Beyond the black letter law

Prism Chambers
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By Prism Chambers

  1. All Things Mental Health featuring Najah Ahmed, barrister at law

    Jan 28

    All Things Mental Health featuring Najah Ahmed, barrister at law

    00:00 - Intro 01:28 - The inspiration behind Nou Tou Mantal 04:30 - Not being alone 07:18 - What is mental health 08:12 - Launching the first episode 13:16 - Receiving feedback 15:50 - Growing a platform organically 17:55 - Preconceptions about mental health 21:38 - The reality of a breakdown 24:36 - Commonalities and differences around mental health 29:26 - Podcasting as a barrister 32:36 - The impact of practising law on mental health 39:38 - Everything happens for a reason 40:35 - Teenage mental health 45:01 - Mental health of an ageing population

    48 min
  2. Portrait featuring Micki Pistorius, Forensic psychologist, criminal profiler and author

    10/05/2025

    Portrait featuring Micki Pistorius, Forensic psychologist, criminal profiler and author

    What goes on in the mind of a serial killer? Were they born this way or made so? Are they capable of change? What does a criminal profiler do? Why do people fall in love with criminals? These are but a few questions we explored in this week’s podcast during this fascinating conversation with Micki Pistorius, South Africa’s first criminal profiler and the first woman in the profession. Micki is recognised as one of the world's foremost psychological profilers. Her best selling book Catch me a killer is based on her life and journey as a forensic psychologist. The true crime TV series of the same name was inspired from her autobiographical writing. I think it’s fair to say that this is one of the most interesting conversations I’ve ever had. I know it may sound like I say the same thing every week, but you won’t want to miss this one. 00:00 - Intro 00:59 - What goes on in the mind of a serial killer 02:51 - Lack of empathy 04:44 - What is a serial killer looking for? 06:09 - Can they change? 08:01 - Can the brain of a serial killer be rewired? 10:24 - What does a criminal profiler do? 13:27 - Testifying in court as a forensic psychologist 15:10 - Is profiling a skill? 17:12 - Falling in love with a criminal 18:48 - Emotional detachment 20:50 - Dealing with the emotional toll 22:03 - Why Mauritius? 24:20 - Being ready for crime 26:19 - Preparing our institutions 27:35 - Catch me a killer and writing 30:02 - Archeology 31:22 - The history of crime 32:25 - Favourite archeological site 34:32 - Loving France 37:34 - Teaching 38:14 - Profiling losing track 39:55 - Any regrets? 41:20 - Studying profiling 42:32 - Can AI replace a human profiler 44:34 - Solving cold cases

    46 min
  3. Portrait featuring Nikhil Boolell, Barrister at law and Partner, Temple Law

    09/26/2025

    Portrait featuring Nikhil Boolell, Barrister at law and Partner, Temple Law

    Carrying the legacy of a name is often seen as a privilege, but it is in fact, more often than not, a heavy responsibility.  It is no small feat to carry that burden with grace, without false humility and no sense of entitlement. This is one of the many reasons why I enjoyed my refreshing – and at times, very philosophical - conversation with this week’s guest.  As Nikhil Boolell so eloquently puts it, “I consider myself as dust. I’m nothing, I come from nothing, I will lead my life in the nothingness of the values I hold and I will leave my life as such”.  That said, he is conscious of the valuable role he can play in his life: as a younger member of the Bar, as a caring member of his neighbourhood and as a husband and father.  Join us for this week’s episode as we talk about Nikhil’s childhood influences, why he chose the profession, his thoughts of AI and the law, why he enjoys litigation and more. 00:00 - Intro 01:35 - If Nikhil hadn’t been a lawyer… 02:44 - Was law a choice? 06:32 - The nobility of the Bar 07:51 - The values that drive Nikhil 11:59 - Parental influence 13:30 - Being in a law firm 15:22 - The challenges of AI for the legal profession 23:57 - How AI can be used as a tool to improve the practice of law 25:55 - The joys of litigation 31:48 - Being married to a lawyer 33:30 - Nikhil’s favourite legal book 35:21 - Benefits of doing a Masters 42:33 - Boarding school 48:07 - The community of the Bar

    51 min
  4. Portrait featuring Roomesh Ramchurn, Tax Partner, Mazars Forvis Mauritius

    09/20/2025

    Portrait featuring Roomesh Ramchurn, Tax Partner, Mazars Forvis Mauritius

    00:00 - Intro  01:03 - Why tax? 02:29 - Having and being a mentor 04:49 - Lifelong learning 07:02 - Nurturing client relationships 09:48 - Tax challenges Mauritius faces 13:45 - The future of Mauritius IFC 16:24 - Mauritius IFA 17:40 - Why attend the 16th Mauritius Africa-Asia conference 18:48 - Advice for the young professional 20:38 - Would our jobs still exist in 10 years? 21:52 - Alternative career? 23:44 - Any regrets?

    25 min
  5. Portrait featuring Nirupama Anand , Founder of BollyFIT dance

    07/28/2025

    Portrait featuring Nirupama Anand , Founder of BollyFIT dance

    What do Indian classical dance, molecular genetics, and neuroscience have in common? More than you’d think. A few weeks ago, I had the joy of meeting someone whose inner beauty shone throughout our conversation.  Nirupama Anand 🌀 is not just a dance teacher. Her energy, philosophy, and life story are infused with a contagious joie de vivre that stays with you long after you’ve met her. Born on a naval ship (yes, really!) and raised in Hong Kong, Nirupama discovered the magic of Bharatanatyam as a young girl. Today, she channels that same magic into Bollyfit and Bollywood-inspired classes that empower and energise women of all ages and backgrounds. But where do biology and the brain fit into all of this?  You'll have to tune in to this week's episode to find out! (full episode out on Thursday on our usual channels) p.s - The podcast is taking a little winter break from next week. See you in a month! 00:00 - Intro  01:56 - Starting life aboard a ship 04:06 - Growing up in Hong Kong 05:17 - The love of dance 07:11 - Discovering Bharatanatyam 09:38 - Developing the passion for dance 11:22 - I am not a good dancer, what do I do? 12:15 - Why Molecular genetics and neuroscience 15:15 - The ethics of scientific research 17:25 - Why Mauritius?  20:59 - Growing up in Mauritius 23:51 - Taking on the role of a mother 27:52 - The birth of Bollywood 30:30 - Dance as a tool to empower 31:13 - The mother’s guilt 32:51 - The interconnectedness of everything 34:13 - Music as medicine 36:36 - Holding that space for longer 37:13 - The age of convenience 38:05 - Movement other than dance as we age 40:02 - Choosing karate 44:43 - Finding joy 47:12 - Where to dance with Nirupama

    49 min
  6. Portrait featuring Gavin Glover SC, Attorney General of the Republic of Mauritius

    07/17/2025

    Portrait featuring Gavin Glover SC, Attorney General of the Republic of Mauritius

    “Une roupie pour 10,000, je n’aurais jamais mis mon argent sur Gavin » Those were the teasing words of a very proud grandfather when his grandson bagged the coveted laureate scholarship in February 1980. A “late bloomer”, as he candidly describes himself, the bright teenager went on to read law at Oxford University before embarking on a formidable 40-year career at the Mauritian bar, earning the well-deserved Senior Counsel title in 2010. Gavin Glover SC decided to take on the challenge of becoming Attorney General of the Republic of Mauritius in November 2024. He appreciates the enormity of the challenge before him: advising the Government independently, addressing deep structural flaws in the administration of justice and attempting to rejuvenate the justice system. Tall order, indeed. But if anyone can do it, it is surely Mr Glover SC. Join us in this week’s inspiring conversation with the Attorney General as we talk about: 💡 The childhood influences that shaped his values and path 💡 The brilliant class of 85 💡 His most rewarding case 💡 Accepting to become Attorney General 💡 Whether he misses private practice 💡 Urgent legal reforms 💡 The current state of the legal profession 💡 The Law Practitioners Disciplinary Proceedings Bill 💡 The proposed new Court of Appeal 💡 His favourite courtroom memories ... and much more! It was an honour, Mr Attorney General. Thank you.    00:00 - Intro 02:01 - Childhood influences 05:28 - Why choose law 06:36 - The start of a career as a barrister 07:34 - Laureates in the family 09:24 - Education and parental support 11:57 - An exceptional bar intake 13:03 - The nostalgia of old times 16:07 - The choice to be Attorney General 19:30 - Missing chambers 20:52 - The challenges ahead 22:27 - The beating heart of our democracy 26:16 - Legal reforms 29:38 - New Court of Appeal 31:17 - Memorial lectures 32:07 - The JCPC 32:58 - The core ethics of independence  34:57 - Law Practitioners Disciplinary Proceedings Bill 37:42 - Being reduced to mere traders 40:18 - Most meaningful cases  43:31 - The first cases 46:29 - The next Glover generation 49:45 - Is the law the right profession for me? 51:26 - Alternative career

    55 min
  7. Portrait featuring Adil Mohamedbhai, Barrister at law, Serle Court London

    07/09/2025

    Portrait featuring Adil Mohamedbhai, Barrister at law, Serle Court London

    I am sometimes – perhaps more often than I should – quite critical of the education system that shaped me.  The rote learning, the pressure to excel academically, the intense competition to be laureate, the relentless private tuition. However, I can only be grateful for the opportunities that the system gave me. And when I look at my circle of friends from school, I realise that they share the same mixed emotions about our formative years. I have known Adil Mohamedbhai since I was about 9. He is my oldest friend. Apart from probably being the brightest person I know, he is also one of the sweetest and kindest.  Our paths are oddly very similar. We both qualified as tax solicitors at magic circle firms in London and then converted to the bar.  That said, his career path into, and at, the English bar is rather exceptional.  In this fascinating conversation, Adil shares: 💡 stories from his time as judicial assistant to Lord Rodger and Lord Brown of the UK Supreme Court; 💡 what it was like to spend a week visiting the US Supreme Court and meeting Ruth Bader Ginsburg; 💡 his views on the British judicial system; 💡 why he gave up tax law (!) to specialise in chancery/commercial work; 💡 why meritocracy is at the heart of his core values. Now a leading junior at Serle Court in London, he is so wholly deserving of what the directories say of him: “He is unbelievably bright, great at working in a team, uber responsive and someone who really gets stuck in. He is a star of the future” (Chambers UK Bar, 2025) What an honour to have you on the podcast, my dear friend. Thank you for this candid and enriching conversation! p.s – In my humble opinion, it is people like Adil who should be sitting on the Diaspora and Global Advisory Council (the set up of which was recently announced in this year’s Budget Speech). 00:00 - Intro 01:33 - Reminiscing on childhood 04:08 - Being educated in the 80s 06:24 - Choosing law 09:33 - Crossing paths in Big Law 10:24 - Becoming a barrister 12:51 - Judicial assistant to Lord Rodger and Lord Brown 16:16 - Visiting the US Supreme Court 17:59 - Mentoring from the Law Lords 19:28 - Chambers v/s law firm life 20:45 - Chancery work 21:55 - Nerves before court 23:19 - Litigation risk 24:57 - Most enjoyable case 29:25 - Achieving detachment 30:41 - Pupillage in London 34:26 - Brexit and the legal market 35:44 - Meritocracy in the workplace 40:47 - Missing Mauritius 41:23 - The pull factor for the diaspora

    45 min
  8. Portrait ft. Deeptee Bungaree-Gooheeram, Country Director, UK Department of Business and Trade

    07/03/2025

    Portrait ft. Deeptee Bungaree-Gooheeram, Country Director, UK Department of Business and Trade

    The UK, in many ways, is a second home to me. It is a country which welcomed me with open arms when I had barely reached adulthood and which enabled me to thrive in a wholly meritocratic environment. Mauritius has always had a special relationship with the UK. In spite of the complex layers of our colonial past, the relationship remains an enduring one, from an economic, financial, social and cultural perspective. I was excited to sit down with this week’s guest, Deeptee K.Bungaree-Gooheeram, to talk to us about the role of the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The DBT is an arm of His Majesty’s government and provides trade and investment services and practical support, thereby helping companies succeed in Mauritius, and Mauritius companies set up and invest in the UK. Thank you Deeptee for shedding light on the crucial role of the DBT, sharing success stories (the recent trip with the Minister of Education being one) and why trade relationships are now more relevant than ever. 00:00 - Intro 01:27 - Childhood influences on present career 04:05 - Why International relations 06:31 - Forray into Trade 07:36 - What is the Department for Business and Trade 09:37 - What does DBT do? 15:44 - Are services included? 17:38 - UK universities in Mauritius 19:51 - Collaborating with Mauritian authorities 22:28 - The evolution of Mauritius-UK trade relationships 24:58 - Impact of Brexit 26:16 - Growth and prosperity 27:39 - See things differently, do things differently 29:52 - Partnership between Governments 33:04 - SOAS in Mauritius 35:31 - Mauritius as the Education gateway 38:18 - Building an ecosystem 40:50 - Challenging aspects of the job 42:17 - What having the right mentor means 44:03 - Deeptee’s biggest ally 45:37 - Alternative career

    52 min
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About

By Prism Chambers

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  • Creator
    Prism Chambers
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    126
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Beyond the black letter law
  • Show Website
    Beyond the black letter law