Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with nrol, we explore vocational opportunities for Australian lawyers in the current climate, both domestically and abroad. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back nrol founder Jesse Shah to discuss his new business, The Broker For Lawyers, why nrol is the principal partner for the upcoming Women in Law Awards, what's surprised him about the recruitment market in 2025 to date, why the balance of power remains with individual candidates rather than employers and when it might shift, and migration considerations impacting Australian legal recruitment. Jesse also delves into why Australian lawyers are interested in moving overseas, opportunities in the Middle East, why the region is such a good location for lawyers' growth right now, nrol's new presence in the Middle East, why Australian lawyers are sought after, what lawyers need to ask of themselves if they are to make such a move, local market opportunities in the current climate, perceived trends ahead of 2026, and how lawyers should be thinking about their own positions. To learn more about nrol, 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, X 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

Space law “doesn't fit into a neat box”, spanning multiple legal disciplines. For those practising space law, this brings not only myriad challenges but also opportunities. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Bartier Perry associate Samantha Pacchiarotta about how she became passionate about space law, the state of affairs in this area and how the volume of work will only become bigger, the legal issues pertaining to the proliferation of space junk, and legal questions around incapacity, death, and inheritance in space law. Pacchiarotta also discusses how the law is slow to respond to space technology, governance concerns regarding space law, the commercialisation of space and its legal implications, what constitutes best practice in the face of the myriad challenges, and why others should consider working in space 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, X 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

Having taken the time to be more deliberate about what her vocational journey should look like, this senior lawyer has better positioned herself for success in ways that make sense to her, rather than what others may want or demand from a practitioner like herself. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Australian Public Service principal legal officer Rachael Karlyl to discuss having worked in so many Australian jurisdictions, how she's found the transition from being a firm owner to working for the public service as a team leader, how and when she started to design her career in more deliberate ways, and how the age of the pandemic has influenced lawyers' thinking on what their careers should look like. Karlyl also delves into what it means to design one's legal career, the important questions that lawyers need to ask of themselves (even if those questions are confronting), her advice to those who might be scared to undertake such vocational changes, whether it's incumbent upon lawyers to take such steps, and why she's a better lawyer for having done so. 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, X 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

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Mary Technology, we explore the headline challenges and pain points law firms still face with workload volume, and how the right technologies can act as a “flotation device” if a sense of being drowned arises. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Mary Technology co-founder Rowan McNamee about how the tech provider came to be, the need to solve evergreen pain points, what's new at Mary Tech, the most common issues and challenges the provider sees with law firms, and why feeling like a team or firm is “drowning” in documentation is such a “massive problem” across the board. McNamee also dives into the conversations the provider is having with firms to address these issues, how Mary's AI can assist with specific workflows, the end result from following certain steps, flow-on benefits for workplace collaboration, mitigating fact chaos, the need to proactively address compounding challenges, and where Mary is headed in the future. To learn more about Mary Technology, click here.

Here, the head of arbitration at a BigLaw firm reflects on the proliferation of digital infrastructure projects globally, together with treaty considerations and protections for Australian investors, and how the combination of a “massive” expansion of data needs in the age of AI and elevated national security concerns makes this area one of the most consequential in the coming 10 years. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Corrs Chambers Westgarth head of arbitration Nastasja Suhadolnik to discuss why she's so stimulated by arbitration work, why there is such a proliferation of projects regarding digital infrastructure at present, the myriad challenges arising from such developments, why Australian investors need protections for investments in such projects, and how lawyers can and should look to navigate the regulatory and legislative hurdles to ensure optimal outcomes for clients. Suhadolnik also delves into the three overarching rules she advises clients to consider in such matters, how best to stay on top of voluminous change in the space, her approach to successful collaboration, why digital infrastructure will be such a defining feature in years to come, why arbitration teams may grow in stature in Australian law firms, and what excites her about ongoing developments 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, X 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

In a demanding and high-stakes profession like law, Irene Kuo stresses the importance of finding and cultivating a supportive network – connections that not only help you navigate challenges but also empower you to grow, succeed, and truly thrive in your career. In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Irene Kuo, director of prime contract management at Fluor Australia and immediate past president of the Western Australia division of the ACC Australia, about how Legally Blonde sparked Kuo's interest in law, the hurdles she faced moving from Taiwan to Australia as a child, and explains how discovering her own support network in the legal profession allowed her to “survive” and thrive in a law firm. Kuo shares insights on how to build and nurture a network within the legal profession, emphasises that while some connections may fade over time, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, shares the benefits of surrounding yourself with a supportive tribe throughout your legal career, stresses the importance of starting to cultivate your own tribe even at university, and highlights that the key to building an effective network requires self-reflection, understanding the types of people you work best with, and being your authentic self around them.

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Actionstep, we unpack the challenges being faced by firms big and small, their technological priorities versus the reality being experienced on the ground, and how tech can better enable the achievement of those priorities. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Actionstep's regional vice president in ANZ, Zahn Nel, to discuss the myriad challenges being faced by firms across the spectrum at present and what can be learnt from those challenges, law firms' top priorities in the current climate, and the disconnect between priorities and on-the-ground realities. Nel also delves into issues surrounding client expectations, changing the mindset of leadership and the firm more broadly, defining digital maturity, questions that firms need to be asking to ensure tech can properly enable change, revenue capture and compliance readiness, practical steps to better achieve a firm's priorities, frequency of evaluation of progress, and ensuring the firm's strategy is fit for purpose. To learn more about Actionstep, click here.

Earlier this year, award-winning sole practitioner Claire Styles worked from Europe for two months. That working holiday allowed her time to reflect on what was working and not working in her business, and since then, she's moved to not only adapt her approach and home in on what she truly wants to do, but she has also started a side hustle – all of which is providing greater personal and professional meaning for her. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back C Legal founder and principal Claire Styles (a former winner of the Sole Practitioner of the Year category at the Women in Law Awards) to discuss living out her personal values in her business, why she did a working holiday and what she learnt, undertaking a new firm structure, and why working holidays can be a happy medium for practitioners who are afraid to step away from the business. 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, X 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 LexisNexis, we explore the opportunities in front of law departments to expand the breadth of what they can achieve, including by taking small, accessible steps to improve familiarity with new technologies. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with LexisNexis APAC head of legal Ali Dibbenhall about the work she does and what she enjoys about it, her observations about the success or otherwise that law departments are experiencing in onboarding and effectively utilising new technologies, the universality of being “resource constrained”, and where we're at with AI governance in-house. Dibbenhall also delves into having safe places to experiment, using platforms as a sounding board or devil's advocate, taking small steps to find efficiencies and streamline departmental operations, changing one's habits, and the benefits of AI in in-house legal practice. To learn more about Protégé now in Lexis+ AI® 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, X 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

In the current climate, maintaining psychological safety in law departments requires much more than box-ticking – a stronger focus on culture, and use of AI to ensure greater focus on human issues, is paramount moving forward, says an Award-Winning and GC Powerlisted Group General Counsel. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back former group GC of Tabcorp, Ivana Kovacevic, who now serves as a fractional GC and advisory board member for Thomson Reuters Practical Law, and keynote speaker, to discuss the importance of building psychological safety in legal teams in the current climate, her perception of what constitutes psychological safety for law departments, and how well the in-house sector is faring when it comes to ensuring such safety. Kovacevic also delves into the need to move beyond compliance box-ticking, the urgency is prioritising psychological safety, the starting point for in-house teams in creating and maintaining psychologically safe working environments, catering to idiosyncratic needs within one's team, practical steps she has taken within her own teams and what has worked, making time to implement changes, using AI to take a more human approach, leading by example, and the need to be curious and vulnerable. 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, X 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!

Dion Barber, a former ward of the state, recently won a “seismic” judgment for $2.85 million against Western Australia over sexual abuse suffered as a child in state care. Here, his lawyer Hugo Seymour reflects on the significance of the proceedings and the implications for survivors moving forward. (Content warning: This episode contains references to child sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.) In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Maurice Blackburn associate Hugo Seymour about his work as a historical sexual abuse lawyer and how he manages the subject matter, Dion Barber's proceedings against the state of Western Australia, the issues that the court had to resolve leading up to judgment, and why the judgment awarding Barber $2.85 million is so significant. Seymour also delves into what the future might hold for such proceedings, how lawyers can and should interpret the significance of the judgment, and his broader thoughts about the future of such litigation, and what can be learnt from Barber's bravery in coming forward. Help is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636. Each law society and bar association also has resources available on their respective websites. 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, X 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  

Following COVID-19, there has been an “e-sports winter” – however, there are murmurs, one lawyer says, of a looming spring, which could see a proliferation of legal work in this space. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Game Legal principal Mat Jessep to discuss what it means to be an e-sports lawyer, why there has been a “winter” regarding legal work in this space and the impact of such a downturn, where the sector could be headed in the future, and the green shoots that he is seeing moving forward. Jessep also delves into why he remains bullish about this legal space, the untapped potential for investment and regulatory oversight in this space, how lawyers like himself can advocate for driving this space forward, adapting and pivoting to best serve client needs for a looming spring, and his predictions for the e-sports law 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, X 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 InfoTrack, we reflect on the ways that family law practitioners can better utilise new technologies in their daily operations. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with InfoTrack General Manager of family and estates Yogesh Patel about the pain points that family lawyers are experiencing within the current climate, how well those lawyers are managing such pain points, the role that technology can play in alleviating such pressures, and how well family lawyers are doing in onboarding new tech. Patel also reflects on ensuring that family lawyers have custom-built offerings to help with idiosyncratic issues in their practices, bringing practitioners along for the ride with such change, the trends that such lawyers will face moving forward that tech will be able to assist with, how tech can support the client interaction experience, and why onboarding tech isn't as hard as one might think. To learn more about InfoTrack, 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, X 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

The proliferation of head injuries and concussions in women's sport globally is shaping up to be significant for insurers and litigators. Here, a BigLaw partner unpacks the landscape, and what it all means for lawyers moving forward. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clyde & Co partner Janine Clark about her work as a catastrophic injury practitioner and why it's of such interest to her, being “the balance” between injured persons and insurance premiums, how and why concussion in women's sport has become such a talking point, and what's happening in ongoing class actions in this space. Clark also delves into why this will be a growing area of litigation moving forward, whether such litigation could be akin to the proliferation of asbestos-related claims in a previous era, the implications for lawyers like herself, what constitutes best practice for lawyers like herself, and how to ensure optimal client service delivery in 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, X 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

While many begin their legal careers straight out of high school, Melissa Rowlands emphasises that it's never too late to enter the profession and pursue your passion – even if that journey comes with steep challenges and bold leaps of faith. In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Melissa Rowlands, a family law paralegal completing her juris doctor, about what drove her to leave a comfortable communications role to pursue law later in life, the fear and excitement of jumping into the deep end of a completely new career, and the biggest challenge she faces: juggling motherhood, work, and study all at once. Rowlands opens up about the mindset shift she had to make, realising she can't give 100 per cent to every part of her life, describes the loneliness of studying law later in life and the lack of university support for mature students, calls for programs that help build social connections, and stresses that it's never too late to pursue a career in law and chase those goals.

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Law In Order, we reflect on how far litigation support services have come in the last quarter century, what has been learnt in that time, and addressing current challenges and trends amid the ongoing tech transformation. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Law In Order sales director Lisa Whitehead to discuss what litigation support technology looked like at the turn of the century, the biggest pain points being faced by legal teams at that time, changing client expectations, what today's litigation landscape looks like, and how inextricable such tools and services are to litigators. Lisa also delves into how well litigation teams are doing when it comes to meaningfully utilising such tools, what teams are most in need of right now, the extent to which teams can be proactive, the biggest hurdles facing litigators at present, overcoming a sense of overwhelm, and the biggest opportunities for litigators as we move forward. To learn more about Law in Order, click here.

Litigation, like all other areas of legal practice, continues to undergo substantive environmental and technological change. Here, we unpack how best to ride those waves of change, and correspondingly, better manage evolving client expectations and regulatory scrutiny alike. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers co-founder and principal Luke Buchanan about his belief in law being at the core of our society and making meaningful contributions, the increased regulatory focus on corporate activity, challenges presented to litigators, evolving client expectations, and lessons he's learnt over his years as a litigator. Buchanan also delves into the nature of settlement agreements and whether they might shift over time, best practice in reaching a settlement agreement, hurdles to overcome, understanding that clients want any dispute to be resolved in totality, adapting to technological change, the increasing cost of litigation, and how his views on what constitutes best practice for litigators have evolved over the years. 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, X 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 Irene Chrisopoulidis, having tunnel vision helps her stay the course with long-term objectives, rather than getting sidetracked. Here, she unpacks why this approach is so critical, and the ways she successfully employs it. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Chrisopoulidis & Associates principal Irene Chrisopoulidis about how and why she applies tunnel vision in both her professional and personal lives, how it applies to her work as a family lawyer, what success means to her, being able to compartmentalise, and why tunnel vision is actually good. Chrisopoulidis also delves into the need for certain experience under one's belt to be able to make decisions to be concerted about staying true to a particular vision, being clear in your purpose, keeping the train on the tracks with tunnel vision, the practical ways to ensure that she doesn't lose sight of the long-term vision, how taking time out from work helps her stay focused, and what other lawyers can learn from her experience.

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Mitimes, we unpack the internal levers that help ensure talent retention in the current climate and how technology can better support firms. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Mitimes chief executive Kirsten Rillo, Insource founder Jenn Little, and Superhero Marketing Club founder Hayley Osborne about what we're seeing in the market on the recruitment front and what can be learnt from such trends, the extent to which wellness influences lawyers' decision to leave their employers, how well firm leaders are managing with talent retention at present, and why technology has a significant role to play. The guests also discuss the key questions that law firms and leaders need to be asking when it comes to improving the worker experience and thus retention rates, including through use of technology, what individual lawyers most want to see from their employers, the practical ways to better utilise technology, what optimal time management and investment of time looks like on such fronts, and whether they are optimistic that firm leaders will recognise the nexus between proper utilisation of new technologies and talent retention. To learn more about MiTimes, 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, X 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

There is much that Craig Green – who has been a partner-level lawyer for over 40 years – has learnt from his vocational journey, including that practitioners should always be fully engaged in their clients' transactions, give 100 per cent, and the need for substantive communication. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Green Mortgage Lawyers managing director Craig Green about his journey in the legal profession and experience as a firm head, setting up a new specialist banking firm in mid-2024, what he finds so motivating about being in the mortgages and diversified banking space, and the headline challenges facing practitioners in this space. Green also delves into the pace of change of the years lawyers like himself have had to grapple with, evolving client expectations in mortgages and banking, training and managing offshore staff, opportunities for lawyers in mortgages and banking, lessons he's learnt along the way, and what excites him about his continued, storied journey in the 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, X 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

While many law students may hesitate to approach experienced professionals, Kurt Cheng encourages them to take that step, emphasising that the right guidance can accelerate both career development and personal growth. Speaking on a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Kurt Cheng, a law graduate at Ashurst and a global ambassador at UTS, where he shares what drives his passion for early-career mentoring, emphasises why it is crucial never to overlook the value anyone can bring to your journey, and explains why meaningful mentoring extends far beyond a one-off coffee catch-up – it's a relationship that requires time and genuine effort to nurture. Cheng also reflects on how empowering and transformative a mentor can be for both personal and professional growth, highlights the importance of choosing a mentor whose journey aligns with your own career path, offers practical strategies for law students looking to connect with the right people, and reflects on his own role as a mentor – highlighting just how rewarding and transformative these relationships can be.

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Cybertify, we unpack why legal practices are increasingly such attractive targets for cyber criminals, the ways they get past defences, and what firms can do to ensure that the “doors are locked”. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with William Welch, the principal solutions architect for the legal sector and AI security at Cybertify, about who the company is and the work he does, why the risks inherent with cyber security are so much more prominent for Australian law firms at present, why every business is a potential target, the need for “locked doors”, why law firm owners aren't fully across the dangers, and the lessons and takeaways from recent breaches in the legal space. Welch also delves into what BigLaw practices need to be doing right now, ensuring systems are talking to each other properly and having the right point people, what SMEs must be doing at present, the questions those smaller firms need to be asking, overcoming concerns about being time-poor, understanding the changing landscape, and how best Cybertify can help. To learn more about Cybertify, click here.

There is much that BigLaw partner Martina Storgato has learnt about cultivating one's place in the legal profession – chief among those lessons is that, when building a network and one's reputation, it is better to view others as colleagues, not the competition. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Mills Oakley partner Martina Storgato about her work in family law, how she's managed that practice area while also having a family of her own, at what stage of her career she realised the importance of building a network and reputation, whether she has a guiding principle for doing so, and taking a nuanced approach to generating business in idiosyncratic practice areas. Storgato also delves into whether the advent of AI and other emerging technologies supports the idea of being nuanced in one's approach to clientele and business generation, the biggest lessons she's learnt about building and maintaining a good network and professional reputation, the questions lawyers should be asking of themselves in such a building process, remaining a good leader, and her broader guidance to lawyers coming through the ranks.

For many lawyers, being a practitioner can become the dominant part of one's identity. Here, Christina Yi reflects on how a girls' trip helped remind her to do the things that bring joy and fulfillment, so that one can ultimately better be of service to clients. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Allegra Family Lawyers legal practitioner director Christina Yi about the “urgency” involved with family law and the flow-on impacts for lawyers in this space, how being a lawyer can shape how others perceive you, how lawyering can become part of your identity, and what this means for one, both personally and professionally. Yi also discusses a recent holiday she took to revitalise and relax, the positive impact the trip had on her, why she'll be making more time for future getaways, the warning signs lawyers should look out for when it comes to having lawyering become too big a part of one's identity, and what excites her about the new parameters she's set up for herself as a practitioner. 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, X 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 Commonwealth Private, we unpack the myriad benefits of private banking for legal professionals, given their idiosyncratic personal, professional, and financial needs. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Commonwealth Private national head of professional services Cassandra Crawford about the work that Commonwealth Private does for clients, the headline financial challenges that senior lawyers face, whether engaging a private banker is more important than ever before, and the most common questions that senior lawyers ask of private banking. Crawford also delves into the extent to which legal professionals are financially educated, how they can better ensure holistic financial security and wellness for themselves and their families, whether complacency needs to be overcome, the questions that lawyers should be asking of themselves, the practical steps to take, and overcoming hurdles getting in the way of looking after one's self. To learn more about Commonwealth Private, click here.

Amid the roar of gunfire and the loss of friends to war, this law student refused to be defined by his past. Instead, he transformed trauma into purpose, forging a remarkable journey from survival to the pursuit of justice. Speaking on a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Alfred Brownell, a law student at the University of Queensland, who shares his remarkable journey of growing up in a war-torn country where the sound of gunfire was part of daily life, opens up about the lasting impact of those traumas, reflects on how these experiences have shaped the person he is today, and reveals how, after being unable to pursue medical school, he found inspiration to begin working alongside his father in environmental advocacy. Brownell also reflects on his family's remarkable legal legacy, speaks about his father's story of having to flee the country after government authorities targeted him for his environmental work, recounts his own experience of starting a new life in Australia along with the significant challenges that came with it, explains how the hardships he faced has helped him build meaningful new connections in Australia, and emphasises why it is so important to never give up on studying law, no matter the obstacles that stand in the way.

Mel Storey is one of Australia's most prominent online legal personalities. Here, she reflects on why she recently left her general counsel role to focus on other projects at this stage of her vocational journey, and why it's OK for legal practice to not be one's forever job. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back former general counsel Mel Storey – a keynote speaker, podcast host, and “corporate big sis” – to discuss her various roles as a legal practitioner, how and why she got to a point where she felt she had to chase other passion projects, and the thought process that goes into making such a decision. Storey also delves into the identity that comes with being a practising lawyer, navigating the change in her day-to-day from being reactive to now being able to be proactive, why it's okay to consider that law may not be the forever job, the steps to take ensure vocational satisfaction, and what she's excited about moving forward about her own journey. 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, X 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 InfoTrack, we explore the looming changes to the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime, the practical implications for lawyers, and how best to leverage technology amid such a changing landscape. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with InfoTrack Chief Operating Officer Lee Bailie about why the AML/CTF changes represent such a shift for professionals like lawyers, how prepared law firms are for these changes, what's keeping firms up at night regarding the changes, and the role of businesses like InfoTrack in ensuring firms are prepared for the new regime. Bailie also discusses the practical steps to take, and important questions to ask, in ensuring that one's firm is ready, being proactive rather than reactive in anticipation of the changes, the opportunities for firms to grasp, evolving client expectations as they pertain to regulation, and how InfoTrack can support with automating onerous AML/CTF obligations. To learn more about InfoTrack, click here.

Amid myriad professional and technological changes, practitioners need to change how they service clients – for this litigator, there is much to look forward to in being proactive about offering broader, more holistic advice to clients, rather than reacting to traditional needs. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers partner Melissa Care about her work in disputes and litigation, how she's adjusted to her recent promotion to partner, why lawyers need to be thinking more about transitioning from simply being service providers to decision-makers and business advisers, and why this is necessary. Care also delves into whether private practice lawyers need to think of themselves as external in-house lawyers, how one's sense of service can be retained in this transition, the challenges inherent with the transition, how lawyers can get started, the need to upskill, fitting such a transition into one's schedule, whether we risk losing the traditional understanding of what it means to be a lawyer, and how her own journey is reshaping her view of herself as a litigator. 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, X 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 episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, recorded at last week's Australian Law Forum, we explore the day-to-day experience of working as a general counsel in a faith-based institution and what other law department leaders can learn from lawyers in such roles. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Seventh Day Adventist Church general counsel Igor Radonjić about how he came to be a “church lawyer” and why the role was appealing to him, what the day-to-day looks like, his own journey with faith, how his faith intersects with driving forward the purpose of a faith-based institution, and how his faith has evolved since starting in the role. Radonjić also delves into the biggest challenges and trends facing faith-based institutions right now, how law departments can better support them, what will constitute best practice for GCs like himself, and what other law department leaders can learn from the expertise of GCs in faith-based institutions. 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, X 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, two award-winning lawyers reflect on how they broke away from traditional legal vocational pathways to find success in ways that made sense to them – while noting that, for anyone seeking progression, it does not come easy. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Bowes Legal managing partner Jane Bowes and Nova Entertainment group general counsel Danielle Keyes about their early years as “baby lawyers” and how they met, how and why they each chose to explore non-traditional pathways and how they felt about it at the time, and having to redefine what it meant to succeed. Bowes and Keyes also reflect on the idiosyncratic challenges that face women in law, recalibrating expectations of what a lawyer can reasonably achieve when there are other life responsibilities, overcoming cultural expectations, being empathetic as leaders in law but also pragmatic, their guidance for lawyers coming through the ranks about how to forge one's own pathway, and recognising that success is often, if not always, hard-fought. 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, X 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!

From cold calling to securing a paralegal role at a global law firm, this law student shares essential tips and strategies every aspiring lawyer should use to land a position and kickstart their legal career. Speaking on a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Victor Yan, a law student at UNSW and a paralegal at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSFK), shares his unconventional journey into the legal profession, opens up about how a simple cold email to HSFK led to him securing a paralegal role months later, and discusses the crucial importance of landing a paralegal position while still at university to gain the practical skills that academic study alone doesn't provide. Yan also emphasises the importance of first- and second-year law students taking proactive steps to secure their first paralegal roles, highlights common mistakes he often sees during the application process, outlines five key steps students should follow on their journey to landing a paralegal position, stresses the vital need to prioritise self-care and wellbeing throughout this challenging period, and shares encouraging advice for law students about to embark on this exciting yet daunting new chapter.

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Mary Technology, we flesh out the importance of building efficient workflows to overcome the inherent, chaotic elements of taking on new client matters. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Mary Technology chief executive and co-founder Daniel Lord-Doyle to discuss who Mary Technology is and the problems it is solving for legal professionals, what fact chaos is and why it's such a challenge, what it means to have efficient workflows, and how urgent a priority fact chaos is for lawyers across the spectrum. Lord-Doyle also delves into how the profession is responding to solutions to navigate fact chaos, the role of AI in overcoming such challenges, navigating trust barriers, unlocking new potential for lawyers to be more efficient moving forward, supporting rapid acceleration of efficiency, and the rewards that come with making an impact on practitioners' operations.

With India looking to be the world's third-largest economy by 2030, and with significant shifts occurring in its legal landscape and how it sees foreign investment, there are boundless opportunities not just for firms with an Australian presence but also for Australia-based practitioners. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Baker McKenzie's Asia-Pacific investigations, compliance, and ethics group head Mini Menon vandePol, who also chair's the global firm's India practice, about how she utilises her name in the course of practice, her reflections on three decades with Bakers, what's happening with the firm's India practice, and how she is leading at a time of significant change for India. She also delves into the challenges that global firms like Bakers face in gaining stronger footholds in India, as well as the inherent opportunities, what such changes to the landscape mean for Australia and its practitioners, how Australians should view the evolving legal landscape in India, and why she's so excited by such change.

The unlawful termination of journalist Antoinette Lattouf by the national broadcaster, which resulted in high-profile proceedings in the Federal Court, has shone a spotlight on workplace policies for social media use by employees, and the need for such frameworks to be fit for purpose. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with McCabes principal Melini Pillay about her journey from being a prosecutor to representing defendants in employment and safety matters, how her background in criminal law offers perspective for her current work, the difficulties of managing five generations in the workforce for businesses, and what happened in the Lattouf v ABC proceedings. Pillay also discusses what the court found and the employment law implications moving forward from these proceedings, the difficulties inherent with striking the right balance with a social media policy, what might constitute bringing one's employer into disrepute, the questions that employers should be asking as a starting point, why policies need to appreciate the prevalence of and place for social media in the modern landscape, and practical steps to take in ensuring the right balance is struck when revamping workplace policies. 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!

When it comes to marketing, Rex Afrasiabi has learnt that people resonate more with a person than they do with a business. Leaning into his own branding has resulted in exponential growth for his firm, which is now allowing him to expand nationally through a capital raise and a retail share offering. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Bond Property Lawyers founder Rex Afrasiabi to discuss how and why he works with the real estate sector (and targets this sector rather than a particular niche area of legal practice), creating a marketing strategy that allows for growth without spreading one's self too thin, and his views on the importance of personal and professional branding. Afrasiabi also delves into the investment of time and labour for such strong marketing, how his business success has been aided by such marketing, how he plans to take his operations to the next level nationally, reflections on private equity in law firms, why he is looking to raise capital and undertake a retail share offering, and what excites him about such business growth moving forward.

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with LEAP Family Law, we explore how and why so many family law practitioners are leaving the profession and what can be done to better support them in practice. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with LEAP Family Law managing director Jenna Downy about her background as a family lawyer, how and why burnout impacts lawyers in this space, the unique challenges facing family lawyers, the many hats that they have to wear, and how burnout can impact female practitioners more than their male counterparts. Downy also delves into her own experiences with burnout when she practised in family law, the moment of realisation that she experienced, the options that practitioners can and should be exploring, whether they are aware of such options, how LEAP is supporting family lawyers right now, and whether she is optimistic about family lawyers' capacity to proactively and reactively navigate burnout in practice. To learn more about LEAP Family Law, 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!

In this special episode, produced in partnership with Lawyers Weekly's philanthropic partner So They Can, we explore the work being undertaken by the charity in Kenya and Tanzania to support children (especially young girls) living in extreme poverty by way of community health and empowerment projects, education, and family strengthening. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with So They Can's partnerships manager, Emily Whitehouse, and country manager in Tanzania, Roselyne Mariki, about who the charity is and why it does its work in East Africa, the myriad challenges being faced by both girls and boys in certain communities in Kenya and Tanzania, including lacking access to food, water, healthcare and education. Whitehouse and Mariki also discuss the various projects So They Can has running that are supporting children and young adults in communities, including the Empowerment Program for Women and its recent success, how individual professionals can get involved in the charity's operations, and how businesses across Australia can support its work on the ground in East Africa. To learn more about So They Can, 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!

Many young lawyers see AI as a looming threat – something that could disrupt their careers or put them at a disadvantage in an already competitive field. But Lucy Southwick challenges this mindset, arguing that AI is a competitive edge for the next generation of legal professionals. In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Lucy Southwick, a recent manager within Ashurst Advance's client solutions practice. She shares how she began her journey in the innovation area simply by introducing herself to a senior colleague working in that space, discusses how rewarding it is to be at the forefront of emerging technologies and ideas, highlights the growing awareness among Australian lawyers of international work opportunities, and reflects on the valuable skills gained from working abroad. She reflects on her next chapter after four years at Ashurst, discussing how AI is transforming the daily work of junior lawyers, shares why now is the most exciting time to be starting a legal career, emphasises the importance for young lawyers to see AI not as a threat but as a competitive advantage, and addresses the fear some may feel about adopting AI – often influenced by senior lawyers' slower embrace of technological change. Southwick also outlines three practical steps to help young lawyers confidently and responsibly navigate this evolving technology, highlights the crucial role law firms and universities play in upskilling young professionals on AI and its applications, identifies common mistakes young lawyers often make with AI and offers strategies to avoid them, and shares valuable advice on how young lawyers can harness AI to gain a competitive advantage.

From placing seventh in taekwondo at the Rio Olympics to boldly launching his own law firm, Hayder Shkara shares his anything but ordinary path into the legal profession. Speaking on a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Hayder Shkara, the principal of Justice Family Lawyers, who admits that while he has a fondness for the TV show, Suits, his true passion for law was inspired by his grandfather – a respected judge in Iraq who championed justice for the vulnerable. He shares how, at just 10 years old, watching the Sydney Olympic Games ignited a dream to one day represent his country on the world stage in taekwondo. He also reflects on the disappointment of falling short at the London 2012 Olympic Games but shares how that disappointment fuelled him to return stronger and place seventh at the Rio 2016 Games. He opens up on how he managed the demanding balance of completing his law degree while training full-time for the Olympics, recalls how, shortly after competing in Rio, he took the bold plunge into entrepreneurship by opening his own law firm, shares he was determined to do this to ensure he didn't face the post-Olympic slum that many athlete experiences, and reveals how he channelled his competitive mindset into his legal career, describing the transition as climbing a mountain. Shkara also candidly shares the toughest challenges he faced when first taking the lap to start his own law firm and how he overcame them, talks about his journey of expanding the firm through strategic acquisitions, discusses how this process has given him valuable insights into what works well in different practices, and equally important, what he doesn't want from his own firm, and offers valuable advice to law students – insights he wishes he had known at the very beginning of his legal career. To find out more about Justice Family Lawyer, click here.

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Axiom and Legora, we explore the transformation of legal operations made possible by a combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and having the right legal expertise. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Axiom's chief technology officer, CJ Saretto, and Legora's go-to market in APJ, Heather Paterson, about what their respective companies do, the “impossible choice” involved with certain legal work, the headline issues and challenges that are being faced right now, and why a combination of AI and legal expertise is a suitable approach to take moving forward. The trio also discuss moving from hype to feasible results, asking the right questions to ensure successful implementation, the combination of senior legal talent with AI and moving past traditional methods, ensuring quality legal expertise, the benefit of the partnership between Axiom and Legora, and where technology is headed and how teams can get ready. To learn more about Axiom, click here. To learn more about Legora, 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!

Late last year, the chief people officer for national law firm Gilchrist Connell was announced as the BigLaw player's new chief executive - a role she assumed in July. Here, she reflects on her vocational experience and details how coming from an HR background and wearing “many, many hats” lends well to leading a large legal practice. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Gilchrist Connell chief executive Belinda Cohen about her career prior to joining the BigLaw firm five years ago, the work she did as CPO, balancing the proactive and reactive as an HR professional, and how she came to be the firm's CEO. Cohen also discusses the firm's vision as set out by her predecessor, Richard Wood, and how her HR background will assist in furthering that vision, how and why HR professionals are well placed to step into such senior leadership roles, how HR professionals can create such vocational pipelines for themselves, and what excites her 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!

Here, a managing partner and former law society president discusses the experience of delivering a premature baby, what it taught her, and the support offered by the broader legal profession. (Content warning: This episode contains content that may be disturbing or distressing to some listeners. Discretion is advised.) In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with DBH Lawyers managing partner Amy Nikolovski, who formerly served as the president of the Law Society of South Australia and now sits on the society's wellbeing and resilience committee, about the work she and her firm undertakes, how she came to deliver a premature baby and how she was supported by colleagues at the time, and the personal and emotional toll of such an experience. Nikolovski also reflects on the support mechanisms that the broader legal profession has in place and offers for working parents in law dealing with premature delivery, and how individual lawyers can be more comfortable talking about such personal and family matters with their colleagues. Help is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636. Each law society and bar association also has resources available on their respective websites. 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 Fair Work decision noted that a primary carer doesn't have to be the sole carer in order to receive primary carer parental leave. Here, a BigLaw special counsel unpacks the decision and what it means for employers and lawyers moving forward. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Maddocks special counsel Meredith Kennedy about her work in the BigLaw firm's employment, safety, and people practice, the case of Metro Tasmania Pty Ltd v Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union (and what happened at first instance and then in front of the full bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC), how “primary carer” was defined in the proceedings and relevant enterprise agreement, and how and why the FWC full bench reached its conclusions. Kennedy also delves into why this matter is so significant, the takeaways for employers nationwide, the need to ensure that workplace policies and frameworks account for all circumstances, overcoming collective biases, riding the wave of sociocultural shifts, best practice for lawyers in this space, and what else such lawyers need to be looking out for.

In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, produced in partnership with TransPerfect Legal, we explore the practical ways that legal teams can use artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce the cost, time and risk associated with handling data in disputes and Investigations. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back TransPerfect Legal's APAC Senior Director, Tom Balmer, to discuss how to implement GenAI practically and easily into disputes and investigation workflows – an area which is “ripe for disruption”. The discussion explores how well law firms and in-house legal teams are doing when it comes to understanding and utilising AI, the guardrails to be considered and the easiest ways to save cost and time through the technology, right now. With regulatory investigations and enforcement actions on the rise, economic pressures increasing the volumes of formal disputes, and corporate legal team budgets being squeezed – there has never been a better time to explore ways to practically reduce the external costs and internal burdens of managing disputes and investigations. So if you're keen to learn how AI can help, have a listen to the full episode. 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 episode, brought to you by Lawyers Weekly's sister brand, HR Leader, we explore the need for business leaders and workplaces to “earn the commute” of their staff members returning to the office, including by way of imbibing a common purpose of the broader approach. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Canon Oceania director of people and finance David Field, who also serves as the company's chief legal counsel, to discuss his remit at Canon, how he has found the transition from technical legal specialist to having a bigger picture focus on business, whether businesses are getting it right in bringing staff back to the office, and navigating the disconnect that may exist between generations in the workforce. Field also discusses the questions that businesses need to be asking of themselves when wanting to bring staff back into the office, how he and Canon have looked to answer those questions, the place for trial and error, fostering team collegiality, strengthening common purpose through team building and community involvement, working for the greater good, and the steps that must be taken. 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!

Marianne Marchesi's firm had a hugely successful 2024–25 financial year. She credits a lot of that success, she says, to how she and the business responded and adapted to certain difficult periods the year prior – without which, such success may not have been possible. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Legalite founder and managing principal Marianne Marchesi to discuss her evolving views on disrupting the traditional law firm model, how her firm performed in FY24–25, the challenges faced in the prior financial year, how those hardships have led to certain successes, and how she navigated her way out of wanting to throw in the towel as a business owner. Marchesi also discusses how the firm realigned in such difficult periods, how those experiences have shifted her view on what it means to be a good lawyer and business owner, how she has grown personally and professionally, what other firm owners can learn from her experience, and what excites her 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 Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Unisearch Expert Opinion Services, we explore the ways that businesses and legal professionals can better manage the myriad psychosocial hazards that arise in the workplace, particularly in an increasingly litigious climate. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Unisearch Expert Opinion Services business development manager Christopher A. Yong and Unisearch expert and work, health, and safety specialist Sarah Jezzini to discuss the impact of psychosocial hazards on all areas of a business and the clients they serve, increased levels of understanding and appreciation for how and why psychosocial hazards exist, and the need for an urgent shift to proactive management of such workplace matters. The trio also discuss the legislative and regulatory considerations at play, the state of affairs for litigious proceedings, high-risk areas for litigation, intersectionality's role in the broader conversation, key questions that business leaders must be asking of themselves, practical frameworks to be implemented or adapted, and not letting the metric become the measure. To learn more about Unisearch Expert Opinion Services, 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!

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Distinctive Finance, we explore the lessons learnt from the market in the last 12 months, what's working and not working for lawyers, and how best practitioners can shore up their financial security and make investments in the coming year. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back the directors and co-founders of Distinctive Finance, Christian Goodall and Mitchell Lobb, to discuss what they have recently observed and been discussing with clients across the board, the key takeaways from the market in the last financial year, lawyers' readiness for looming rate cuts, and case studies of clients whose journeys inform the potential for lawyers to shore up their portfolios moving forward. Goodall and Lobb also delve into the common pitfalls that practitioners face in ensuring financial wellbeing, getting one's ducks in a row, how their experience in private banking informs their approach to legal professionals, what they're paying attention to this coming financial year, what lawyers can and should be focused on, and how lawyers can think about the journey ahead. 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!

Being a first-generation law student can be a daunting and isolating experience, especially when trying to break into the legal profession. But Aloizio Ferreira Compart shares how these challenges can be overcome, encouraging others to view them not as setbacks, but as powerful opportunities for growth and resilience. Speaking on a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Aloizio Ferreira Compart, a law student at Western Sydney University and a law clerk from Frank + Law Advisory, who shares that despite coming from a family of lawyers, becoming a lawyer was never part of his original plan, shares why corporate law is now firmly in his sights, reflects on his early years growing up in Brazil, and discusses the bold decision his family made to relocate to Australia in search of new opportunities. He opens up about the early challenges he faced moving to a new country, recalling how he had to learn a new language and adjust to a different culture, reflects on the close bond he shares with his family, forged by being the only realities living in Australia, recalls how him and his twin brother took a term of during year 10 to work full-time to support their parents, who were working 12-hour days, seven days a week, and explains how these experiences taught him independence and important lessons about life. Compart also speaks about being the first in his family to attend university and study law, reflects on the challenges this brought him, acknowledges the barriers many first-generation law students face when trying to break into the profession, shares how he has managed to overcome them, emphasises the importance of finding mentors and building connections with people who have faced similar challenges, notes the unique perspectives that first-generation students and those from non-traditional backgrounds bring to the legal field, and offers words of encouragement to others in similar situations who may feel uncertain or intimidated, reminding them that they, too, have a valuable place in the legal industry.

In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, produced in partnership with Conga, we explore how in-house teams can be better at wading through the fast-changing legal tech landscape to drive efficiency and support broader business goals. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Conga director of strategy, innovation, and transformation Charles Harb about his passion for this space, the headline challenges and trends facing law department leaders on the legal tech front, how well some teams are performing relative to others, and asking the right questions in navigating a changing landscape. Harb also delves into how law departments can evaluate the technologies they may onboard for their teams' purposes, the importance of reporting and analytics, convince executives to buy into the departments' tech needs, and get the tech stack right. He also reflects on CLM and AI for in-house lawyers and why they're such an essential aspect of this broader challenge for law departments. To learn more about Conga, 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!