No one starts a law firm thinking about how they’re going to exit it. However, it is imperative (particularly in an age of turbulence) to not only ensure continuity in your business once you leave it but also do so in a way that makes both personal and professional sense to you and your successor. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Justitia founding partner Sarah Rey and new managing partner Melissa Scadden to talk about the inception and early years of the Melbourne-based boutique, how and why Ms Rey determined she needed to step away from the position of firm head, Ms Scadden’s career and when and why assuming a leadership role made sense to her. Ms Rey and Ms Scadden also detail their pre-requisites for undertaking a succession process, and the elements involved, the personal factors that go into such considerations, the firm mission moving forward, how succession planning can be undertaken in a post-pandemic market, whether it is incumbent upon firm leaders to have succession plans in place, lessons learned (both personally and professionally) about having completed a succession, and the extent to which managing partners can and should be looking to make themselves redundant. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Australian Bar Association president Dr Matt Collins QC says he is proud of how well barristers across the country have adapted to the new normal in recent years. Looking ahead, the bar is shaping up to be a stronger, more united cohort as a result, he believes. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Australian Bar Association president Dr Matt Collins QC to discuss his personal experiences of practice during the age of coronavirus, how he feels barristers fared in general, the advent of virtual hearings and other changes that barristers have had to grapple with, and whether professionals have had to relearn what it means to be a barrister. Dr Collins also stresses the importance of retaining the art of persuasion in whatever hearing one appears in, what the future looks like for in-person chambers, whether barristers could embrace hot-desking, how regional barristers have fared in this age, turning old courthouses into spaces for virtual hearings, and what he thinks the future holds for barristers all around Australia. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.   If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with the Australasian Legal Practice Management Association (ALPMA), learn more about what the future will hold for legal practice managers, including all those with leadership and management responsibilities, as we exit the age of coronavirus. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with ALPMA strategic learning and development manager Fiona Croswell and PwC directors of NewLaw Eric Chin and Carl White about who ALPMA is and what it does, the headline issues for all legal practice managers in the post-pandemic new normal, juggling client expectations in the new normal, striking the right balance moving forward, and necessary skills to ensure that balance. The trio also reflect on the ongoing war for talent and the rise of new roles in legal businesses, the pace of change and need for adaptability, ensuring that all employees feel accommodated and that they have purpose, why the current age is so exciting for legal practice managers of all stripes, and what this week’s ALPMA Summit will bring to attendees across the country. To learn more about the activities of ALPMA, 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 [email protected] for more insights!

“Quiet quitting” is more than a TikTok fad. It may have far-reaching consequences for daily legal practice and the evolution of businesses in law. Is this good or bad for the legal profession On this episode of Legal Lightbulbs, hosts Jerome Doraisamy and Fionn Bowd reflect on what “quiet quitting” means in the context of Australia’s legal profession and why lawyers are so fascinated with the concept. They discuss whether it is reasonable for lawyers to “quietly quit” their jobs by silently refusing to do more than they are paid for and the pejorative nature of the term itself. The pair also flesh out the broader rejection of traditional, longstanding modes of practising law and debate who might be more likely to “quietly quit” their jobs. They ask about the relationship between “quiet quitting” and our duties to the court and our clients, and what “quiet quitting” means against the backdrop of the Great Resignation. Jerome and Fionn touch on the ever-increasing need to appropriately remunerate and incentivise staff and, finally, what lawyers can learn from tradies about work practices. To learn more about Fionn Bowd, click here. If you have questions you want to see answered on this show, reach out to Jerome at [email protected] or Fionn at [email protected]. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

The most successful fast-growing companies are ones that are not only open to change, but are “naturally wired” to be comfortable practising and operating in non-traditional modes. The law department plays a critical role in driving such an approach.   On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by harrison.ai general counsel and company secretary Jennifer Mulheron to discuss what life is like at the healthcare tech start-up and why such work is so rewarding, the importance of being open-minded with shifts in one’s career trajectory, and managing the juggle of being GC and co sec.   Ms Mulheron also delves into the hurdles for tech start-ups to overcome in the current climate, moving past a risk-averse mindset, trends on the horizon for in-house lawyers in this space moving forward, whether merger and acquisition lawyers are well-suited to life in tech start-ups, and getting comfortable with practising and advising clients in different ways in the new normal. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

There has been a shift, marketing expert Aleks Czerwinski says, away from traditional business presentation towards establishing emotional connections with clients and communities. Therefore, being authentic is imperative if a firm’s marketing campaigns are to tell a story and resonate broadly. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Pump Me Up founder Aleks Czerwinski to discuss her career to date in marketing and how she came to work with and for law firms, her broad perception of how well law firms in Australia are doing with their marketing efforts, the biggest mistakes that SME firms make with marketing, and misconceptions that they might have. Ms Czerwinski also dives into the hesitancy to commit to campaigns, practical steps that firms must take to ensure longevity from their marketing efforts, whether there is a specific quantum of time required each week to guarantee success, the need to be strategic and deliberate, the importance of authenticity, the platforms that law firms can and should be looking at, utilising awards programs to bolster one’s viability to the market, and the connections that clients are seeking in the modern world. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Jason Symons has always been passionate about growing a business. It’s “in my DNA”, he says. Recently, when the opportunity arose to build a new cyber practice at Mills Oakley, he grabbed it with both hands. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Mills Oakley partner and cyber security practice head Jason Symons to discuss his interest in cyber law, how the launching of his new practice at Mills Oakley came about and why he opted to make the move, what the experience of launching such a new practice has been like, and the balance between proactive and reactive work when building a new group. Mr Symons also delves into some of the challenges of launching a new practice in a national firm, what he is learning from this period, the trends and opportunities he has taken advantage of amidst such a growth period, what his goals are for the group moving forward, and what he’s learned about himself — both personally and professionally — from this chapter of his 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, 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 [email protected] for more insights!

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Macquarie Business Banking, learn about how law firms across the country were able to adapt to the turbulence of a global pandemic. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Macquarie Business Banking’s National Segment Head for Legal, Matthew Bolle, to discuss the findings and key takeaways from the 2022 Business Barometer report, including the impacts of the pandemic upon law firms, the building of profits during that time, the scale­ to which firms invested in technology, how easy firms made it for clients to do business with them, and the extent to which customer experience was improved. Bolle also details how well law firms appear to be proactive about managing external events like a pandemic, the top challenges for legal businesses, considerations for workplace wellness, whether specialised boutique firms are diminishing, and ultimately how well placed the legal profession is for the post-pandemic market. To learn more about Macquarie Bank’s Business Barometer report, 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 [email protected] for more insights!

From the age of 12, Megan Patten knew she wanted to become a lawyer. However, less than two years after being admitted, she left legal practice. The realisation that she no longer wanted to be a lawyer, she says, was “like a bus hitting me”. (Content warning: this episode may be distressing for some listeners. Discretion is advised.) On this episode of the Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Australian Energy Regulator senior analyst Megan Patten about her lifelong desire to become a lawyer, the work she did once admitted, how and why she realised that she no longer wanted to work as a lawyer and the circumstances surrounding that epiphany. Ms Patten also details prioritising her health and wellbeing during that period of vocational discovery, re-evaluating her sense of self, what she now does for work and why she finds it so rewarding, whether she has regrets about her non-linear professional trajectory, and what other young lawyers can and should take away from her experiences. Help is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636. Each law society and bar association also has further contacts 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 [email protected] for more insights!

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Madison Marcus, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Madison Marcus partner and division leader of sustainability/ESG and banking and finance Eric Boone about the elevation of environmental, social and governance concerns as we move into a post-pandemic market. Mr Boone details his vocational journey and how he became so personally and professionally invested in ESG work, particularly modern slavery, and his motivation for serving clients across the board in the best and most holistic ways possible. He also outlines the intersection between ESG and other legal practice areas, the need to “fully leverage” such considerations across practices, the increased prominence of ESG following the age of coronavirus, how Australia’s corporate approaches to ESG compare to global counterparts and whether such organisations are being proactive or reactive about implementing their approaches. Finally, Mr Boone details how organisations can stay ahead of the game with regard to ESG, what constitutes best practice moving forward, and how he sees practice groups such as his evolving in the future. To learn more about Madison Marcus’ work in this space, click here. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.   If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

Trent Blacket, the co-founder of EMT Partners, helps operate three businesses: a law firm, an advisory firm, and an investment firm. Two and a half years since inception, Mr Blacket remains as excited and engaged as ever and has a clear understanding of how his entrepreneurial thinking can help achieve his personal and professional goals. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with EMT Partners co-founder Trent Blacket about the three arms of his parent business, the concept of lawyers as venture capitalists, why he wanted to establish an operation that is more expansive than the average legal practice, how his experiences working overseas have informed his thinking and direction, and what the journey for EMT has been like so far. Mr Blacket also reflects on the implications for operating a law firm and also making investments for clients, the value proposition of such an expansive operation, how he manages the grind day to day, why entrepreneurial thinking is so critical in a post-pandemic world, what the future holds for his businesses, and what is motivating him 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Like personal relationships, being a business owner in law requires commitment, especially in the face of challenges. Finding ways to maintain love for your law firm, as its owner, is paramount to that firm’s success. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Caralee Fontenele, the director of Collective Family Law and director of Scalable Law, to discuss her journey as a business owner (including learning how and when to hand over responsibilities as a practitioner so as to focus on running the business), understanding the needs of one’s business, what it means to have love for one’s legal business and the importance of maintaining that love even when challenges strike. Ms Fontenele also details the strategies she employs to ensure she keeps up the love even when she’s not feeling it, the need to “spice it up” from time to time, the importance of proactivity in showing love to one’s business, the need to think outside the box, and where the love she has for her own businesses will take her into the future. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.   If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

Why should law firms invest in technology? How can it shape their future? What difference will technology make to everyday life at the firm? Can efficiency, productivity and successful outcomes be driven by employing the right technology infrastructure? What will the law firm of tomorrow look like? On this special episode of LawTech Talks, LexisNexis head of core product (Pacific) Lindsay O’Connor talks to LexisNexis managing director (Pacific) Greg Dickason about the disruptive change technology is bringing to the legal world, enabling law firms to become more client-centric. For more information on LexisNexis solutions, 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Despite the hardship she has suffered as a result of vicarious trauma in the workplace, award-winning lawyer Zagi Kozarov is still highly motivated to support the community around her, especially now that a decade-long fight that culminated in a High Court challenge has concluded. (Content warning: this episode may be distressing for some listeners. Discretion is advised.) On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Kozarov Lawyers principal director Zagi Kozarov, who won the Wellness Advocate of the Year category at the 2022 Partner of the Year Awards and whose firm won Wellness Initiative of the Year at the 2022 Australian Law Awards. Ms Kozarov discusses her firm's growth plans, details the vicarious trauma she suffered in previous employment that led to proceedings over 10 years about duty of care and PTSD in the workplace, the need for employers to better accommodate idiosyncratic circumstances, and why she is keen to remain in criminal law. She also details the triggers she still experiences and the practical solutions she implements to overcome those, how messaging about wellness is changing, and what she wants other lawyers to take away from her High Court case and broader experiences. Help is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636. Each law society and bar association also has further contacts 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Our constitutional system is not separate from our national ecosystem. In the wake of increased litigation pertaining to climate change, it is incumbent upon legal officers, including judges, to consider how “old laws”, such as the Constitution, can and should address “new problems”, like the impacts of global warming. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by UTS Law teaching academic Dr Costa Avgoustinos to discuss how and why the effects of climate change can and will have consequences for the Australian Constitution and the nexus between the Constitution and our ecosystem. Dr Avgoustinos also discusses the key pillars of federalism and corruption in adversely affecting our Constitution in the context of climate change, the role of the judiciary in addressing climate-related concerns, the various political positions that lawyers and judges alike will have and take, the limits on governmental power, and why all lawyers should see the protection of the Constitution as so important when discussing climate change. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Becoming a legal counsel in the defence industry was not a pathway that award-winning lawyer Katherine Stapels planned for, but it is a space that she has come to "really love". On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with DroneShield general counsel Katherine Stapels — who won the Defence Lawyer of the Year category at the 2022 Corporate Counsel Awards — about her vocational journey towards working in defence, what listed company DroneShield does and why its work is so important to Australia, and what the law department is responsible for in achieving the company's aims. Ms Stapels also fleshes out how best to stay in touch with the community of defence lawyers, building relationships across a business, approaching applications with regulatory bodies, navigating the broader regulatory landscape, best practice for defence lawyers amidst all of the environmental challenges, lessons for defence lawyers based on her experiences, and why defence work is so engaging and motivating. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

When Travis Schultz & Partners was launched, its founder — whose name is on the door — presumed the firm would be kept small, with perhaps just over half a dozen staff. Now pushing 50 professionals, Travis Schultz has learned how to navigate the unanticipated scaling of a legal business and how to ensure it thrives. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Travis Schultz & Partners founder and principal Travis Schultz to discuss his firm’s growth journey from boutique to a bigger player in the Queensland marketplace, its beginnings to where it is now, mistakes that Mr Schultz thinks he has made and what he has learned from them, the various arms to sustainability, and when firm leaders need to think about changes to the firm’s position and strategy. Mr Schultz also discusses how and when to share responsibilities with others in the business, the personal challenges of leading a rapidly expanding business, adjustments to the post-pandemic new normal, his firm’s future plans, what “maturity” of the business looks like to him, and other guidance for boutique firm owners about how best to manage unexpected growth and scaling. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Max Beavis always wanted to work overseas — with different clients and in different jurisdictions — as part of his growth as a lawyer. Currently working in London, he spoke with Lawyers Weekly whilst back in Sydney about what it’s like to live and work internationally as an up-and-coming lawyer and how and why others should look into it. On this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clifford Chance’s newly qualified associate Max Beavis about his longstanding ambition to work overseas as a lawyer, broaching the conversation with one’s employer about the possibility of making such a move, whether there is a particular approach that lawyers should take when having those conversations or a right time to do so, and how those conversations might go as we move out of the age of coronavirus. Mr Beavis also discusses his experiences of living in London, staying on top of his health and wellbeing while living across the world from his friends and family, what his day-to-day looks like, whether there are lots of Australian lawyers coming back to the UK post-pandemic, whether the mainstreaming of virtual work means young lawyers can get the same international experience from their homes, and other advice he would offer to new practitioners considering such moves. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

There is often a tendency, among legal employers, to immediately seek solutions to workplace risks to mental health. If this approach is taken with psychosocial hazards, however, “invariably, risks are going to get missed”. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with K&L Gates partner Dominic Fleeton and Proactive Action managing director Emma Parsons about legislative changes pertaining to employer obligations for managing mental health risks in the workplace, including the intent to provide said employers with greater detail about what their obligations entail.  Mr Fleeton and Ms Parsons dive into the myriad issues surrounding psychosocial hazards, whether non-traditional approaches are needed in the post-pandemic world, the role of team leaders moving forward, and what will constitute best practice in the future. 

Increasingly, employee share/stock ownership plans are being implemented, one GC says. The law department will play a big part in ensuring that such plans are not only fit for purpose but can help drive businesses forward in the post-pandemic market. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Linktree general counsel Rosanna Biggs about what employee share/stock ownership plans (ESOPs) are, why they are so important and becoming more common, what a typical ESOP looks like, the utility of offering such plans and whether more and more lawyers are keen to take them up. Ms Biggs also discusses the extent to which legal recruiters are seeing them as part of their work, how the law department can help in setting up ESOPs, whether trial and error forms part of such implementation, knowledge-sharing about such plans amongst fellow in-house lawyers, how best the law department can argue for such plans, and what the mainstreaming of ESOPs means for vocational growth 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Whilst gleaning professional benefits such as improved business functions and greater capacity to scale are essential takeaways from the utilisation of legal technology, there are other, broader vocational benefits: ensuring that one can practise in ways that make sense to them is, for one entrepreneur, at the core of the future of legal services. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Firmsy founder and chief executive Claudia King about her motivation for transitioning into the legal tech space, what it means to practise law from the heart and how and why legal tech is critical to this concept, and how practitioners of all stripes can benefit from adopting such an approach. Ms King also explains why it is too important, from a client perspective, for their legal service providers to think about their use of tech in such ways, the hurdles facing lawyers in adopting this approach, how they can once again view their practices as an outlet to feed their souls in the right ways, and what excites her about the broader appreciation and understanding of legal tech and its myriad benefits. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Change is inevitable in the legal profession. Understanding how that change is being managed, and the approaches being adopted to manage such change, is just as, if not more, important as the advent of change itself. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with UNSW senior lecturers Dr Justine Rogers and Dr Felicity Bell (who are the deputy director and research fellow, respectively, for the Law Society of NSW’s Future of Law and Innovation in the Profession (FLIP) research stream) about their recent research, published by Cambridge University Press, into change managers in the law and better understanding the stereotypes we have about those who embrace or are resistant to change. Dr Rogers and Dr Bell detail the interviews they conducted with change managers across the board in Australia's legal profession, the changes being introduced in legal organisations, what we mean by the term “change managers”, the extent to which personality traits impact leadership approaches, what makes a “transformational leader” in law, the need to listen to what change is needed, and much more.   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 [email protected] for more insights!

Megan Comerford has always loved Australian rules football. Now the general manager of legal for the AFL Players Association, she is in a position to wake up, every day, and undertake rewarding legal work. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by AFL Players’ Association general manager of legal Megan Comerford to discuss her career in law to date, the primary focus on collective bargaining for male and female players, being part of a “niche business within a niche industry”, what the daily grind looks like and how such legal work is evolving, with the advent of the AFLW. Ms Comerford also explains the need to cater to the idiosyncratic needs of both male and female players, in conjunction with their varying personal circumstances, the need to be adaptive and flexible with any external circumstances in the sporting world, the importance of knowledge sharing with legal counsel in other sporting codes, and implementing best governance practices to drive Australian sport 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Since she was a little girl, Sally Callander has wanted to be a lawyer. Armed with education and passion for gender equality and women’s roles in law, she has established her own firm in Mudgee, NSW — a move that has endeared her to locals, thanks to her genuine empathy for their concerns and values, together with her advocacy for women. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Sally Callander Law principal solicitor Sally Callander — who is a finalist for Regional/Suburban Lawyer of the Year at the 2022 Australian Law Awards — about her lifelong ambition to become a lawyer, how and why she and her family moved to regional NSW, her background in sociology and gender studies, and what the early days of legal practice in the regions were like. Ms Callander also details her philosophy on women in the workplace, why she runs an all-female law firm, how the regions are changing, the critical approaches needed in adapting to regional expectations, the challenges she foresees for regional and suburban solicitors, and her plans for expansion into other areas of Australia. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.   If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

Following her admission last year, Jemma Barnard has recently been promoted to associate at her firm. Here, she reflects on how to get from A to B and lessons learned in assuming greater responsibility and growing as a legal professional. On this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Travis Schultz & Partners associate Jemma Barnard about her journey from property management to legal studies and then becoming a lawyer, working her way up to associate and what she’s learned in her early days of legal practice. Ms Barnard also discusses being given responsibility for her own file load and management of a paralegal joining her team, the importance of having a good mentor as part of one’s professional development, and what excites her about continuing her journey as a legal professional. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Senator Lidia Thorpe, the first Aboriginal Australian to represent Victoria in the federal Senate, spoke with Lawyers Weekly during the recent Reconciliation Week about what broader Australia can learn from Indigenous legal principles and how existing laws and legislative processes can be alienating for First Nations people. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Senator Thorpe, a DjabWurrung, Gunnai, and Gunditjmara woman representing the Greens in the Federal Parliament, about her personal and political interest in the Indigenous experience in Australia’s legal system, what drives her to advocate for change, and her perception of why there are fewer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lawyers in Australia relative to their numbers across the national population. Senator Thorpe also details how she feels existing laws and processes can be alienating for First Nations people and what impact this can have, the importance of self-determination and whether it can be attained in the near future, the benefits of Indigenous legal principles and how they can be applied in modern Australia, and how best lawyers of all stripes can use their professional standing to push for and enact societal change. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Better managing one’s money isn’t just good practice for general life, says law-graduate-turned-financial-educator Paridhi Jain. The skills developed from effectively staying on top of financials can also, she says, make you a better legal professional. On this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Paridhi Jain, who is the founder of financial education business SkilledSmart, about her own experience at law school and why she would have benefited from having greater knowledge about her financials, how and when she realised that educating others about money was her calling (as opposed to legal practice), and why law students and young lawyers do not worry about their money as much as other demographics. Ms Jain outlines some key lessons that those coming through the ranks in the legal profession must know about managing their money, the attitudes they must be adopting, putting a positive spin on one’s budgeting, overcoming the fear of dealing with one’s budget due to being overextended elsewhere, how much time in the week should be dedicated to money management and how such management will, ultimately, make one a better 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, 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Adele Anthony has, as she put it, “always wanted to be the bride and not the bridesmaid” when it comes to her career. At 45, she decided to get her law degree, and — now, a few years after graduating — is a finalist for the Sole Practitioner of the Year category at the 2022 Australian Law Awards. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes Your Legacy Lawyer principal Adele Anthony — whose firm is also a finalist in the Regional Firm of the Year category at the upcoming Australian Law Awards — to discuss her career and journey before entering law school in her mid-40s, what drove her (personally and professionally) to be a law firm owner, the need to talk about one’s own experiences with clients, and garnering a more holistic perspective on what her clients are experiencing. Ms Anthony also delves into working as flexibly as possible, the extent to which one should compartmentalise, her approach to new and emerging technologies and how she is looking to market her practice, her plans for expansion across the country, and what guidance she would offer about making career shifts later in life. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Recently, “extensive” reforms have come to pass in tackling the far-reaching cyber security risks facing the nation. These reforms, Melissa Tan, will cut across every industry and businesses of all sizes. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Lander & Rogers partner Melissa Tan about how and why she became involved in cyber security as a legal practice area, why the reforms to the Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) Act were brought in and what positive security obligations now exist, and whether lawyers should be viewing these reforms – including the improved ability for government to provide assistance – as a positive or negative development. Ms Tan also discusses how these reforms compare to the situation overseas, whether lawyers working in this space have any reasonable precedents to follow in adhering to new rules, what will constitute best practice for lawyers advising their clients moving forward, how best to be proactive without a road map, and what lawyers have to look forward to in better servicing clients 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, 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 [email protected] for more insights!

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Madison Marcus Law Firm, host Jerome Doraisamy converses with Madison Marcus’ financial services direct lead and partner Perry Hume regarding recent learnings through current developments in the crypto space, why crypto isn’t going anywhere, and how legal practitioners can respond moving forward. Mr Hume delves into the day-to-day of a lawyer practising in the crypto space, the state of affairs in the broader market, whether our definition of cryptocurrency is evolving, his reflections on recent volatility and the consequences of recent fluctuations, and the how and why the crypto world is currently the “Wild West”. He also discusses where Australia is at, where it is heading in terms of regulation, and why practitioners must wrap their heads around the idea that crypto is not going anywhere and that it will permeate across many practice areas. Mr Hume responds to questions about the extent to which firms should invest their efforts in crypto, whether they should accept crypto for services rendered, and what will constitute best practice moving forward amidst the ongoing “digital revolution”. Aligned towards the continued dynamic growth of digital currencies and blockchain technology, Madison Marcus is now accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment. To learn more about the firm and its work, 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 [email protected] for more insights!

For award-winning principal Keith Redenbach, making decisions based on what’s right and just is far more important than being “shackled by political decision making”. Doing the right thing – based on integrity, honesty and transparency – is a much better path towards vocational satisfaction than being bogged down by negative influences, he says. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Redenbach Legal principal Keith Redenbach – who is a finalist in three categories at the upcoming Partner of the Year Awards – to discuss his experiences working in BigLaw firms (here and abroad), the good and bad lessons he took away from that time in his professional life, how those lessons are applicable to now running his own SME firm, as well as the skills that have served him well as a firm leader. Mr Redenbach also dives into the need to make one’s own luck and how to ensure such success, prioritising health and happiness above all else, navigating jealousy if and when it rears its head, avoiding the weeds of politicking, what excites him about legal practice moving forward and why lawyers must focus more on the achievement of justice. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.   If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

Prosecutorial work involves not only the responsibility a practitioner has to clients, but sometimes also the expectations of the community. Aaron Guilfoyle - who led the successful prosecution of Ardent Leisure following the Dreamworld tragedy - understands the need to balance all responsibilities. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by MacDonnells Law special counsel Aaron Guilfoyle (who spent nearly two decades at the Commonwealth DPP, including as an assistant director and principal federal prosecutor) about how and why he got into prosecutorial work, the importance of keeping one's emotions in check with overwhelming subject matter, and reflects on his experiences in the Dreamworld proceedings. Mr Guilfoyle also discusses how to wade through the expectations of clients, victims and community members in order to achieve successful outcomes, creating blueprints for success, looming challenges for prosecutorial employers and how best these can be managed, why he moved to the private sector and his guidance for those interested in prosecutorial 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, 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 [email protected] for more insights!

After stints as a lawyer in the UK and Germany before moving to Australia, Alison Clegg found a home in the oil and gas sector and then in ethics and compliance. Here, she details the foremost considerations for good compliance officers in the new normal.  On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Shell ethics and compliance manager Alison Clegg to discuss what drew her to the oil and gas sector, why ethics and compliance is such a critical cog in the machine of global companies like Shell, how and why she moved away from legal practice and finding positivity in her new vocational pathway. Ms Clegg also delves into what the day to day of a compliance officer looks like, the need to encourage best practice rather than scare colleagues into it, the non-negotiables for someone in her position, the inextricable place of workplace culture in her role and duties, how compliance considerations are trickier in a post-pandemic world given scattered workforces, and whether more lawyers should consider such a pathway. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.   If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

Having joined the bar in the late 1970s, Max Kimber SC has garnered extensive experience in mediation and dispute resolution. Here, he details his top tips for those seeking greater proficiency in mediation, especially against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving professional services landscape. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Sydney-based barrister Max Kimber about his career at the bar, why he sees mediation as being such an important avenue for exploration by lawyers engaged in litigation, and how the mediation landscape has evolved in recent decades. Mr Kimber outlines 10 things that lawyers engaged in such work must know if they are to be proficient in this space moving forward, including, but not limited to, when mediation and ADR processes can and should be used, how to select the right mediator, the need to educate one’s client about the pros and cons of the litigation process and whether counsel should attend mediations. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

As per her firm’s mantra, Kiera Peacock says that the law “should be used as a force for good”. To this end, she has been heavily involved in legal work for and with candidates in the last two federal elections. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Marque Lawyers partner Kiera Peacock about how and why she got involved in legal work pertaining to our electoral processes, what falls under the broad umbrella of such legal work, what the day to day looked like during the recent federal election and who she was working with. Ms Peacock also reflects on the intensity of such legal work in the lead-up to an election, what she has learned about herself both personally and professionally from the election cycle, how other lawyers can be involved in elections work in the future, and why such legal work is so important for the effective functioning of our democracy. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Legal professionals of all stripes are increasingly cognisant of the importance of environmental, social and governance considerations in a successful, modern business. There are a handful of ESG considerations, however, that may be flying under the radar and are in need of greater attention. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Corrs Chambers Westgarth head of responsible business and ESG Phoebe Wynn-Pope to discuss the current, underlying dangers pertaining to ESG and why they are so important to be across, including concerns about lack of integration in businesses, the importance of having a risk-based mindset and how that can and should operate. Ms Wynn-Pope also delves into the extent to which Australian businesses across the board are taking a sufficiently holistic approach to ESG, the stakeholders that must be engaged, the role of the law department in ensuring businesses are adhering to their responsibilities, marketplace shifts to factor into the approach to ESG, and the opportunities that can and do arise from meaningful engagement. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Law firms across the country are currently promoting lawyers to partner. Here, HFW commodities partner Ranjani Sundar reflects on having made partner just over one year ago, what she’s learned and what others must know about being a new partner. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Ms Sundar about life as a commodities lawyer (particularly during the age of coronavirus), how and when she made partner, what she has experienced in the 12 months since becoming a partner, the need for support when stepping into that role and being able to lean into those support systems. Ms Sundar also delves into the importance of having mentors whom you can confide in and trust, being proactive about managing yourself and your workload, the challenges of building a new practice, the need to be adaptable and flexible in what that practice looks like, and her advice for those striving for partnership in a post-pandemic market. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.   If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

Amelia Schubach may be in the early years of her legal career, but that hasn’t stopped her from putting herself forward – and ultimately becoming – the driver for changes to workplace wellness at one of Australia’s biggest law firms. On this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Amelia Schubach (a finalist in the Wellness Advocate category at the 30 Under 30 Awards 2022) about how she has always been conscious of mental health issues, how she – as a junior lawyer – became the person leading wellness initiatives and activities at BigLaw firm Hamilton Locke, the right ways to go about having those conversations with one’s superiors, and the impacts that her work has had at that firm. Ms Schubach also reflects on what she has learned about herself, both personally and professionally, from being a driver of such change, how those coming through the ranks can look to influence their workplaces at a time in which workforces are more scattered post-pandemic, whether emerging leaders in law will be the ones who look to spearhead change and move away from traditional thinking, and what she is looking forward to rolling up her sleeves for as her legal career progresses. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Blumers Personal Injury Lawyers, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Blumers director Noor Blumer (Director | Blumers Personal Injury Lawyers, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Business, Government & Law | University of Canberra) about life in medical negligence law and why it is such an important practice area. Noor details her experiences in “med neg”, including how she entered this practice area, what it involves, its critical importance to broader society, the capacity for vicarious trauma in such work, the need for transparency with lawyers entering this practice area, and how the age of coronavirus has impacted upon the work of lawyers in this space. She also delves into the lessons she has learned, as an expert in this field (both personally and professionally), the extent to which class actions are a feature of med neg law, what constitutes best practice for lawyers in this space, why there is no room for “sloppy” practitioners with such work, and why the impact that such legal work has on the broader health system remains such an exciting prospect moving forward. To learn more about Blumers and its medical negligence work, click here.

In her acceptance speech upon winning the FMCG Lawyer of the Year category at the 2022 Corporate Counsel Awards, Danielle Keyes reflected that there is so much work that goes into rolling a burrito. Here, the GC for Guzman y Gomez unpacks what it takes to succeed as an FMCG in-house lawyer. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Guzman y Gomez general counsel Danielle Keyes to discuss her journey from insolvency litigation in BigLaw firms to working for a major food chain, how she went about adapting to her new and different vocational pathway, and how the age of coronavirus amplified the headline issues and challenges for FMCG business and their law departments. Ms Keyes also reflects on striking the right balance in an often-manic working day, the lessons she has learned about what constitutes success for FMCG legal counsel (and counsel across the board as well), what she has learned about herself as a professional that she may not have discovered had she not entered the FMCG space, and what lawyers in this space have to look forward to 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, 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Following a career in the Australian Navy and then leading the Australian and Canadian arms of a global aerospace and defence conglomerate, Ron Fisher is now serving as principal adviser on defence industry matters for an award-winning NewLaw firm. Here, he discusses why such advisory work is so important for firms and law departments moving forward. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Proximity principal adviser Ron Fisher – who was formerly the president and chief executive of Raytheon Canada and managing director of Raytheon Australia – to discuss his naval career and experience in a major defence technology company, the projects he has worked on in the defence sector and what he learned from those projects, and where defence industry projects may be headed under a new federal government. Mr Fisher also outlines his perception of how legal work in the defence industry space will evolve in the near future, the headline issues and challenges for law firms and in-house teams working in this space, what will constitute best practice for such lawyers, how best firms and departments can advance their proficiencies in defence work, and why defence industry work is such an important and motivating vocational pursuit. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with LexisNexis Legal & Professional, Lawyers Weekly editor Jerome Doraisamy joins a webinar hosted by the global tech provider to reflect on the future of legal drafting. LexisNexis Legal & Professional head of core product (Pacific) Lindsay O’Connor leads a discussion with Mr Doraisamy about how the use of certain tools can help practitioners transform their practices by instantly accessing vast amounts of information online and bolstering their ability to turn said access into actionable insights. Tools like Lexis Create, for example, help practitioners enable context switching, risk mitigation, team collaboration, and much more. The pair also reflect on live polling results coming in from audience participants pertaining to their experiences with legal technological platforms and processes, the broader environmental and professional factors influencing perceptions of legal tech, and what practitioners most need moving forward. To learn more about Lexis Create, 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Charles Cho – the general counsel at NSW Treasury – joins the show to discuss his department’s winning of the Government Team of the Year category at the 2022 Corporate Counsel Awards and why government work is so stimulating. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, Mr Cho speaks with host Jerome Doraisamy about the various projects that his law department has worked on in the past 12 months leading to their eventual award win (including and especially the NSW government’s stimulus package during the peak of COVID-19). Mr Cho reflects on the duties of in-house teams in government departments and having a heightened sense of social responsibility, how government work may evolve for in-house lawyers in the near future, his analogy for the difference between in-house and private practice legal work in navigating client relationships, and makes his pitch to other lawyers to consider working in-house in government, in light of the purposeful and consequential work that can be undertaken. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

In this special episode, produced by Lawyers Weekly’s sister brand, Cyber Security Connect, hosts Phillip Tarrant and Major General (retired) Marcus Thompson speak with Clyde & Co partners Reece Corbett-Wilkins and Avryl Lattin about how cyber has evolved into a legal obligation for businesses and firms. The episode begins with an analysis of the proceedings of the Federal Court against RI Advice, in which ASIC argued that cyber security controls within businesses were fundamental to minimise the threat of data misuse. The guests continue with an analysis of the requirements of financial services reporting in the event of cyber security breaches. Finally, the podcast wraps up with an examination of how businesses can ensure that they are meeting their obligations for data protection. To learn more about Cyber Security Connect, click here.

Water is foundational to life on this planet, and increasingly, we cannot take it for granted. Ensuring access to clean, safe water has been recognised internationally as a basic human right, and here in Australia, we need to start thinking of it as such in how our communities and marketplace move forward. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by University of Canberra Law School senior lecturer Dr Cristy Clark to discuss what is meant by the idea of water being a basic human right, how and when it was recognised as such by the United Nations, when the human right to air may be acknowledged, and the legal implications of recognising water as a human right, particularly against the backdrop of climate concerns. Dr Clark also outlines the state of affairs in Australia in recognising water as a human right, the level of consciousness that Australians have about some of the dire consequences of lack of access to water across the country, what can be done by lawyers and non-lawyers alike, and why this is such an important legal, social and environmental issue for our nation 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 [email protected] for more insights!

The movement away from paper, and acceleration in uptake of technological platforms, is perhaps no more stark than in the conveyancing space. And, there is much more change and excitement still to come. On this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Sympli, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Sympli chief executive Philip Joyce about the state of affairs in the conveyancing landscape in Australia and the acceleration of recent trends, the flow-on benefits from increased marketplace competition, the advent of interoperability and why it is so important, and looming issues and challenges following the passage of recent legislative changes in this space. Mr Joyce also outlines the journey of Sympli as a provider, the need to meaningfully communicate value propositions for practitioners experiencing a high volume of change in their daily practice methodologies, overcoming the potential for “change fatigue”, and what practitioners must be looking out for in the short term so as to grasp the myriad opportunities that lie ahead. To learn more about Sympli, click here.

The notion of “doing more with less” is a foremost consideration for in-house legal teams. For team leaders, ensuring that the health and wellbeing of the department doesn’t fall by the wayside in the process has to be inextricable from such a notion. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by NSW Department of Planning and Environment deputy general counsel of property and commercial Somerset Hoy to discuss the need to be seen as an enabler rather than a roadblock and how this may free up more budget for the legal team, prioritising the health and wellbeing of individual team members when trying to do more with less and whether this is oxymoronic. Ms Hoy also delves into how to ensure that doing more with less whilst catering to wellness is a compatible approach, the need for creative and out-of-the-box thinking, and a reframing of the conversation with other departments in the business, so that the legal team can thrive in the right ways, and also her guidance for law department leaders as to what works and doesn’t work in striking the right balance. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.   If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

Despite being born with total blindness, Amanda Heal has always been determined to make a difference. Here, the lawyer-turned-author and keynote speaker reflects on her journey in law, the challenges faced in practice and why all can be overcome if one has an underlying mission in their life. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Ms Heal about her early life and living with a disability, the struggles she faced in finding work in law, her 17-year stint as a government lawyer, whether those years were formative in helping her find her vocational purpose, and ultimately realising that, deep down, she had always wanted to help and inspire people. Ms Heal discusses the vocational epiphany she had and the steps she took to realise her dreams, the central message she imparts and advocates for, how lawyers can determine if they are living out their true purpose and whether it has to be vocationally driven, what lawyers can take away from her experiences, and if lawyers can and should be striving for more in their lives. 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 [email protected] for more insights!