AV俱乐部

This story originally appeared in the 2021 edition of Hearsay, the Schulich School of Law Alumni Magazine.

Most of us, at some point, have had rousing, intellectual, politically charged conversations around the dinner table with family and friends. Conversations that perhaps even turn into debates鈥攚here people might disagree, argue for or against a perspective or share an opinion or two.

Now, imagine hitting a record button. And turning those conversations into a podcast.

It鈥檚 what Emilie Taman (鈥�04) and Michael Spratt (鈥�04) did when they launched The Docket, an award-winning podcast that explores the complex intersection of law, politics and public policy in our country.

Taman and Spratt met when they both were students at the Schulich School of Law鈥攁 meeting that was perhaps meant to be, as they now share a home and three children together鈥攖hough their careers have followed very different trajectories. 鈥淵ou could say I鈥檝e had a non-linear career path,鈥� Taman laughs. 鈥淔rom legal counsel at the Supreme Court and being a former Federal Crown prosecutor to running for political office and now in private practice, my experience reflects the diverse subjects we cover on the podcast.鈥�

In contrast to Taman鈥檚 varied and wide-ranging experience, Spratt has focused his 15-year career in criminal law, developing a broad criminal litigation practice. 鈥淚 was always opinionated, even before law school,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut being outspoken and holding power to account is baked into the DNA of being a criminal lawyer. Learning the law at AV俱乐部 fostered a spirit of questioning and debate in both of us.鈥�

It was clear from their early days at law school that Taman and Spratt shared many overlapping interests. 鈥淚n second year we had almost every class together due to our mutual engagement with criminal law,鈥� remembers Taman. 鈥淎nd we were also randomly partnered up for the Gale Cup Moot, and through the preparation and competition, we got to work together as we were first developing our legal advocacy skills.鈥�

A platform made for perspectives

Their shared passions and outspokenness were a big part of the inception of The Docket in 2014. Out of their home in Ottawa, Spratt launched the podcast with Taman joining him at the microphone soon after. They haven鈥檛 looked back since鈥攔ecently hitting one million downloads and having recorded over 120 in-depth interviews and conversations about today鈥檚 most burning political and legal questions.

鈥淲e do it because we love it,鈥� says Spratt. 鈥淲e were having these kinds of conversations anyway with family and friends and it felt natural to just turn on a microphone.鈥�

For Taman and Spratt, their podcast is about more than just engaging conversations or speaking with interesting people, it is a platform to help inspire a more informed public debate. 鈥淲e have a lot of friends who aren鈥檛 lawyers,鈥� Spratt says. 鈥淲hen we鈥檇 sit around the table talking about something in the news鈥攁 new government policy or even a reality show like Making a Murderer鈥擡milie and I could help people understand the legal perspective and point out misconceptions or blind spots. The podcast lets us do that on a really broad scale.鈥�

The Docket received national attention early in its history for a series of episodes tackling that Netflix hit, Making a Murderer. 鈥淲e offered a Canadian perspective and a thoughtful analysis,鈥� says Taman. 鈥淎nd since it was the show everyone was talking about at the time, it helped to broaden our audience鈥攖his isn鈥檛 a podcast just for lawyers or legal experts,鈥� she adds.

Empowering information and advocacy

Taman and Spratt take a hard line on continuing to make the show accessible to as many people as possible. 鈥淭he law impacts everyone, just as much as public policy or health care,鈥� says Taman. 鈥淲e鈥檙e covering issues that matter to all of us and they鈥檙e often things the people in power don鈥檛 want to talk about. We want to encourage everyone to ask challenging questions.鈥�

Their emphasis on inclusion has built The Docket鈥檚 broad, engaged audience, including an online forum Spratt manages where members can exchange perspectives and ideas. 鈥淚t was surprising to see how many people, especially young lawyers and legal students, were interested in these subjects,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 gratifying to give them a home.鈥�

鈥淪ome of my favourite episodes are those where we鈥檝e asked high school students to write in with their questions,鈥� he continues. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e asking really unfiltered questions, like if their principal can legally search their locker. Hopefully, answering those questions inspires them to keep asking more.鈥�

Their impact on young people and students in particular is clear. 鈥淲e were at a conference at AV俱乐部 several years ago,鈥� Taman remembers. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 believe how many students recognized our voices and really cared about the issues.鈥� It speaks to the need that The Docket fills for young minds鈥攖he next generation looking for answers, insight and where to focus their advocacy. 鈥淏ut regardless of age, our hope is to help people understand the questions we raise,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hen they can direct their efforts and advocate effectively for the things they can change.鈥�

What the future looks like

Taman and Spratt know that they鈥檒l never have a shortage of subject matter and want to continue to elevate public discourse, and in some cases, have had the opportunity to engage previous classmates in their discussions. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had the opportunity to also interview former classmates and other Dal law alums on occasion too,鈥� says Taman. 鈥淲e鈥檝e interviewed Erin O鈥橳oole (鈥�03) before and one of our most frequent guests has been Senator Kim Pate (鈥�84).鈥�

鈥淲hat鈥檚 interesting is that no matter who we鈥檙e talking to or the subject matter we鈥檙e covering, it always comes down to education and advocacy. Governments might say the right things, but not actually do the right things,鈥� says Taman. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 easy for people, and the media, to stop following the issues as they evolve.鈥� It鈥檚 a gap they believe The Docket can help bridge鈥攖o follow issues that matter and help their audience understand the complexities of policy and law. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no formula for how we come up with topics,鈥� says Spratt. 鈥淏ut there are unique opportunities to speak with people we never thought we could, like politicians. Journalists also come to us for our take on issues now, because they know we鈥檒l have an informed opinion.鈥�

They believe education and information is especially important in today鈥檚 social and political landscape. 鈥淲e鈥檝e covered subjects like #MeToo and wrongful convictions and interviewed people we didn鈥檛 necessarily agree with,鈥� continues Taman. 鈥淚 think there are fewer and fewer opportunities to have those respectful yet charged exchanges in today鈥檚 media landscape. But The Docket is one of them.鈥�

To listen to the podcast, visit Michael's website