The Glass Cast

Ruaraidh Ferguson isn't the name of a masked hero, but he is a role model and he does serve justice. As a Senior Procurator Fiscal Depute, Ruaraidh deals with crime and courts on a daily basis. On top of this, he has also established an external LGBT+ organisation, bringing his experience as a experiences part of the LGBT+ community and the Scottish legal profession together to benefit others. Also in this podcast, Drew McCusker discusses what it feels like when the Crown Office prosecutes a case on your behalf. Click the links to learn more about COPFS and its support of the LGBT+ community. To learn more about The Glass Network and to download our free inclusion framework for Scottish legal organisations, you can: follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, and check out our website for more information.

Alan Inglis is one of The Glass Network's longest-serving members - though that doesn't quite compare to his nearly 30 years’ experience of appearing in complex and high profile cases and appearing in most of England's landmark cases concerning alternative family structures. As an advocate in Scotland and a barrister in England specialising in family law, Alan shares with David Murphy and Drew McCusker his experience as a gay lawyer in both jurisdictions provides insight into how the Bar has changed and needs to change.  Roddy Dunlop QC, the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, also tells Drew what he thinks the Faculty is LGBT+ friendly and his plans to celebrate Pride with The Glass Network. To learn about Alan's work, visit the his profile on Arnot Manderson Advocates. To learn more about Roddy's work at the Faculty, visit the Faculty's website and follow the Faculty on Twitter. To learn more about The Glass Network and to download our free inclusion framework for Scottish legal organisations, you can: follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, and check out our website for more information.

Dr Tim Hopkins came to Scotland to progress his understanding of advancing computer systems, but arguably his name is now more synonymous in Scotland with him progressing LGBT+ rights and advancing equality for all. From organising Scotland's first Pride march, to leading the Equality Network, to continuing to advocate for trans* and non-binary rights, Tim's imprint on the Scottish LGBT+ community is to be learned, applauded and eternally grateful for.  Laurie Anderson and Drew McCusker also discuss if and whether Pride should be "family-friendly", and what they will do to celebrate their LGBT+ identities in the company of their close friends rather than in corporate events. To learn about Tim's accomplishments, visit the Equality Network's website or read this GScene article summarising Tim's work. Make sure you follow the Equality Network and the Scottish Trans Alliance on Twitter to learn more about the great work they continue to do and how you can support them. To learn more about The Glass Network and to download our free inclusion framework for Scottish legal organisations, you can: follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, and check out our website for more information.

Lady Rampant is more than just a contoured face: she has two law degrees (one of them a masters in international law from the University of Amsterdam), a following highlighting legal and political issues of the day, and her own podcast - which makes perfect sense why we loved having her on The Glass Cast! As an art form and as a form of activism, Lady Rampant discusses with The Glass Network's Drew McCusker how drag is pulling up a seat at the boardroom table. Ahead of The Glass Cast interview and in preparation for World Autism Awareness Day on 2 April, Drew McCusker explains the basics of what autism is, how it relates to LGBT+ people, and encourages the Scottish legal community to be more of neurodiversity. To learn more about Lady Rampant, listen to her podcast, follow her on Twitter and check out her Instagram. To learn more about autism and World Autism Awareness Day on 2 April, visit the National Autistic Society website, follow them on Twitter, and English organisation Neurodiversity in Law. To learn more about The Glass Network and to download our free inclusion framework for Scottish legal organisations, you can: follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, and check out our website for more information.

Professor Frankie McCarthy is a Scottish Law Commissioner and a lecturer at Univeristy of Glasgow. Renouned for her expertise in property law and family law, her queer-inclusive and feminist legal perspective engages students and law-makers alike. Having seen the advancement of LGBT+ rights through the updates to family law, Frankie shares her own feminist education with Drew McCusker and her predictions for the next ten years in law. In addition, barrister Alan Inglis shares his experience as a gay man working at the Scottish Bar, emphasising the need for visibility in the Faculty of Advocates to support our queer and trans colleagues. To learn more about the Scottish Law Commission, visit their website, to learn more about Professor Frankie McCarthy's acadmic work, check out her profile on the University of Glasgow School of Law website, and to learn more about the Faculty of Advocates, check out their site and follow their Twitter profile. To learn more about The Glass Network and to download our free inclusion framework for Scottish legal organisations, you can: follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, and check out our website for more information.

Master Victoria McCloud is an English judge and the only openly trans judge in the whole of the UK. As well as being a highly regarded legal acadmic with a background in psychology and law, she holds the title of Master of the Senior Courts Queen's Bench Division the Queen. She was also one of the 100 Women (1919-2019) in the First 100 Years exhibit and archive. More than that, she shares with Kay Foulkes and Drew McCusker her love of all things Star Trek - Judges, they're just like us. Kay and Drew also discuss the importance and burden of visibility, particularly trans visibility, questioning what the Scottish legal profession can do to support its trans members. Watch Master McCloud's interview for the First 100 Years project here, and read more about her work on her Oxford Law profile here. To learn more about The Glass Network and to download our free inclusion framework for Scottish legal organisations, you can: follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, and check out our website for more information.

David Norris is an Irish scholar, an independent Senator and a civil rights activist icon. Aside from being a presidential candidate in 2011, you may recognise him as the named claimant in Norris v Ireland, where the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Irish law criminalising same sex activities was contrary to Article 8, ECHR. In amongst all that, he also tells Drew McCusker what he thinks about Glasgow. We also discuss the incredible life and career of Derek Ogg QC with friend and former Glasgow Bar Association, Ann Ritchie. As a criminal lawyer, she worked with Derek since her traineeship, and gives an insight to a man who used his advocacy skills inside and outside of the court. Make sure you follow David Norris on Twitter at @SenDavidNorris and please view Ann Ritchie's obituary for Derek Ogg here. To learn more about The Glass Network and to download our free inclusion framework for Scottish legal organisations, you can: follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, and check out our website for more information.

Chris Rennie is an associate at DLA Piper who specialises in Intellectual Property and Technology, all while supporting multiple pro bono causes. Chris represented LGBT+ issues in global and professional capacities as the UK Chair of Iris, the firm's global LGBT+ networking group, and now is helping launch a pro bono department for LGBT+ organisations, supporting them on everything from lobbying to digital contracts. However, his biggest claim to fame may be that he is also a former Vice President of The Glass Network - you'll have to listen to his interview with Drew McCusker to find out. Drew and David Murphy also discuss Section 28, its effect on the LGBT+ community, and the life-saving work of the TIE Campaign. To learn more about DLA Piper's pro bono LGBT+ services, follow the firm's Twitter at @DLA_Piper. To learn more about Section 28 and the Tie Campaign, listen to their podcast here, and don't forget to follow them on Twitter at @tiecampaign. To learn more about The Glass Network and to download our free inclusion framework for Scottish legal organisations, you can: follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, and check out our website for more information.

Amanda Millar is a solicitor who made LGBT+ history by being the first openly gay President of the Law Society of Scotland. When becoming President for the 2020/2021 term, there was nothing to suggest that the Scottish legal profession would be affected by lockdown, coronavirus, or that the Rule of Law would be attacked by government ministers. Nonetheless, Amanda has made it clear that the Rule of Law is not to be politicized, that the profession is for everyone, and explains to Drew McCusker that #TransRightsAreHumanRights.  The Glass Network's Deborah Allan and Laurie Anderson also disucss the importance of queer role models in the legal sector, and why the younger generation are showing everyone how to be inclusive. To learn more about Amanda, follow her Twitter at @amanda_millar. To learn more about the Law Society of Scotland, follow its Twitter at @Lawscot. To learn more about The Glass Network and to download our free inclusion framework for Scottish legal organisations, you can: follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, and check out our website for more information.

Professor Stephen Whittle is a British legal scholar specialising in equalities law, a co-founder of Press for Change, and a renowned trans activist. His fight for equality has taken place at the European Court of Human Rights and, most importantly for him, at the breakfast table. Listen as he shares his insights of law, life and lobbying with The Glass Network's Kay Foulkes and Drew McCusker. In addition, David Murphy talks about the history of the blood ban, its effect on LGBT+ community and on the public. For more information on Stephen, follow his Twitter at @stephenwhittle.  To learn more about The Glass Network and to download our free inclusion framework for Scottish legal organisations, you can: follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, and check out our website for more information.