The Lawyer Podcast

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It is an uncertain time for those wanting a career in the law.
Doom-mongers would have you think that AI is about to lead to a mass cull in junior lawyer roles around the world.
But at the same time, associate salaries keep going up – and some big firms are even increasing their junior hiring.
So what is the truth behind the future of junior talent?
The Lawyer Podcast tries to find out.

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In 2015, The Lawyer wrote: “eight candidates for two top roles at Allen & Overy, and not one woman. For a law firm committed to that 30 per cent target, it’s not a good look.”
Fast-forward to 2026 and, as The Lawyer wrote last week, just one female partner included on A&O Shearman’s refreshed board of six has left many “disappointed” with the outcome.
This is not a problem unique to A&O, with female representation low at a number of big firms.
And yet, a generation of female leaders are coming to the fore in many law firms.
So, on the latest episode of the podcast, we discuss why there is still such an issue at A&O Shearman, and across the law more generally, but also which firms and leaders are making a change.

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We’ve all been seeing a lot more of Jude Law lately.
Legal AI firm Legora’s effort to cement itself in our consciousness with expensive ads featuring the actor has certainly been refreshing 
In its latest funding round in March, the company hit a valuation of $5.5bn and now has contracts with law firms including White & Case, HSF Kramer, Dentons, and Pérez-Llorca.
Meanwhile, its competitor Harvey has grown its own valuation from $3bn early last year to $11bn in its latest funding round in March.
On its books are firms like A&O Shearman, CMS, Ashurst and, as of last week, Slaughter and May.
But despite their rapid rises, is there a risk that the two companies’ dominance is peaking?
Some lawyers are becoming concerned at the size of these legal AI vendors, while Freshfields recently turned its nose up at both of them, instead choosing to partner with AI giant Anthropic. It wants more freedom to tinker with the AI model itself.
So on this episode of the podcast, we ask what the future is for the two legal tech firms as bigger competitors enter the market, why lawyers like them – and why they don’t – and what’s with the bonkers valuations?

Check out The Lawyer’s brand new Innovation Map, exploring how law firms are using AI as the technology moves from experimentation to routine practice.

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Ever since its big German mergers in 2000, the firm has been one of the major international players in Europe and is now the second largest law firm in Germany.
And yet… Freshfields has lost some top talent in the country recently, at the same time as making no bones about its intention to prioritise its US practice.
As many firms will be aware, the gap between American and German fees – and compensation – can create problems.
So what is going on with Freshfields and Germany, and is there really a future for the firm there as it shifts its focus to America?

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The Lawyer Podcast is on holiday this week, but with Taylor Wessing and Winston and Strawn aiming to complete their merger in three weeks’ time, we thought you might like to listen back to our episode from last year when news of the deal broke.
The 1st May target date for the merger to go live is not locked in – the two firms are still dotting I’s and crossing T’s. If it goes ahead then though, it will be the first of the three transatlantic tie-ups agreed late last year to complete.
On the episode recorded back in December, the team discusses the firms’ strategies, what it means for Germany and the rest of Europe, and whether it actually makes sense...
Hosts Catrin Griffiths and Christian Smith are joined by deputy insight editor Nikhil Raj Aggarwal and international editor Charlie Johnstone, along with special guest Aled Griffiths, the founder of German legal magazine Juve.