Inside “The Firm” the thrilling new BBC documentary about Aamer Anwar & Co.
Highly anticipated BBC 8 Part docuseries ‘The Firm’ following Aamer Anwar & Co. will launch with all episodes this Sunday 8th October on the BBC iPlayer and on BBC Scotland every Sunday at 9pm for 8 weeks.
This 8-part series will provide viewers with an unprecedented view behind the curtain at Aamer Anwar & Co., following Aamer and his team of lawyers as they fight injustice in a high-pressure legal environment.
Internationally renowned for their handling of high-profile human rights cases, Aamer is no stranger to the media spotlight, but he has never allowed a filming crew unlimited access to his Glasgow based law firm- Until now.
It might be dubbed as beautifully shot real-life ‘Suits’ in the press, but this is no glorified drama where a happy ending is guaranteed at the end of every episode. It is a no holds barred insight into the often-infuriating reality of working in a law practice where justice is hard-fought and requires months, but more often than not many years of dedicated legal work.
“There will be swearing, there will be frustration, there will be tears, there will be days where nothing goes our way, but this is the reality of what we do, but the thread that flows through everything we do is that ‘justice is a right and not a privilege’. We are incredibly proud of our team’s camaraderie, dedication, and drive to succeed against the odds and look forward to you joining us and the families featured as we fight some of the biggest legal cases in UK legal history.”
“For each case that unfolds in this series, there is heartbreak, grief, anger and pain, but combined with love, it is an unstoppable force in the fight for justice”
The 8-part series documents the busiest year in ‘The Firm’s’ history with Aamer working on as many as three high-profile public inquiries over the course of a year’s filming. The cameras followed Aamer and his team of lawyers as they represent the families of Sheku Bayoh in the Public Inquiry into his death in police custody, the family of Katie Allan who lost her life to suicide in Polmont HMYOI, criminal clients, as well as representing the Scottish Covid Bereaved at both the Scottish and the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (the biggest public inquiry in British history.)
Aamer Anwar & Co. is a Glasgow based law firm operating across the United Kingdom, with a reputation for fighting for the underdog. The series will shine an unprecedented spotlight on what drives the firm, all united by one goal: to challenge injustice at every turn.
Why did we agree to take part?
The media have never been allowed such unlimited access within our walls, but we were clear that one-minute soundbites on the six O’clock news didn’t do justice to those we fight for.
We have been asked to appear in several fly-on-the-wall documentaries over the last decade, but this was the first time we have ever agreed.
We represent real people in extremely difficult situations and have never felt that a television series could truly reflect the honesty, integrity and compassion of our team, but more importantly give a genuine voice to the families who in the midst of the pain are forced to campaign.
However, after talking with the team at STV studios who produced the series, it was clear that the proposed ‘The Firm’ would not be no sensationalist or an intrusive impression of life in criminal law and human rights, rather it is a raw look at challenges faced by a team of lawyers fighting injustice and handling highly sensitive cases under intense media scrutiny.
In the words of the BBC who broadcast the series, Aamer Anwar and Co. were chosen as the focus for this new series due to our proud reputation of “fighting for the underdog to ensure that justice is served”. We hope that our participation will spread awareness of the challenges faced by the wider legal profession today, with legal aid under attack and human rights considered a ‘dirty’ word in some quarters.
Giving a voice to those who refuse to be silenced is the foundation of all we do. The Firm provided the perfect platform to highlight the struggles that the family of Sheku Bayoh and others like them face every day in their pursuit of justice.
Speaking to the BBC in advance of Sunday’s launch, Aamer expressed surprise at just how much the filming process had influenced him personally.
“It surprised me how much the programme managed to chip away at the suited, tough guy exterior that I present on the news. I’m not a machine; I do have feelings and dark moments, and trauma is a part of my life that I’ve had to learn to manage and to channel in the struggle for justice.”
Where can you watch?
All 8 Episodes of the Firm will be available to download on BBC iPlayer on Sunday 8th October, and the first episode will be shown live on BBC Scotland at 9pm on the same day, with each episode broadcast at the same time for the remaining seven weeks on Sunday.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0ggr8mb
