It’s easier than ever to find, subscribe and listen to podcasts, filling your ears with any subject you find interesting. One of the key benefits of listening to podcasts is maximising your spare time, allowing you to learn and develop while you’re walking, driving, commuting or even just getting chores done around the house.
By Cara Fielder. Published 17 August 2018. Last updated 15 December 2022.
Our Employability Director, John Watkins, said that Podcasts are increasing popular in 2018 as they appeal to the communication preferences of the modern day student.
“The attraction is partly by topic but also in the nature of delivery – both features needing to be distinctive to capture and retain attention. As with more traditional messaging, interpretation is quite personal and what works for one may not for others. Thus there is real benefit in variety and being efficient – short, sharp insight is the easiest to digest,” he said.
Here are John’s top picks of the legal podcasts our students have been listening to:-
Law in Action
Law in Action is BBC Radio 4’s long running legal magazine programme, hosted by ULaw alumnus Joshua Rozenberg. The podcast features reports and discussion on all matters relating to law, from questioning if the use of facial recognition technology by the police infringes on the Human Rights Act to an interview with the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Sir Ian Burnett.
Well produced, thoughtful and east to follow, Law in Action makes for interesting listening whether you are heading towards a career in law or not.
Serial
Serial is the most downloaded podcast of all time, investigating the murder of 18-year-old Hae Min Lee in 1999. Her classmate and ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, was arrested and convicted of her murder. He has always protested his innocence but he can't remember what he was doing on the day of her murder.
Journalist Sarah Koenig re-examines the case by going through the evidence and interviewing the people involved. Did the justice system fail Hae and Adnan?
This American piece of investigate journalism blends together law, crime and storytelling to make addictive listening.
The Hearing
The Hearing is a Thomson Reuters podcast hosted by lawyer and social media commentator Kevin Poulter. This ongoing series began earlier this year and includes stories of industry trailblazers, uncovering the latest insights in legal innovation, and discussing the hot topics of the legal profession.
So far episodes have included fascinating guests such as Dame Fiona Woolf, Lord Michael Howard, Ayesha Vardag and Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clarke. Kevin Poulter’s enthusiastic but laidback style of interviewing warms him to both his guests and listeners. We’re looking forward to seeing who he talks to next.
Law Pod UK
Law Pod UK is a podcast from the creators of the UK Human Rights blog and produced by barristers of One Crown Office Row. Host Rosalind English discusses all aspects of UK civil and public law with legal professionals, professors and specialists.
Running since mid-2017 there are currently 40 episodes available so lots to catch up on; including subjects such as ‘Will AI outwit our laws?’, ‘A patient’s right to experimental medical treatment’ and it recently covered Brexit two years on. Law Pod UK is relevant and informative listening for everyone studying law.
Lawyer 2 Lawyer
Lawyer 2 Lawyer is a US based award-winning legal podcast hosted by Massachusetts attorney Bob Ambrogi and criminal defence lawyer J. Craig Williams. Launched in 2005, Lawyer 2 Lawyer is one of the longest-running legal podcasts.
Ambrogi and Williams invite industry professionals to examine and debate current hot topics and recent rulings within the legal industry. Detailed analysis of well-known cases such as the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial and the ‘Making a Murderer’ trial of Steven Avery are peppered among the more common subject discussions, such as the legalities of Amazon’s Echo and gender discrimination in the workplace. They’re also keeping an eye on how the SQE is progressing and its impact on UK law, keeping it relevant to listeners this side of the pond too.
RightsUp
RightsUp is a podcast from the Oxford Human Rights Hub that aims to provide global perspectives on human rights at the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford. It delves into some very interesting and relevant subjects such a sex education in school, the future of the UK Human Rights Act and Holding Corporations Accountable for Human Rights.
The very first episode covers the hot topic of Revenge Porn and the Law, it’s a fascinating subject to start with considering the recent attempts at and it set. RightsUp is clear, concise and thought provoking, making it one of the best UK legal podcasts out there.
Here at The University of Law we inspire and support our student’s ambitions every day. To find out more about studying law take a look at our legal courses from undergraduates and postgraduates.
