Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

Oftentimes, it is necessary for lawyers to outline clear boundaries so that the client relationship is not blurred. Doing so, one firm leader says, allows her to walk into court with a clear conscience and be the best advocate she can be. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Emma Turnbull Lawyers director and managing partner Emma Turnbull about her work as a criminal defence lawyer and why it’s a meaningful vocational path for her, how and why she’s a better lawyer because she rides horses, why it’s so important to set boundaries with clients, and why clients may try to push those boundaries. Turnbull also delves into the ways in which clients may try to blur lines, her experience as a female practitioner, how empathy can be misconstrued, how to put in place necessary guardrails, how she sets boundaries from the outset of a client relationship, whether there are relevant professional conduct considerations at play, the questions to ask of one’s self in setting boundaries, whether it is easier said than done, and why she is a better lawyer by virtue of knowing where the line in the sand is. 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!

Traditionally, the burden of judging has fallen to the individuals on the bench, and the profession and broader society have not taken responsibility for preparing and supporting them to do the important work required by the judiciary. So, what can be done? In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with University of Western Australia lecturer Dr Jessica Kerr about her academic work and why it is so important, the lack of support that judicial officers have traditionally received in undertaking their roles and why, the flow-on consequences for judges, and the need to improve holistic judicial competence. Kerr also delves into what we want and expect from the judiciary, the practical steps to be taken to improve judicial competence and elevate support for such officers, the stigma surrounding wanting to become a judge, and the need for a more diverse bench. She also touches on her experiences as a criminal magistrate in the Seychelles. 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!

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, brought to you by our sister brand, Cyber Daily, we look back at some of the most notable cyber incidents from the past 12 months and look ahead to what can be expected in the new year. Hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss CrowdStrike’s outage and amazing response to the takedown of ransomware giant LockBit, reflect on the Change Healthcare hack, which saw the data of about a third of the population of the United States compromised, the behind-the-scenes maneuvering between greedy ransomware-as-a-service operators, hacker affiliates just wanting to get paid, and a company realising that it really does have to pay an exorbitant ransom. The pair also discuss the takedown of ransomware giant LockBit and the remarkably sassy response of the law enforcement agencies behind the operation, look back at another ransomware operation that turned out to be nothing but an extensive scam, and reflect on July’s CrowdStrike outage, both its wide-ranging impact and what turned out to be an excellent and comprehensive response from CrowdStrike itself, before turning the gaze forward to wonder what they might see in 2025. 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!

Criminal defence lawyer Rebecca Fogerty recently wrapped up her term as president of the Queensland Law Society. Here, she reflects on her presidential term, what she’s learnt about her role as a practitioner, and the experience of the broader legal profession. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes Jasper Fogerty Lawyers partner and QLS immediate past president Rebecca Fogerty to discuss why she loves criminal defence work, her perception of the challenges and trends facing lawyers in this space (particularly in Queensland), and why she wanted to serve with the Queensland Law Society. Fogerty also discusses the achievements of her presidential term, how she managed to juggle competing roles and the difficulty legal professionals face in trying to have it all, what she’s learnt about herself and the broader profession, her changing perception of what makes a good advocate, and what excites her about legal advocacy into the future. 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!

Experience has taught Damien Toohey – a practising barrister and professional pilot – that there are “no limitations in life”. Here’s how he does it. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Damien Toohey of 2 Selborne Chambers in Sydney about his career journey, including early life in the law and pivot to working as a professional and commercial pilot, how he returned to the law and then again to the skies, and the significant life events along the way that have shaped his outlook and trajectory. Toohey also reflects on how flying is the “ultimate test of character”, how his work as a barrister and pilot respectively offer complementary lessons and why he’s a better holistic professional, what’s happening in the aviation law space, what his journey has taught him about life, and how other lawyers can ensure they are experiencing life to the fullest. 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!

Shipping lawyers are not strangers to pivoting in the face of overnight geopolitical and legal changes. How might the recent threat from US President-elect Donald Trump impact practitioners in this space? In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back The Shipping Lawyer, Alison Cusack, to discuss the shipping law landscape in 2024 and what was learnt from that year, the recent threat from Donald Trump to take back control of the Panama Canal and the history of the canal (and lessons from the Suez Canal experience). Cusack also discusses the frequency with which shipping lawyers have to adapt to geopolitical shifts and navigate client expectations, how best such lawyers can roll with the punches, the fatigue that can set in amid so much change, and what she’s looking forward to in the year ahead. 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!

In the emotionally charged and ever-shifting landscape of immigration law, cultural empathy may well be the most critical skill that practitioners bring to the table for their clients, argues one senior lawyer. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Katsaros & Associates founder and senior lawyer Dimitrios Katsaros about recent changes in the immigration space and the extent to which the Albanese government has made good on its promise to overhaul the system, and how the looming federal election may change the landscape further in 2025 and beyond. Katsaros also delves into what constitutes cultural empathy, why it is so important when dealing with clients from different backgrounds, what it looks like in practice and how best one can ensure empathetic interactions, and why it is at the top of the list of priorities for lawyers in this space in the coming 12 months. 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!

In December, the High Court of Australia overturned a 115-year-old precedent and determined that “sham” terminations can cause psychiatric injury. Here, we unpack the implications of this decision for businesses nationwide. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Pinsent Masons partner and head of employment law and reward (APAC) Aaron Goonrey about the expansiveness of legal work in this space, what the decision in Elisha v Vision Australia Ltd held, what was ordered and what it means moving forward. Goonrey also delves into the extent to which employment law is entering a grey area as a result of the decision, how it changes the landscape for employment lawyers across the country, and what will constitute best practice for lawyers in this space in 2025 and beyond. 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!

The rise of generative AI and other new technologies not only changes the nature of legal practice but also client expectations and demands. Here, we flesh out the need for lawyers to evaluate their pricing structures as part of their service offerings so they may remain competitive. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Hive Legal executive director and experience designer Melissa Lyon and principal Adrienne Trumbull about their firm’s journey, being ahead of the curve on flexible working, why they price their services in non-traditional ways, whether billable units give clients more control, and why it is so important to reconsider how legal services are priced. Lyon and Trumbull also flesh out the disconnect between clients’ understandings of legal practice versus how those services are being priced, navigating how courts are interpreting the use of AI and new technology, how critical a priority evaluation of pricing models will be in the new year, the questions that firm leaders must be asking of themselves, and why they should see this conversation as an opportunity to step back on reflect on the importance of legal practice and servicing the 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, 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!

Energy and resources is, and will continue to be, an incredibly busy practice area. Here, a BigLaw partner reflects on what it’s like to work in this space, what the future might hold, and how those coming through can succeed. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clayton Utz partner Susan Taylor about her journey as a lawyer and why she finds energy and resources to be such an exciting space to work in, why it intersects with so many other practice areas right now, and the current day-to-day experience of those working in this space. Taylor also delves into how busy energy and resources work is, how such work will ramp up during the course of 2025 (regardless of the federal election outcome), what constitutes best practice when advising clients, the trends she’s anticipating in the coming months, why taking a holistic approach to such work is essential, what it means to be a good lawyer in this space, and her advice to those wanting to transition to energy and resources practices.