On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Herbert Smith Freehills’ director of alternative legal services, Hilary Goodier. Tune in to hear Jerome and Ms Goodier discuss what law firms need to do in order to retain the best talent moving forward, necessary adjustments to legal service delivery in a full suite offering, and the various challenges and opportunities abound in establishing NewLaw teams under the umbrella of an already-established firm. 

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Holman Webb partner Tal Williams to talk about electronic signatures.  Tune in to hear Jerome and Mr Williams talk about what e-sigs are, where they are at – jurisprudentially and practically – and the impact on daily legal practice and service delivery for clients in an ever-evolving technological landscape. Plus, we discuss the use of fingerprints and retina scans for contract signings, and how far off we are from such actions in daily legal life.   

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by EAGLEGATE Lawyers principal Nicole Murdoch to discuss the vexed issues surrounding a recent PEXA hack and related cyber security and fraud considerations.   In this episode, Jerome and Ms Murdoch talk about meeting some of the challenges pertaining to protection of client and firm interests from cyber fraud and hacking, and in particular, what we’ve learned from past breaches, and where to from here.   

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by two of his colleagues at Lawyers Weekly’s parent company, Momentum Media: head of editorial and editor of Accountants Daily and SMSF Adviser, Katarina Taurian, and editor of mortgage broking title, The Adviser, Annie Kane.  In this episode, Jerome, Ms Taurian and Ms Kane discuss the prevalence of psychological distress, anxiety, depression and other related ailments in the legal, accounting, SMSF and mortgage broking spaces, the similarities across these professional services realms, and what can be done by the respective industry bodies and individuals within them to address said issues.  www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, brought to you by Practical Law, we dive into the technology space focusing on the adoption of specialised legal technology by in-house legal teams. Lawyers Weekly Director Phil Tarrant is joined by a panel of experts to cover the biggest challenges currently faced by legal departments and the role technology can play as an enabler to deliver a more agile service to their organisations. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Sydney-based barristers Simeon Beckett and Susan Phillips. In this episode, Mr Beckett and Ms Phillips explain why it is so important for the Australian Constitution to acknowledge the First Nations peoples and what change will emerge as a result, why the Bar Associations are so supportive of such a change, and the role of member associations across our national legal profession on sociocultural or political matters. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

We are pleased to bring you a special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, in recognition of R U OK? Day 2018. Jerome Doraisamy is joined by non-executive director of R U OK? and partner at Hall & Wilcox, Kathryn Howard. Jerome and Kathryn discuss why initiatives such as R U OK? Day are so important for lawyers, why open, honest conversations must be had every single day, how best legal institutions and individuals within firms can identify the signs and symptoms of elevated stress and anxiety and take meaningful action. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by non-executive director of Marist180, Claire Bibby, and the founder of SmartWomen Connect, Fiona Craig. Following the launch of our new Corporate Counsel title, we bring to you a discussion of the issues and challenges facing corporate counsel, navigating technological change, evolution in collaborative relationships with BigLaw and boutique firms, necessary upskilling and vocational considerations for all lawyers, young and old.  www.lawyersweekly.com.au

In mid-2010, Bayer introduced a new, permanent contraceptive implant called Essure to the Australian pharmaceutical market. Eight years later, upon hearing reports that hundreds of women across Australia had suffered complications from the device, Slater and Gordon announced it would pursue a class action against Bayer. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Slater and Gordon associate Ebony Birchall to discuss this class action and reveal the outcome that claimants are hoping for. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show – brought to you by Governance Institute of Australia – we reflect on the results of the latest Ethics Index, and in particular, how ethical lawyers in Australia are perceived to be.  Lawyers Weekly journalist Jerome Doraisamy is joined by special guests Catherine Maxwell FGIA (executive manager, policy and advocacy at Governance Institute), Dr Deen Sanders OAM (partner, Deloitte) and Rosemary Sainty FGIA (academic, UTS Business School).  Ethics, and ethical conduct, is fundamentally important in ensuring social and cultural cohesion, not just within our immediate personal and professional communities, but for society as a whole. Find out how lawyers compare to those in other industries, and what can the profession do in response to such findings. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Australian Bar Association president Noel Hutley SC.  The proposed amalgamation of the existing Family Court and the Federal Circuit Court has generated much debate and discussion, with the ABA also weighing in, particularly with relation to the need for public consultation on such a major judicial reform. Noel and Jerome discuss this, and much more, in this episode. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Moores practice leader and self-help author, Catherine Brooks. Flexible working arrangements are becoming more commonplace in professional services realms such as law, and as such, there are more options available than ever before for working parents to undertake both their familial and professional duties. Both employer and employee have responsibilities when it comes to finding arrangements that will not only serve the institution but also cater to holistic wellness for one’s family needs. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Swaab Attorneys partner Michael Byrnes. With the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements starting to reach beyond the realms of popular culture, and into professional services workplaces, Michael and Jerome discuss how there has been a paradigm shift – both in attitudes and actions – to addressing workplace sexual harassment in law, and how far we still have to go. For, as noted in this episode, there may well be Australian law firms with skeletons in their closets. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Piper Alderman partner in the firm’s blockchain and cryptocurrency team, Michael Bacina. Mike and Jerome delve into the ways in which blockchain and cryptocurrency innovations are changing the ways legal clients operate personally and professionally, and how those innovations are then impacting upon the expectations clients have from their law firms. The legal profession, and the regulatory landscape, is still figuring out how to navigate such changes, and Mike shares his thoughts on where Australia is positioned relative to the rest of the world, how legal education and professional service delivery might evolve, and what are some of the looming challenges. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by two board members of Minds Count – formerly the Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation – Australian Bar Association chief executive Cindy Penrose and Canon Oceania chief legal counsel David Field. Ms Penrose, Mr Field and Jerome discuss how far the Australian legal profession has come in raising awareness of mental health issues, how far we still have to go, what are the new issues facing legal professionals, and what is the new direction of Minds Count, with Australia’s peak advocacy organisation for mental health issues in law having recently changed its name after the founders, Marie and George Jepson, stepped down www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by the director of equity and diversity at Western Sydney University, and chair of the Australian Multicultural Council, Dr Sev Ozdowski. Dr Ozdowski and Jerome discuss the upcoming 9th International Conference on Human Rights Education, the importance of continually informing the public of their responsibilities to uphold human rights, whether or not Australia should implement its own bill of rights, and what gives rise to the enactment of such enshrined freedoms. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

In this special episode, The Lawyers Weekly Show is joined by Augusta Ventures managing director Neill Brennan and Herbert Smith Freehills partner Jason Betts for two very different perspectives on the future of class action litigation in Australia and its financial backers. In this episode our guests discuss: - How Australian litigation funding compares internationally - Key reform and regulation debates affecting class actions - Changing business models, fee structures and the impact on the profession - How corporate players are responding to a shifting landscape This episode is brought to you by Augusta Ventures. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by corporate partner at Herbert Smith Freehills, and the winner of the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Excellence Award, as well as the Financial Services Partner of the Year Award. Mr Vrisakis tells Jerome about his family’s history in the legal profession, how he himself got started as a lawyer, and what he thinks younger lawyers coming through the ranks need to do in order to rise to the position of partner themselves. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Melissa Coade is joined by RACS executive director Tanya Jackson-Vaughan. For each day in 2017, more than 40,000 people around the world were forced to flee their homes. Globally, more than 25 million people are refugees and over 50 per cent of them are children. Tanya Jackson-Vaughan leads one of the few community legal centres in Australia helping this group of vulnerable people legally find a new place to belong. Here, she talks about the work of the Refugee Advice & Casework Service (RACS) which assists more than 3,800 refugees each year. Tanya also talks about how hackathons are designing technology-focused solutions to help RACS manage its growing caseload, Australia’s offshore detention of asylum seekers and alternative models for supporting these people in the Australian community. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Melissa Coade is joined by Allens partner David Donnelly. Forecasters say that by the 2050s, Australia’s population will gain an extra 20 million people. According to ABS predictions, the nation could be looking at a population of 45 million in 2056. While a bigger Australia may mean a stronger economy borne from a larger workforce, infrastructure in every major capital city is already overstretched. David explains that if politicians and town-planners do not find an innovative solution for things like roads, rail, schools and hospitals, our reputation as one of the most liveable places in the world could be lost forever. He also talks about Australia’s current social infrastructure deficit and what we can do now to catch up for the future. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show Michael Kearney SC, chair of the NSW Bar Association’s family law committee, talks about the impact of a federal decision to restructure the courts which handle Australia’s family law matters. When the federal government announced in May its decision to overhaul the courts which decide family law disputes, opinions in the legal profession abound. By creating a single court named the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCA), Attorney-General Christian Porter said that up to 8,000 more family law matters would be handled each year. The restructure would take away the stress of moving about 1,200 cases between the courts as currently happens annually, with the suggestion that this would achieve significant cost and time savings. With the start date for the new court looming on the horizon of 2019, Michael Kearney SC (pictured) reminds us that family law is ultimately about people. It is up to all of us to ensure that Australia has a functioning and workable system that puts children and families first. Here, the Sydney barrister, explains how a solution for the complex challenges that Australia’s family law system has come up against for decades must be considered and balanced. There is no silver bullet. Improving the system is about more than saving time and money, Mr Kearney argues, and a court restructure will impact only a limited aspect of the whole system. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by the founder of advocacy and community group SmartWomen Connect, which aims to bring human connection back to business. In this episode, Ms Craig and Jerome discuss the different issues being faced by females in the legal profession, how individuals and institutions can best take action, and the power of networking, mentoring and sharing of experiences in order for women to put their best feet forward for personal and professional success. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Pinsent Masons head of innovation and project delivery for the Asia Pacific region, Alison Laird. In this episode, Ms Laird and Jerome discuss what a culture of innovation refers to, how law firms can inspire innovative thinking in its lawyers and legal staff, the nexus between innovative culture and workplace wellness, and practical ways in which law firms can properly embed an innovative culture in order to be successful moving forward. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Hall & Wilcox special counsel and director of pro bono and community, Nathan Kennedy. Nathan is also the secretary of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, an organisation he is a former president of. Mr Kennedy joins Jerome for a discussion of the various ways in which lawyers in practice can perform pro bono work, why such work is so important – for the community, for law firms and for the individual lawyers themselves – as well as the wellness and development benefits that come from immersing one’s self in pro bono practice. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show president of the Law Society of NSW, Doug Humphreys OAM, explains how we can fix a justice system in crisis and the cost benefits for the state. The president of the Law Society of NSW drops by to share his vision of a better justice system. Doug Humphreys explains how private solicitors in NSW regional areas are propping up the legal assistance sector and the 10-year wage freeze that they have been subjected to. He says that the hybrid framework society relies on to deliver legal assistance is breaking down. According to Mr Humphreys, more money for courts, DPP and Legal Aid will help address an overcrowded prison population in NSW. He argues that the amount needed – about $20 million – is affordable in state government expenditure terms. He also canvasses topics including improving access to justice; a new multi-jurisdictional court complex for Macarthur; and solicitor appointments to the bench. Urgent change across the board needs to happen now, and Mr Humphreys offers some workable solutions for the NSW government to adopt. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show — brought to you by InfoTrack and LEAP — we reflect on the rise of RegTech in the legal profession. Lawyers Weekly managing editor Aleks Vickovich is joined by InfoTrack CEO John Ahern, LEAP CEO Brendan Smart, Speirs Ryan partner James Ryan and Mitry Lawyers co-founder and partner Richard Mitry to discuss what it means for law firms moving forward. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Melissa Coade is joined by employment lawyers James Mattson and Ryan Murphy from Bartier Perry. The national shame in Australia was palpable when a cheating plot involving three Aussie batsmen unravelled on the international stage during the Third Test in South Africa. Cameron Bancroft was busted on the playing field, with television footage capturing his attempts to tamper a cricket ball with sandpaper in March this year. Cricket Australia quickly moved to investigate the incident, resulting in swift disciplinary action against the junior player, along with suspensions for former skipper Steve Smith and Vice-captain Dave Warner. The three were also charged with bringing the game into disrepute. Here, employment lawyers James Mattson and Ryan Murphy talk about how reasonable the penalties against disgraced cricket trio were. They also unpack broader themes raised by the scandal, to show what employers can take away from how Cricket Australia handled the Cape Town Plot in times of crisis. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show – brought to you by Thomson Reuters Australia – we reflect on LGBTQI inclusion, diversity and advocacy. Lawyers Weekly managing editor Aleks Vickovich is joined by special guest The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG, Shelley Mulhern, co-chair & Timothy Pollard, member of the Pride @ Work Committee at Thomson Reuters Australia; and Timothy Pollard, member of the Pride @ Work Committee at Thomson Reuters to discuss the history of LGBTQI rights, the road ahead and the legal profession’s role in supporting diversity and inclusion. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Melissa Coade is joined by UNSW Sydney Associate Professor Lyria Bennet Moses, director of the Allens Hub for Technology, Law and Innovation. When a self-described bio-hacker was brought before a local court in NSW for fare evasion because he was unable to produce a card to transit officers, the magistrate found that Meow-Ludo Disco Gamma Meow-Meow’s implanted Opal chip was not a valid ticket. Slapped with a fine and no record of conviction, Mr Meow-Meow later told SBS in an interview that he believed this was one of the first times the law had to grapple with rights of cyborgs and implantees. A/Prof Moses (pictured) discusses the case of Mr Meow-Meow’s (formerly Stuart McKellar), and where it fits in the bigger picture of her research about how laws should be framed in a world of rapidly changing technology. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Clayton Utz special counsel, and multiple Lawyers Weekly award winner, Jennifer Harris. Ms Harris joined Jerome to discuss the importance of mentoring relationships, both in the personal and professional realms, and how engaging a mentor – or being a mentor yourself – is crucial for your development as a lawyer. She also shared some stories from the trenches, and how mentoring helped on her own path! www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Jerome Doraisamy is joined by acting CEO of McCarthyFinch, and former chief digital officer at MinterEllisonRuddWatts, Nick Whitehouse. Mr Whitehouse joined Jerome on his recent trip across the Ditch from Auckland, NZ, to discuss the state of legal tech, where we’re at as a profession and what exciting innovations and opportunities are on the horizon. One topic of conversation was the team of lawyers and developers at McCarthyFinch who have been collaborating on building an AI engine based on legal inputs. Don’t miss this fascinating and insightful commentary from a leader in the law tech space!

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Tom Lodewyke is joined by accredited family law specialist and founder of Hetherington Legal Jennifer Hetherington. Ms Hethington joined Tom on her most recent trip to Sydney, discussing her Queensland-headquartered firm’s different approach to family law matters. The recipient of the Sole Practitioner of the Year Award for two of Lawyers Weekly’s award programs, Ms Hetherington shares the secrets to her success and how she manages to juggle work and family life in an increasingly competitive marketplace. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Tom Lodewyke is joined by Momentum Media’s head of operations, Lawrence Lau. Lawrence was recently admitted to practise law in NSW and made a special appearance on the podcast to discuss his journey as a mature-age law student. He talks about the passion for law that got him through many late nights of studying, explains what the qualification will add to his work at Momentum Media, and much more.

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Tom Lodewyke is joined by Holman Webb CEO Greg Malakou and chief marketing and corporate relations officer Adriana Giometti. Mr Malakou and Ms Giometti discuss the ins and outs of Holman Webb, proving why this firm has nabbed a spot as one of the top insurance teams in Australia. They also share how breaking down the hierarchy of traditional law firms can pay off in spades.

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Tom Lodewyke is joined by in-house lawyer and makeup artist Katie Edwards. Katie explains how she manages two very different roles, as well as what inspired her to pursue careers in both law and beauty. She also discusses her transition from private practice lawyer to in-house counsel, as well as the importance of thought leadership for the modern lawyer. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Tom Lodewyke is joined by Seniors Rights Service CEO Russell Westacott. Russell explores the legal issues that the organisation assists elderly people with, including financial abuse, living arrangements and abuse in aged care facilities. He also discusses why elder abuse can often go undetected, particularly within families, and delves into the Australian Law Reform Commission’s recent inquiry into the issue. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Melissa Coade is joined by Kit Burden, technology global co-head at DLA Piper. Kit shares insights from DLA Piper’s latest TechLaw series, which focused on how lawyers can help their clients survive and thrive in the face of technological disruption. He also discusses the skills that the lawyer of tomorrow will require, and reflects on the importance of imagination in driving change. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, publisher William Magee is joined by Relativity’s Stuart Hall and Sky Discovery directors Nathan Wigginton and AJ Hind. Recorded at the 2017 multinational mega-conference ‘Fest’, our guests discuss the impact of e-discovery technology has on different tiers of the legal market, as well as customising solutions for in-house lawyers. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Tom Lodewyke is joined by JustKapital general manager Anthony Hersch. Anthony delves into the emerging area of disbursement funding, including how it can provide working capital to help SME law firms grow without worrying about cash flow. He also explores the growing awareness of the solution in Australia, as well as the difference between litigation funding and disbursement funding. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Tom Lodewyke is joined by LexisNexis Australia general manager Simon Wilkins. Simon discusses the impact of data analytics in the legal profession, including its capacity to boost efficiency and help lawyers deliver more insightful client service. He also explores lawyers' privacy and security concerns with AI and big data technologies, and offers his thoughts on the future of smart technologies in the law. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Tom Lodewyke is joined by taLaw founder and managing director Stephen Foley. Stephen introduces taLaw’s new online offering BarristerSELECT, which uses the knowledge of barristers’ clerks to help solicitors find the most suitable barristers for their briefs. He also discusses the adoption of technology at the bar, and how BarristerSELECT supports equitable briefing.

This special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show was recorded at Relativity Fest 2017 in Chicago. Lawyers Weekly publisher Will Magee is joined by KordaMentha executive director Craig Macaulay and director Grant Whiteley to discuss the emerging use of technology-assisted review (TAR) in discovery. They explore the adoption of TAR, which has great time-saving potential for lawyers but challenges traditional perceptions of how discovery should be undertaken, as well as discussing the future of artificial intelligence in the Australian legal profession. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Tom Lodewyke is joined by Clifford Chance counsel Alastair Gourlay. Alastair explores his reasons for leaving and returning to Clifford Chance, and how lawyers can make a successful transition back into a firm they’ve left. He also discusses his work as a banking and finance specialist, which has led him around the world from London to São Paulo and eventually Sydney. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

This special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show was recorded at Relativity Fest 2017 in Chicago, in partnership with Relativity. Lawyers Weekly publisher Will Magee and editor Emma Ryan are joined by Relativity COO Nick Robertson, vice-president of international Steve Couling and Asia-Pacific team lead Stuart Hall. They discuss the what the development of e-discovery technology has meant for lawyers, as well as the emergence of the multinational mega-conference that is ‘Fest’. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Tom Lodewyke is joined by Herbert Smith Freehills senior associate Rupert Baker. Rupert was a winner in the projects, energy and resources category in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 earlier this year. He discusses his practice in Australia’s burgeoning renewables sector and his experiences during a recent secondment in Japan. He also shares some sage advice for young lawyers – and an impromptu Japanese lesson.

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Tom Lodewyke is joined by Natasha Toholka, a partner at Hall & Wilcox and the head of the firm’s diversity and inclusion committee. Natasha discusses her role as a leader in diversity and inclusion, and how Hall & Wilcox has addressed the challenge of maintaining gender diversity during a period of rapid growth. She also explores the firm’s participation in an unconscious bias program run by the Victorian government, aiming to analyse the impact of unconscious bias in the hiring process. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Melissa Coade is joined by The Chaser’s Julian Morrow. Julian explores the origins of The Chaser, his brief stint as an industrial relations lawyer and his latest project for legal practitioners. He also shares his thoughts on lawyers’ other skills, the role of satire in democracy and the logistics of protecting freedom of speech in Australian law. www.lawyersweekly.com.au

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Tom Lodewyke is joined by Ross Mackay, a solicitor at the NSW branch of the Environmental Defenders Office. Ross reveals the reason behind his unusual facial hair, as well as discussing the work of the EDO and the various roles lawyers play in protecting the environment. He also reflects on the growing concern over climate change among businesses and their shareholders, including the recent case against the Commonwealth Bank. NB: Ross Mackay has since left the EDO. www.lawyersweekly.com.au