Explore every episode of the podcast Lawyer's Coach - what makes lawyers tick?

In this episode, Claire Rason sits down with Helen Burness, a trailblazer in legal marketing, founder of Saltmarsh Marketing, and co-founder of Helen Squared. Helen shares her remarkable journey from tech PR to big law, through Chambers, and into the realm of legal consultancy. With candid reflections on culture shock, hierarchy, and the challenges of being a woman in law, Helen opens up about the intentional career moves that shaped her path, including her pivotal role in building flexible legal models and her involvement in the She Breaks the Law movement.

 With insights into personal branding, the power of LinkedIn, and how social media is democratising legal marketing, this is a must-listen for anyone passionate about change, inclusion, and innovation in law.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

In this episode, Claire sits down with James Smither, Global Head of Risk Management at Freshfields and founder of the Legal Neurodiversity Network (LNN).

​James shares his unconventional journey into law and offers a candid look at how law firms approach risk, and discusses why a more holistic, forward-looking model is essential in today’s climate of geopolitical uncertainty, AI disruption, and shifting social expectations.

The conversation then pivots to James’s personal and professional passion: neurodiversity. As both a parent carer and someone diagnosed with autism and ADHD, James brings a deeply human lens to the challenges and opportunities facing neurodivergent individuals in law. 

From myth-busting stereotypes to practical steps law firms can take to support neurodivergent talent and parent carers, this episode is a must-listen for anyone committed to building a more empathetic, resilient, and future-ready legal profession.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

In this eye-opening episode, Claire Rason sits down with behavioural scientist and coach Martin Andreasen, co-founder of B-Contagious, a company shaking up the world of psychometrics. Together, they dive into the psychology of lawyers and ask: Do legal professionals share a personality type, or are they simply shaped by their environment?

You’ll hear: why context matters; how self-awareness can be a game-changer for personal and team performance; and, what it really means to “thrive” in the legal profession. This episode invites you to reflect on your own journey and discover how understanding yourself can help you lead others more effectively.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

What does it really take to thrive as a female lawyer in today’s legal world? In this heartfelt and honest episode, Claire Rason is joined by Rachel Spink, Employment Law Partner at Gunnercooke LLP and Founder of the Female Lawyer’s Club. Rachel opens up about her personal journey through the legal profession, sharing the lessons, challenges, and breakthroughs that shaped her path.

Tune in for: a candid conversation on perfectionism and how it shows up in legal careers; insights into building confidence in a high-pressure profession; and real talk about the work-life juggle and what balance truly means.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

What if the key to a more fulfilling legal career isn’t a new job, but a new mindset?

​In this inspiring episode, Claire Rason is joined by Marcus Norton, a former lawyer turned coach, who now works with purposeful people and organisations to help them thrive. Marcus shares his own journey of stepping away from the traditional legal path and into a career built around meaning, impact, and - yes - fun.

 Listen in as they explore: the concept of “choice points” and how to spot them in your career; why fun isn’t frivolous; and how lawyers can begin to coach themselves toward clarity, confidence, and change

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Is the traditional path into law still the best one, or is it time for a radical rethink?

​In this episode, Claire Rason is joined by Patrick McCann, Chief Executive of the City of London Law Society and Co-CEO of City Century, and Joanna Hughes, award-winning advocate for solicitor apprenticeships and fellow Co-CEO of City Century. Together, they unpack how solicitor apprenticeships are reshaping the legal profession from the ground up.

​Tune in to explore: how apprenticeships are widening access and breaking down barriers; why the legal industry needs to challenge outdated norms; and, what the future of legal careers could look like -with diversity, inclusion, and innovation at the core.

​Whether you're a legal leader, aspiring solicitor, or just curious about the evolution of the profession, this episode is a must-listen for anyone invested in making law more accessible and future-ready.

To find out more about City Century you can go to:

https://citycentury.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/city-century-careers/

https://www.tiktok.com/@citycenturycareers

https://www.instagram.com/citycenturycareers/?hl=en

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Lawyer's Coach podcast is back, with the first episode of series 9 dropping on Monday 15th September.

The thought provoking series is called 'Learning and Law' and  Claire Rason brings together a diverse group of voices to explore what it really means to thrive in the legal profession today. From apprenticeships that challenge the traditional route into law, to the inner work lawyers can do to coach themselves through career crossroads, each episode offers fresh perspectives and practical insights. The series opens with Patrick McCann and Joanna Hughes, Co-CEOs of City Century, who share their mission to transform access to the profession through solicitor apprenticeships. Claire is then joined by former lawyer and coach Marcus Norton to unpack the concept of “choice points” and how self-coaching can empower legal professionals. Helen Burness shares her expertise on personal branding and LinkedIn, revealing what lawyers need to stand out in a digital world. Rachel Spink brings a gendered lens to the conversation, reflecting on what female lawyers truly need to succeed. And Marcus Andreasen challenges assumptions about personality and brings a fresh perspective on what it means to be “contagious”. Together, these conversations invite lawyers to reflect, reimagine, and take ownership of their professional journeys.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

In the legal arena, clients and lawyers alike are thinking about how to address DEI, particularly getting women to be equally represented at the top. In private practice, women represent only 32% of equity partners in England & Wales, despite the profession being 53% female. Women make up 40% of barristers, yet whilst 60% of pupils are female, they make up only 20% of KCs. 

Now that our Lady Chief Justice is female, is it merely a waiting game? Do we need to do more to ensure that there is parity at all levels of the profession?

In this special episode you will hear from a fabulous line-up as we bring together all parts of the ecosystem to try and answer those questions.

• Client-side we have Nina Best, GC of Delinian;
• Representing private practice we have Nikki Edwards, partner at Howard Kennedy and Vice President of the London Solicitor's Litigation Association, together with Avneet Baryan, Senior Associate at Mills & Reeve; 
• For the Bar, we have Anneliese Day KC of Fountain Court Chambers; and finally,
• For the Judiciary, we have Mrs Justice Cockerill.

This fabulous panel of women talk about the challenges they faced in their careers and share insights on how each part of the system can work together to accelerate progress at the top.

Facilitating the discussion is Claire Rason, Director of Client Talk,  author of the diversity report, "The Class of 2002." and one of the hosts of the Lawyer's Coach podcast.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

In this episode Oliver and Claire reflect on the series and discuss the findings of their legal pulse survey. They discuss the role that coaching has to play in solving some of the big challenges that the industry faces.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Lexi Segal, in-house at BT, has had a pivotal role in driving forward BT's desire to see more effective DEI initatives in law firms. She speaks to Claire about the importance of the little actions that support inclusion and how BT works with its panel firms to understand how collectively the profession can be better.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Nikki Edwards, partner at Howard Kennedy, talks to Oliver about navigating her career as a litigator. She speaks of the importance of values and how she has used these as her guide. She also discusses how she has been working hard to raise DEI as a priority in legal.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Rob Bower, Managing Partner of Montagu Evans, tells Claire Rason about why he believes the key to encouraging individuals to return to the office lies in fostering a strong organisational culture. While creating appealing workspaces is important, leadership plays a crucial role in shaping a culture that attracts employees back to the workplace. 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

This episode of the Lawyers Coach podcast features Sarah Henwood, the CEO of Thomson, Snell and Passmore, recognised as the oldest law firm by the Guinness Book of Records. Sarah, breaking the mould as a non-lawyer, shares her background in marketing and business development, emphasising the value of a fresh perspective.

Having been a CEO before and with international experience, Sarah discusses the challenges and opportunities in the legal industry. She sheds light on the evolving role of soft skills, now referred to as "power skills," in the era of AI. Sarah shares insights into recruitment and retention strategies, highlighting the benefits of hybrid working and the importance of maintaining high standards while recognising work-life balance.

The conversation delves into the post-COVID cultural shift at Thomson, Snell and Passmore, emphasising the investment in a strong, supportive culture. Sarah discusses the inclusive approach to marketing and business development, where everyone in the firm plays a role, and the client-centric practices, including a client journey mapping exercise.

Sarah concludes by sharing her definition of success – achieving results while being honest, approachable, and providing clear guidance. She emphasises the joy of winning as a team, having fun, and witnessing the growth of individuals.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

In this episode, Claire Rason sits down with Nicky Owen, Head of Professional Practices at Crowe, to explore her unique career journey from working with underwater explosives to becoming a senior equity partner in the field of tax. They delve into the importance of authentic leadership, the challenges of developing people in the evolving workplace, and insights from Crowe's benchmarking survey on topics such as cybercrime, ESG, and ED&I. Join the conversation as Nicky shares her stories and valuable perspectives on career progression and the power of storytelling in professional growth.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

In this episode Oliver Hansard speaks to Lee Curtis of LINAR consulting. He describes what lawyers need to think about if they want to differentiate and win new work. He explores why it's time to find your splendid splinter!

Key Points in this episode:

Understanding Lawyers and BD (Business Development)
Lee classifies lawyers into three categories: 20% who inherently understand BD, 60% who need guidance, and 20% who struggle with BD.
He highlights the challenge of convincing the bottom 20% but aims to move the middle 60% to the top bracket.

Tips for Aspiring Partners
Lee emphasises the importance of networking both internally and externally.
Encourages becoming an expert in a niche area, creating a unique selling point (splendid splinter).

Challenges for Senior Partners and Firms
Acknowledges the changing legal landscape and the need for senior partners to adapt.
Recommends seeking input from the team to understand what's working and what needs improvement.

The Role of Soft Skills in Differentiating Lawyers
Soft skills are crucial for standing out in a competitive legal landscape.
Lee suggests that AI will enhance, not replace, soft skills in the next 2-5 years.

Defining Success in Legal BD
Lee defines success as making clients look good, supporting them to be admired for their work.
Personal success is measured through positive feedback and continuous improvement.

Finding Your Splendid Splinter
Encourages individuals to identify their unique strengths and become experts in those areas.
Emphasizes the need to differentiate oneself in a crowded legal market.

Conclusion
Lee Curtis stresses the importance of adapting to changes in the legal industry and leveraging AI as a tool rather than a replacement.
Success is tied to making clients and teams look good, and continuous improvement is key.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach returns next week with valuable conversations you won't want to miss.  In this 'teaser' episode, hosts Claire Rason and Oliver Hansard hint at this season’s themes.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

In this episode of Lawyer's Coach we hear from Tracey Rodgers,  Head of Client Intelligence at Harneys.  Host Oliver hansard speaks to Tracy about non billable time and in particular the time that professional spend on business development.
She talks about how by perhaps relabelling it firms can get more buy in.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The billable hour has been the theme of the latest series with presenters  Claire Rason and Oliver Hansard  talking to a variety of guests about what is the marmite of legal.

 In this episode Claire and Oliver are going to reflect on what they have learned so far and also share some thoughts of their own.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Adam Morallee is the Founding Partner of litigation boutique Brandsmiths, specialising in IP and sports matters.  Adam spoke to Claire about his take on the billiable hour. Adam also shared some insights on setting up a firm of his own and how Brandsmiths has grown.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Daniel Martin is London Head of Business Crime and Regulation at JMW Solicitors.  He spoke to Oliver Hansard about his journey to becoming a lawyer and also his take on the billable hour.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Richard Burcher dedicates all of his time to legal services pricing consultancy work and is widely regarded as the leading international authority on pricing legal services. We caught up with him to find out his take on the billiable hour.

​

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

On Monday April 17th the Lawyer's Coach podcast returns with a series all about the billable hour, the marmite of legal. It is criticised for driving inefficiencies and is even cited as a cause of cultural ills.

In the meantime, we will be giving you a chance to delve into our back catalogue. This episode features a replay of a conversation Oliver Hansard had with Pamela Cone.

Pamela  works with firm leaders to address the growing expectations of all stakeholders - clients, prospects, employees, recruits and communities - around their firms' Social Impact and Sustainability programs. 

It was the 5th episode of season 4, in a series called Beyond Law

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

On Monday April 17th the Lawyer's Coach podcast returns with a series all about the billable hour, the marmite of legal. It is criticised for driving inefficiencies and is even cited as a cause of cultural ills.

In the meantime, we will be giving you a chance to delve into our back catalogue. This episode features a replay of a conversation Claire Rason had with Sadie Baron, CMO of global law firm Reed Smith LLP.

Sadie spoke about the need not only to do different things, but crucially, to also do things differently. It was the first episode of season 3, in a series called Law 2:0

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

In this last episode of this series, Claire and Oliver reflect on the insights gained.  They speak about the impact that culture has on diversity, through the lens of a diversity study with a difference. They also explore the impact of the Billable Hour on culture. Is this the elephant in the room that needs to change before anything else can work?

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

In this episode we speak to Elizabeth Rimmer, Chief Executive of LawCare. Elizabeth speaks to us about the impact that legal culture has on mental health in the provision. We explore what changes need to be made and think about the importance of teaching lawyers about the role of emotions. 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

In this wide-ranging episode we speak to Trevor Sterling about his rise to Senior Partner at Moore Barlow. We speak about imposter syndrome and confidence. Trevor speaks about celebrating diversity. We even talk about challenge in the context of mergers in the pandemic. Trevor sets out why he believes culture is the foundation on which everything is built.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Dan Kayne of O-Shaped Lawyer joins Claire Rason to discuss culture in law.  What isn't  working from the point of view of clients? What needs to change and how? Speaking about the initiative which is so close to his heart, we think about how having the O-Factor could have profound implications for the sector.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Triona Ferriter is Chief People Officer at Arthur Cox. She speaks about the importance of getting buy-in to change, the impact of being a partnership has on change and culture, and reflects on the differences between the Irish and English legal markets. 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Chris Parsons is Mental Wellbeing Champion at Herbert Smith Freehills. He speaks to Claire about his journey.  He describes how mental wellbeing came to the fore in his career and why that has meant that he is a champion for change.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

In this last episode of this series Claire and Oliver are joined in conversation with Nicola Jones, learning designer, facilitator and coach and founder of Athena Professional.  Together they reflect on the series, the importance of awareness and its role in building skills.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Sarah McCarthy is Chief Legal Officer at dunnhumby. She caught up with Oliver Hansard to talk about the transition from private practice to in-house lawyer; the skills she looks for in her team; and why it is important to learn everyday.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Change is constant. Anna Lind, head of strategy & business transformation at RPC, talks about how she works to drive change through her organisation. She provides some tips and a model to help firms navigate change. Find out what her views are on the art of the possible.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Helen Lowe of Easy Jet is making waves in legal for all the right reasons. In the middle of the pandemic she devised a pitch with a difference. It challenged law firms in order to get the sort of advisors they needed. Two years on from the Himalayas Pitch we caught up with Helen to find out whether it delivered the results she was expecting.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Raya Blakeley-Glover, Head of Business Development - Markets & Business Relationships at Bird & Bird speaks to us about her passion for business development. She opens up her toolkit and shares a wealth of tips and tricks for law firms. She might even get you rethinking the S word: sales!

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Mary Bonsor saw a problem and created a company to solve it! Mary speaks to us about the journey of Flex Legal, from idea to investment and beyond. She also describes how Flex Legal is now working to diversify the profession and helping businesses to grow and retain talent.

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

Miriam Gonzalez Durantez is a leading international trade lawyer. She is also the founder of Inspiring Girls. Claire Rason caught up with Miriam to discuss how her journey led her to where she is today. Miriam believes that it is time to start doing, however she also recognises the need to generate discussion around difficult issues and both women discuss one of the existing taboos with women in work. This episode also looks at the importance of role models and breaking down stereotypes and why we shouldn't be settling on 30%

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk 

The Lawyer's Coach is brought to you by Client Talk