Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

Deeann Cropley has always wanted to use her legal skills for "purpose and good". Now running a Geelong-based charity while working as in-house counsel, she's found ways to not only make an impact on the community but also better serve as a corporate lawyer. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Barwon Water legal counsel and Pass the Snacks Geelong founder Deeann Cropley about her journey as a lawyer, wanting to use her legal skills for good, her Geelong-based charity and why she founded it, why its work is so important, its reach and further vision, and how she manages running a charity as a full-time in-house lawyer. Cropley also discusses why it's so important for corporate counsel to roll up their sleeves and be more involved in the communities around them, her sense of service, what she's learnt about herself as a lawyer and how it's made her more curious, agile, and adaptable, how in-house lawyers can make more impact, making the time rather than finding the time, and what excites her about her ongoing work. 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 spent years working at the intersection of where the law engages with the community, particularly vulnerable persons, Tania Wolff has seen the system at its best and at points where justice isn't accessible, leading to a loss of confidence in public institutions. Addressing that loss of faith in the system is essential, she says, both for the sake of justice and social cohesion. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Law Council of Australia (LCA) president Tania Wolff about her varied vocational journey as a practitioner and her work for legal member bodies, what motivates her to advocate for the legal profession, her concerns about the erosion of confidence in public institutions and the justice system, and the potential impacts of such a loss of confidence. Wolff also delves into LCA's priorities for her term as president, what the member body does, managing the health and wellbeing of the profession while pushing for societal change, professional opportunities created by new technologies, and the "extraordinary privilege" of being LCA president. 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

Straight out of law school, many young lawyers dream of the prestige and fast pace of BigLaw – but Sally Callander flips the script, revealing how practising in the bush can offer career-defining skills, deeper client connections, and a lifestyle you'll never get in the city. In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Sally Callander, principal and owner of DLH Solicitors, about her journey from practising in Sydney's legal scene to regional NSW, explores her experience practising law in the bush for the past 14 years, delves into the rewarding lifestyle and full career she has been able to create, and points out the practical skills and expertise she has been able to gain that aren't typically available in city practice. Callander also highlights the growing trend of young lawyers reckoning the value of spending time practising in regional areas, discusses how such experiences can fast-track professional development, debunks the notion that moving to the bush is career-limiting, and shares practical advice for young lawyers considering this path and want to embrace this opportunity.

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with UniSuper, we explore women lawyers' financial security and the long-lasting impacts of superannuation disparities with male colleagues. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes UniSuper national manager of business development Veronica Barbetta to discuss UniSuper's work and its reach across the legal profession, the need to examine the financial and economic implications of pay gaps for women, how the super pay gap is exacerbated by the persistent lack of women leaders in law, and the factors contributing to financial disparity. Barbetta also delves into the impact of career breaks on women lawyers' financial security and forward planning, the need for greater attention to the super pay gap, how burnout is a contributing factor to financial disparities, what employers need to be doing, ensuring financial wellbeing is part of the holistic picture, and how UniSuper can assist. To learn more about UniSuper, 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 an age of sociocultural change, and against the backdrop of employers' positive duties to prevent sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct, preparing for workplace claims made against the backdrop of cultural traditions like Valentine's Day may not be so far-fetched. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Swaab partner Michael Byrnes to reflect on a recent blog he posted about the workplace relations issues inherent with Valentine's Day, the potential for workplace claims to arise in the wake of such cultural traditions, and whether employers need clauses in their policy for sexual harassment to account for such calendar dates. Byrnes also delves into employers' positive duty to prevent sexual harassment, changing social and cultural expectations for workplace behaviour, whether the inclusion of new clauses risks infantilising employees, catering to a multi-generational workforce, and what will constitute best practice for employers, HR professionals, and employment lawyers. 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

Here, an award-winning sole practitioner shines a light on the business and practice lessons one learns as a business owner that are not necessarily taught or advocated to students and graduates. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back C Legal & Co founder and principal Claire Styles to discuss some of the things she's learnt over the years that she wasn't aware of as a younger practitioner, the impact of realising one is not prepared for certain professional or business scenarios, the business pressures that she's seen and experienced, and why law firm owners need, for example, to be able to trust their bookkeepers. Styles also delves into the ethical lessons one learns once they're out in the profession, the need to thrive rather than survive, how many of the lessons she's learnt can be picked up in advance versus learning by doing, her advice to lawyers about how they can be more comfortable with not always being able to control what's coming, and how they can move to craft their careers and vocational journeys in ways that make sense to them. 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 The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Unisearch Expert Opinion Services, we explore how global and domestic regulation of artificial intelligence influences how lawyers practise and operate their businesses and what will constitute best practice moving forward. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Unisearch expert Professor Mimi Zou, Head of School, Private and Commercial Law, UNSW and Unisearch Expert Opinion Services Business Development Manager Christopher Aaron Yong about the state of affairs for regulation of AI, domestically and globally, what's on the horizon for regulatory updates, and lessons Australians can glean from overseas experiences. Zou and Yong also delve into what will constitute best practice for legal practitioners in 2026 and beyond, operational considerations, consequences for not adapting approaches, questions that legal businesses need to be asking, the kinds of expert services that will be required moving forward, and broader key takeaways for lawyers nationwide. 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, 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

From Gen Z to Baby Boomers, the legal profession is one of the few institutions where five generations work side by side. Here, Ann-Maree David stresses that while each generation brings their own habits and approaches to practice, law firms must be intentional about reducing friction and ensuring those generations collaborate – rather than clash – at work. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Podcast, host Grace Robbie, speaks with Ann-Maree David, the executive director for the College of Law in Queensland, who delves into how five generations are currently working side by side in the legal profession, discusses the distinct characteristics and differences of each generation, and addresses the challenges of balancing and embracing diverse perspectives in the workplace. David also highlights the importance of law firms implementing strategies to create an environment that fosters collaboration and teamwork across all generations, outlines practical approaches firms can adopt to achieve this, emphasises the significant benefits that arise when different generations work with and not against each other, and stresses that cultivating such inclusive environments can profoundly strengthen the legal profession. 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 this GC, building the right law department involves looking more to a lawyer's attributes rather than their skill set, and following a step-by-step process to ensure challenges are being met and the business's growth trajectory is accounted for. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Linktree senior vice president, office of the founders, people, and legal Rosanna Biggs to discuss the need for law department leaders to think about how they resource for their teams, whether there are things that in-house teams are doing wrong with regard to hiring, the inherent recruitment challenges, and her process for ensuring any hire for the legal team is fit for the business's purposes. Biggs also delves into the critical importance of attributes rather than one's skills, the team leader's role in approaching department growth with the C-suite, how to convey the way you run the legal function, how individual lawyers can put their best foot forward, why curiosity is so essential, how in-house roles are changing, and how businesses can better identify and recruit the best in-house lawyers possible. 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 The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Legal Home Loans, we explore the firm's charity partnership with ReLove, the essential work being undertaken by that organisation, and how legal professionals can get involved. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Legal Home Loans director Andrew Johnson and ReLove co-founder Ben Stammer about the charity's work in providing used and excess furniture for families impacted by domestic violence, homelessness, or facing hardship, why its work is so important for the community, how Legal Home Loans came to support ReLove's work, and what its partnership looks like. Johnson and Stammer also discuss how Legal Home Loans' support strengthens the work of ReLove, tapping into lawyers' sense of service to the community, the broader environmental impact of the charity's work, how lawyers using Legal Home Loans have responded to having donations made on their behalf, how lawyers and law firms are getting involved in the charity's work, and how others can get involved. To learn more about Legal Home Loans, click here. To learn more about ReLove, 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

As someone who co-founded a law firm while seven months pregnant, award-winning managing partner Danielle Snell is acutely aware of the need to create a culture and workplace whereby legal staff – lawyers and partners alike – do not feel as though their responsibilities outside of work come second. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Elit Lawyers by McGirr and Snell managing partner Danielle Snell to discuss the importance of reflecting on the need to balance the myriad roles one holds in life, how well the legal profession has done in accommodating idiosyncratic needs, and why the opinions and viewpoints of junior staff are incredibly important. Snell also delves into how being told that becoming a mother would stunt her legal career spurred her to create a better culture for her own staff, the need to seize opportunities to create a better environment, championing the idea of staff bringing their full selves to work, how she and her business partner inculcate such ideas across their firm, challenges inherent with such an approach, and how best other firm leaders can look to make practical changes in their own workplaces. 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 athletes across all disciplines have off-seasons, lawyers – like many professionals – do not get downtime, physically and mentally, to rejuvenate across the calendar year. Here, we discuss the need to meaningfully switch off (as best as possible) for the sake of optimal client service delivery and self-care. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Brisbane Family Law Centre director Clarissa Rayward to discuss the pursuit of happiness for lawyers, how lawyers sustain their careers, the extent to which she is able to switch off from work, the factors making it difficult for lawyers to disconnect, and what it means to properly detach one's self from work. Rayward also reflects on whether it's becoming more difficult for lawyers to switch off, her observations from conversations with colleagues in the family law space, structural issues preventing lawyers from switching off, the comparison of lawyers to professional athletes, practical ways that lawyers can disconnect, and why lawyers must appreciate the importance of disconnection, so that they may perform at optimal levels. 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

One sentence. One moment. One career-defining shift. Here, Jessica Thurtell reveals how speaking your bold goals out loud early in your career and aiming high as a law graduate can completely transform the trajectory of your legal journey. In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Jessica Thurtell, a consultant at Clyde & CO, about the defining moment early in her legal career when, during her first graduate rotation review, she declared her ambition to become a partner, discusses the reactions from those around her – from family members to fellow graduates – about her bold declaration and explains why saying yes to as many opportunities as possible can be crucial for building a successful legal career. Thurtell also emphasises the importance of young lawyers setting ambitious goals early and sharing them with those around them, explores which career goals are worth pursuing and how to balance achievable short-term milestones with long-term ambitions, outlines habits and strategies for staying on track despite inevitable setbacks, and highlights the power of mentors in guiding and supporting goal achievement.

According to the founder of AI Paralegal, the legal profession needs to realise that, instead of AI meaning more work with fewer people, the advent of such technology means that legal teams can do more, with more people. In this episode of LawTech Talks, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with the founder of adieu.ai and AI Paralegal, Andrew Wight, about how he got into legal tech, his journey with adieu.ai, how AI Paralegal came to be and what the future holds for the platform, and why lawyers need to discard the myth of AI taking jobs. Wight also discusses how lawyers can be thinking bigger about their AI vision, creating greater access to justice, results from AI Paralegal's beta stage, practical steps to reframe one's thinking on AI utilisation, impacts upon the charging for services, and the trial and error that is coming for legal of all stripes.

In the current climate, law departments should have established themselves as more strategic and business-facing and should no longer be pure legal gatekeepers. Continuing on that trajectory, and ensuring the team can balance all competing priorities, is a foremost challenge for GCs and their teams in 2026 and beyond. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Somerset Hoy, general counsel – deputy secretary, strategic services and advice at the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, about what she likes about legal work in the public service, how all law departments should already have transitioned to becoming more business-facing and less legal-focused, why the in-house legal team is no longer the "Department of No", and the questions teams must be asking of themselves in how to continue that transition in 2026. Hoy also discusses resolving the conflict between keeping more work in-house versus moving away from being a legal gatekeeper for a business, making the time to balance all duties, challenges standing in the way of legal teams moving away from gatekeeping, becoming all things to all teams within a business, the role of a GC in bringing their team along for the journey, and what the law department of 2030 could look like. 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

Law schools have a duty to create good citizens who uphold the rule of law, particularly at a time of significant sociocultural and political change (and unrest). Such duties cannot be ignored, one dean says, as universities balance all other aspects of students' legal education. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Professor Catherine Renshaw, dean of the law school at Western Sydney University, about her legal career, how her background in private practice serves her now in academia, the need for law schools to prepare the next generation to be good civic servants, and the decline of democratic principles across the globe. Renshaw also delves into the nexus between a law graduate's ability to serve to the best of their abilities and having trust and faith in the system as a citizen, how motivated Australian deans are to help graduates do their civic duty, how best they can create the right culture, how students can be "practice ready", ensuring students are upskilled on AI, and her optimism for Western Sydney University. 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

More needs to be done, both by those at the Bar and the legal profession more broadly, to manage the idiosyncratic wellbeing issues faced by barristers – including, but not limited to, moving beyond performative, awareness-raising conversations about barristers' experiences. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Melbourne-based barrister Dr Michelle Sharpe about her two decades at the Bar and what she's learnt, her perceptions about barristers' wellness across the board, whether the Bar is lagging behind private practice, and moving beyond box-ticking exercises. Sharpe also reflects on her concerns about wellness conversations not being conducted in the most productive ways possible, pushback experienced when trying to advance specific wellness conversations, the flow-on consequences for barristers' wellness not being at optimal levels, how the whole profession can better cater to barristers' wellness needs, and why she is cautiously optimistic that the Bar can move forward constructively. 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

After a 25-year career in journalism at some of Australia's most well-known media organisations, including Channel 9 and Channel 7, Naomi Shivaraman has traded telling stories for interpreting statutes – sharing her inspiring and compelling journey of becoming a lawyer later in life. In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Naomi Shivaraman, legal affairs strategist at BlackBay Lawyers, about her 25-year career as a journalist across some of Australia's most prominent media organisations, including Channel 9 and Channel 7, reflects on the moments she holds closest to her heart and explains what ultimately inspired her to trade telling stories for interpreting statutes. Shivaraman also delves into the challenges of returning to study as a mature-age law student while working in a fast-paced newsroom, reflects on the unique advantages and transferable skills her media background brings to the legal profession, explains how experiencing the law from the inside reshaped her perspective as a reporter, and offers thoughtful advice to professionals considering a major career change later in life but feeling hesitant to take the leap.

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with NROL, host Jerome Doraisamy sits down with NROL founder Jesse Shah to explore the future of the legal profession and the launch of LawUno, a new platform designed to better connect, support, and empower lawyers. Reflecting on the 2025 Women in Law Awards, hosted in November, Shah shares why his continued involvement in the awards remains deeply personal and professionally important, and how supporting women in law is inseparable from building a stronger, more inclusive profession. The conversation then turns to the real challenges lawyers are facing as the profession moves into 2026, from fragmented networks and limited access to information to the lack of meaningful community, training, and career visibility. Shah outlines why these issues have reached a critical point and how LawUno has been created to directly address them. Shah also discusses the importance of better connection "more than ever", the evolving ways lawyers present themselves professionally, reflections on the upcoming 30 Under 30 Awards, and his perspective on embracing change in an industry that is often sceptical or risk-averse. LawUno represents a new way forward for the legal profession, one platform, one network, built by lawyers, for lawyers. To learn more about LawUno, 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 face of voluminous market change, from privacy to technology, medical negligence work is perhaps more challenging than ever before. In the face of such a climate, there are myriad takeaways for practitioners in this space as the new year gets underway. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Arnold Thomas & Becker Lawyers principal and head of medical negligence Emily Hart about her background in personal injury law, perceptions about "what a lawyer is", her biggest takeaways from the last 12 months in medical negligence law and what has stood out to her, and why it's such a fast-growing practice area. Hart also delves into growing trends in this space, including medical technology and devices, and how such developments are changing the game for lawyers, the impact of AI and other emerging technologies, the extent to which cyber security hacks are influencing lawyers' work with clients, the difficulties that lawyers in this space will face in 2026 and beyond, and why prioritising lawyers' wellness will be so essential 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, 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

Feelings of fun and happiness play a significant role in offsetting the stressors and rigours of working life. In this episode, brought to you by Lawyers Weekly's sister brand, HR Leader, an Auckland-based academic dives into the need for businesses to get creative in ensuring staff engagement and the critical role that HR must play in doing so. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with University of Auckland Business School Associate Professor Barbara Plester about her research into humour and fun in the workplace and why it's of such interest to her, the extent to which the pandemic shifted workers' levels of happiness, workers' level of connection post-COVID-19, and how critical creativity has become in keeping workers engaged. Plester also delves into how the pandemic has correlated with an uptick in worker happiness, whether it had led to greater productivity, movement away from standardised approaches to wellbeing, the place for worker autonomy, employer limitations on flexibility, practical steps that employers should be taking to ensure optimal levels of employee happiness and striking the right balance with business objectives, and the role of team leaders in doing 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

Hilton Misso once sold a law firm for $57 million. Here, he reflects on what it means to succeed as a lawyer and how best practitioners can achieve success – in whatever form that takes. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with lawyer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and author Hilton Misso about drawing inspiration from his father to be a good legal practitioner, how technology aids guiding principles, what he believes constitutes success for lawyers, and whether what success looks like can evolve or if a North Star is needed. Misso also delves into the steps that must be taken in order to build an ethical, profitable practice, checking in on one's progress, overcoming challenges on the road to success, making time in the day in order to achieve, the lessons he learnt from selling his law firm for $57 million, how he learnt to be a leader, the power of discipline, and knowing when to walk away from what one has built. 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 InfoTrack, we explore how successful women lawyers in practice areas like family law can and must put technology at the forefront of their businesses in order to thrive in an evolving market. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with InfoTrack family lawyer Bree Staines about her background in family law, adopting a more flexible working life, the unsustainable demands practice areas like family law have on practitioners, and the ways that women in the profession can set themselves apart when it comes to the use and implementation of new technologies. Bree also delves into the necessary steps to take in order to drive one's practice forward, the challenges facing women and how to overcome them, tech's role in alleviating burnout, retaining the human touch with your clients, and the potential outcomes on offer from being able to successfully integrate one's business with tech. To learn more about InfoTrack, click here.

At a time when practitioners across the board are increasingly expected to not only onboard new technologies but also elevate the client experience, family lawyers should be seeing such a shift as an opportunity to become truly hybrid operators. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Siobhan Mullins, author and founder of Separate Together and Paper Advocate, about her career in family law, how practitioners in this space are moving towards more collaborative ways of working in a changing landscape, and why a hybrid model makes sense for family lawyers. Mullins also delves into what family lawyers must ask of themselves in transitioning to a more hybrid model, the key outcomes to strive for, overcoming hurdles standing in the way, why such change is exciting, and what she's looking forward to 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

Amid a time of voluminous market and professional change, corporate counsel will require a particular set of skills and traits, including, but not limited to, adaptability, curiosity, and vulnerability. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with fractional general counsel, board member, and keynote speaker Ivana Kovacevic and RMIT general counsel Alison Huitfeldt about what they love about in-house legal life, the biggest takeaways for corporate lawyers in the last 12 months, and the difficulties inherent with having so much on the shoulders of the law department. Kovacevic and Huitfeldt also delve into the biggest challenges and trends facing in-house lawyers as we come into the new year, leaning into people skills, the need for curiosity, adaptability, and vulnerability moving forward, best practice guidance for corporate lawyers in the new year, and what excites them both about the experience of in-house counsel 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, 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 LexisNexis, we unpack the importance of a more holistic approach and mindset to daily operational and practice matters in 2026 and beyond, in the face of voluminous technological change. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with LexisNexis APAC Managing Director Katy Fixter about the most common threads of change she sees across the region for how legal businesses operate and why, Australian practitioners' capacity for innovation and agility, her optimism about the pace of willingness to change among Australian in-house and firm teams, and evolving levels of trust from the client side. Fixter also delves into how best to ensure retention of accurate, reliable information and optimal client service delivery, lawyers' perceptions of their changing underlying duties, the extent to which lawyers are undergoing trial and error with new ways of working, taking more innovative approaches moving forward, creating more space for yourself, how the business of law is shifting, whether non-traditional approaches are becoming more mainstream, and how lawyers' learning and professional development may also be changing. To learn more about LexisNexis, click here.

Interest and investment in renewables is one of the fastest-growing areas of M&A in the current climate. For lawyers practising in this space, this brings various challenges in wading through a shifting landscape, but also myriad opportunities to best serve clients. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Holding Redlich partners Jeanne Vallade and Dhanushka Jayawardena about their respective work at the BigLaw firm, why renewables is such a fast-growing space for M&A, the tax implications, the headline challenges being experienced, political influences, making such developments work for foreign investors, and ensuring best practice in a fast-moving landscape. The trio also delves into early and integrated due diligence, following the life cycle of a project, the popularity of battery energy storage systems, regulatory hurdles to grapple with, how best to advise clients in the current climate, what excites them about their work in this space moving forward, and "bringing a little piece of [a] complex puzzle to the bigger, bigger picture". 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

Amid unprecedented technological change in the legal profession, many young lawyers and students feel uncertain about their future. But David Fischl argues this worry is misplaced – in fact, he says there has never been a better time to enter the profession. In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with David Fischl, legal digital transformation lead partner and corporate and commercial team lead partner at Hiscksons | Hunt & Hunt, about his firsthand experience witnessing AI reshape the legal profession, why these shifts are creating unprecedented opportunities for junior practitioners to learn and grow faster, and how he expects AI to continue redefining the profession in the years ahead. Fischl also delves into how AI is accelerating the career trajectory of junior lawyers by giving them access to more complex responsibilities earlier than ever before, acknowledges the uncertainty many young lawyers feel about the profession's future but notes that this mindset is shifting as they see the opportunities AI creates, stresses that firms aren't hiring for AI expertise but for curiosity and adaptability, and offers advice to young lawyers who feel intimidated by the rapid pace of technological change.

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with iManage, we explore how teams – both in-house and in private practice – can leverage their internal knowledge assets to prepare them for the next generation of legal services and AI and digital transformation. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with iManage's global product director for knowledge and AI, Alex Smith, and Asia-Pacific legal industry expert Madeleine Porter about why knowledge management is such an urgent priority for legal teams, how cognisant lawyers are of this urgency, lessons learnt from this past year, whether certain practices and processes remain fit for purpose in the current climate, and whether it's becoming harder for legal teams to avoid drowning in knowledge. Smith and Porter also delve into the questions that legal teams need to ask of themselves in better mastering their knowledge management, creating a more holistic operational culture, approaches that will not work moving forward, practical steps that need to be taken, leveraging business data, the role of AI and automation, ethical considerations, and the opportunities to be gleaned from taking such action. To learn more about iManage, click here.

Here, the reigning Litigation Partner of the Year reflects on what makes her a successful litigator, including staying true to herself, appreciating what makes her tick, and placing importance on emotional intelligence. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Bowes Legal managing partner Jane Bowes to discuss her firm's recent expansion from northern Queensland into Brisbane and potential further expansion plans, how it felt to win the litigation category at the 2025 Partner of the Year Awards, how the win validated the approach she has taken in her career, and having the courage to stay true to one's convictions. Bowes also delves into how feeling underestimated has fuelled her growth and success as a litigator, why being underestimated is the "biggest fire" in her belly, EQ versus IQ, better managing one's burnout, what has helped her succeed, and her advice for other litigators out there. 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 award-winning lawyer Keith Redenbach, voluminous market change may bring challenges for practitioners, but – for those who bear in mind their ethical obligations and their professional duties – there is also a bounty of opportunity. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Redenbach Legal principal Keith Redenbach to discuss the volume of change being witnessed across the profession and how this compares to other times of change in the last three decades, why some lawyers are "vexed", ethical and practical dilemmas, and how and why certain staples of the past have gone by the wayside. Redenbach also reflects on how he is pivoting and adapting in a time of change, how he sees his role evolving, having a constant sense of service, what constitutes best practice in the current climate, and going deeper with one's use 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, 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 Legora, we unpack how day-to-day practice is being reshaped and what it means for the role of legal professionals in the age of AI. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Legora legal engineer Murray Edstein about his vocational journey in practice and now in tech, what a legal engineer does day-to-day, how and why the legal profession is in the midst of a substantial period of transformation, differing level of proficiency with AI across the market, and the consciousness or otherwise of macro and micro shifts in one's practice. Edstein also delves into the need for lawyers to challenge themselves with the required mindset and operational shifts, how to go about this practically, the fundamental changes he expects to see in lawyers' roles in the coming years, what the lawyer of the future may look like, and how Legora can assist lawyers along the journey. To learn more about Legora, click here.

There is, one BigLaw partner says, a "huge amount of opportunity" looking ahead for practitioners in the insurance space, from finding solutions to the risk of natural disasters to the management of cyber threats. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clayton Utz partner Sophy Woodward about why insurance law is so engaging at this point in time, the "soft market" currently being experienced and the opportunities that climate presents for better terms for clients, what's surprised her about the insurance space this past year, and how client expectations have been set higher in 2025. Woodward also discusses how insurance lawyers have to collaborate across practice areas more than ever before, managing team dynamics and wellness at a time of voluminous work and change, the need for creativity in contractual clauses, the ripple effects coming from current developments in the cyber space and natural disaster space, the myriad opportunities on the horizon, and why emerging practitioners should consider insurance law as a 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, 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 some students may overlook law societies during their university journey, one Monash University student highlights how involvement builds key professional and personal skills, giving participants a head start in their careers. In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Thomas Pereira, a law and commerce student at Monash University and serves as careers director for his university's Law Student Society, about his passion for encouraging law students to get involved in their law societies, the professional skills that can be gained through such participation, and how these experiences help students build meaningful relationships and foster a sense of community. Pereira also highlights how developing these skills provides law students with valuable real-world experience that makes them more attractive to firms and recruiters, outlines practical steps for students who want to get involved in their university law society, and shares strategies for balancing all aspects of student life – including university workload, part-time work, and personal commitments – so that students can find the time to actively participate in their law society.

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Distinctive Finance, we break down the key market shifts shaping property decisions as we head towards the end of 2025 and what it all means for legal professionals preparing to buy. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Distinctive Finance founders and directors Christian Goodall and Mitchell Lobb to discuss what the Reserve Bank's recent inaction signals for buyers, how the expanded First Home Guarantee is opening new opportunities, why banks are forecasting potential rate changes in the year ahead, and whether fixed rate options may play a bigger role moving forward. Goodall and Lobb also explore how legal professionals can position themselves for success, from making the most of the First Home Guarantee and navigating increased market competition, to getting tax documents in order, reviewing lending options, and preparing strategically before the holiday season. They share practical steps to get purchase-ready and insights into what the new year may bring. 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, 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

Sam Burrett and Chelsea Gordon recently travelled to the UK to learn more about international approaches to AI governance and business strategies of global law firm counterparts. Their observations and lessons learnt offer guidance for practitioners and firms alike Down Under. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with MinterEllison AI Advisory consulting lead Sam Burrett and legal lead Chelsea Gordon about the work they each do in the BigLaw firm's AI operations, their recent travels to the University of Oxford to learn more about how law firms internationally are approaching governance and strategy considerations, and how well Australian firms are performing relative to global counterparts. Burrett and Gordon also delve into what Australian firms need to be doing more of, what is being done well, the lessons firms Down Under can learn from those overseas, what best practice objectives must be moving forward, practical steps that should be taken, mindset shifts required, and guidance to take into the new year. 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 Philip Colman has seen enormous professional change in more than four decades as a legal practitioner, there are certain values and traits that have consistently guided him over the years. For example, he tries to answer every email he receives on the day of receipt – even if just to acknowledge it – to showcase care and respect for clients. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with MST special counsel and former principal Philip Colman about his legal career to date, the values he was taught early on that have served him over the course of his career, some of the most surprising professional shifts he's witnessed, what optimal client service delivery means to him, and his reflections on his time as a leader. Colman also delves into the challenges of business management, whether what constitutes a good law firm leader has changed over time, his guidance to aspiring leaders, how AI will impact the ways that people practice, whether client interactions need to be adapted, how the experience of the emerging generation differs from his own experiences, and his sense of service 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

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with legalsuper, host Lauren Croft speaks with legalsuper strategic partnership lead Jessica Empson about why taking control of your superannuation early is one of the smartest financial moves a lawyer can make. From understanding how small fees can erode long-term savings to choosing investment strategies that align with your career stage, superannuation plays a crucial role in a lawyer's financial wellbeing. In this episode, Empson unpacks the importance of transparency, sustainable long-term growth, and insurance coverage through super, exploring why legal professionals can benefit from joining a fund tailored to their industry. She also shares practical advice for managing super with confidence and emphasises why lawyers at every stage of their career should take charge of their financial future and make informed decisions that support lasting security and growth. 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

Here, the new managing partner of national law firm Colin Biggers & Paisley reflects on his journey as a practitioner, optimal client service delivery, why the firm is in a "great place" in the market, and what lawyers of the future need to look like. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Colin Biggers & Paisley's managing partner, Dr Andrew Murray, about his unintended entry into and journey in law, the driving force for him as a practitioner, the presence of impostor syndrome, his leadership approach, and how one learns to become a managing partner of a national firm. Murray also delves into the firm's position in the market, his vision for it moving forward, why the firm will continue investing in particular practice areas, balancing growth with maintaining the right culture, headwinds on the horizon, managing a multi-generational workforce, why diversity is so essential, lessons from 2025 and predictions for the year ahead, and what it means to be a great lawyer. 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 profession where burnout and mental health struggles have become all too routine, Tammi McDermott warns that mental health literacy isn't just essential for the next generation of legal leaders – it demands action and support from the entire profession to spark the urgent, transformative change law desperately needs In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Tammi McDermott, the founder of Lawnch and a board member of the mental health charity LIVIN, about the alarming rate of mental health challenges among lawyers, explains why this issue drives her passion for making mental health literacy a core skill for lawyers, calls out the profession's tendency to sideline mental health, and unpacks how genuine change can only happen when firms start prioritising their people over clients and billable hours. McDermott also reflects on how little progress has been made in the way mental health is addressed in law since she first entered the profession, praises the younger generation of lawyers for reshaping the narrative by prioritising their wellbeing, calls on legal leaders to take responsibility for driving change by starting with more open conversations about mental health in the workplace, and emphasises that emotional preparedness and mental health awareness are just as vital as technical expertise for the next generation of legal leaders.

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Unisearch Expert Opinion Services, we explore how forensic and cognitive psychology is being applied in the justice system, and how – together with facial recognition technology – such developments may have implications for legal proceedings. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Professor Richard Kemp, PhD, and Unisearch Expert Opinion Service business development manager Christopher Aaron Yong about Professor Kemp's research fields, why experts like him are in greater demand, the pertinence and necessity of such services in ensuring access to justice, the limitations of such scientific fields, and addressing gaps in legal proceedings. Professor Kemp and Yong also delve into the types of proceedings that such services can be applied to, the place for facial recognition technology in such conversations, risks to be navigated, implications for legal practitioners on the ground, case studies and lessons from those proceedings, and also explore how to assess the reliability of one's memory. 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, 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 negative sentiment around migration into Australia, both politically and socioculturally, can take a toll on legal practitioners in this space. To this end, migration law can be seen as a potential bellwether for the legal profession's role in ensuring access to justice and our national identity. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with BDO national leader in migration law Rebecca Thomson about her background in this legal practice area and why it's so rewarding, the sociocultural and political discourse surrounding migration and its disconnect to the realities on the ground, the impact on practitioners like herself, and whether now is the most challenging time to be a migration lawyer. Thomson also delves into the numerous roles that such lawyers have to play in the current climate, bringing a holistic viewpoint, staying on top of a shifting regulatory and legislative landscape, having a community, the importance of migration law moving forward, and lawyers' role in ensuring 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, 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

Here, an executive general manager discusses how legal counsel can make the vocational transition to business leadership, whether it's a general manager, chief executive, or managing director role. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Australian Unity Trustees executive general manager Kirstin Follows about her legal career and how she came to AUT, supporting that business through both the COVID-19 pandemic and the aged care royal commission, what she found stimulating about in-house legal life, and why work in the aged care sector is so important. Follows also delves into how the transition to the EGM role came about, how she has found the jump to her current role, the skills she needed to develop, how her approach to the EGM role differs to what she was doing as law department leader, how and why heads of legal should be aiming to lead what's happening in the boardroom, not just being a participant, and why such lawyers are well placed to take on executive roles. 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 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!