from the perspective of the end user.
We always encourage listeners to undertake practical actions after listening to the episode. Here are a few suggestions.
- Learn to pay attention. One trick is to take an everyday object e.g. a biro lid and draw it 50 times.
- Learn how to listen actively. Practice listening actively.
- Look at an agreement you just made (e.g. an app or gym membership) and think about how helpful that was for you. How could it be improved?
Useful resources
- Law Bore https://lawbore.net/ - a website directory of law for undergraduate law students.
- Home - Design the Law Nepal
- Coltsfoot Vale - The Land Law Story Map – the land law story map.
- Tl;dr - https://tldr.legal/home which includes an interactive map on Kyla’s Essay Journey.
- The Brexit Comic Strip Brexit: The Comic Strip - tl;dr - The Less Textual Legal Gallery
- Design in Legal Education - The Book - Design in Legal Education
- THE LEGAL DESIGN BOOK – Doing Law In The 21st Century – featuring qLegal’s case study in the field work section.
- Privacy Policy – Ambessa Play – A children’s privacy policy.
- Expanding Legal Design at qLegal: From volunteering to curriculum - qLegal – A news story about qLegal’s legal design module at Queen Mary University of London.
In this episode of ReImagine Law, we sit down with Peter Walsh and Pravina Pathmanathan from CMS to explore how one of the UK’s leading law firms is redefining the future of legal services through innovation and legal technology. Peter and Pravina bring fresh perspectives from outside the legal sector and share how their roles are reshaping a traditionally conservative industry—one idea, prototype, and insight at a time.
🧩 Topics Covered:
1. Getting Into Innovation in Law
Peter and Pravina share their unique career journeys—from consulting and energy to legal innovation—and what drew them to work in a sector poised for transformation.
2. What Innovation Looks Like at a Law Firm
Peter explains how CMS fosters a culture of experimentation within a traditionally risk-averse environment—using tools like Innovation Hours, hackathons, and client co-creation.
3. The Role of Legal Technology
Pravina breaks down the difference between legal tech and innovation, and how the firm leverages products like document automation, AI drafting tools, and client portals to enhance delivery.
4. Delivering Innovation and Tech in Practice
From managing complex stakeholder needs to ensuring legal compliance and data security, Pravina and Peter unpack how CMS integrates innovation and technology into everyday legal operations.
5. Enhancing Client Experience
Learn how CMS is helping clients future-proof their own services—improving speed, transparency, and self-service options to deliver more value and clarity in legal workflows.
🤖 Bonus Topic: The Role of AI in Legal Services
Peter and Pravina discuss the impact of Generative AI and how AI is shifting from a “nice to have” to an expectation across the profession.
Check out the CMS Training Contract here:
https://cmsemergingtalent.com/programmes/england-wales-ni/training-contract/
In Part 2 of this special episode we are joined by Dr Georgina Tsagas, a UK Accredited Mediator and Consultant Solicitor in England & Wales, expert in company law and sustainability, based in London and working across Europe. Dr Tsagas gives a fascinating insight into the use of “mediation” as an alternative legal route to settling disputes. We discuss what mediation is (and isn’t), why clients use this dispute resolution method, the skills needed, and some practical examples of disputes where mediation has been used.
In Part 2 of this special episode we are joined by Dr Georgina Tsagas, founder of GT Mediation | Dispute Resolution and a UK Accredited Mediator and Consultant Solicitor in England & Wales, expert in company law and sustainability, based in London and working across Europe.
We hear how mediation works practically, from evidence gathering to negotiation and closure, and also how “mediator advocates” can be involved in a mediation process (in addition to the mediators themselves).
The skills needed for mediation are explored, and Dr Tsagas offers advice on avenues that can help you build those skills and how to build a career path in this area, including how much experience is often needed to gain such roles.
Finally, some practical examples are given of cases and types of disputes where mediation can be used successfully, ranging from family business disputes to high-stakes commercial negotiations or international conflicts
Actions and resources for listeners:
· Read the article ‘The Psychology of Resolution: The art of tackling 'Cognitive Dissonance' in the “Conflict No More” Newsletter by GT Mediation | Dispute Resolution. Which skills as a lawyer do you think will be particularly key in this specific situation?
· Think about the use of mediation discussed in the episode: research, and then make a list of key reasons why you think it is a particularly useful way to settle a Workplace Conflict dispute between a Manager and a Team Member? For an example of a Workplace Dispute Read ‘Work-Place Bullying: How to spot it, its connection to the S of ESG and what to do about it?’ in the “Conflict No More” Newsletter by GT Mediation | Dispute Resolution.
In this special 2 part episode, we are joined by Dr Georgina Tsagas, a UK Accredited Mediator and Consultant Solicitor in England & Wales, expert in company law and sustainability, based in London and working across Europe. Dr Tsagas gives a fascinating insight into the use of “mediation” as an alternative legal route to settling disputes. We discuss what mediation is (and isn’t), why clients use this dispute resolution method, the skills needed, and some practical examples of disputes where mediation has been used.
In this special episode we are joined by Dr Georgina Tsagas, founder of GT Mediation | Dispute Resolution and a UK Accredited Mediator and Consultant Solicitor in England & Wales, expert in company law and sustainability, based in London and working across Europe. Dr Tsagas gives a fascinating insight into the use of “mediation” as an alternative legal route to settling disputes.
We discuss what mediation is (and isn’t), why clients use this dispute resolution method, the skills needed, and some practical examples of disputes where mediation has been used. The episode also explains how mediation is different to other ways to settle disputes, such as arbitration and litigation, including how mediation is linked to the court process in different countries, or is separate from the courts.
Dr Tsagas gives examples of how different jurisdictions have encouraged people to use mediation to settle disputes, and also explains the benefits, ranging from speed of settling a dispute, to confidentiality, and a route which offers greater flexibility than a formal court process. We hear how mediation works practically, from evidence gathering to negotiation and closure, and also how “mediator advocates” can be involved in a mediation process (in addition to the mediators themselves).
The skills needed for mediation are explored, and Dr Tsagas offers advice on avenues that can help you build those skills and how to build a career path in this area, including how much experience is often needed to gain such roles. Finally, some practical examples are given of cases and types of disputes where mediation can be used successfully, ranging from family business disputes to high-stakes commercial negotiations or international conflicts.
Actions and resources for listeners:
· Read the article ‘The Psychology of Resolution: The art of tackling 'Cognitive Dissonance' in the “Conflict No More” Newsletter by GT Mediation | Dispute Resolution. Which skills as a lawyer do you think will be particularly key in this specific situation?
· Think about the use of mediation discussed in the episode: research, and then make a list of key reasons why you think it is a particularly useful way to settle a Workplace Conflict dispute between a Manager and a Team Member? For an example of a Workplace Dispute Read ‘Work-Place Bullying: How to spot it, its connection to the S of ESG and what to do about it?’ in the “Conflict No More” Newsletter by GT Mediation | Dispute Resolution.
This episode welcomes Linden Thomas (University of Birmingham) and John Lunney (Law Society of Ireland) to talk us through Public Legal Education and how lawyers can have a big impact in helping the public to improve their legal literacy.
The public are all bound by the law but many individuals and groups do not know how the law impacts them and interacts with their every day life. Public Legal Education seeks to help the public improve their knowledge of, and confidence with the law, rather than providing specific advice on a specific issue.
This episode explores the detail of this important movement as well as delving into a subsection of public legal education – Street Law. We always encourage listeners to undertake practical actions after listening to the episode.
- Look at the Moocs hosted by the Law Society of Ireland https://www.lawsociety.ie/mooc
- Explore the Young Citizen’s website https://www.youngcitizens.org/
Useful resources
- Definition of Public Legal Education on the Law Society Website. https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/campaigns/public-legal-education
- Dr Sean Arthur’s article: Street Law: Creating Tomorrow’s Citizens Today https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/lewclr19&div=41&g_sent=1&casa_token=zXZmYC7dKX0AAAAA:EfE1sg9Rvwka1t0VlvUWz-okEwQjjMv-KNX2liZzIAFZlvR74Mzes39cjR1IT1mJvyvXx6vY&collection=journals
- The Kids Aren’t Alright: The 4 Factors Driving a Dangerous Detachment from Democracy. https://www.ukonward.com/reports/the-kids-arent-alright-democracy/
- Street Law Inc. https://streetlaw.org/
In this special episode we are joined Savvas Skordellis, Trainee Solicitor at Deloitte Legal, who talks about how he developed in interests for technology and its application in legal practice. Savvas speaks about how he sought out a degree and Masters course which would allow him to specialise in this area, and also the importance of finding opportunities to apply one’s learning in practice, both within a university context and in the workplace.
Savvas also gives us an insight into his current role, explaining what it is like to be part of a legal team, and have a training contract, at Deloitte Legal, one of the “Big 4” global advisory firms. Savvas tells us about his choice of degree programme at the University of South Wales as a very specific, practice-focused one combining both a LLB and the Legal Practice Course – and how he began to become very curious about the impact of technology on legal practice, leading him to undertake a part-time degree in Legal Technology.
Savvas explains also, as part of this career journey so far, how helpful he has found it to seek out opportunities to apply his academic learning in practice: ranging from opportunities to work in the Legal Advice Centre of his university to studying the Masters part-time whilst working as a Legal Technologist at Addleshaw Goddard. Finally, Savvas shares why he sought a role in the legal services team of one of the Big 4 advisory businesses, Deloitte, his learning in the role, and how the Training Contract is structured there. The opportunity to continue to develop his experience in the use of legal technology products is also discussed, including the development of some tools for M&A Due Diligence, which have been recognised at the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards.
Actions and resources for listeners:
· Read this interview with a trainee lawyer at Deloitte Legal. From both this interview, and the current podcast, what do you see as the key skills to succeed at the business?
· Why do you think the “Big 4” global advisory businesses wanted to enter the legal services market? Research articles online and think, if you were running the businesses, what would influence your decision?
In this special episode we are joined by Dr Angela Sherwood and Monika Sobiecki to talk about the role lawyers can play in achieving “Climate Justice”.
We talk about what “Climate Justice” means, how both guests became so committed to working in this area, and the urgent need for all lawyers to consider the environmental impact of their work. Also, we discuss Angela’s new (and unique) undergraduate law degree programme at QMUL, “Law and Climate Justice”.
Monika and Angela talk about their respective pathways to the world of law and “Climate Justice”. Angela speaks about her role at the United Nations, and how her interest grew in the political and legal aspects of climate change, and also how this linked to her interests in human rights, social justice, and the individual impact which environmental challenges are having across the world.
This led Angela to develop a new law degree programme at QMUL to ensure that the next generation of law students are keenly aware of the relevant issues and can understand how they, as future lawyers, can be change agents to help achieve “Climate Justice”.
Monika talks about her work as a barrister, and how a client’s case she was working on (‘Climategate’) triggered a sense of needing to help more with the climate emergency – in particular making lawyers aware of the impact which their work is having globally. Monika discusses the work of the “Lawyers are Responsible” group, and explains how students equally passionate about this topic can become involved, and why she feels this is so important.
Actions and resources for listeners:
· Look at the topics covered in the new QMUL degree in “Law and Climate Justice”: which ones are you particularly passionate about?
· Watch the Newsnight video on the Lawyers are Responsible website: what are your views on the “cab rank rule” for barristers and how should lawyers think about ethics in a climate crisis?
· How are UK law students getting involved in challenging climate change? Have a look at the group Law Students for Climate Accountability and the critical demands they are making of the legal profession.
In this special episode we are joined by two final year QMUL Law students, Simran Patel and William Green, who took up the option of embedding a year of paid work experience into their law studies. We talk about how the opportunity to apply one’s academic learning in the workplace is powerful, the skills they built, the different private practice and in-house work environments, and the career insights which a work placement offers to guide your development.
For the in-house environment, Williams speaks about how working in the Corporate and Legal Operations teams at CHANEL led to feeling very close to the business units across the company. How he built his commercial awareness, giving him great insight into issues a lawyer needs to think about as part of their work in a world-leading luxury brand business. Also, William compares this experience with the private practice environment of ICB Law Firm in Kuwait, which was a fascinating insight into a law firm in a different region.
Simran talks about how much insight her placement at BCLP gave into a career in private practice – especially how she built her confidence in dealing directly with clients, the need to be responsive, and build one’s communication skills. Also Simran describes how the technologies which are now becoming a key part of a lawyer’s daily tool-kit mean that attention to detail is even more critical – checking what the AI and other automation tools have created. Finally, Simran compares this private practice experience with her previous internships as part of an in-house legal team, and how all this experience has helped to shape her career thinking.
Actions and resources for listeners:
· Look at the QMUL placement degree student experience videos and statements here – what skills did the students develop? And how does this list of skills link to some skills you would like to develop?
· Read this article about In-House career paths and how you can find a path toward them – and plan your answers for the interview questions listed there!
In this podcast we hear from the CEO of Clarilis, a market leading technology platform in the sector, who shares insights into:
Plus of course tips on both routes into legal technology and how to know if it is for you
Useful links and resources:
https://www.clarilis.com/about-clarilis/careers
https://www.artificiallawyer.com/
This episode encourages, and guides, students on the nuts and bolts of how to go to court and watch a court case from the public gallery.
Most courts in the country have public galleries where members of the public over the age of 14 can attend and watch hearings.
Watching a court case whether a trial, hearing or an appeal is a wonderful way to learn more about the legal profession. This episode aims to give listeners all the nitty gritty information they need to get the confidence to go to court and watch.
Useful Resources:
Here is a page about criminal sentencing being televised and there is a You Tube link towards the bottom of the page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/broadcasting-crown-court-sentencing
Watch current and past cases at the Supreme Court here: https://www.supremecourt.uk/
Competition Appeal Tribunal Website (with livestream towards the top of the page). https://www.catribunal.org.uk/
This special episode records a live stream panel event with criminal lawyers discussing their work and views. The episode has audience contributions from aspiring lawyers.
In this special episode Fran welcomes three criminal lawyers to join her on a panel discussing the nuts and bolts of working in criminal practice. Barristers Beth Crocker and Sonal Dishani and solicitor Harun Matin get stuck in to all the wonderful questions that our audience and Fran have for them. A must listen for anyone interested in working in criminal law.
This podcast is packed with useful advice from Clare Grant, BPP’s Commercial Director of Legal Apprenticeships. Kerry Jarred and Clare discuss the increasing adoption and impact of apprenticeship programs in the legal sector, particularly solicitor apprenticeships. If you want to understand how apprenticeships differ from the traditional training contract route, how they are structured and what would be expected of you, this is the key podcast to listen to!
Resources:
Apprenticeships | Learn About Apprenticeships And Find The Right One For You (ucas.com)
Find an apprenticeship - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
GetMyFirstJob | Apprenticeships, Degree Apprenticeships, Work Experience & Graduate Jobs
Young Professionals – YPUK (young-professionals.uk)
Professional network for young people (uptree.co)
Free Virtual Work Experience Programs from Top Companies - Forage (theforage.com)
Welcome to The 93% Club | The State School Members' Club (93percent.club)
If you want to learn about the world of Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity and Venture Capital – then this is the show for you! Kerry Jarred speaks with Sam Smith and Raghav Vohora of CMS to explore the current corporate market activity and its drivers, what investors look for when making investment decisions, and how corporate lawyers support their clients in this sector. It is PACKED full of information as Sam and Raghav de-mystify key corporate terms and provide useful advice to those wanting to find out more.
Resources:
The Economist | Independent journalism
Law firm specialised in Mergers & Acquisitions - CMS in the UK
In this special episode we are joined by Tamara Box. Tamara is a partner, and Head of Structured Finance at global law firm Reed Smith and, in the immediate past, was the firm’s Managing Partner for Europe and the Middle East. We “horizon scan” with Tamara on how she sees the legal services sector changing in the coming years, and what that means for the careers, skills and opportunities for those entering the sector.
In this special episode we are joined by Tamara Box. Tamara is a partner, and Head of Structured Finance at global law firm Reed Smith and, in the immediate past, was the firm’s Managing Partner for Europe and the Middle East. We “horizon scan” with Tamara on how she sees the legal services sector changing in the coming years, and what that means for the careers, skills and opportunities for those entering the sector. In this episode, Tamara talks about her own career path, the importance of being open to exploring opportunities, “being brave” and not expecting that one’s career will develop in a linear way. Tamara also highlights how legal education and training gives a great set of foundational skills to pivot into many career paths – and how more diversity of skill-set and mind-set will be critical to deliver on client service needs in the future. For those entering the sector, Tamara sets out the breadth of opportunities across the private, public and non-for profit sectors – and above all how key skill-sets for students to focus on developing are those of customer service, communication and writing skills too, which will be critical for building great professional connections and opening up opportunities.
Actions and resources for listeners:
· Check this blog by Jordan Furlong for how the legal sector may look (“if we’re lucky”) in 2033.
· Look at this list of 7 client/customer service skills. Which 1 skill could you develop more in the coming 6 months?
Ever wondered what a career in Real Estate Law, and in particular affordable housing entails? This podcast will give you real insight into how law firms like Trowers and Hamlin provide services within this sector. Kerry Jarred is joined by Rob Beiley, Emma Kirby and Nikita Asher from Trowers and Hamlin, one of our sponsors here at ReImagine Law. The show is packed with advice and guidance, one not to be missed!
Resources:
Trowers & Hamlins - International law firm -Trowers & Hamlins
Navigating the UK market investment in student accommodation -Trowers & Hamlins
This podcast addresses whether the SQE syllabus delivers what is needed to be able to be effective in role as a newly qualified solicitor. Kerry Jarred is once again joined by Jonny Hurst of BPP and also, by Chloe Hayes who has recently passed her SQE 2 exams and is currently working towards to fulfilling her QWE requirements.
We cover the differences between the LPC and SQE course content, How the SQE course content sets students up for deciding the area of law to specialise in; what students can do to gain more experience and insight; and is packed full of top tips and advice.
Links:
BPP Legal Advice Clinic (BLAC) | Pro Bono Centre | BPP University Law School
SQE preparation courses - Courses (lawcareers.net)
CommercialAwareness - Commercial awareness (lawcareers.net)
Growing the next generation of social justice lawyers is vital for a well-rounded legal system. This episode explores the brilliant Justice First Fellowship programme which provides training opportunities within a range of charities and social justice law firms to create graduate roles to qualification.
In this episode Fran welcomes Deborah Acquaah (who manages the Justice First Fellowship within the Legal Education Foundation) and Myriam Naoual (a Justice First Fellow). They explain this brilliant programme giving opportunities for training and development in the social justice sector. They describe the sense of community Fellows have, and how the programme helps create change makers in the sector. A must listen for anyone wanting to work in the social justice sector but not knowing how.
We always encourage listeners to undertake practical actions after listening to the episode.
1. Read the Justice First Fellowship Brochure (see below).
2. Look on different websites and start to look at the types of roles which are available in different Law Centres and charities.
Useful resources: -
The Justice First Fellowship https://jff.thelegaleducationfoundation.org/about/about-the-fellowship/ -
Justice First Fellowship Brochure https://jff.thelegaleducationfoundation.org/about/justice-first-fellowship-brochure/ -
Become a Fellow https://jff.thelegaleducationfoundation.org/how-to-apply/eligibility/
In this special episode we are joined by Barry Matthews, Group Deputy General Counsel at the Pennon Group Plc, and Holly Moore, Legal Advisor in the in-house legal team at broadcaster ITV. We explore how you can develop a career path as an in-house lawyer, how the role differs from other types of legal practice, the opportunities such pathways offer, the skills which help you to succeed as an in-house lawyer, and how the role is changing.
In this episode, Barry and Holly explain how they each developed their career paths to in-house legal roles and what attracted them to this area of legal practice. For Barry, this was a route via private practice in a City law firm, whilst Holly gained an in-house solicitor apprentice role and went directly into in-house practice. Areas discussed include the diversity of the roles and opportunities, and the closeness of the in-house legal role to the commercial business you are advising.
Holly speaks about the fast-moving, and varied work at ITV from commercial negotiations to drafting and brand protection work. Also Holly discusses how the in-house role gives a great “helicopter view” of the business as her role rotated through different departments during training. Barry also emphasises the variety of his in-house work at a senior level, ranging from the legal and commercial strategy work to collaborating with academic partner organisations on societal issues such as water supply resilience. Both guests talk about skills such as agility, project management and relationship building as being key to success – and how they see in-house legal functions developing in the future.
Actions and resources for listeners:
· Check this webpage to find out some differences between working as an in-house lawyer and in private practice.
On this list of “10 Business Skills every in-house lawyer should master”, where are you already strong, and which 1 skill could you work more to develop?
In this special episode we are joined by Mark Karnowski and Tom Evans, who hold senior roles in delivering Legal Project Management services for international law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, and Robert Dudley, Head of Employability & Engagement at The BARBRI Group. We explore the expanding career opportunities in “Legal Project Management”, the skills needed, and why this is a fast-growing area in both law firms and the in-house legal teams of their clients.
In this episode, Mark and Tom speak about what “Legal Project Management” (or “LPM”) is, and how the need for firms to deliver this LPM service arose from the greater client demand for efficiency and pricing certainty after the Financial Crash in 2007-09. Mark and Tom explain how this is a fast-growing area of practice, relevant to different practice areas, from Banking and Corporate to Litigation. Our guests explain how you can build a career in LPM from different career backgrounds ranging from being a lawyer, to accountancy or management consultancy, and the graduate programmes in law firms in “Legal Operations” which offer you the chance to develop a career in LPM. The differences between LPM roles in law firms and in-house legal teams are also discussed.
The episode then considers the skill-sets which are important for LPM, highlighting core capabilities such as organisation, project management and attention to detail. Also, our guests emphasise the need for high levels of emotional intelligence, managing and negotiating with one’s busy stakeholders, adaptability as projects you are managing evolve and change, and a need for resilience and being able to manage tight deadlines.
Actions and resources for listeners:
· Check this webpage and read one of the “how we are helping out clients” stories – what skills would the legal project managers need to deliver really well on this project?
· See this summary of the importance of legal project management to in-house legal teams. How do you own skills match with those highlighted there?
