Speed Mooting Podcast - Training tomorrow's lawyers, today!

In this episode, John Dove unpacks the viral question:
“How do lawyers defend clients they know are guilty?”
Following a TikTok clip that reached over 1 million views, John responds to common misconceptions and explains the reality of criminal defence practice.
He covers:
The meaning of professional embarrassment
Why lawyers cannot lie or mislead the court
How defence lawyers can still act by challenging evidence
The role of legal privilege and confidentiality
Whether defence strategies change based on who pays
The impact of not giving evidence
How guilty pleas and sentencing discounts work
A clear, practical breakdown of how ethics, advocacy, and the justice system intersect in real life.

Episode 105, the Bortoletto & Vettel special , is all about spring cleaning your CV 🌱
With pupillage and application season approaching, we share practical tips on how to get your CV into top shape - from keeping it up to date and cutting the waffle, to formatting, proofreading, and making a strong first impression.
We also cover:
How to start advocacy with zero experience
The roles that best prepare you for a legal career
Book recommendations (and a few unexpected takes…)
A mix of practical advice, real experiences, and light-hearted discussion, exactly what you’d expect from Speed Mooting.
If you’ve got a question, drop us a message or email [email protected]

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This episode introduces the Legal Skills Academy — a new, structured programme designed to help aspiring lawyers develop core legal skills with real progression and recognition.
We explain:
Why we created the Legal Skills Academy
How it brings together advocacy, public speaking, debating, and commercial awareness
What makes it different from traditional legal training
How it helps you build evidence-backed skills for applications and practice
We also touch on:
Our 2-year podcast milestone
Insights from our recent viral legal discussion
Listener questions on standing out in a competitive legal market
🎯 If you're serious about developing as a future lawyer, this episode is essential listening.
📩 Questions? Email [email protected] or connect with us on social media.

Another Ask Speed Squad episode, answering your biggest questions on advocacy and breaking into the profession.
We cover:
What to do if you don’t get pupillage

How to become a great advocate

Networking without feeling awkward

And who would actually make the better judge

Practical advice, honest insights, and a few laughs along the way.

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In this episode, John and Hayley answer questions from the Speed Mooting community about becoming a barrister, building the perfect advocacy CV, and what makes a truly great litigator. They discuss:1. Whether qualifying as a solicitor first is a good route to the bar2. The experiences that should appear on a top advocacy CV3. The difference between a good and great litigator4. How law students can build contacts and experience from scratchIf you're a law student, aspiring barrister, or junior lawyer, this episode is packed with practical advice and insight.Get involvedSend your questions to the podcast:📧 [email protected]📱 DM Speed Mooting or the hosts on social mediaDon’t forget to like, rate, and subscribe for more conversations about advocacy, legal careers, and life at the bar. Find out how we can help you with your legal career over at https://speedmooting.com/