

Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network
Momentum Media
The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network explores the myriad issues, challenges, trends and opportunities facing legal professionals in Australia. Produced by Australia’s largest and most-trusted legal publication, Lawyers Weekly, the four shows on the channel – The Lawyers Weekly Show, The Corporate Counsel Show, The Boutique Lawyer Show and Protégé – all bring legal marketplace news to the audience via engaging and insightful conversations. Our editorial team talking to legal professionals and industry experts about their fascinating careers, ground-breaking case work, broader sociocultural quagmires, and much more. Visit www.lawyersweekly.com.au/podcasts for the full list of episodes.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 26, 2024 • 20min
A nightclub-owner-turned-lawyer on the value of non-linear career paths
Having spent years in the hospitality scene, including as an owner of a nightclub and bar, Jeremy Koadlow understands the importance of authenticity, appreciating where people are coming from, and how best to serve the community. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with MA Legal associate Jeremy Koadlow about his professional journey and work in hospitality venues, what such work taught him about managing and serving people, the perspective he gleaned that other lawyers can learn from, and how important and valuable non-traditional pathways can be for one’s journey. Koadlow also reflects on the need for authenticity in one’s interactions with clients, the place for resilience in one’s work, why it is OK (and indeed useful) to have experienced a non-linear pathway in law and in one’s career, and how best those coming through the ranks can gain more perspective on working life and bolster their offerings 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, 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Mar 25, 2024 • 21min
The Boutique Lawyer Show: Shoring up your firm’s cyber frameworks
For small law firms, it is not so much a question of if your practice will be impacted by a cyber incident but when. As such, firm owners must be prepared to respond so they can return to normal business operations as quickly as possible and with minimal disruption. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with McGrathNicol partner Brendan Payne about the biggest lessons learnt from cyber incidents and subsequent business responses in the last 12 months, the extent to which law firms are prepared (or not) to manage cyber incidents, and how well law firms are doing compared to other professional services counterparts in putting in place the right proactive measures to prevent attacks. Payne also explains the issues surrounding structured versus unstructured data that law firms will have to grapple with, the current hurdles facing law firm owners when it comes to effectively managing existing risks, questions that firm owners should be asking of themselves so they can take the right practical steps, and how much education should be undertaken versus using external providers. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Mar 22, 2024 • 23min
The Boutique Lawyer Show: Onboarding – an overlooked necessity for small firms?
In the competitive landscape of talent acquisition and retention, Australian businesses are increasingly recognising the importance of an effective onboarding process. Here, in this special episode brought to you by Lawyers Weekly’s sister brand, HR Leader, host Jack Campbell sits down with Lauren Karan, director at Karan & Co, to discuss just how crucial it is to get this step right. Karan emphasises that onboarding should commence the moment a candidate signs their contract. This period is delicate, as new hires are often counter-offered by their current employers and have yet to establish a relationship with their new manager. With the rise of remote and hybrid work models due to the pandemic, onboarding has faced new challenges. Maintaining communication is key. Whether through team chats or scheduled video calls, it’s vital to ensure new hires feel integrated and supported, even when working from a distance. However, the responsibility of onboarding should not be shouldered by HR alone. Managers play a pivotal role in the process. Karan argues that managers should take the initiative to connect with new hires, scheduling regular check-ins and being readily available to answer questions. This not only helps the new employee settle in but also demonstrates the manager’s commitment to their success. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Mar 19, 2024 • 20min
Protégé: Trial and error and crafting your career path
Very few students and new lawyers are crystal clear on what they want to do for the entirety of their careers. Putting one’s self out there and experimenting with different options not only helps one discover different vocational pathways but also gives one a better sense of self and purpose for a legal career. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Jonah Farry (QUT law student, HopgoodGanim law clerk, and QUT Law, Innovation and Technology Society co-founder) about how and why he became interested in innovation as part of his education journey, the “gaping holes” he’s seeing for the next generation of legal professionals, why trial and error in finding one’s career path is so important, and whether students are cognisant of the need to get out and try new things. Farry also reflects on his own journey of trial and error and what he has learnt from those processes, the opportunities he has been exposed to and how he is better placed as an emerging practitioner, how easy or difficult it can be to put one’s self out there, challenges for emerging lawyers to overcome in seeking new and exciting opportunities, the questions those students and grads can be asking of themselves, and why such work can be so uplifting and rewarding. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Mar 18, 2024 • 26min
Ecological jurisprudence and the natural environment’s legal standing
In 2008, Ecuador enshrined the rights of nature in its constitution. But where is such jurisprudential thinking at in Australia? Here, property and commercial lawyer Mieke Elzer discusses the idea of nature’s rights at law, particularly in the wake of the successful Sharma appeal. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Attwood Marshall lawyer Mieke Elzer about the myriad forms of environmental law and how the earth law stream emerges from it, what is meant by ecological jurisprudence and where we’re at with such legal considerations, the notion that the natural environment – from trees to oceans – can or should have legal standing, and where Australia sits in relation to global counterparts on such questions. Elzer also delves into the likelihood or otherwise that the natural environment can or will be recognised in Australian law, increasing litigation being seen or to be seen in this space, what it would take for a test case to emerge on the legal standing of the natural environment, bringing the judiciary along for the journey in shifting mindsets, and how all legal practitioners can be more environmentally conscious in their daily operations – both for the community and for themselves.

Mar 14, 2024 • 25min
The 10-year strategy, corporate compliance, and other immigration law matters
According to Maria Jockel, immigration law is a “complex, highly regulated area of law, which is totally and utterly underappreciated” regarding its significance for nation-building in Australia. In the face of the government’s recent moves in this space, work for immigration lawyers will continue to be complex but also stimulating, she says. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with BDO global and national immigration law leader Maria Jockel about her personal story of growing up in displaced persons camps, how and why she came to work in immigration law, the importance of “nation-building”, what the federal government’s 10-year strategy for immigration law looks like, and what it means for lawyers in this space. Jockel also details the state of affairs for corporate compliance with immigration matters and what practitioners need to know, practical steps to be taken with regard to being across the myriad of legislation, policy and flagged changes, the need to be “brave-hearted”, and what excites her about the future experience of immigration lawyers in Australia. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Mar 12, 2024 • 26min
The Corporate Counsel Show: 3 Tabcorp GCs on keeping a ‘laser focus’ on strategic priorities
When working in a large law department in a big Australian company, ensuring that the legal team’s work remains aligned with business objectives requires optimal collaboration and communication. Here, three general counsel from Tabcorp reflect on their work and how they work together to achieve such ends. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Tabcorp group general counsel Ivana Kovacevic, general counsel of technology procurement, data, and privacy Fiona Tyas, and general counsel of M&A, treasury, and corporate services Tom Boyd to discuss the foremost challenges being faced by large law departments as 2024 gets into full swing, the road maker’s dilemma, data analysis and other required legal transformation projects. The conversation also fleshes out prioritising cyber concerns, how market factors can influence a company’s movements and performance, identifying and working towards strategic priorities, best practice approaches for achieving such priorities, aligning business and legal strategies, bringing the broader law department along for the ride, effective leadership of emerging counsel in the new normal, and lessons learnt since the start of the year when it comes to keeping a “laser focus” on the end goal. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Mar 12, 2024 • 26min
How lawyers can be more active during work hours
The adverse consequences on one’s holistic health from being overly sedentary are well established. In the modern working world, where lawyers are tethered to devices and the separation between home and work is blurred, being physically active is more essential than ever before. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by TEDx speaker, personal trainer, fitness presenter and author Lizzie Williamson about how a lack of physical activity during the day can have deleterious consequences for professional services workers, how social media can exacerbate how one is feeling, and why it can be so difficult for lawyers to get up and move during the working day. Williamson also delves into the flow-on consequences for lawyers who are overly sedentary, overcoming a lack of motivation, the impact of negative motivation on one’s psyche, the roadblocks in the way of good practices, tips to get started on a more active journey, how leaders can encourage small steps for their teams, overcoming perfectionism, and realising what kind of day lawyers want to have. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

Mar 8, 2024 • 26min
Women in Finance: Building a brand that lasts
There are so many amazingly successful women in the finance industry, but only a small number have a strong brand and online presence in this traditionally male-dominated industry. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we want to help more women raise their profile and showcase the incredible professionals in this space. In this episode, partnered by Mortgage Choice (part of the REA Group), we’re picking the brain of its executive manager, corporate communications, events & franchise marketing, Sally Chadwick, to find out: How to build a brand presence. The benefits of having a strong brand presence. Top tips to help you get started today. And much more!

Mar 7, 2024 • 27min
Space law and the ‘golden’ opportunities for women professionals
Helen Tung – a barrister, space lawyer, and College of Law lecturer in international arbitration – is brimming with excitement about the myriad vocational pathways currently available in space law. For practitioners of all stripes (particularly women lawyers, for whom there are no barriers to entry), space law is a rich, stimulating and rewarding emerging field, she says. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, and in conjunction with International Women’s Day, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Ms Tung about how and why she got into space law, the issues, challenges and emerging trends she is seeing in this field, and how lawyers across the board can transition to work in this space, regardless of their expertise and backgrounds. Ms Tung also delves into why she is so passionate about seeing more women practitioners involved in space law and how the traditional barriers to entry aren’t as apparent in this field, how she informs next-generation lawyers about space law, and her predictions for how the emerging field of space law will evolve in years to come. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!