EP 17 Leadership with Purpose with Robert Hanna

Robert Hanna is a recruiter specialised in legal careers who also happens to host the top legal podcast in the UK, Legally Speaking Podcast. I have invited him on the podcast because purpose can make such a huge difference in resilience but also outlook in leadership and I thought this would be incredibly valuable for my listeners. I was not disappointed. Before I met Robert, I honestly never thought I would find a recruiter, especially in the legal field, fun, relatable and trustworthy. I know it's an awful thing to say but I have been on the candidate's side of things, rather than the recruiter, as a lawyer, and that was the reality. The way Robert approached his business is first and foremost in the context of a legacy he would like to leave. It's not just any legacy though and this is where Robert brings a truly unique energy to this. He was inspired by his grandfather who was a lawyer and who received countless letters from clients thanking him for the help he offered them. I can relate to this because although I never saw the letters, I know that my father, who was an eye surgeon, was dearly loved by his clients. There is something truly magical when you can restore someone's eye sight - though I realise it is not always possible. From there, Robert took a huge risk. He followed a nudge he had to start a podcast where he would interview lawyers, preferably at the start, lawyers who worked for clients he wanted to represent and produce an episode that would make that law firm more attractive for people to come and work for. This was true entrepreneurship in action as he was the new comer in a market where every recruiting firm had a foot in the door. Robert is also a champion of technology, especially AI, in law. His podcast is sponsored by Clio, the world's leading provider of cloud-based legal technology. Robert is the founder of a special event called the GBLO in the North of England, which stands for the Great Big Legal Offsite. It has been running for three years and will be held on the 3rd of July in 2026 with the theme of the laws of the jungle. Robert's events are unconventional and full of fun. His event is for This is a high-energy, immersive day for legal leaders, founders, and innovators who don't just want to survive – they want to thrive and dominate their domain. To find out more information about the podcast but also events that Robert runs, click here. You can follow Robert on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Youtube.