more than marketing

Jodie Hill, Founder and Managing Partner of Thrive Law, a specialist employment law and HR firm built with wellbeing, inclusion and belonging at its heart, talks about what becomes more valuable about the humans doing legal work as technology takes on more of it.Jodie explains why wellbeing cannot sit on the sidelines of a business, why most workplace problems stem from a lack of confidence in having difficult conversations rather than a lack of policy, and how AI coaching tools can help managers prepare for those conversations rather than avoid them. She discusses the difference between AI-generated empathy and the real thing, why Thrive Law's clients said they wanted to speak to a person rather than a chatbot, and how AI is already making some workplace disputes worse by turning simple requests for support into lengthy, adversarial grievances.She also reflects on what her own experience of ADHD has taught her about the danger of assuming motive from behaviour, the advice she gives junior lawyers on never letting AI replace their thinking, and why a profession that is getting faster at producing work must not get worse at understanding the people the work is for.You can connect with Jodie on LinkedIn and for more on Thrive Law, visit thrivelaw.co.uk.If you've got a question or would like to be on the show, email us [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yaa Dankwa Ampadu-Sackey, family law barrister at Trinity Chambers, mediator and cross-qualified lawyer in England and Wales and Ghana, talks about intelligence, wisdom and why justice remains a profoundly human exercise.Yaa explains why AI can organise information at extraordinary speed but cannot exercise wisdom, and why the legal profession has always been about more than applying rules. She discusses how experience shapes legal judgement, the parts of practice where AI genuinely improves efficiency in research and drafting, and the skills that stay fundamentally human, from cultural understanding and empathy to simply listening.She also reflects on the risk of over-relying on technology without critical review, why trust in legal advice depends on human accountability rather than rules and process alone, and what it means for a profession built on understanding people to work alongside tools that only understand information.You can connect with Yaa on LinkedIn and for more on Trinity Chambers, visit trinitychambers.com.If you've got a question or would like to be on the show, email us [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Wright, Managing Director at Digital Law, talks about trust, responsibility and the realities of AI in SME law firms.Peter explains why the real question is not human intelligence versus AI, but human intelligence with AI, and why the conversation needs to move from what the technology can do to what responsibility looks like now that it can do so much. He discusses the misconceptions partners still hold, the parts of legal practice AI is likely to become exceptionally good at, and the parts that stay fundamentally human, from judgement and empathy to reading between the lines.He also reflects on trust and transparency with clients, the risk of overconfidence when hallucinations and fake case law make the headlines, and the point at which relying on AI starts to look like negligence. He looks at governance in firms where people are quietly experimenting without a policy, what AI means for junior lawyers learning their craft, and whether competitive advantage will come from better technology or better people using it.You can connect with Peter on LinkedIn and for more on Digital Law, visit digitallawuk.com.Resources discussed:Digital Law PodcastBreaking The Law PodcastIf you've got a question or would like to be on the show, email us [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexandra Gray, Partner at Jones Nickolds, talks about purpose, people and the human side of family law.Alexandra shares why purpose in family law is rarely found in a business plan, but in the daily work of guiding people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. She discusses what a genuinely people-focused firm looks like, from matching clients with the right lawyer to involving junior colleagues from the outset, and why trust, flexibility and a supportive culture matter just as much as technical skill.She also reflects on the emotional demands of family law, from the importance of boundaries as a partner and working parent to knowing when a client needs space rather than a fast response, and where AI can genuinely help without ever replacing the empathy and judgement clients rely on.You can connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn and for more on Jones Nickolds' family law team, visit jonesnickolds.co.uk.If you've got a question or would like to be on the show, email us [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Grigg, Partner and Head of Dispute Litigation at Foot Anstey, talks about purpose, people and the role of AI in modern litigation.Jonathan shares his view on whether law firms really need a single overarching purpose, or whether culture, values and reputation do that job more honestly. He discusses what genuinely holds a firm together, why he's such a strong advocate for giving praise freely at every level, and how firms need to rethink developing the next generation of lawyers as AI begins to absorb the high-volume work juniors have traditionally learned from.He also reflects on the human side of litigation, from preparing a client emotionally for mediation to the growing challenge of earning trust in an age where advice is routinely second-guessed by Google, AI and a network of friendly lawyers, and where managing partners should, and shouldn't, be investing right now.You can connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn and for more on Foot Anstey's commercial disputes team, visit footanstey.com.Book recommendation: The ShortlistIf you've got a question or would like to be on the show, email us [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Tromans, Founder of Artificial Lawyer, talks about how AI is reshaping time and resources in the legal sector.Richard shares his view on whether AI is genuinely threatening the billable hour, where the technology is making the biggest difference to turnaround times (and where it's still not quite fit for purpose), and how firms can work faster without compromising on accuracy. He also discusses what a well-resourced legal team looks like going forward, the visibility gap between law firms and their in-house clients around AI use, and where managing partners should, and shouldn't, be investing right now.You can connect with Richard on LinkedIn and for the latest on legal tech and legal AI, why not check out Artificial Lawyer.If you've got a question or would like to be on the show, email us [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lara is joined by Sahra Tulloch, Account Director at Conscious Solutions, to discuss digital strategy and the tools shaping a strong online presence in 2026.Sahra shares how to align your marketing strategy, website and core messaging, where to focus your efforts across SEO and PPC, and how AI search is influencing online visibility.You can connect with Sahra on LinkedIn, or if you’d like to talk about online strategy, you can get in touch with Conscious Solutions.Sahra’s Recommendations:NUDGE PodcastRichard Shotton BooksIf you've got a question or would like to be on the show, email us [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lara talks with James Chadburn, Managing Partner at Dean Wilson Solicitors, about business strategy and embracing AI to get ahead of the curve in the legal world. James talks about his experience working up through a firm and how it’s shaped his strategy for the company as a partner, the key ingredients that make up a successful marketing strategy, as well as the importance of embracing AI in your firm sooner rather than later. You can connect with James on LinkedIn, or by reaching out through his firm, Dean Wilson.James’ Recommendations:Good to Great by Jim CollinsHow to Scale a Business with AI and Agentic Workflows CourseIf you've got a question or would like to be on the show, email us [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Lara talks with Tom Blandford, CFO at SurSum Advisory, about financial strategy in law firms and the often overlooked value of fractional support.They question whether firms are too set in their ways when it comes to finance, explore what “good” profit really looks like, and discuss how stronger financial insight supports better decision making. Tom also explains the practical benefits of fractional finance professionals, the gaps they fill, and why they can offer more impact and flexibility than traditional part time hires.You can connect with Tom on LinkedIn, or if you’re interested in financial advice, you can reach out to him through SurSum.If you've got a question or would like to be on the show, email us [email protected] or follow us on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lara rounds out season 2 by talking with Mark Evans, President of the Law Society, about modern working and wellbeing in the legal sector. Mark reviews some of the modern day challenges faced by workers in the legal space, his goal to champion solicitor wellbeing and recent efforts to make the profession more inclusive, as well as providing some thoughtful advice on how to switch off from the busy 9-5 (or sometimes 7-7!).You can connect with Mark on LinkedIn, and if you’re a legal professional looking to join a running community why not check out Mark’s side venture Legal Runner. If you've got a question or would like to be on the show, email us [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.