Pro Bono Radio students Brody Appotive, Graeme Macpherson and Geneve Say, all Law’17, in the broadcast booth at CFRC.
Pro Bono Radio students Brody Appotive, Graeme Macpherson and Geneve Say, all Law’17, in the broadcast booth at CFRC.

Pro Bono Radio (PBR), the legal issues radio show created and produced by Queen’s Law students, hits the airwaves with a new episode today. Tune in to CFRC 101.9 FM Radio at 11:30 am for an interesting discussion that answers the question “Are Good Lawyers Bad People?” 

In the show, which is affiliated with Pro Bono Students Canada, law students research and talk about topical legal issues. “Generally, we try to take a subject that is in the news, research the law behind it and try to present it to our listeners in an entertaining way,” says Brody Appotive, Law’17, PBR Project Lead. Other topics this year include “The Most Misunderstood Cases” such as O.J. Simpson and Amanda Knox, and “Netflix and the Law.”

PBR volunteers have a unique opportunity to collaborate with their colleagues and find creative ways to explain complicated legal topics. Students are divided into teams of three and produce shows on an alternating basis. “I like how creativity and humour are encouraged,” says Erin Keogh, Law ’18, who is in her second year with the program. “I’ve researched areas of law that I would probably not have covered in my classes. 

“Working on the show is a unique conversation point,” she adds with a smile, “especially when drafting cover letters.” 

“I think Pro Bono Radio is a really constructive way for the community to have a positive interaction with the law and law students,” explains Jill Whitehead, Law ’18. “Most of the time people deal with lawyers and the law because of a dispute or another unhappy issue in their lives. Radio provides a way for the community to enjoy some entertaining elements of the law.”

Starting this year, PBR will also be turning its recordings into podcasts. This format allows listeners to tune in whenever they want by downloading recordings to their phones or computers. “We’re starting to podcast because we believe the show will be of interest to those outside the Queen’s Law community as well,” explains Appotive. “Podcasting allows us to target a larger audience who can listen to our show at a time of their choice.”

Pro Bono Radio is broadcast on Thursdays from 11:30 am to noon. Archived shows are available through CFRC’s digital archives, and select episodes at the PBR website.

Podcast episodes will soon be available on the PBR website and on iTunes.

By Anthony Pugh