Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!