Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

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