Welcome to Episode 92 of Speed Mooting Presents: Partners in Crime, our first episode of 2026.In this episode, John and Hayley look ahead to what’s coming up at Speed Mooting in the new year, starting with a packed January of free events, advocacy training and skills-based opportunities for aspiring and junior lawyers. Affectionately titled The Joe Keery Special (after Joe Keery, aka Steve Harrington from Stranger Things), the episode blends light-hearted chat with practical advice for anyone thinking about a career at the Bar or as a solicitor.The conversation covers upcoming free webinars, advocacy evenings with practising barristers, the return of the Advocacy Club and Commercial Awareness Club, and major competitions planned for 2026, including the National Speed Mooting Competition and the Northern Pupillage Fair. John and Hayley also explain how Speed Mooting’s events are designed to be accessible, low-pressure and open to all levels, with opportunities allocated fairly rather than through competitive applications.The episode then moves into #AskSpeedSquad, where listener questions are answered on writing effective CVs and covering letters, avoiding common mistakes in written advocacy, and how to communicate clearly and persuasively on the page. Drawing on real experience from practice, the discussion focuses on clarity, structure and cutting out unnecessary waffle — skills that matter just as much in applications as they do in legal work.If you’re applying for pupillage, training contracts, mini-pupillages or work experience, or simply want to build confidence in advocacy and commercial thinking, this episode offers practical, honest guidance to start 2026 strongly.