Activist Lawyer

About Activist Lawyer

The Activist Lawyer podcast offers a platform for lawyers to share their story and journey into law and activism. Guests will discuss the challenges and highlights of their work as well as important cases, opinions on legal and political matters and will offer advice and tips for anyone interested in pursuing a career in human rights law, public interest law or criminal justice. The Activist Lawyer Podcast is brought to you by the Granite Podcast Studio.

Publisher

activistlawyer

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Nov 2020

Latest episode

1 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

141 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Ep 138: Crisis at Lough Neagh and the Fight for Environmental Justice

   In this episode of The Activist Lawyer, we speak with Laura Neal, lawyer at Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland, about the deepening ecological crisis at Lough Neagh, where toxic blue-green algal blooms, agricultural pollution and governance failures have placed the UK's largest freshwater lake under unprecedented pressure. We explore how strategic environmental litigation is increasingly being used to hold public authorities accountable, examine the growing movement for the Rights of Nature, and discuss why recognising legal rights for the natural world is not simply a radical idea but an emerging legal necessity in the face of accelerating environmental breakdown. Important Links: Petition: Save Lough Neagh | Friends of the Earth Why is Lough Neagh dying? | Friends of the Earth Help protect people and planet | Friends of the Earth Save Lough Neagh | Facebook About Laura Laura Neal is a senior lawyer and solicitor for Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland a position she has held for 8 years. In that time she has led on strategic litigation that supports communities in Northern Ireland to protect people, planet and place. She was recognised as an “unsung hero” in the 2025 ENDS Powerlist of the UK’s most impactful environmental professionals and together with communities and civic society organisations, she has been involved in successful litigation such as the “No Gas Caverns” legal case and the recent “Clean Air Case” on the diesel emissions MOT scandal. Friends of the Earth have also recently intervened in the A5 Road case and are actively participating in the public inquiry into goldmining in the Sperrin Mountains and the current legal challenge concerning the pollution of Lough Neagh.

2. 

   28 Sept 2026

   Accidential Activist: Ep 2, Hajrija Čobo

   Hajrija Čobo joins Brian and Sarah to discuss her journey as an environmental rights defender and campaigner. She shares how concerns about environmental harm and its impact on local communities led her into activism, and reflects on the legal and advocacy efforts she has undertaken to protect environmental rights. The conversation explores the growing recognition of environmental issues as human rights issues, the obstacles faced by environmental defenders, and the determination required to challenge powerful interests in pursuit of justice and accountability. What turns an ordinary person into an activist? Accidental Activist is a special mini-series from the Activist Lawyer Podcast sponsored by Humanitas Media and hosted by Brian Dooley and Sarah Henry. Through candid conversations with campaigners and human rights defenders, the series explores how people from a range of backgrounds found themselves standing up against injustice. These are not stories of people who set out to become activists. They are stories of individuals who responded to challenges, inequality, discrimination, environmental harm, violence or injustice in their communities and discovered the power of collective action. Their experiences demonstrate that you do not need a particular qualification, title or profession to become an advocate for change. All it takes is a willingness to act. Across four compelling episodes, Brian and Sarah speak with remarkable guests about their journeys, achievements, challenges and the lessons they have learned along the way. About the Hosts: Sarah Henry is a solicitor, human rights advocate and host of the Activist Lawyer Podcast. Originally from Newry, County Down, Sarah has extensive experience working on human rights, equality and social justice issues. Through her legal practice, advocacy work and podcasting, she is committed to amplifying the voices of activists and campaigners and encouraging others to become agents of positive change in their communities. Brian Dooley is a leading human rights advocate, writer and campaigner. He is a senior adviser with Human Rights First and has spent decades working with human rights defenders and activists across the globe. Brian is the author of several books on human rights and activism, including his forthcoming book Defiance, due to be published in October. Throughout his career, he has documented abuses, supported grassroots activists and championed the rights of those working for justice and equality.

3. 

   4 Sept 2026

   Ep 137: The Law Society  of Northern Ireland Special General Meeting:  What You Need to Know - with Rosemary Connolly

   What’s behind the upcoming Law Society of Northern Ireland Special General Meeting? In this episode of Activist Lawyer, we are joined by Rosemary Connolly, recently retired solicitor with over 30 years in private practice to discuss the factual background to the SGM called for 9th September in Belfast. Rosemary talks us through the issues that have led to the meeting, the importance of solicitors engaging with the process, and the wider questions raised around character references in cases involving sexual violence. The conversation also explores why it matters that members have the information they need to participate fully and make their own decisions at the meeting. Special General Meeting: 9 September 2026, Belfast

Who has been a guest on Activist Lawyer

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Kenneth Roth
• Lucy Barnes
• Jonathan McKeown
• Dr S Chelvan
• Anne Marie Featherstone

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

4,156

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

20 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

69

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

85

Contact Activist Lawyer

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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