Shows
Certainly Not Legal AdviceEpisode 39 - Greenland, The Railways Bill 2025, 'Twistin' in the Wind' and Rupert Williams tells us about his new book, 'Meandering Sweet'The first episode of the 'new look' Certainly Not Legal Advice podcast for 2026 kicks off with the latest news, specifically, the developments surrounding the status of Greenland and a curious case involving lawn maintenance from Canada. Rupert Williams, a language for law specialist at the University of Dundee also joins us for a fascinating episode of 'Orwell and Good' where he discusses legal aspects of his new book, 'Meandering Sweet: Walking up the River Tay', which comes highly recommended (see below for the Amazon link). Hold on to your hats for what comes next, as Duncan takes us on a...
2026-01-272h 11Certainly Not Legal AdviceHappy Hogmanay and Best Wishes for the New Year from the Certainly Not Legal Advice Team!Wishing our listeners all the best for the new year and some updates too on what the podcast has in store for 2026! In short it'll have some of the old and plenty of the new...
Many thanks to you all for listening and we look forward to bringing you more news, more songs with law references in them, more laws on film and a host of exciting new features to boot in 2026.
2025-12-3002 minCertainly Not Legal AdviceEpisode 38 - The Certainly Not Legal Advice Christmas Party! 'Featuring Miracle on 34th Street', 'Last Christmas' and the great Tinned Turkey debate of 1948It's the Certainly Not Legal Advice Christmas Party and you're all invited! All the legal Christmas questions you never knew you wanted the answers to are right here. Join us for a magical Christmassy journey through the wonders of human body part ownership, the law on Turkey rationing and the fascinating law on Christmas Crackers as we see 2025 out with a bang!
Show Notes
The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015
Grainger Plc & Ors v. Nicholson [2009] UKEAT 0219_09_0311 (3 November 2009)
House of Lords - Regina v. Secretary of State for Education an...
2025-12-191h 39Certainly Not Legal AdviceEpisode 37 - The Drunk Men's Choir, The EU Tyre Labelling Regulation 2020, 'A Few Good Men' and a Depeche Mode song about contractsA historic episode for Certainly Not Legal Advice as Hannah Mimiec stars in her first show as a regular co-presenter and the podcast receives its first ever email (at any rate, its first one which isn't unsolicited spam...). Following a round-up of the week's news, the team delve into a very special 'Song With a Law Reference in It' before Hannah takes the floor and presents a fascinating spotlight feature illustrating how the phenomenon known as 'The Drunk Men's Choir' neatly illustrates the nuances of copyright law as regards user created content. Alex and Duncan then discuss some incredibly...
2025-12-162h 07Certainly Not Legal AdviceEpisode 36 - Vegemite, Mooting and the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. Featuring Celebrity Guest Ruaridh Cormack!After a round up of some of the week's news, Alex and Duncan are joined by yet another Celebrity Guest. This time its Ruaridh Cormack who joins us to talk about Mooting. The trio later discuss aspects of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East which was established following World War 2 and there is a Song With A Law Reference In It which is simply 'out of this world'...
Show Notes
University of Dundee Mooting Society site
University of Dundee Mooting Society (@dundeeunimooting) • Instagram photos and videos
Russian spy ship en...
2025-11-221h 57Certainly Not Legal AdviceEpisode 35 – Celebrity Guest Hannah Mimiec launches our new feature, ‘Orwell and Good’ and Alex and Duncan go on a fascinating voyage around the Sale of Goods Act 1979A very special episode this week as your hosts, Alex and Duncan are joined by celebrity guest Hannah Mimiec! A specialist in Law and Literature, Hannah launches the podcast’s newest feature, Orwell & Good, by explaining how licensing laws come into one of her favourite George Orwell articles. The discussion that follows covers many diverse subjects from women’s rights, social and cultural participation and the origin of laws relating to recreational drugs. Alex and Duncan also discuss some of the latest news and present another fascinating spotlight feature- this time it’s the Sale of Goods Act 1979!
Links...
2025-11-072h 07Certainly Not Legal AdviceEpisode 34 - Halloween Spooktacular Special! The law on Witchcraft, the Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951, Big Cats and much more!Join Alex and Duncan for this spooktacular Halloween special episode of 'Certainly Not Legal Advice'! Your two hosts discuss the law relating to Witchcraft, discuss some terrifyingly spooky news, and explore The Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951.
There is also a Halloween themed 'Song with a Law Reference' and 'Law on Film' for you to enjoy. So, dim the lights, treat yourself to a cup of your favourite hot drink and settle in for a 'frighteningly' long episode of 'Certainly Not Legal Advice'!
Links
Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951
Survey of Scottish Witchcraft main site:
https...
2025-10-292h 27Certainly Not Legal AdviceEpisode 33 - Autonomous Vehicles, 'Oppenheimer' and a Very Controversial Very Boring Legislation...In this episode, Alex and Duncan discuss the policing of crimes committed by autonomous vehicles, explore the quasi-judicial hearing at the 'heart' of the 2023 movie, 'Oppenheimer', brave the savage garden that is 'Song With a Law Reference in It' and drive a number of salient points home in what is possibly the most controversial 'Very Boring Legislation' to date... There is also some digression from the main theme as the presenters discuss some of their favourite literature.
Links
The Formula 1 Regulations 2024:
fia_2024_formula_1_sporting_regulations_-_issue_1_-_2023-09-26.pdf
...
2025-10-161h 19Certainly Not Legal AdviceEpisode 32 - (We're Back!) The abolition of the 'not proven' verdict in Scotland, Top Tips for Studying Law and 'Trainspotting'We're back for a brand new series of podcasts that are Certainly Not Legal Advice!
In this episode, Alex and Duncan discuss the abolition of the 'not proven' verdict in Scotland, reminisce about their early days at University and ponder the advice they would give to their younger selves both in terms of study skills and how to enjoy the social aspects of University more generally.
'Law on Film' also makes a return to the airwaves with 'Trainspotting' (although not for the reasons you may assume).
No 'Song with a Law Reference in...
2025-10-031h 32Certainly Not Legal AdviceEpisode 31- Special Relativity, the Death Penalty and the Milk Bottle Caps Regulations 1973In this episode, Duncan and Alex share their views on recent legal developments, discuss their latest publications and embark on a comparative deep-dive into some very boring legislation indeed! 'Law on Film' and 'Song With a Law Reference in It' are also back!
Links:
Alex Simmonds, ‘A Study of the Legal Implications of Time Dilation in Accordance with Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity’ (2024) 9(1) Cambridge Law Review 1–27
fb0f90_ddf346fce10d401f94e11cb38f96ccb0.pdf
Alex Simmonds, 'Is the Speed of Law faster than the Speed of Light: Considerations of the...
2025-03-281h 49Certainly Not Legal AdviceEpisode 30 - Wareham Pedestrian Level Crossing and Thermonuclear WarfareIn this episode, Duncan and Alex discuss some of the latest legal news, embark on an examination of the law relating to Nuclear Weapons and engage in a scintillating debate over The Sacks (Cleaning and Repairing) Welfare Order (Northern Ireland) 1928. Also, our regular feature 'Law on Film' is back along with the debut of 'Song with a Law Reference in It'!
Links:
Wareham pedestrian level crossing - Dorset Council
Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on Nuclear Weapons: Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons
Dissenting Opinion o...
2025-03-051h 21Certainly Not Legal AdviceEpisode 29 - PilotThe pilot episode of Definitely Not Legal Advice! Duncan and Alex ponder various topics including, but not limited to, the rule of law, slavery in ancient Rome, the legal significance of the 1987 movie 'Robocop' and the legal definition of a unicycle for the purposes of Road Traffic Law.
Links
Roads (Scotland) Act 1984
2025-02-191h 03