Some lawyers feel that in-office collaboration will be best for team collegiality and productivity, while others want to lean more heavily into using technology and work-from-home arrangements to best serve clients and businesses. Striking the right balance between competing interests is a challenge that leaders in law firms and in-house teams will likely be grappling with for some time. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Mills Oakley partner Dalvin Chien about the quandary of getting lawyers back to the office (or not), the advantages of using new and emerging technologies to work in more modern ways, the broad benefits of working face to face with one’s colleagues, whether the law facilitates or prohibits such ways of working, and how leaders in law can be informing themselves about what might work best for their teams’ idiosyncratic needs. Mr Chien also discusses an informal survey he conducted recently to gauge market sentiment about what legal work can or should be done remotely versus in the office, and the impacts of the location of the undertaking of such work, as well as his real-life experiences, observations and practical tips about what constitutes the right balance. 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 the current climate, effective management of the holistic wellness of litigation teams is going to be paramount – doing so will require encouragement of organic community, as well as drawing lessons from unexpected places, such as team sports. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back award-winning litigator Matthew Littlejohn to discuss moving from Darwin (where he practised as a barrister) to Melbourne to manage the litigation team in Victoria’s Office of the General Counsel, what teams like his do and the challenges facing such teams in the current climate, balancing proactive and reactive issues, and interpreting lessons from different Australian jurisdictions in practising law. Mr Littlejohn also delves into the role and duties of litigation team leaders in 2024, the ever-increasing importance of managing staff wellbeing and why this is so pertinent in litigation, safeguarding against social isolation when staff are working from home, encouraging staff collaboration and communication and why it needs to be organic, his foray into competitive rugby with the Melbourne Chargers and how it helps him be a better person and lawyer, leadership lessons he’s taken from the rugby field, and what other litigation team leaders can learn from the experience of rugby players. 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!

To deliver effective legal services, lawyers need to be able to recognise and respond to their clients’ trauma and take a more informed view of their clients’ broader experiences. Here, we unpack how this can be done and why it is so essential. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Legal Aid NSW manager Jennifer Chen and lived experience advocate Rachel Thomas about what trauma-informed lawyering is, the introduction of a toolkit from the federal Attorney-General’s Department and what it hopes to achieve, and the emergence of such an approach to legal services domestically and abroad. The trio also discuss the impact that a trauma-informed approach from a lawyer can have on clients in need, why it is so important (from a client perspective) for a lawyer to be trauma-informed, the potential consequences (for clients and court processes) if lawyers are not adequately trauma-informed, adhering to one’s duties to clients and the court, overcoming scepticism about such an approach, and how best lawyers can better educate themselves on new ways of delivering legal services. 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 Leo Cussen Centre for Law, we explore the rapidly evolving professional services landscape and how today’s students, grads and juniors can bolster their arsenals to succeed in the future. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Flinders Law School dean Tania Leiman and Leo Cussen Mentor and Justice Lab convenor, Bianca Paterson to discuss the importance of new skills in the post-pandemic market, the headline trends for emerging practitioners to be on top of, the place of tech and innovation in the legal profession, using one’s legal qualifications in a diverse range of vocational avenues, and what education institutions like Leo Cussen are doing to ensure tomorrow’s lawyers are fit for purpose. The trio also discuss empowering emerging practitioners to craft their own career pathways, needed mindset shifts, the myriad challenges that younger professionals are currently grappling with (including the cost of living), what it means to thrive in the modern world, what those coming through the ranks can be demanding from education providers, and what the next generation has to look forward to. To learn more about Leo Cussen, click here. To learn more about Leo Cussen’s collaboration with Flinders University, 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!

Coming into 2024, award-nominated GC Teresa Allan is motivated to ensure optimal levels of resilience and connection across her law department. Doing so, she submits, will put the team in the best possible position to succeed in the current climate. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Capgemini vice-president, general counsel and ethics and compliance officer Teresa Allan about the importance of exploring how to set up one’s law department to succeed in the new year, various personal setbacks she experienced in 2023, the lessons she learnt from trying times, why having transparent conversations with one’s team is as important as ever, and the need for resilience and reconnection. Ms Allan also delves into the holistic hurdles that might be getting in the way of optimal resilience and positive reconnection within one’s law department, how to navigate sustainability issues and balance team management against constant firefighting, segmenting team members to undertake proactive or reactive tasks, tackling the projects that a department can reasonably manage, what her definition for success in 2024 is, and what motivates her to achieve it. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X (formerly 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 Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) recent decision to hold the cash rate at 4.35 per cent will have significant implications for investors. In this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, host Phil Tarrant chats with Finni Mortgages CEO Paul Glossop about why the RBA’s latest interest rate decision comes at a turning point in the nation’s financial landscape. The duo discuss how lowering inflation and stabilising cash rates could lead to a “trust jail” for investors whose banks refuse to reprice in line with rate reductions. The episode also reveals the far-reaching consequences of the current government policy, which may disincentivise investment in the long term. 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 Settify, we explore the circumstances that have led to an increase in family separations and inquiries to practitioners and how best those professionals can ensure optimal client service delivery moving forward. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Settify global chief executive Paul Psaltis to discuss the seasonal nature of increased separations and subsequent inquiries and how the current climate is perpetuating such a spike, the implications for the market and practitioners alike, the existence of a “perfect storm” in this practice area (including more acrimonious separations), and the need to find new and more creative ways to engage as a practitioner. The pair also reflect on the questions that lawyers in this space should be asking of themselves and their practices, undergoing a mindset and practical shift in one’s daily operations, overcoming key hurdles that impede business development, making necessary investments in one’s practice, and the opportunities that can and will flow from the utilisation of the right technologies and platforms. To learn more about Settify, click here.

Next week, the Reserve Bank of Australia will make its first cash rate decision for the year. With inflation dropping, there is much that legal professionals looking to purchase property or expand their existing portfolios need to be across – particularly to avoid missing out. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Legal Home Loans director of sales Cullen Haynes and lending manager Rachael Massoud to discuss the current state of affairs in the market, how lawyers can interpret the recent lowering of inflation, the likelihood that the Reserve Bank will keep the cash rate as is to start the new year, and how lenders are reacting to next week’s RBA decision. The trio also discuss the incoming fixed-rate expiry cliff and how to ensure you are prepared, why getting pre-approval in place sooner rather than later will be critical for lawyers in the coming months, the serviceability factors that lawyers should be across, and the myriad benefits afforded to lawyers and legal businesses both through Legal Home Loans and when it comes to borrowing capacity (regardless of the size of one’s property portfolio). 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 engaging in a transformation project to optimise the law department’s work, there are myriad lessons to be learnt to ensure that such a project is as successful as possible. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with NCC Group head of legal (APAC) and head of data governance Elizabeth Duncan-Lee about working in a cyber security business and helping build a safer world, what it means to undertake a transformation project and what she and her team are currently working on, optimising daily operations, and the questions to be asked in getting started on such projects. Ms Duncan-Lee also delves into the practical steps to be taken in the implementation of transformation projects, how best to carve out time for the law department’s other duties (including firefighting) while undertaking a transformation project and striking the right balance between competing priorities, how often to evaluate a project’s success and direction, knowing when the team can be confident in an outcome and how long to allow for a new approach to work, and lessons learnt from engaging in such transformative processes. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X (formerly 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 the current climate, utilisation of new technologies is not about “sprinkling magic AI dust” on one’s existing practice – it’s about identifying efficiencies for clients whose expectations and demands are shifting with the times and making one’s firm fit for purpose, at a time in which competition is as fierce as ever. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Stirling and Rose managing partner James Myint to discuss the value and meaning he derives from specialising in technology, having skin in the game in advising clients on tech advancements that his firm also looks at, the sister company his firm is launching, the need for smaller legal practices to invest in having multiple arms to the broader business, and how and why striving for efficiencies across the board is so essential for firms. Mr Myint also delves into the headline takeaways and implications from the tech evolution in recent times for law firms big and small, how practice methodology is shifting or being reinforced in the current climate, what it means to be competitive and what a law firm can and should look like in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), why the duty to be efficient has to underpin a firm’s response to all market challenges, and the questions that firms must be asking of themselves. 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!

Given its transient population and also environmental and cultural diversity, practising in the Northern Territory offers a vocational experience unlike most, if not all, Australian jurisdictions. There are also idiosyncratic challenges to navigate, meaning creative business approaches are key, with myriad lessons to be learnt for SME firm owners. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with AFL Withnalls head of family law in Darwin, Vanessa Farmer, about why family law is a meaningful vocational pathway for her, life in the Northern Territory and why it’s professionally rewarding but also challenging, and its unique environmental and idiosyncratic factors for Australian lawyers. Ms Farmer also reflects on her 25-year career in practice to date, the hurdles currently being faced for practitioners in the NT and implications for sole practitioners, thinking creatively to attract and retain staff now that she is part of a national entity, collaboration with like-minded practitioners, trends to look out for this year, adhering to strict parameters for one’s working day, and the need for emerging leaders to both back themselves and pay attention to detail. 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!

A few months ago, the Federal Court found in favour of five former students of a Melbourne-based school who had alleged anti-Semitic bullying and harassment, with the quintet being awarded substantial damages by the state of Victoria. Here, one of the partners involved in the proceedings unpacks the case and its broader implications. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes Cornwalls partner Richard Hutchings to talk about the case of Kaplan v State of Victoria (No 8) [2023] FCA 1092, the headline takeaways and findings from the proceedings, how he and his firm came to be involved in the matter, the significance of an apology being delivered, and why the proceedings are so important in the current climate. Mr Hutchings also reflects on whether we may now see further such proceedings being brought across Australian jurisdictions, whether our laws are currently fit for purpose in navigating such discrimination issues, how and why law firms of all stripes should be more willing to take on these kinds of matters on a pro bono basis, lessons for such firms coming out of these proceedings, how his team navigated evolving court processes, and his interest in human rights law more broadly. 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 students – especially those unsure about what they want from their careers – should proactively seek as much diverse experience as they can. As Hayden McLoughlin has discovered from working in-house, one will be much better placed from having taken up such opportunities. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with NIOA Group paralegal and QUT law student Hayden McLoughlin about being open to new ideas and pathways as one progresses while studying, how he “fell into” an in-house role as a student, whether in-house work is undersold to students as a vocational pathway, and what his duties look like in his current role. Mr McLoughlin also reflects on the capacity for students to become better-rounded graduates if they engage in in-house work, the benefits he has gleaned, challenges he has faced and overcome, how undertaking a summer clerkship has complemented his in-house experience, why law students need to seek as broad a remit of experience as they can, questions one should ask of one’s self, and why students must go out and seek value. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X (formerly 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!

Reflecting on the biggest challenges facing SME firm owners in Western Australia, Nicola Watts says that leaders have to be consistently engaging with their staff to not only attract and retain top talent but also to better understand and appreciate evolving attitudes to career trajectory for those coming through the ranks. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with O’Sullivan Davies principal Nicola Watts on practising family law in different Australian jurisdictions and navigating the idiosyncrasies, the opportunities to tailor one’s practice that emerge from such differences, the headline issues and challenges she’s seeing for practitioners out west, and why these are so significant. Ms Watts also reflects on hurdles being faced regarding talent attraction and retention, the need for shifting mindsets from business owners, engaging in regular conversations with staff about what changes are needed, practice-specific challenges she’s anticipating in 2024, doing one’s best to keep ahead of market trends, opportunities for business owners in the new year, and why firms cannot simply rely on their reputations amid changing vocational attitudes. 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 Corporate Counsel Show, produced in partnership with Axiom, we unpack the provider’s recent research into the unsustainably onerous burdens placed upon general counsel, the flow-on consequences from such workloads, and what needs to change moving forward. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Axiom chief commercial officer David Pierce about the provider’s recently conducted GC Survey and its concerning findings about the volume of work against the backdrop of lower budgets, hiring freezes and inadequate resourcing, the on-the-ground experience of general counsel in the current climate, whether the reputation of in-house roles as being better for work/life balance stacks up, and what Mr Pierce sees as being the most urgent issues to be addressed for law department leaders. The pair also reflect on the sustainability of in-house roles in their current forms, flow-on consequences for law department leaders if urgent issues are not suitably addressed, the potential for self-fulfilling prophecies to come to fruition, efforts being made in-house to navigate issues faced, making life for those in-house easier, and Mr Pierce’s optimism that such issues can be overcome. To learn more about Axiom, 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!

Disenchanted with adversarial processes that she felt weren’t serving clients, Anne-Marie Cade sought and discovered a new approach in parenting coordination. Speaking to Lawyers Weekly following a Churchill Fellowship on the subject (which saw her visit 16 global cities to explore such practices), she unpacks why parenting coordination is so essential in family law matters in Australia moving forward. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Ms Cade, an accredited mediator, lawyer, and parenting coordinator, about how she got a Churchill Fellowhip, what parenting coordination is and why she sees it as being so important, her global research into the implementation of such an approach in family law matters, what Australia can learn from overseas examples, and the receptiveness of Australian practitioners to parenting coordination. Ms Cade also reflects on the need for such an approach in the Australian market at present, what jurisdictions here should avoid from global counterparts, her predictions for the uptake of parenting coordination in Australia by year’s end, challenges she foresees to its success and popularity as an approach, and what excites her about her work in this space moving forward.

Mariah Saad wears multiple professional hats: she is both a graduate trademark lawyer and founder of a loungewear fashion brand, LONELY IS MY HAPPY. Pursuing both pathways, she says, makes her a better and more rounded professional. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with LegalVision graduate Mariah Saad about her work with the fast-growing NewLaw firm, her lifelong interest in fashion, how and why she founded LONELY IS MY HAPPY during the COVID-19 pandemic, and being deliberate with her marketing and branding about empowerment and confidence as it pertains to wearing loungewear. Ms Saad also reflects on wanting people to talk more about their mental health struggles and having her label champion such conversations, how law students and young lawyers have responded to her label, how her legal employer has embraced her work, how she manages her time and the juggle, what she has learnt in the course of being a business owner and young lawyer simultaneously, what advice she has for emerging legal professionals about broadening one’s skill set, and why they should be unafraid to pursue their passions. 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 some pockets of the legal profession, the notion of wellbeing has arguably been embraced as a marketing tool for talent. With worldwide rates of psychological distress having been exacerbated in the wake of COVID-19, legal employers need to consider stripping things back to basics to ensure meaningful, substantive approaches to supporting staff. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with FCW managing principal Andrew Douglas and Wellceum founder and chief executive Desi Vlahos about the “significant damage being done to young people”, the emerging realisation that responsibility for wellness doesn’t fall just on an individual, the exacerbation of mental health issues in recent years, and the proactive and reactive steps that employers must take if they are to properly engage with this issue. The trio also reflect on regulatory action in prosecuting employers over psychosocial hazards, the need for employers to see themselves as having positive duties to manage staff wellness, where Australian workplaces currently sit relative to global counterparts, overcoming longstanding and ingrained practices in Australian legal workplaces, why firms may not be making as much progress on wellness as they are on matters such as artificial intelligence, and what constitutes good governance. 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 the wake of substantial change to the landscape, practitioners are having to undergo shifts in their mindset and approach, including in the charging of costs to clients in a cost-of-living crisis. Such change is giving rise to a need for practitioners to revamp and expand their operations, argues one partner. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Norton Law Group partner Gabriella Pomare to discuss the evolution of the dispute resolution landscape for family lawyers in recent times and the challenges that have emerged as a result, shifting client expectations and demands, and the need to keep costs down. Ms Pomare also delves into various avenues of resolution, including family therapy and parenting coordination, balancing the need to retain clients versus keep one’s business afloat (particularly against the backdrop of high inflation and the cost-of-living crisis), the need to explore new and better ways of operating and practising, knowing how and where to start on such a journey, staying relevant in 2024, and what such practitioners have to look forward to in the new year. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, 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!

One year ago, Jarrod Kenney founded his own law firm – while still working full-time in a separate role. Here, he reflects on the myriad challenges involved with starting a legal practice as a concurrent career, setting parameters defining a competitive edge, and what he’s learnt both about himself and the experience of practitioners along the way.    In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Kenney Legal principal Jarrod Kenney to discuss the challenges of entering the legal profession while also working in a separate full-time career, having clear parameters of one’s expectations of one’s self and thus managing client expectations, navigating the myriad challenges of starting a new business while working elsewhere, and what he has learnt from that experience.    Mr Kenney also delves into navigating conversations with clients about capacity, establishing a competitive difference given his different operating hours, staying on top of market changes and evolutions, and what his unique experience of starting a law firm while also working in another job has taught him about what constitutes success for boutique practitioners. 

In this special episode, brought to you by Lawyers Weekly’s sister brand, HR Leader, leadership expert and author Margot Faraci discusses the concept of “love leadership” and how harnessing this can help better leadership. Trust is a crucial aspect of this, she says, and those who incorporate it into practice can help to build better relationships with employees. Ms Faraci also discusses the power shift in the job market, with employees having more say in their working arrangements. She advocates for a more consultative leadership style that balances consultation with decisive decision making and empathy with results-driven performance. Another area delved into was psychological safety and its impact on performance. Ms Faraci suggests that leaders should focus on building a culture of psychological safety. By choosing capable team members and fostering trust within the team, leaders can drive sustainable performance. 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, brought to you by Lawyers Weekly’s sister brand, HR Leader, money and wellness coach Marc Bineham joins to give his expertise in the often-overlooked area of wellness: financial wellbeing. In the current economic climate, financial stress plays a key influence on workplace wellbeing. Interest rates, inflation, and a rising cost of living have taken their toll on the population, prompting the need for intervention. This stress doesn’t just negatively affect the individual; it can translate into a staggering loss of productivity for organisations and the wider economy. Businesses can assist their employees by implementing financial wellness policies. Mr Bineham touches on the stigma surrounding money discussions and how people are more comfortable sharing personal life details than their financial status, a cultural trait that hinders open conversations about financial health. He advocates for a cultural shift, similar to campaigns encouraging open discussions about mental health, to normalise financial wellbeing discussions. 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!

Fiona Wong initially studied medical science but ultimately became a migration lawyer – and is now an award-winning practitioner in that space. Here, she discusses the state of affairs for practitioners in this space coming into the new year. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Gilton Valeo executive director and partner Fiona Wong (who won the migration category at the 2023 Partner of the Year Awards) about how and why she became a migration lawyer, what she finds so stimulating about this practice area, the state of affairs for practitioners in this space, and whether now is the most difficult it has ever been for such lawyers. Ms Wong also reflects on striking the right balance between proactivity and reactivity in how one interprets what’s going on in the world and thus advising clients, evolving client demands and expectations, how lawyers in this space can keep their heads above water, what constitutes best practice for those working in this space, and her advice for those coming through the ranks in migration law. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

In the wake of the global pandemic, retail leasing law has seen a shift in the balance of power, with more creative and complex agreements now being negotiated. Here, a partner with over two decades of experience unpacks these changes and more. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Bartier Perry partner Andrew Grima about why legal work in retail leasing has been so stimulating for him across his career, the state of affairs in this space over the past year and the perfect storm that has emerged, the need for more creativity amid greater complexity in agreements, and the solutions that have been required. Mr Grima also delves into whether solutions can be applied broadly or if all matters must be taken on a case-by-case basis, legislative changes that are influencing negotiations, managing clients’ idiosyncratic needs as well as practitioners’ needs, what lawyers in other practice areas can take away from the recent experience of lawyers in retail leasing, and how best to liaise with in-house legal teams 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!

Mary-Ann de Mestre has created a dual vocational pathway for herself as both a legal academic and law firm owner. It’s a journey she strongly feels others can replicate, in ways that make sense to them, if they are proactive, self-aware and on top of their schedules. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Macquarie University academic and M de Mestre Lawyers founder Mary-Ann de Mestre to discuss managing the juggle between academic and firm-owner life, why having two different (but complementary vocational pathways) is so meaningful for her, what she’s hoping to achieve with her newly launched firm, and taking a more modern approach to boutique practice. Ms de Mestre also details seeing legal education as part and parcel of her mindset as a small-business owner, how her practice aids her academic approach, how to wear multiple hats at once, creating a meaningful career journey for one’s self, how those coming through the ranks can build the best career possible for themselves, asking the right questions of one’s self, and redefining what a legal career can look like. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, 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!

Team management, and ensuring the law department can perform in small, agile workplaces, is at the top of Luana Melis’ priority list as a leader. Creating such productive environments takes time, she says, and requires meaningful reflection on processes and a focus on softer skills, among other key approaches. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Time & Place general counsel and company secretary Luana Melis to discuss the tough market conditions faced by the property and construction sectors in recent years, how and why team management is the highest of priorities for her, determining best practice for managing teams, and the importance of agility in identifying pathways forward. Ms Melis also reflects on what high performance means for her in the context of an in-house legal team, balancing the legal team’s efforts against the performance of other business functions, the need for mindset shifts, practical ways to achieve and maintain high performance, lessons learnt along the way, marrying up the importance of sustainability with performance, and recalibrating the idea of high performance amid changing market conditions. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

The positive duty to eliminate sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct came into effect earlier this week. Here, we unpack what best practice should look like for employers and how to demand better from multiple stakeholders – especially in a climate where prevention lags behind other business priorities. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Elevate Consulting Partners founder Prabha Nandagopal to discuss the need for institutions to better protect individuals from various forms of misconduct and ensure such behaviour gets stamped out, the newly enforceable positive duty to eliminate sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct, how ready employers are for such enforcement, and how misconduct may have evolved since the age of the pandemic. Ms Nandagopal also delves into the seven standards that employers need to be across, who needs to be taking responsibility in organisations moving forward, the extent to which individuals can and should be demanding change, how clients can demand better from their external providers and vice versa, and how and why those in businesses of all shapes and sizes can ensure that such duties do not get lost in the triage of urgent priorities in the current 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, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

There is a strong nexus between being a good black-letter lawyer and being a trusted business adviser. For Heela Arsala, this means understanding and learning from internal stakeholders so as to ensure alignment between what is being negotiated and drafted and optimal business outcomes. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Buchan general counsel Heela Arsala (who was a finalist in the GC of the Year category at the 2023 Women in Law Awards) to discuss what it’s like working as an in-house lawyer for an architectural firm and her reflections on such work in recent years amid the global pandemic, why authenticity is so critical in drafting contracts for one’s business, especially when it comes to urgent priorities such as environmental, social and governance considerations. Ms Arsala also delves into the need to retain and make time for the black-letter legal skills to best support one’s business, why being a good lawyer makes one a good business adviser, bringing other business units along for the ride in negotiating contractual clauses, having broader awareness of corporate behaviour, and looking ahead to growth phases and how to support one’s business through such a transition. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

Every transaction is unique in its own way, and therefore particular attention must be paid to anything one drafts, Despina Priala stresses. In an evolving landscape – namely the commencement of the Unfair Contract Terms regime – lawyers must take particular care in how they’re servicing clients and their individual needs, starting with being a good listener. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Priala Legal director and legal practitioner Despina Priala to discuss why care in the drafting of contracts is more important than ever in the current climate, whether artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in the drafting of contracts, and the commencement of the Unfair Contract Terms regime and its implications for the practitioners. Ms Priala also reflects on whether getting back to basics in contract drafting is required, whether there are particular questions that practitioners must be asking of their clients, why being a good listener remains so essential, creating time for the fundamentals of being a boutique firm owner, and ensuring the best advice possible in idiosyncratic circumstances for clients. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

Patrick Dawson is passionate about promoting the profession in regional and rural areas. With a fast-growing practice in NSW, he has been able to diversify and upskill across multiple areas and be a more flexible practitioner for those on the ground who rely on their lawyers. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Patrick Dawson Law founder and principal Patrick Dawson to discuss his practice’s rapid growth since inception, the motivations for launching a practice in the regions, reflections on the challenges faced, enabling a new business to thrive, and appreciating how personal professional services can be for one’s clients. Mr Dawson also delves into tailoring a business to suit the needs of the surrounding environment, how best one can go about this as a business leader, the state of play for regional practitioners at present and emerging trends, the importance of advocacy for those in the regions, and the experience of regional practitioners moving forward. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

Lawyers are privileged to have a voice, Joanne van der Plaat says, and therefore have a duty to roll up their sleeves and listen to those whose voices don’t get heard. Having recently served as president of the Law Society of NSW, she is now turning her sights to the federal seat of Eden-Monaro, having been preselected by the Liberal Party to contest the next election. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with the Law Society of NSW’s immediate past president, Joanne van der Plaat, about her legal career to date, why issues pertaining to regional practitioners and business issues are so critically important, the big takeaways from her time as president of a major legal member association, and lessons she’s learnt about the state of play for NSW-based lawyers. Ms van der Plaat also reflects on how she came to nominate for preselection for Eden-Monaro (a federal electorate close to Canberra), why she’s standing for the Liberal Party, what she hopes to bring both to her community and the Parliament if elected, why lawyers are well placed to address ongoing community concerns, how and why she’s a better lawyer for having served others, and why other lawyers should better utilise their unique skill sets for community service. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with the College of Law, we unpack how practitioners can and should view generative artificial intelligence at this juncture, what to look out for in the new year, and what will constitute best practice moving forward. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Centre for Legal Innovation (CLI) executive director Terri Mottershead and Gilbert + Tobin chief knowledge and innovation officer and partner Caryn Sandler to discuss the key takeaways from the recent Legal Generative AI Summit (hosted by the CLI), the headline lessons about the use of gen AI from the past 12 months and what those lessons say about the current state of affairs. This includes why practitioners feel so overwhelmed by the pace and breadth of the change. In tackling this immense change underway, Terri and Caryn suggest some key questions lawyers can ask themselves (and their firms) to help determine the uptake and utilisation of AI. Topics covered include:   How legal education is evolving in this space and what professional development will look like. The responsibility of legal employers with regards to staff development and the support of junior lawyers. Reaffirming the value that lawyers place on themselves and their services. A rethink of client relationships and their needs. Best practice in 2024 and coming gen AI products and services. To learn more about the Centre for Legal Innovation at the College of Law and its offerings 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, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

In late 2022, Renee Roumanos lost her home (and office) to a fire. That traumatic experience taught her an enormous amount about navigating traumatic experiences, leaning on one’s professional network, and how best to prioritise, manage and communicate within one’s business. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Renee Roumanos Legal principal Renee Roumanos to discuss the night her home (and office) burnt down and the insurance headaches that followed, having to look after her family and figure out how to keep her new business afloat, how she came to lean on legal professionals around her, and the perspective she has gleaned from going through such extraordinary circumstances. Ms Roumanos also reflects on how one begins to take practical steps forward after such events, the difficulties that lawyers have in asking for personal or professional help, how she ensured that her firm did not suffer and how she engaged with clients during this time, her perspective on what it means to be a good lawyer and communicator, what she’s learnt about resilience, and why she’s so motivated to give back moving forward. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

The RBA has handed down its final decision for 2023 – and it’s already setting the scene for 2024 market dynamics. In this episode of Property Finance Uncut, Smart Property Investment’s Phil Tarrant and Finni Mortgages’ chief executive Paul Glossop predict that Australia is either at the top – or very near to the top – of the rate hiking cycle. Comparing the current situation in Australia to the circumstances being seen over in the US, Paul and Phil note the leading indicators that could predict how the RBA acts over the coming 12 months, and offer some insight into how savvy investors can take advantage of a different set of conditions as we come into 2024.  

Here, we take a look back on the year that was for corporate legal professionals in Australia, the implications on the recruitment landscape, and what it all means as we head into the new year. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back G2 Legal Australian director Daniel Stirling to discuss the key takeaways from the past 12 months, whether talent shortages are likely to continue in 2024, considering permanent versus contract hires and the market circumstances that might dictate such recruitment patterns. Mr Stirling also delves into the factors driving candidates (including hybrid and remote working conditions), how law departments can ensure they are attractive vocational prospects in the new year, whether the evolution of legal technology is impacting recruitment at this juncture, and his sense of positivity about the in-house market as 2024 approaches. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

Here, we discuss the recent passing of legislation which the Attorney-General said will make Australia’s family law system “simpler, safer and more accessible” for separating families and their children. What are the implications for practitioners in this space? In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Barry Nilsson principal Genevieve Morgan to discuss how and why recent amendments to family law legislation came about, the state of affairs in family law since Howard-era changes, the Constitution and perception of bad laws, and the key takeaways from the recent passage of legislative amendments. Ms Morgan also discusses the response from family lawyers to the amendments, how the landscape will remain grey until a test case comes about, the need for re-education, how practitioners can navigate the short-term uncertainty, what best practice might look like moving forward, and opportunities for practitioners to redefine their operations. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

Here, we unpack the recently released 2023–2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, its implications for lawyers and legal service providers, and the best practice principles that will be pertinent moving forward. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Cyber GC founder principal Annie Haggar (a former winner of the General Counsel of the Year category at the Australian Law Awards) to discuss how and why the federal government’s new cyber security strategy has emerged, how Australia is faring relative to overseas counterparts on cyber matters at present, and the headline takeaways for lawyers and legal services providers from the new strategy. Ms Haggar also dives into how the market has responded to the new strategy, the extent to which various legal practice areas have received suitable guidance, the questions lawyers, firms, and teams must be asking of themselves and their businesses, whether proactive refusal of work from those whose processes aren’t up to scratch should be implemented, why lawyers must be at the heart of cyber responses moving forward, and why lawyers need to view cyber as part and parcel of their duties to the courts, clients, and the broader community. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

The positive duty to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace became law last December, and the one-year grace period employers were given to comply is about to expire. Here, we dive into the work employers must do to ensure compliance with the new duty. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by byrne∙dean head of strategy Samantha Mangwana to discuss the significance of last year’s Respect@Work reforms, the positive duty to report and eliminate unlawful conduct, how that new duty can be applied in post-pandemic working environments, and penalties or enforcement actions that regulators can take. Ms Mangwana also reflects on the seven standards for organisations to comply with, the headline structural and cultural challenges for legal employers to navigate, the actions that those employers must immediately take, and her level  of optimism that legal workplaces can and will be able to make progress moving forward. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

The president of Queensland Law Society, Chloe Kopilovic, is concerned about the readiness or otherwise of emerging practitioners to either start their own practices or have the capacity to hit the ground running as an employee in a smaller legal practice – and she’s not alone. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with QLS president and FC Lawyers director Chloe Kopilovic about being such a young president of a major legal member association, why discussing the need to better equip those coming through the ranks to succeed in the SME space is so critical, how and why the issue is becoming more stark, and whether lengthier induction periods are required in legal education and professional development. Ms Kopilovic also reflects on the flow-on consequences for graduate lawyers not being ready to open their own practices or assume a caseload or business responsibilities, the practical steps that different stakeholders can take, including and especially what those looking to enter the SME space can do, and how employers can better prepare grads entering their businesses, and the need to ensure the delivery of law to the community can continually improve. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with JustFund, we unpack the recent national rollout of the Priority Property Pool list, its impact on the family law system moving forward, and what it all means for practitioners and their clients. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by JustFund Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Jack O’Donnell; JustFund Client Success Manager, Erica Henson-Hatton; Soden Legal Principal, Sandra Soden; and former judicial registrar and dispute resolutionist at ADR business Myra Aris & Co, Angelo Bistolaridis, to discuss what the PPP is, its national rollout, the justification for said rollout given what those on the ground are experiencing, and how it works and who is eligible. The panel of guests also delve into the myriad impacts on practice, the workloads that practitioners are currently grappling with, how to stay on top of relevant changes, the courts’ next steps, and how legal funding can assist those going through separation and wanting to avoid court proceedings. To learn more about JustFund, 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!

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Thomson Reuters, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Piper Alderman managing partner Tony Britten-Jones and chief operating officer Chris McLean about the shifting roles of external providers and in-house teams looking to evolve in the current climate. The guests discuss how necessity is the mother of invention, the headline operational changes being seen from in-house teams at this juncture, striking the right balance between rolling with the times versus wading in cautiously when implementing changes, and how big firms can best be supporting their teams in the utilisation and uptake of technological advancements. Mr Britten-Jones and Mr McLean also reflect on increased sophistication from in-house teams when dealing with their external providers and how law firms have to adapt in dealing with their clients, the need or otherwise for trial and error in determining best practice, taking calculated risks and grasping opportunities, and lessons being learnt from the pace of change. To learn more about Thomson Reuters, 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!

Following the Women in Finance Summit and Awards 2023, we’re catching up with some of the leading women in the financial services space. In this episode, we chat to Rebecca Warren, executive general manager of small-business banking at CommBank, about how she navigated a historically male-dominated industry over her 20-year career and why she believes inclusion and diversity are not just morally imperative, but key to achieving superior business results. Tune in to find out: Why she loves commercial finance. The secret power of ‘quiet achievers’. How CommBank is creating a more inclusive and supportive work culture. And much more!

Here, we explore whether the profession is making headway in ensuring proportionate briefing to the Bar, necessary approaches for the successful implementation of an equitable briefing strategy, and how far the profession still has to go. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with barrister Dr Kylie Weston-Scheuber and Victorian government solicitor Matthew Hocking about the state of affairs for equitable briefing in various courts and jurisdictions, how the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office has become a gold standard in such briefing to women barristers and what strategies it implements. The guests also reflect on the cultural, structural and social hurdles that may be preventing progress on equitable briefing, whether there are self-imposed hurdles, the impact (if at all) of the advent of virtual hearings, how in-house teams fare compared to private practice counterparts, the need for data and accountability, the importance of a client-driven approach, and whether there is reason for optimism 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!

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Thomson Reuters, host Jerome Doraisamy and National Australia Bank general counsel Sharon Cook flesh out the pace and impact of technological change upon corporate legal teams and how best those teams can ready themselves for the turn of the decade. The pair discuss why such a conversation about the future is so essential, the extent to which technology continues to evolve, how law departments can be at the forefront of such change so as to better support their businesses, effectively managing risk, bringing whole teams along for the journey of evolution, and the duty of leaders to better understand and appreciate current and looming change. Ms Cook also delves into some of the changes her own law department has implemented, what has been learnt from such initiatives, and how best other in-house legal teams can look to take practical steps to ensure they remain trusted advisers to their businesses in an ever-changing professional services marketplace. To learn more about Thomson Reuters, 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!

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Clio, we reflect on the next set of challenges for practitioners when it comes to self-education on the powers and capabilities of emerging technologies and the need to meaningfully triage and prioritise for the health of your practice. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clio founder and chief executive Jack Newton, who is based in the United States, about where the provider sees Australia as sitting in the global market at this juncture and why, what is so exciting about the Australian marketplace at present, the headline trends and challenges to look out for as the new year approaches, and how practitioners can best identify necessary practical steps moving forward. Mr Newton also delves into Clio’s AI strategy and its push in the Australian market, ensuring the right resources are being deployed for one’s tech stack, avoiding a “set and forget” attitude with existing practice management platforms, realising the “hierarchy of data needs”, appreciating whether your practice is at on the adoption spectrum, and why cloud solutions remain so critical. To learn more about Clio, 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!

While progress has been made in recent years to ensure that business development is easier for male and female professionals alike, Sue-Ella Prodonovich muses, there remain environmental hurdles that make BD more difficult for some. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Prodonovich Advisory principal Sue-Ella Prodonovich (who also regularly serves as a judge for Lawyers Weekly awards programs) to discuss how business development can and does prove more difficult for women leaders in law, the suggested reasons for this, how the post-pandemic landscape impacts such difficulty (if at all), and what professionals on the ground tell her about such hurdles. Ms Prodonovich also reflects on the extent to which male counterparts in the profession are cognisant of such perceived imbalances, how the market is looking to better level the playing field, whether the looming new year is throwing up any new challenges to grapple with in successful BD for women professionals, practical ways to ensure that BD is easier for all, and how to keep BD at the top of the priority list, even amid so many competing priorities. 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 Steve Lancken, mediation has always offered ways and means of resolving disputes that produce more satisfying and productive outcomes for parties. Here, he details the lessons he’s learnt over more than two decades as a mediator and how best to serve clients in an ever-changing landscape. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Negocio Resolutions managing director Steve Lancken (who won the Mediator-Arbitrator of the Year category at the 2023 Australian Law Awards) to discuss how and why he became a mediator, how few client matters he saw proceed to litigation in the earlier iteration of his legal career, what he finds so rewarding about mediation, and his views on the current climate for mediators in Australia’s marketplace. Mr Lancken also reflects on the rise of mediation in recent years, the most common mistakes made in mediations, the need to actively use certain language to manage clients’ states of mind,  pitfalls to avoid, how to glean the necessary lessons to succeed, the do’s and don’ts for successful mediators, shifting one’s mindset, and his excitement about the next generation of practitioners coming through the ranks, who better understand and appreciate avenues like mediation. 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 the Women in Finance Summit and Awards 2023, we’re catching up with some of the leading women in the financial services space. In this episode, we chat to Suzanne Wood, state general manager residential broker Victoria/Tasmania at Westpac Group (and state chair of the Women of Westpac employee advocacy group), about how she climbed the career ladder in banking and the power of having strong female role models. Tune in to find out: How she learnt the art of having difficult conversations. The perils of unconscious bias and how to tackle them. How Westpac is supporting women through the Women of Westpac employee advocacy group. And much more!