Blackadders’ Employment Team has been nominated for the “Innovation in Practice Award” at the Scottish Legal Awards 2018.

The team has received recognition for their series of podcasts – Employment Lawyer In Your Pocket – which are available for free on both the website and on iTunes.

Simon Allison who heads up the Employment Team was also nominated for the “Lawyer of the Year Award”, unbeknown to him he was put forward for the award by fellow team member, Associate Solicitor, Jack Boyle. When asked why Jack nominated Simon he said; “That’s easy. Simon deserves this award because he has unparalleled success DESPITE having a stroke early last year. As Simon himself says, “When the going gets tough and I wonder why I am doing this, I remind myself, it’s because I can.”. Simon commented that it was “a lovely surprise to be nominated for the Lawyer of the Year Award and that he is truly honoured although he is also going to keep a closer eye on Jack in future”.

When asked about the team nomination Simon commented, “We are absolutely delighted to be nominated for this accolade. It is recognition of both the quality content and the hard work which the team has put into their podcasting journey. Both Blackadders and the Employment Team are flattered to be named as one of the finalists.” 

The team commenced their podcasts in December 2016. Series one was entitled “Eight steps to conduct a fair dismissal”. Series two was entitled their “How To” series of podcasts where the team cover such topics as “How To Be A Good Witness”, “How To Deal With Stubble and Tattoos”, “How To Manage Your Apprentices” and “How To Appoint A Data Protection Officer”.

Simon commented, “Each podcast lasts for approximately 10 minutes. The rationale was that a ten minute podcast was longer than the length of time for Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and less than Meatloaf’s I Would Do Anything For Love (album version). Believe it or not, there is no actual script. And editing has been minimal to ensure that the natural flow of our friendships was not missed.”

The purpose of the podcasts was not to be the best podcasters in the world. Instead it was to raise the profile of the firm and to generate new business and new clients. We have been really successful in all of these criteria both locally and throughout the UK.

“We were advised that if we managed to get 150 listeners for each season, that would be a great result. By the end of season one, we had over 800 listeners. Season two ended in December and at the last count, there were over 3600 subscribed listeners.”

If you want to ask the team a question which may be featured in season three of their next series, you should tweet them using the #ELiYP hashtag.

Simon has promised the team that he will take them to watch a Real Madrid match if they win the award.

Let’s hope that, for Simon’s sake, the team will be dining on mince and tatties this summer as opposed to tortillas.

Those Christmas parties are coming up and if you are an employer or manager you will definitely want to listen to this beforehand!

The FINALE to season two sees the Employment Lawyers answer a tweet from Vital Hike Ltd – How to keep control over your employees?

Click here to listen to the full podcast: http://bit.ly/2AhfARN

For more information on Employment Law please visit the Blackadders website.

How to appoint a Data Protection Officer?

Blackadders Simon Allison, Jack Boyle and Ruth Weir answer a tweet from Avian Studio ‘do I need to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO)?’

They cover who needs it, who can be a DPO and give examples of cases.
There’s also some interesting theme tunes and a bit of the Simpsons banter thrown in!

To listen to the podcast click here; http://bit.ly/2hLIqz1

For more information on Data Protection Officers please speak to Blackadders by visiting the Blackadders website.

The latest episode of Blackadders Employment Lawyer in Your Pocket Podcast is available now!

Season 2, Episode 6: Simon Allison & Jack Boyle answer a tweet from Henderson Loggie Chartered Accountants ‘Do apprentices have different rights to employees? If so what’s the difference?’.

Jack gives us his top 3 tips whilst Simon reveals his favourite… and worst apprentice!

Click here to listen to the full podcast: http://bit.ly/2yKoMhV

For more information and help with Employment Law please visit Blackadders website: www.blackadders.co.uk

Get in touch with the Employment Law team on twitter:
@EmpLawyerSimon
@EmpLawyerJack
@EmpLawyerRich

Blackadders LLP Employment team Partner Simon Allison and Associate Solicitor Jack Boyle have recently produced the first episode of Season 2 of Employment Lawyer in your Pocket: ‘How to be a good witness?’

In the episode, Simon and Jack answer a tweet from Fairways HR asking what makes a credible & reliable witness?

Listen to the podcast here: http://bit.ly/2hPMpy3

From Blackadders LLP, about their Employment Lawyer in your Pocket podcast:

We’re aiming to help managers and business owners navigate the murky and often contentious world of employment law and keep on the straight and narrow with their staff.

In season 1, Simon and the team discuss the eight essential steps which an employer must take when looking to fairly dismiss an employee.

In season 2, Simon and the team answers questions which have been tweeted by listeners. How To Be A Good Witness? How To Give A Reference? And many, many more.

You can follow the award-winning employment team on twitter @EmpLawyerSimon @EmpLawyerJack and @EmpLawyerRich

You can also tweet us any questions using the #ELiYP hashtag.