The best podcasts for aspiring solicitors

The world has reached ‘peak podcast’, with lots of content out there serving niche audiences and legal careers is no exception. There are lots of beneficial podcasts out there for aspiring solicitors, and we’ve highlighted the best.

The Clifford Chance Careers Podcast

Clifford Chance, one of the world’s leading law firms, have their very own careers podcast that is a must-listen for any aspiring solicitor.

Their series, ‘The Smarts’, interviews a range of individuals from across the firm, from the Head of Graduate Talent to Associates and Partners. The series investigates what the firm looks for in aspiring solicitors and the key behaviours you need to be a successful trainee. It also showcases the range of talent and individuals at the firm and includes interviews with a former Royal Marine and a former Olympic rower.

We won’t spoil anything for you, as the podcasts are really worth a listen. However, one particular highlight is the firm’s Head of Graduate Talent, Laura Yeates, explaining that the ability to tell a convincing story about yourself isn’t enough for aspiring solicitors; you need to inject an element of personality into your applications. The example presented in the podcast is unique and thought-provoking and shows how aspiring solicitors can think outside the box to ensure everything they do can assist their hunt for a training contract.

Laura Yeates expands on this: “We always try to advise candidates to bring their applications to life and to inject their personality into their examples. We know this is hard and getting across the impact you've had or the legacy you've left when describing a particular achievement can be a real challenge. Our SMARTS series addresses this head on, featuring life hacks from the bestselling book 'The Smarts' and inspiring personal stories for our people. Short, punchy and to the point.”

You can listen to episodes on Clifford Chance’s website, and the podcast is also available to subscribe to on Apple Podcasts.

HBS Managing the Future of Work

Harvard Business School’s podcast is an absolute necessity for any aspiring solicitor. Covering the latest technological trends and topics, the podcast has an excellent archive and more content is added every week.

Podcasts consist of interviews with executives and CEOs and insights from Harvard’s economists, and expertly unpacks how the world’s leading businesses are interacting with artificial intelligence, robotics, the gig economy and globalisation.

You can subscribe on Apple or Spotify.

FT News Briefing

The Financial Times is widely mentioned as a necessary read for aspiring solicitors. Wading through those iconic pink pages can be time consuming, especially if you have essays to write, lectures to attend, and seminars and workshops to prepare for. However, the FT News Briefing podcast is ideal for getting the lowdown on the main news stories in the world of business.

Episodes are released every weekday and at just 10-minutes in length, the podcast provides perfect introductions to commercial issues that you can research further with wider reading.

You can subscribe on Apple or Spotify or listen on the Financial Times website.

Joe Rogan Experience – Jack Dorsey, Vijaya Gadde & Tim Pool

In 2019, Joe Rogan who is widely known for his stand-up comedy and love of mixed martial arts, did two in-depth podcasts with Jack Dorsey, co-founder and CEO of social media giant Twitter.

The first episode, where Dorsey is the sole interviewee, covers interesting topics such as the growth and development of Twitter as a platform and also touches on terms of service, ‘doxxing’ and online harassment.

The second episode, where Dorsey is joined by Twitter’s Legal, Policy and Trust & Safety Lead and General Consul, Vijaya Gadde, is where things get really interesting for an aspiring solicitor. The conversation lasts for over three hours and focuses a lot on Twitter’s policies and online abuse, harassment and hate speech and how this comes into contact with the Constitution of the United States of America, particularly the freedom of speech. It’s a fascinating episode and a unique insight into the legal challenges Twitter face as a business, and touches on wider issues with social media.

You can listen on Apple or Spotify, or watch on Joe Rogan’s website.

BBC Radio 4’s Law in Action

Law in Action has been a long-standing feature of BBC Radio 4’s programming and is presented by a former University of Law student, Joshua Rozenberg.

Law in Action is impressive in that it covers a whole host of topics, ranging from commercial topics such as competition law and driverless cars, to issues surrounding criminal law and constitutional questions too, particularly surrounding the UK prison system and Brexit.

Law in Action also interviews leading legal figures in the UK, such as the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

You can subscribe to Law in Action on Apple or Spotify, or access the back catalogue on the BBC’s website.

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