This week’s episode of The Legal 500 podcast is hosted by The Lex 100, guide to legal education and training in the UK, and is all about solicitor training during the pandemic and beyond. Hosted by Peter Tweedley, Editor of The Lex 100, it features an interview with Victoria Widdows, Director of International Legal Recruiting and Development at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld. Join us for a discussion of the challenges of maintaining training opportunities for aspiring solicitors, continuing high quality firm practise, handling the rapid transformation of the legal workplace, and more. 

In a slight break from our normal schedule, this week's episode features an extract from our recent webinar discussion on disputes in the Gulf Cooperation Counsel (GCC) states. This lively discussion takes in the views of Marcus Khoury, senior counsel at Consolidated Contractors Company, one of the largest construction companies globally and the leading contractor in the GCC, Sean Yates, general counsel of China State Construction Engineering Corporation in the Middle East, Robert Stephen, registrar of DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre and partners representing Horizon & Co law firm, including managing partner Ali Ismael Al Zarooni. 

Over recent months the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated chambers’ marketing strategies. Keating’s Marie Sparkes, Wilberforce’s Hayley Eustace, and Old Square’s Phil Desmondez talk about the history and future of marketing at the Bar, including webinars, social media, and – yes – directories, while UK Bar editor John van der Luit-Drummond offers some best practice advice on chambers submissions.

This week's bonus episode of The Legal 500 podcast is all about social mobility at the Bar. Join Red Lion Chambers' Joanna Hardy, 5 St Andrew's Hill's Alexandra Wilson, Essex Court Chambers' Rick Hoyle, and Trinity Chambers' Craig Vickers as they discuss the challenges facing wannabe barristers from non-traditional backgrounds and how chambers can ensure a more diverse membership in the years ahead.

'Re-engineering current models to drive better results': in part two of our series with Susan Hackett, CEO of Legal Executive Leadership, Susan and David move away from the hypothetical and discuss how to improve existing models for in-house legal departments. 

'Defining an ideal in-house legal business model': on the first of two episodes with Susan Hackett, CEO of Legal Executive Leadership, David asks what the in-house legal function looks like in an ideal world. 

On the second of two episodes with MOSAIC Collective, founders Emma Sharpe and Claire Debney speak about the MOSAIC Mood Index, an essential insight into the mood of the profession. 

On the first of two episodes with MOSAIC Collective, David speaks with founders Emma Sharpe and Claire Debney about their commitment to openness, mental wellbeing and challenging the status quo in the legal industry. 

On Episode 11 of The Legal 500 Podcast, David hands the mic over to GC Magazine's Harveen Kaur. Harveen speaks with Simon Lee, head of legal, governance and risk at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), about the challenges Covid-19 has brought to the natural world, and how lockdown has affected ZSL London Zoo's research projects and the animals it looks after. Also speaking is a more famous David – Sir David Attenborough. If you would like to support ZSL's work, please consider donating.

On the second bonus episode of The Legal 500 Podcast, UK Bar editor John van der Luit-Drummond starts his series of conversations with leading and up-and-coming practitioners on the issues facing chambers and their members. First off, he speaks about the impact of Covid-19 on international arbitration. Joining him are Hall of Famer Philippa Charles, partner and head of international arbitration at Stewarts, Owen Lawrence, CEO of the International Arbitration Centre, Andrew Stevens, a junior barrister at 4 Pump Court, and Jern-Fei Ng QC of Essex Court Chambers.