Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, recorded at the Partner Summit 2025, LEAP Legal Software founder and chief executive Christian Beck talks about the most notable productivity gains we're seeing from the increased use of artificial intelligence by law firms across the board. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Beck about the monumental shifts being witnessed from such increased use of AI by law firms, his perception of firms' embrace of AI and new technologies, the key challenges pertaining to billing of clients in the age of AI, and the need to adjust a firm's billing practices accordingly. Beck also delves into how best to maximise productivity gains within your own law firm, determining how best to charge for legal services and provide additional value to clients, the need to “be more engaged than ever before” and think more creatively, the practical steps he advises firm leaders to take, what lawyers will be judged on moving forward, and whether it is harder to be a law firm partner now than ever before.

As law students begin the summer clerkship application process, Jessica Trinh shares essential tips and insights – covering the often-overlooked details and common pitfalls – to help law students stand out and secure a position. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Jessica Trinh, a fourth-year law and medical science student at UTS and current paralegal. She shares her inspiration for pursuing a law degree, discusses what she enjoys most about her work in the dispute resolution and negligence space, breaks down what a clerkship entails, and highlights why it can be a valuable stepping stone into the legal profession for law students. Trinh addresses the common misconception that clerkships are the only pathway into a legal career, sheds light on alternative routes students can take to launch their legal careers, reflects on her own experience navigating the clerkship application process, details how challenging and isolating it can be, but also expresses how rewarding it can be for law students. She outlines the initial steps law students should take when they start this application process, highlights the importance of thorough background research on law firms, offers practical advice on how to effectively structure cover letters and CVs to ensure all the essential information is included, provides tips for excelling and standing out during the interview process, and stresses the importance of looking after your mental health and wellbeing throughout this process.

While there are myriad risks inherent with silent AI, one BigLaw partner also feels there are opportunities to develop risk controls and garner business. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clyde & Co partner Darryl Smith about the concept of silent AI and its implications for insurers and businesses, why the issues surrounding it are “very quiet” right now, the perfect storm that is brewing, and the potential challenges coming for the insurance space. Smith also discusses the inherent opportunities with these challenges, the possibility for group claims or class actions, preparing for the unknown, practical ways to better support clients, why he's such a big proponent of using AI, and how and why he's learnt to code. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Given that one of the most common gripes clients have about their lawyers is (perceived) high fees, it is essential that practitioners get this right – as “it'll save us a lot of time”. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Gale Family Law director David Gale to discuss the importance of addressing costs concerns, how urgent a priority it is amid other urgent priorities for practitioners, whether pressure to get costs right is getting more burdensome, and how commonly clients will walk away from their lawyers over costs. Gale also delves into his thinking around the setting of costs, how costs arise in fixed-fee arrangements, being transparent across the board about costs arrangements, the questions lawyers must ask of themselves in reducing the risk of disputes, whether too many lawyers are getting costs wrong, and his suggested practical steps. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Believing that you must be available 24/7, that money brings happiness, and that asking for help is a sign of weakness are just some of the common myths lawyers have come to accept as truth. Here, John Kormanik challenges these misconceptions and offers practical advice on what to believe – and do – instead. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with John Kormanik, a former trial lawyer turned certified professional coach for lawyers, about his early career in the healthcare system, how his desire to serve and support others led him to pursue law, his experience advising clients on death row, and what ultimately prompted him to step away from legal practice after 25 years. Kormanik reflects on the common traits of lawyers who seek professional coaching and explores the personal and professional benefits they can gain from working with a coach. He also outlines the key challenges currently facing the legal profession and debunks five common myths he has identified about what it means to be a lawyer, including the belief that success requires total devotion to work, that lawyers must always be busy, and that greater happiness comes with a higher income. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, recorded at the 2025 Corporate Counsel Summit, two in-house lawyers from ClearBridge Investments reflect on their takeaways from the annual gathering of corporate lawyers and what others need to know. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with ClearBridge Investments head of legal, risk and compliance Annette Golden and legal counsel Sydney Abba about life for lawyers in the financial services sector, their key insights from the summit, how corporate counsel across the board are facing similar issues, and why it is so essential to carve out time for education and professional development. Golden and Abba also delve into the importance of hearing different points of view on the challenges being faced, the need for knowledge sharing at events like the summit, how and why they gleaned so much from attending, and why other in-house lawyers should attend the Corporate Counsel Summit next year.

After a decade-long career as a professional rugby union player, marked by captaincy honours and the pride of representing his country, Michael Wells shares his journey from the rugby pitch to the legal profession. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Michael Wells, an associate at BlackBay Lawyers, about his career as a professional rugby union player. He reflects on his decade-long sporting career, including the honour of representing his country,  opens up about the challenges of pursuing a law degree while actively competing as a professional athlete, discusses how he managed to balance these two demanding paths, and shares what ultimately inspired his transition into law. Wells reflects on the toughest aspect of stepping away from his career as a professional athlete to become a full-time lawyer, outlines his legal career to date, what hurdles he faced during the transition, and shares moments where he encountered scepticism from others about his ability to succeed in the legal profession. He also speaks about the transferable skills he developed as a rugby union player and how they have translated into his legal career, notes whether they've given him a competitive edge, and addresses common misconceptions about the career paths athletes pursue after their time in sports.

As a small-firm owner, James d'Apice is walking the road less travelled – not just in terms of his marketing and revenue distribution but also in terms of how he views the firm as an entity. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Gravamen founder and principal James d'Apice to discuss his firm's journey since its recent inception, its success thus far, whether he's had a clear vision in mind or has figured the business approach out along the way, what has surprised him about the experience of being a firm owner, and why he has viewed the running of the firm as a “side hustle”. d'Apice also delves into how his mindset aligns with his perception of himself and his purpose as a lawyer, why he donates firm proceeds to chosen charities, navigating pressure points, making hiring decisions for the best interests of the firm, and what excites him about the future. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Thomson Reuters, host Lauren Croft speaks with Thomson Reuters associate general counsel Janine Cane, Abt Legal global associate general counsel Camille Cedergren, and Thomson Reuters director of legal transformation Tyrilly Csillag about building the right legal tech stack for modern legal teams. From overcoming common implementation challenges to getting leadership buy-in and measuring ROI, building an adaptable, integrated legal tech strategy is vital in the current climate. The guests explore key considerations for evaluating and adopting legal technology, offering practical insights on how firms and legal departments can manage risk, drive business growth, and future-proof their tech investments. Cane, Cedergren, and Csillag also highlight the growing role of AI-powered tools in transforming legal teams from operational support to strategic business partners and the importance of future-proofing your tech stack. To learn more about Thomson Reuters and its work in this space, click here. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

With many feeling lost and overwhelmed when starting their own law firm, one young lawyer who has navigated these challenges covers key steps to launch and manage your own legal practice with clarity and confidence. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Ahmad Faraj, the principal and senior lawyer at Faraj Defence Lawyers, delving into what inspired him to take the leap and start his own law firm. He shares the surprises and challenges he encountered in his journey, highlights the scarcity of resources available to guide aspiring law firm founders through this daunting process, and outlines four essential steps you need to complete before launching your practice. Faraj also offers guidance on choosing the right business model and area of specialisation, shares how lawyers can navigate conflicts with former firms concerning non-compete agreements and client transitions, as well as how to overcome the challenges of juggling the many roles a law firm owner must take on. He also discusses practical tips on landing your first client and building a sustainable client base, highlights the necessity of establishing a consistent digital presence across all platforms, and shares critical advice he wishes he had received early on.

Many senior in-house lawyers, Adrian Moffatt says, find themselves stuck in what he calls the “GC waiting room”. Here, he fleshes out how best law department leaders can support their growth. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Ausco Modular executive general manager of legal and corporate (APAC) Adrian Moffatt about why he's so motivated by in-house life, the inherent issues with the leadership bottleneck in-house and why it is a pervasive challenge, whether there can be more than one GC in a legal team, and the impact that waiting can have on a senior lawyer. Moffatt also discusses the flow-on issues that can arise both for businesses and individuals from this leadership bottleneck, the starting point for both GCs and their seniors in addressing the challenges, building suitable pathways moving forward, how best to come to the table, and his broader wisdom about having the courage to have tough conversations. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, produced in partnership with FTI Consulting, we explore best practices for conducting investigations and regulatory responses and the importance of pivoting from a reactive to a proactive approach to prevention and detection. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Natalie Faulkner, FTI Consulting's Head of Risk and Investigations, Australia, to discuss the work that she and her team do, why she likes helping organisations “against the bad guys”, why investigations are so front of mind for law departments, some recent case studies she's worked on, and the headline takeaways from those instances. Natalie provides practical guidance for conducting investigations, dealing with the increasing regulatory complexity and scrutiny and broader lessons she's learnt for in-house teams. Natalie also delves into how prepared Australian businesses are at this juncture, with emerging deepfake and sophisticated attacks causing sleepless nights for law department leaders. To learn more about FTI Consulting, click here. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Here, a BigLaw partner reflects on what we've learnt in the last year and a half from the Secure Jobs, Better Pay legislative changes and what it all means for the market moving forward. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Norton Rose Fulbright partner Alexandra Shields about her work in employment and labour law, the “human element” of such legal practice, what the recent Secure Jobs, Better Pay amendments are and why they were introduced, the key takeaways from the last 12 to 18 months following the passage of the amendments, and the issues and challenges that have arisen. Shields also delves into how best to respond to those issues and challenges, the more encouraging developments from the last 12 to 18 months, whether developments in the market can be attributed to the amended legislation, why changing the employment and labour market is a longer-term project, going by the “vibes”, how employers should respond to the current climate, considering their reputations, and what is best practice for lawyers in this space moving forward. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, produced in partnership with Elevate Flexible Legal Resourcing, we explore why contracting roles are no longer a stopgap and how legal departments and law firms are staying ahead with adopting agile resourcing strategies. We also delve into the changing attitudes in the industry and what is driving these changes. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with the Head of APAC at Elevate Flexible Legal Resourcing, Val Pitt, about her industry insights. They discuss the catalysts for increased interest in contracting roles and what it means for the legal services marketplace; the environmental factors that make contracting more appealing right now; how contract lawyers are being integrated into law departments; and the questions lawyers should ask of themselves in order to successfully integrate into a team. Val also explains the growing recognition of flexible work as being a viable career pathway, the win-win scenario for both individual lawyers and law departments as they onboard new technologies and manage budgetary constraints, why contracting is so "transformative", why more law departments are embracing it, and what listeners should know about what makes Elevate Flexible Legal Resourcing a stand-out option. To learn more about Elevate Flexible Resourcing, click here.

In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, recorded at the 2025 Corporate Counsel Summit, Professor Michael Adams reflects on the myriad issues law departments in tertiary education settings have to grapple with in terms of students' use of artificial intelligence. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Professor Michael Adams, a former law school dean and general counsel, about students' use of AI for exams and assessments, the questions that faculties across campuses are having to navigate, and why in-house legal teams in universities have to be part of the conversation determining the right balance for students' use of such platforms. Adams also delves into how the law departments can better collaborate with academics, the need to engage the student body as a key stakeholder, and why such questions and challenges will become increasingly pertinent for law departments in the education sphere moving forward. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

In the modern age, we are seeing multiple examples of reactionary legislation being passed based on faulty, after-the-fact reasoning. Lawyers, among others, have a duty to speak out (as servants of the courts and communities) and educate about the implications of passing laws that do not strike the right balance. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back JSA NSW director Andrew Tiedt to discuss the phenomenon of after-the-fact reasoning giving rise to the passage of bad legislation, how and why this occurs, the impact of social media, how key stakeholders can be left out if laws are being passed based on public perceptions and pressure, and why parliamentarians may wish to do this. Tiedt also delves into why it isn't necessarily a good thing for parliamentarians to respond to the court of public opinion, the implications of the passage of bad laws on practitioners (such as criminal lawyers), how lawyers can prevent such laws from being passed, their duty to be advocates, the longer-term dangers of such bad laws passing, who else bears responsibility for ensuring laws are measured and reasonable, and why it can be so hard to strike the right balance. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, recorded at the 2025 Corporate Counsel Summit, SBS senior legal counsel Nicole Choolun reflects on why it is so important for the law department to showcase its risk appetite. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Choolun about the importance of being seen as less risk-averse, legal's perceptions from other business functions, and balancing one's risk-averse training against having a greater risk appetite. Choolun also delves into the questions that legal should ask of itself to have a greater risk appetite, the flow-on benefits that come from not being as risk-averse, what she has learnt from times when she and her team have been less risk-averse, and how best other in-house can take steps to be better seen as trusted business advisers. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Distinctive Finance, we unpack the current economic outlook, including the potential for further interest rate cuts before Christmas and what it could mean for legal professionals looking to get ahead. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Christian Goodall and Mitchell Lobb, co-founders and directors of Distinctive Finance. Together, they share how they support legal professionals in building stronger financial futures, offer insights into the current market, and discuss the impact of inflation on Reserve Bank decisions and property prices. Goodall and Lobb also explore how lawyers should approach the property market today, how to strengthen loan applications, the value of expert financial advice, and what's driving legal professionals to take action now. To learn more about Distinctive Finance, click here. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

A recent report from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) pertaining to government use of messaging apps raises pertinent legal and compliance questions, says one BigLaw partner. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Holding Redlich ACT managing partner Elizabeth Carroll to discuss the latest in government legal work, the recent OAIC report pertaining to government use of messaging apps, whether conversations on commercial apps can be compromised, whether use of such apps by government agencies or workers is widespread, and why they may use those apps rather than more official channels. Carroll also delves into best practice for the use or otherwise of such messaging apps, the steps that must be taken, being proactive about use by agencies and workers, and her broader guidance to government stakeholders about upholding their duties to their departments as well as to the taxpayer.

Despite progress in recent years to raise awareness of in-house vocational pathways, much work remains to be done, one GC argues. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with University of Adelaide general counsel and executive director of legal services Shanti Berggren about why she is so passionate about the education sector, the ever-present need to increase awareness of in-house vocational pathways for next-generation lawyers, what is missing from career conversations, and how technology makes it even more important to communicate the value of such pathways. Berggren also touches on what constitutes a good in-house lawyer in the current climate, how other business units are increasingly appreciating the legal function, the need for law departments to better promote themselves to graduates and students, how her university is starting to make strides to educate those coming through the ranks, moving past misconceptions, and the key pillars for good leadership and development for the next generation. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with NSB Cyber, we explore how and why it is more important than ever for lawyers and their businesses to better collaborate and engage with experts in the face of myriad cyber security concerns. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by NSB Cyber co-founder and chief executive Shane Bell to discuss the work of NSB Cyber, how lawyers are moving past a “set and forget” mindset to cyber matters, the current state of affairs with lawyers and cyber, taking cyber protections and frameworks to the next level, and ensuring proactivity above reactivity. Bell also delves into the need for all lawyers to be across cyber security concerns as they pertain to their practice areas, lawyers' cognisance of their elevated duties, wearing multiple hats, how having a trusted adviser on board can assist and the practical benefits of doing so, whether such relationships are being driven by clients, questions to be asking of one's business, and more. To learn more about NSB Cyber, click here. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Here, a leading tax lawyer reflects on the current state of affairs for practitioners, the intangibles and implications from a high-profile High Court proceeding, and what makes tax law such a meaningful vocational pathway. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Corrs Chambers Westgarth head of tax controversy Angelina Lagana about her career in this practice area and what she finds uplifting about it, the headline trends and challenges facing practitioners in this space, how different the climate may be for tax lawyers post-election, and how such practitioners are clamouring for change. Lagana also delves into the PepsiCo proceedings in the High Court and the case's implications and intangibles, what to look out for with the bench's looming decision, what will constitute best practice for tax lawyers moving forward, and why the younger generation coming through the ranks should view tax law as an appealing vocational pathway. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Juggling university life, work commitments, and social activities seems like an impossible task for many law students. However, Aaron Lee argues that with the right strategies, law students can effectively manage their studies without compromising other important aspects of their lives. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Aaron Lee, a fourth-year commerce and law student at the University of NSW and a paralegal in personal injury law, about how his interest in problem solving and overcoming challenges inspired his pursuit of a legal career, his personal experience with burnout and how it has fuelled his passion for promoting a balanced lifestyle among law students, how burnout begins long before entering the legal profession but also during university, and the impact it can have on law students early in their careers. Lee also shares the strategies he has personally implemented to manage and prevent burnout, reveals that he divides his day into three distinct mini-days to create a more balanced lifestyle, explains what this breakdown looks like in a practical sense, emphasises why it is crucial for law students to prioritise a healthy, balanced lifestyle, explores the challenges that law students face in achieving this balance, discusses whether universities should take a more active role in promoting wellbeing among their students, and addresses the common misconception that prioritising other aspects of life will negatively impact academic performance.

In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, produced in partnership with LegalVision, we explore how innovative legal teams can navigate the myriad of legal, ethical, and professional concerns and risks as they adopt and embed artificial intelligence into their practices and processes. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back LegalVision General Manager and Head of Legal Emmanuel Giuffre to discuss how in-house legal teams are managing AI adoption, what they're hearing from clients across the country about common AI challenges and the layers inherent with AI implementation. Giuffre also covers the benefits legal departments are experiencing from AI, the shift in sentiment among in-house teams, and the key legal, ethical, and professional considerations involved. He touches on teams' awareness of their obligations, the challenges of ongoing education about emerging tools, leadership dynamics, and the significant changes likely to reshape legal departments in the near future. To learn more about how LegalVision works with in-house teams to transform the resourcing of their legal needs, visit the LegalVision website. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

With voting now underway for the 2025 federal election, we take a look at the legislative and constitutional requirements governing our electoral processes, the quirks of the Australian system, and what – apart from the beloved “democracy sausage” – makes the Australian way special. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Professor Donald Rothwell of the Australian National University about his work in international law, how our electoral system came to be at the time of Federation, the advantage for the incumbent prime minister of the day, major changes we've seen to our electoral laws, and how Australia ended up with a preferential voting system. Professor Rothwell also reflects on whether our current legislative and constitutional frameworks are fit for purpose with our elections, the appetite or otherwise for reform, the recent saga of MPs who were dual nationals, whether job-sharing MPs will be a thing of the future, the laws and processes governing minority government, whether such governments are truly representative of our democracy, and other interesting and quirky features of our system. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Given the unique needs of clients in family law proceedings, it is fundamental that those in regional and rural Australia have access to the requisite court resources, processes, and, ultimately, access to justice. Much more work, one principal argues, needs to be done to ensure this. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Tiyce & Lawyers principal Michael Tiyce to discuss the political promises that get made to better support those in the regions, the gaps faced by such citizens relative to those in the cities, how the advent of technology has assisted or worsened matters in family law, and whether the major parties are pledging change ahead of next weekend's federal election. Tiyce also delves into the impact on family law practitioners from such limited access for regional clients, how those families have to navigate the barriers in front of them, how and why Australia has such a gap between those in the regions versus those in the cities, how urgent such issues are from the practitioner perspective, what more can be done to accommodate regional Australians, and how the courts and practitioners are working together to better support those on the ground and ensure access to justice. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

While one cannot control the external environment, one can control the progress and direction of their legal career. As this BigLaw partner has learnt, putting one's best foot forward on any given client matter and making the biggest difference one can is the best way to get ahead and open new professional doors. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clifford Chance partner David Clee about his professional journey, the idea of not always following commonly trodden pathways in one's career, the importance of being open to different pathways, how he has remained open-minded about opportunities while also following a guiding light for what he has wanted in his career. Clee also delves into the need to “maximise the return” on any client matter one works on, being clear about where one wants to end up while also not looking too far ahead, mitigating the “natural inclination to be in a hurry”, finding greater purpose, overcoming environmental uncertainty, adopting the right mindset, and the importance of seeking feedback. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

The complexity of cyber security implications for businesses, and therefore their lawyers, “has exploded” in the last few years, and the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) being used in such criminal activity cannot be understated. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Norton Rose Fulbright partner and Australian head of cyber security Annie Haggar to discuss how and why this year is so busy for cyber lawyers, the proliferation of election disinformation and misinformation and how this impacts cyber lawyers, how the nature of such legal work will continue shifting ahead of 2030, and how data breaches involving AI are changing the game. Haggar also delves into how businesses can navigate the threat of AI and its intersection with cyber security, whether this intersection is the next frontier for cyber lawyers, lessons from recent case law involving Medibank and an ASIC proceeding involving a financial services provider, and what the rest of the year looks like for lawyers in this space. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

While some law students may believe that rushing through their degree offers a competitive advantage, this might not be true. Instead, taking a more measured approach to your studies can be beneficial. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Charlotte Carles, a young ambassador for UNICEF Australia and the founder of Gen Z Abroad, about her initial ambition to pursue a legal career, how her deep dive into the mental health challenges facing law students sparked her passion for advocating for a slower approach to completing a law degree, what this approach looks like in practice, and how this mindset has enabled her to undertake a traineeship with UNESCO in Jakarta and an international internship in Tahiti. Carles discusses how taking a more measured approach can significantly enhance a student's professional development, identifies the valuable skills they can gain that they wouldn't from the classroom, outlines the personal benefits of slowing down, including improved wellbeing and the opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends, explores how this approach can better position students for a smoother transition into full-time legal practice, examines whether universities should actively encourage this measured approach, and outlines strategies for law students interested in implementing this approach in their academic journey.

Motivated by issues such as the ongoing housing crisis and workers' rights, lawyer turned aspiring MP Hannah Thomas is looking to unseat the Prime Minister in Sydney's inner west. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with a former lawyer and the Greens candidate for the electorate of Grayndler, Hannah Thomas, about the different roles she held as a lawyer, what such varied legal experience taught her, her upbringing in Malaysia and eventual move to Australia as an international student, and how experiences with racism have helped form her views. Thomas also discusses her thoughts on the ongoing housing crisis, cost-of-living crisis, and workers' rights, how these issues impact younger Australians, the importance of having minority government in Australia, her interactions with voters in the PM's electorate, running as a young candidate, and why more young lawyers and non-lawyers can and should put their hands up for service. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

For Dr Colin James, the legal profession's relative reluctance to appreciate the impact of trauma in workplaces and educational settings is, in part, due to a “masculinist” history that has fed longstanding stigmas and repression of feelings that may arise as a result of being exposed to trauma in the course of one's work or study. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with retired legal academic and author Dr Colin James about his long and storied legal career and research, his decades-long interest and work in trauma, domestic violence, and masculinity (spurred by a lack of justice and fairness in society), his perception of law's embrace of trauma theory, and how and why the profession has been reluctant – relative to other sectors – to meaningfully acknowledge the need for change. James also discusses the need for legal workplaces and law schools to better incorporate trauma theory, the strategies that must be implemented in doing so, going beyond legislative requirements, the urgent need to make such changes in the current climate, as well as his newly published book, Vicarious Trauma and Burnout in Law. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Having given evidence as an expert witness dozens of times nationally and regionally, Owain Stone understands not only the biggest challenges such experts face when engaged by lawyers but also how best lawyers can work with their experts to achieve optimal outcomes. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Alvarez & Marsal managing director and Australian head – disputes and investigations Owain Stone about how and why he became an expert witness, what such professionals do and why, the pressure that can come from giving evidence, and the headline challenges faced when engaged by, and working with, legal professionals. Stone also delves into issues with instructions received and misunderstandings from lawyers about the role of experts, mistakes that lawyers can make with their experts, practical steps that lawyers can take to better work with experts, concerns pertaining to concurrent evidence and conclaves, and his broader wisdom for lawyers to ensure they can best service clients by way of working better with expert witnesses. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

In Labor's pre-election budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced a ban on non-compete clauses for workers earning less than $175,000. Here, we unpack implications for businesses, workers, and the political climate, as well as the consequences not only for employment law but also for M&A and litigation. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Hall & Wilcox partner Fay Calderone to discuss the announced ban on non-compete clauses for non-high-income workers in budget 2025, what the response has been from businesses and employment lawyers, and the likely consequences for the M&A market and litigious climate. Calderone also delves into the divide between political impressions of this announcement versus the business reality, striking the right balance between employee freedom and business protections, who employment lawyers will have to collaborate with moving forward, what constitutes best practice for lawyers looking ahead, and her broad guidance to businesses in the wake of the announced ban. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Jade Hopper, once a former gold medal-winning athlete, has traded the tennis courts for the courtroom. Here, she shares her journey and how her experience as a professional athlete has given her a competitive advantage in the legal field. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Jade Hopper, a special counsel at Nicholes Family Lawyers, about her career as a professional Australian tennis player, the challenges she faced in balancing her law degree with travelling the world to compete in tennis tournaments, the factors that led her to retire from tennis and pursue a full-time career in law, and the disappointment she felt from her coaches and family when she decided to give up the sport. Hopper discusses her legal career to date, highlights the skills and habits she developed as an athlete that have carried over into her work, how these skills have provided her with a competitive advantage in the legal field, emphasises that women who participate in sports can cultivate a mindset that can be instrumental in driving success within a professional environment, and shares the importance of being open to the twists and turns that may occur throughout one's career.

In this second episode featuring lawyers turned political candidates, we speak to the asbestos, dust and occupational cancers lawyer looking to return the Queensland-based seat of Capricornia into Labor's hands. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Maurice Blackburn lawyer Emily Mawson about growing up in a coal mining family, how unionism and justice were ingrained in her at an early age, the importance of standing up for workers, developments in protecting workers from illnesses, and how she – as a young lawyer – came to stand as a candidate for Labor. Mawson also delves into the headline issues facing voters in Queensland, why she feels being a plaintiff lawyer makes her well placed to listen to and address those concerns, the need for more younger candidates in elections, how she's found the transition from legal practice to being a candidate, and why it is so important for young lawyers to roll up their sleeves and better service the community. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Given the breadth of change to the nature and delivery of legal services in recent years, a lawyer's connection to clients will be the difference-maker. Practitioners who do not appreciate this, one firm managing director says, will “become extinct”. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back FCW Lawyers managing director Andrew Douglas to discuss the ever-increasing importance of prioritising connected, intimate client relationships against the backdrop of the current market conditions, what it says about where the business of law is at, and how artificial intelligence is accelerating these shifting sands. Douglas also delves into the disconnect between client expectations and lawyers' capacities, the place for selling one's self and one's services, what good service looks like, the motivators to evolve one's approach to building and maintaining client relationships, questions to ask of one's self, taking on more hats as a service provider, and taking greater care in one's work rather than simply churning and burning in the age of AI. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Having previously served as a nurse and having grown up with neurodivergent family members, Libby Thomas believes there is much more that legal employers can do to better support lawyers with idiosyncratic needs – particularly those coming through the ranks. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Travis Schultz & Partners associate Libby Thomas about her previous career in nursing, how and why she became a personal injury lawyer, her family's experiences with neurodivergence and how it has informed her views on workplaces' support or otherwise, and the stigma that still surrounds such conditions. Thomas also delves into the impact of stigma upon neurodivergent people, how her firm is supporting all staff, what other law firm owners need to be asking of themselves and their businesses, practical steps to be taken, the business case for support neurodivergent workers, and why she thinks the legal profession still has a long way to go.

In this first episode in a series of conversations with lawyers turned political candidates, ahead of the 2025 federal election, we sit down with the 30-year-old King & Wood Mallesons solicitor running to keep the Gold Coast seat of McPherson in Liberal-National hands. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with LNP candidate Leon Rebello, a former ministerial staffer who has worked at KWM as a solicitor for the past six years, about his upbringing and the values his family instilled in him, how work as a practitioner in foreign investment has shaped his views about the role of government, and the headline issues and challenges he is hearing on the ground from Gold Coast constituents. Rebello also discusses the importance of having all generations represented in our nation's capital, how his legal background will aid him if elected as a member of Parliament, and what excites him about the future of Australia. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Remuneration and incentives have always been a Pandora's box for law firm leaders. In the post-pandemic climate, however, in which employee values have shifted, the equation has become trickier. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show (produced by HR Leader), host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with TalentCode HR founder and managing director Trudy MacDonald about the difficulties firm leaders have long had with implementing successful remuneration and incentive strategies, how COVID-19 spawned a shift in employee thinking around work/life balance, the Great Exhaustion and its implications, the impact of resenteeism, and how difficult it is for employers to cater to idiosyncratic needs of all staff. MacDonald also reflects on whether employees are staying put right now (following the Great Resignation), employee disgruntlement amid high inflation and a cost-of-living crisis, how the latest WGEA data might impact employee thinking, the steps that HR professionals and C-suite executives need to take, measuring success, and the folly of viewing remuneration as an isolated issue. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

If you work in a global business and opportunities arise to relocate abroad, leaning in can make you a much more rounded corporate lawyer, says one award-winning in-house lawyer. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Modaxo Traffic Management group legal counsel Emilie Franklin to discuss the work of the business and how a recent acquisition gave rise to an opportunity to relocate to Toronto, how she and her family came to emigrate and the personal and professional thought processes undertaken in doing so, and how she navigated the period of transition. Franklin also delves into the cultural differences one must adapt to when living and practising in another jurisdiction, her evolving views on what it means to be a good corporate lawyer, lessons she's learnt since relocating, why other corporate lawyers should explore relocation opportunities if their businesses allow for it, and what excites her about her continued development while living and working in Canada.

Tomorrow (Saturday, 8 March), Western Australians will head to the polls to elect their next government, in what is being seen as a bellwether for the upcoming federal election. Here, the president of the state's Law Society details what law reforms and justice outcomes lawyers in the Wildflower State most want to see. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Law Society of Western Australia president Gary Mack about the myriad professional hats that he wears – including serving as the mayor of a Perth-based town – what being a mayor has taught him about legal service, the state of affairs for those out west, and why this state election is a unique one. Mack also delves into the four pillars of the WA Law Society's election platform – a well-functioning legal system, youth justice reform, criminal justice reform, and civil justice reform – why it is so essential for the next state government to address these, and how optimistic he is that the state's Law Society can work collaboratively with the incoming government. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Earlier this week, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) released its second annual breakdown of gender pay gaps in large Australian businesses. Here, Lawyers Weekly dives into the law firm data and what it says about where the profession is at in tackling salary inequity. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Lawyers Weekly senior reporter Naomi Neilson to discuss the brand's coverage of the WGEA data release, the key takeaways pertaining to BigLaw firms in Australia, the broad differences in performance between firms, and how the legal profession is faring relative to other sectors. Doraisamy and Neilson also discuss flaws in the WGEA methodology as it pertains to the inclusion of partnership salaries, how individual practitioners can and may interpret the latest data, why the profession must remember that achieving pay parity is a long-term project, overcoming self- and societal stigmas, and why Lawyers Weekly will be keeping a close eye on future senior appointments in firms, and how those firms respond to the global pushback against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Employee ownership structures could become increasingly common in the Australian market, and – in an age of rapid market change and shifting employee sentiment – it could well be an option that firm owners opt for to ensure long-term business success. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Dorsisamy speaks with South East Lawyers director principal Melanie Heffernan about what an employee ownership structure is and looks like in practice, whether such structures are common (or becoming common) in Australia, the differences to share agreements, and whether these structures are suitable for SMEs in the current climate. Heffernan also delves into the benefits that can arise from employee ownership structures, the inherent challenges, whether there is appetite from lawyers and law firms to explore such options, the questions to ask of one's business when implementing such a structure and the practical steps to doing so, whether such structures can and will become mainstream Down Under, and what excites her about the potential future of the business model moving forward. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Despite the legal profession's strong emphasis on professional connections, many law students and young lawyers struggle to establish them early in their careers, often hindering their ability to enter the field. Here, a new firm owner shares her personal journey, detailing how she overcame these obstacles through determination, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Selina Nikoloudakis, the principal of Divorce Legal, about her challenging journey in securing employment within the profession by not having industry connections, how she ultimately broke into the field with the support of a former university tutor, the crucial role of a strong support network had on her to maintaining motivation and perseverance, and how her deep commitment to helping others gave her the resilience to keep fighting her way into the profession. Nikoloudakis also outlines the key steps and strategies she employed to start building her professional network, reveals the value of maintaining connections with former university tutors, explores the ongoing challenges law students and young lawyers face in building these essential relationships early in their careers, highlights what more universities should be doing to support their students in this process, and offers insightful guidance and encouragement for those encountering similar obstacles, urging them to remain persistent, stay committed to their goals, and continue striving for success.

In recent years, there have been numerous examples of workers – such as rugby star Israel Folau – having suffered employment consequences, including termination, for expression of personal views. This, Josh Bornstein argues, is demonstrative of a concerning and increasing level of power and control that corporations now have over the private lives of their employees. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Maurice Blackburn principal and head of employment law Josh Bornstein about why workplace and industrial relations law is so stimulating for lawyers and also essential for the community, the need for trauma-informed approaches to practice, and the evolving societal landscape that has resulted in corporate entities having greater control over their employees' lives. Bornstein also reflects on the extent to which the court of public opinion drives corporate decision making regarding employment of individuals, how technology and social media contribute to this storm, his take on “corporate cancel culture”, the difficulty corporations have in balancing legal obligations against community expectations, how global pushback against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) may exacerbate such issues, and why he thinks we are living through a “second Gilded Age”. Bornstein is the author of Working for the Brand: how corporations are destroying free speech. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

For Elle Jones, working as a fractional general counsel not only better suits her needs – it also works well, she says, for businesses that don't have an in-house legal function. This vocational pathway, she has observed, is “popping up all over the place”. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Essential Legal Solutions director and principal Elle Jones about how she changed careers and ended up in law, how and why she transitioned in-house, why fractional work has become a more suitable vocational path for her, and what the day-to-day looks like while working with multiple organisations. Jones also delves into striking the right balance with her work, the approach she employs, the value of doing non-GC work for clients, switching between various projects, ensuring a business is receptive to the idea of working with a fractional practitioner, the challenges and opportunities facing fractional GCs right now (including tech developments), and why we'll see more fractional GCs in the market. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Recently, the High Court has recognised that an “impoverishment of evidence” will not, in and of itself, give rise to successful applications for permanent stays of proceedings. Here, a BigLaw partner unpacks two recent decisions from the court and what those matters mean for litigators. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clyde & Co partner Luke O'Kane about his career as a litigator and why there is an increase in the number of claims being brought pertaining to historical sexual abuse and personal injury, the lessons and takeaways from two recent High Court decisions, and the implications of those judgments for stay applications. O'Kane also delves into how an absence of evidence should be treated in such matters moving forward, the need for courts to treat such matters in more idiosyncratic ways and not take blackletter approaches to proceedings, what such rulings mean for claimants, how the rulings change the landscape for litigators on both sides of the table, and his broad guidance to litigators nationwide in the wake of the High Court's decisions. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

The prospect of a career break for family planning and childrearing purposes can be incredibly daunting. Here, a firm owner and new mum reflects on how legal business leaders can step away from their practices in ways that work for them. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Jaide Law founder and principal Malisa Howard to discuss the importance of speaking openly about the hurdles women lawyers face in stepping away from their legal practices to take maternity leave, why taking such leave is so important for mothers in law, and the myriad physical, emotional, psychological, financial, and professional considerations one needs to weigh up in undergoing such processes. Howard also delves into perceptions that expecting mothers in law may have to face, how she mapped out how she wanted to take leave and manage her business needs, the thought processes and practical steps involved, whether cross-referral and load-sharing arrangements are worthwhile, how technology can assist in such processes, navigating one's fears and anxieties about the business' health, overcoming stigma, the different maternity leave structures, and her personal reflections on her journey with maternity leave and coming back to running her law firm. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Lawyers, Jahan Kalantar says, are a “conduit for complicated problems”. To this end, practitioners must be better at appreciating the “greater fiduciary duty” they hold not just to the courts but also to clients and their idiosyncratic needs. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back the “TikTok lawyer”, Jahan Kalantar. They discuss the ever-present need for lawyers to be better communicators with clients of all stripes, being more than a blackletter practitioner, the extent to which needs and expectations dictate communication styles, how the age of AI and other new technologies change client impressions of communication, and the place for soft skills against the backdrop of a need for greater tech proficiency. Kalantar also delves into how best to contact clients, adapting to tailored approaches, practical steps to become a better communicator, having a deeper understanding for you who are, as a practitioner, listening more, and discusses his new book, Talking Your Way Out Of Trouble. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!  

Here, a senior corporate lawyer reflects on the three-year career break she took to be a full-time carer and what businesses need to do to ensure that the idiosyncratic family needs of workers, including in the law department, are accounted for. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show – brought to you by Lawyers Weekly's sister brand, HR Leader – host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with ANZ senior procurement lawyer Porscia Lam about her legal career and decision to take a three-year break to care for her son, balancing work against family needs, what the response was like to her move, and how her perceptions of Australian workplaces have evolved in recent years. Lam also delves into the need for businesses to better accommodating parenting needs, identifying the business case for increased support, what works and doesn't work when supporting parents with neurodiverse children, ingraining such support in the workplace's culture, the role of law departments in driving such change and making sure such support remains, even against the pushback against DEI measures. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

In recent days, and on the back of lower inflation, hopes of a rate cut have been boosted. Here, we unpack how legal professionals of all stripes can prepare for such a decision by the Reserve Bank and how they can leverage their unique professional benefits to do so. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Legal Home Loans director of sales Cullen Haynes to discuss why the February RBA meeting is generating so much buzz, what happened in 2024, whether we can expect rates to be cut soon, the factors influencing the RBA's decision, and how a potential cut could affect borrowing costs and loan approvals for lawyers. Haynes also delves into the implications for lawyers moving forward, including those who are prospective buyers and those who are already property owners, the unique advantages lawyers can access to improve their borrowing prospects, the financial stress lawyers are feeling, and the advantage of being ready to act quickly before rates are called. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!