You'll be hearing from my lawyer

Jessica van der Meer
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A conversation series about women barristers making a life at the Bar of England and Wales. Host Jessica van der Meer talks to a variety of women lawyers - from high-profile judges to barristers just starting out - about sexism, racism, money, family and how they've made a life at the Bar. It's an opportunity to discuss openly and honestly the things we, as women and barristers, experience a lot and should probably speak about more.

Episodes

  1. 07/29/2022

    Nneka Akudolu QC on thriving on adversity, success and the need for support

    In this sparkling second part of our conversation, Nneka Akudolu QC discusses support, from starting out as a single mother and young barrister to her application for Silk, how she thrives on adversity and how her definition of success changed as her career has progressed. She shares her words of wisdom to those interested in coming to the Criminal Bar. It's an invaluable episode, especially if you are interested in understanding how the profession can do better to help barristers of colour and (more generally) mothers succeed.

    39 min

  2. 07/01/2022

    Nneka Akudolu QC on what the barrister's wig means to her

    As the Criminal Bar prepares for another round of strikes to protest the woeful state of legal aid funding, we speak with Criminal barrister and sixth black female Queen's Counsel Nneka Akudolu QC about her unusual journey to the Criminal Bar and what wearing the barrister's wig and gown means to her.  Resources: Nneka Akudolu QC's piece in The Times on wigs: "As a black woman at the Bar, my wig is my armour." Nneka Akduolu QC in conversation with The Times: Nneka Akudolu QC: ‘Everyone said I wasn’t going to become a lawyer’ Read the Bar Council's statement regarding the Government's announcement (after the first two days of action) that it will to bring in a fee increase of 15% for the Advocates' Graduated Fee  Scheme (AGFS – ie the fees paid to barristers) from 30 September 2022 Read why the Criminal Bar is striking.

    23 min

  3. 03/25/2022

    What Dolph from Rocky IV can learn from Rehana Azib QC

    In part two of our conversation, Rehana Azib QC and Inspirational Barrister of the Year talks about her definition of success, whether she does this job for approval or respect, what she would say to her younger self just starting pupillage and how her work in employment law has influenced her personal relationships. It is another episode overflowing with wisdom and experience.

    38 min

  4. 03/18/2022

    What Rehana Azib (QC) and Dolph from Rocky IV have in common

    Barrister of the Year at the 2022 Inspirational Women in Law Awards and soon-to-be Queen’s Counsel, Rehana Azib talks about growing up in Derby and how her experiences of racism and prejudice at a young age have influenced how she deals with racism and difficult people in (and outside) of the courtroom now. We discuss the inspiration she draws from the Rocky films (there are several) and why she shares an office with Dolph Lundgren.

    33 min

  5. 02/25/2022

    Fitzrene Headley doesn't want to be a part of Sunday Homework Club anymore

    Can you have it all? What does that even mean? Fitzrene Headley and I speak about the problematic work-life balance at the English Bar, how various lockdowns have helped us redress that balance. The matrimonial finance barrister also talks about her relationship with money and what she's learned from helping her clients divorce their assets that she applies to her own life.

    31 min

  6. 01/20/2022

    How Fitzrene Headley gets the job done

    One of the most elegant barristers at the English Bar tells me about how she dresses for court, tackles being perceived as an 'angry (black) female barrister' in court, and how she deals with expectations of perfectionism and instances of patronising behaviour by others.  This episode was produced by Jessica van der Meer with help from Naomi Adedokun and Jessica Browne-Swinburne.

    39 min

  7. 01/20/2022

    Fitzrene Headley knows herself

    Top ranked matrimonial finance barrister Fitzrene Headley shares her journey to the English Bar, how she deals with micro-aggressions in and out of the court room and talks honestly about the challenges she has encountered being a black barrister at an overwhelmingly white English Bar. We discuss openly the challenges our profession faces in becoming a diverse, representative profession.   References used in this episode: https://www.vox.com/2015/2/16/8031073/what-are-microaggressions This episode was produced by Jessica van der Meer with help from Naomi Adedokun and Jessica Browne-Swinburne.

    40 min

  8. 01/20/2022

    Why this podcast exists

    In a world full of excellent podcasts on nearly any subject, why does this one exist? And why should you listen to it? In this brief introduction to the podcast, host Jessica van der Meer sets out the motivation for series. And it is not just for lawyers; it is for anyone who is interested in how other successful people have navigated tricky situations ranging from racism and sexism to what to wear in order to be taken seriously.

    2 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

A conversation series about women barristers making a life at the Bar of England and Wales. Host Jessica van der Meer talks to a variety of women lawyers - from high-profile judges to barristers just starting out - about sexism, racism, money, family and how they've made a life at the Bar. It's an opportunity to discuss openly and honestly the things we, as women and barristers, experience a lot and should probably speak about more.

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