The Legal Cheek Podcast

Legal Cheek
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Legal news, law firm insights and events. Weekly podcast about the big issues affecting the legal sector and beyond, featuring Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge, editor Tom Connelly and writers Julia Szaniszlo and Ryan Scott, as well as special guests. The Legal Cheek Podcast is proudly independent. Thanks to our sponsor Simpson Thacher, home of the private equity training contract, for making that possible.

  1. 4d ago

    What the lawyer picks in Andy Burnham's Cabinet tell us about the way he will govern

    The Legal Cheek Podcast is proudly independent. Thanks to our sponsor Simpson Thacher, home of the private equity training contract, for making that possible: https://ukearlycareers.stblaw.com/ Andy Burnham’s newly announced Cabinet features three lawyers, a former trainee solicitor who didn’t finish his training contract and a non-lawyer who’s been given the role of Lord Chancellor (aka Secretary of State for Justice). What do their backgrounds tell us about the way the new Prime Minister will govern? Legal Cheek editor Tom Connelly and publisher Alex Aldridge draw upon their experiences covering the legal market in depth over the last decade and beyond to answer this question. They consider how Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and new Attorney General Ellie Reeves both started out at the same chambers as rookie barristers. And they delve into the controversy around new Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who previously claimed to be a solicitor despite never actually qualifying. The pair also explore why the Lord Chancellor job – traditionally the preserve of legal professionals – has gone to a non-lawyer.

  2. Jul 17

    From lawyer to plasterer?! Why do so many quit law?

    The Legal Cheek Podcast is proudly independent. Thanks to our sponsor Simpson Thacher, home of the private equity training contract, for making that possible: https://ukearlycareers.stblaw.com/ Over the years, Legal Cheek has reported on dozens of ex-lawyers who have left the profession for something completely different -- heading into the arts, opening restaurants, moving into content creation and, in one case, becoming a clown?! But this week, a story in The Times about former legal director Richard Wetherell leaving his career as a personal injury lawyer to become a lime plasterer got us thinking about why lawyers walk away from a profession that is so often associated with prestige, security and high salaries. Legal Cheek’s Ryan Scott and Tom Connelly are back to discuss Wetherell’s unusual career change, alongside other examples of lawyers who have quit law to run an independent publishing house, set up their own bakeries, become classical painters and pivot into lawtech. They also explore the bigger questions behind these career changes: why do some lawyers leave law after spending years trying to get in? Is it burnout, work-life balance, a lack of fulfilment, or the pull of doing something more creative and meaningful? And, on the flip side, the pair consider why ex-lawyers are often well placed to succeed in other fields — from their work ethic and dedication to their ability to perform under pressure and win over clients. Ultimately, this week’s episode asks whether leaving law should really be seen as walking away from success, or simply redefining what success looks like.

  3. Jul 10

    Why Prince Harry’s lawfare was a BIG MISTAKE

    The Legal Cheek Podcast is proudly independent. Thanks to our sponsor Simpson Thacher, home of the private equity training contract, for making that possible: https://ukearlycareers.stblaw.com/ It's been well reported in the UK media that Prince Harry has been waging war on Britain's press establishment in a series of protracted legal battles fought out in the High Court and beyond. Whilst he's had a few victories along the way, namely a settlement in 2025 against the Sun's publishers, News Group Newspapers, and a win against Mirror Group Newspapers in 2023, his latest action against the press (or as he puts it “slay the dragon”!) has been unsuccessful. In 2022, Harry, alongside seven fellow claimants, accused the Associated Newspapers Ltd, publishers of the Daily Mail, the Mail Online, and Mail on Sunday, of “clear, systematic and sustained use of unlawful information-gathering”. Four years and an eleven-week High Court trial later, all 97 allegations were dismissed by Mr Justice Nicklins, who found that the claimants failed to prove any unlawful conduct on the part of ANL. What's more, this ordeal has reportedly racked up legal costs of £50 million! Given everything at stake, is litigation really effective enough at holding the press - or anyone- accountable to outweigh the costs of such a lengthy, expensive process? Alex Aldridge and Julia Szaniszlo are back to discuss the nuances of this story, what the true cost of litigation can be, who really wins and loses in the process, and why, ultimately, it can be a very costly mistake.

  4. Jul 7

    Better together? The hidden headaches of mega mergers

    The Legal Cheek Podcast is proudly independent. Thanks to our sponsor Simpson Thacher, home of the private equity training contract, for making that possible: https://ukearlycareers.stblaw.com/ Law firm mergers are often presented as a neat equation: bigger platform, bigger clients, bigger profits. But behind the slick press releases and carefully worded announcements, the reality of combining two major firms is usually far more complicated. And with Winston Taylor going live on 1 June, Ashurst Perkins Coie launching on 29 June, and Hogan Lovells Cadwalader following on 1 July, mega mergers are again dominating the legal headlines. These are some of the biggest law firm tie-ups in history — but what actually happens when (as the Spice Girls would say) two become one? Legal Cheek’s Julia Szaniszlo and Ryan Scott are back to unpack the hidden challenges behind the merger hype. From partner politics and pay structures to client conflicts, office overlaps, tech headaches, rebrands, redundancies and culture clashes, this week’s episode asks whether law firm mergers really create stronger firms — or whether “better together” is sometimes easier said than done.

  5. Jun 30

    How did Keir Starmer become a top barrister when he was so bad as Prime Minister?

    The Legal Cheek Podcast is proudly independent. Thanks to our sponsor Simpson Thacher, home of the private equity training contract, for making that possible: https://ukearlycareers.stblaw.com/ Stereotypes are rarely fair or accurate. However, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the stereotype of a barrister (charismatic, well-spoken, intelligent beyond compare) is an accurate one. For professionals who spend their lives advocating before judges and juries in high-stakes public fora, you'd think that would make them some of the most capable leaders imaginable. However, Keir Starmer (in the eyes of the British public, at the very least) seems to have dodged that particular reputation. In fact, given his high-profile legal roles, why is it that his tenure as prime minister has been marred by ridicule over his communication style and public presentation? Whilst not here to comment on the particularities of his politics, Alex Aldridge and Julia Szaniszlo are back to discuss what it really means to be a barrister, whether the above stereotypes ring true, and why it is that so many barristers seem to end up in politics.

  6. Jun 23

    White collar jobpocalypse? Is AI really going to cut trainee lawyer numbers or might it end up boosting them?

    The Legal Cheek Podcast is proudly independent. Thanks to our sponsor Simpson Thacher, home of the private equity training contract, for making that possible: https://ukearlycareers.stblaw.com/ Currently, the legal press and beyond is full of doom-mongering of a staggering scale — the advent of AI means one thing for sure: your shiny legal career is no longer a dead cert. And as law firms and other professional services companies scramble to respond to an alleged jobpocalypse, the graduate class are the ones appearing to suffer the most, with most responding by cutting graduate scheme classes and entry-level positions. Unsurprisingly, law firms across the globe are reacting in kind — recently, Aussie firm MinterEllison axed its 2025-26 graduate intake by a third, from 100 places to just 72. However, Legal Cheek‘s Julia Szaniszlo and Alex Aldridge are here to tell you that this might not be the whole story. Some of the world’s largest law firms are actually boosting their numbers. Latham & Watkins recently expanded their summer associate programme across the pond in the US, from 122 to around 170 in 2027. The picture in the UK doesn’t seem too different, with exclusive research at Legal Cheek revealing that, despite talks of a grad job apocalypse, City TC numbers have in fact remained stable for the past half a decade. So what’s with all this mixed messaging?

  7. Jun 16

    What students get wrong about commercial awareness

    The Legal Cheek Podcast is proudly independent. Thanks to our sponsor Simpson Thacher, home of the private equity training contract, for making that possible: https://ukearlycareers.stblaw.com/ Commercial awareness. Two words likely to send any self-respecting law student into either psychosis or an interview-induced breakdown. But what if we told you it's really not as complicated as it looks? Legal Cheek's Alex Aldridge and Julia Szaniszlo are back this week to talk through what commercial awareness really means and why so many students tend to overcomplicate it. Whether it's going back to basics, understanding what role lawyers play in the broader financial ecosystem, or recognising that law is ultimately a service industry, Aldridge and Szaniszlo give their tips on how to approach this daunting task. Szaniszlo started at Legal Cheek with little to no legal, let alone commercial, understanding, but within nine short months she's managed to secure a TC at a top US firm. Building on that experience, she talks through what worked for her, what insights she's gained from hosting events with law firms across the City and beyond, and why sometimes it's actually better to "ignore the law".

  8. May 29

    S6EP22: How to stand out on a vac scheme for all the right reasons

    With summer vac scheme season fast approaching and thousands of solicitor hopefuls gearing up to storm law firm offices across the City and beyond, how can you make the most of the opportunity and secure that coveted TC offer? Legal Cheek brings you the answers… When candidates are so evenly matched on paper, it's often the smallest things that determine whether you walk away with a training contract offer. This week on the Legal Cheek Podcast, Julia Szaniszlo and Tom Connelly share their insights on how to succeed and stand out on your vac scheme this summer (for all the right reasons) and what to steer clear of to avoid missing out on that TC. Whilst the work you do for your supervisor is often the most important part, a big chunk of succeeding on a vac scheme has very little to do with the law. Tom and Julia cover all the main bases, from punctuality and understanding confusing dress codes to navigating small talk with senior lawyers and alcohol at firm socials. Having recently completed a vacation scheme at a US firm, Julia talks through the real practicalities of tackling the legal work you're set from a non-law perspective, whether that’s about asking the right questions or the best ways to prepare for final assessments and tasks. Follow these tips and you will be in an excellent position to succeed on your upcoming scheme!

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About

Legal news, law firm insights and events. Weekly podcast about the big issues affecting the legal sector and beyond, featuring Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge, editor Tom Connelly and writers Julia Szaniszlo and Ryan Scott, as well as special guests. The Legal Cheek Podcast is proudly independent. Thanks to our sponsor Simpson Thacher, home of the private equity training contract, for making that possible.

Information

  • Creator
    Legal Cheek
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Legal Cheek
  • Show Website
    The Legal Cheek Podcast

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