Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

Becoming a partner in a law firm is a hugely exciting and satisfying moment, Aabid Farouk recalls. The transition, he notes, is not without its challenges – understanding how best to navigate that transition is critical. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Hazelbrook Legal partner, Aabid Farouk, about his journey in law and towards the partnership of award-winning firm Hazelbrook Legal, what it feels like to make partner, how one can begin to take steps to transition into one’s new role and duties, and the questions to be asking of one’s self in this process. Mr Farouk also reflects on the lessons he learned in those initial months of partnership, what works and doesn’t work, making up lost ground if one hasn’t taken the right steps, proactive versus reactive actions, making the necessary mindset shifts, what excites him about the experience of new partners coming through the ranks, and his broader words of wisdom for those joining the partnership. 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, brought to you via our sister brand Cyber Security Connect, we unpack why Australia has become one of the world’s most attractive targets for cyber criminals and how Australian businesses can protect themselves. Host Liam Garman speaks with AUCloud managing director and chief executive officer Peter Maloney about the factors that make Australia such a tempting target for cyber criminals, some of the latest tactics and strategies employed by those malicious actors to target businesses and families, how these methods are becoming more sophisticated over time, and just who is committing the attacks. The pair also discuss how managed security operations centre (SOC) service providers can support businesses, and what businesses must learn from the recent large-scale attacks to build a more robust cyber security framework. 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 special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Commonwealth Bank, we explore the myriad fiscal considerations for law firm partners across various stages of their careers and how best they can look after themselves. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Commonwealth Private’s national director of professional services, Alen Sirol, and Clayton Utz’s former chief executive partner, Bruce Cooper, about the importance of financial guidance across the life cycle for law firm partners, why such considerations are so critical, whether the legal profession does a good enough job of communicating the need for good fiscal management and navigating fluctuating market challenges at various intervals of one’s career. The trio delve into the factors for consideration when one is aspiring to the partnership, becoming a new equity partner, transitioning to a senior partner, and once one has exited a firm partnership. The group also discusses the importance of proactivity, practical steps that must be taken, and broader advice for partners of all stripes. To learn more about Commonwealth Private, 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

As a junior practitioner who has suffered debilitating mental health struggles, Kian Rafie is determined to see the legal profession get better at talking openly about our individual experiences. Talking, he says, can make all the difference. (Content warning: This episode contains content that may be disturbing or distressing to some listeners. Discretion is advised.) On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Piper Alderman lawyer Kian Rafie about the importance of having more frequent conversations about mental health struggles for lawyers, his motivation to be a lawyer, and his journey with and through anxiety, depression and suicide ideation as a junior practitioner. Mr Rafie also reflects on where he is now relative to years gone by, the support he has received from legal professionals, why talking is so important, overcoming the bravado that exists among Australian men, balancing the need to protect one’s self in a still-traditional sector versus addressing one’s struggles, practical steps that have helped him get better, and other words of wisdom based on his experience for those coming through the ranks. Help is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636. Each law society and bar association also has resources available on their respective websites. 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!

While progress has been made in promoting the myriad career paths available to law graduates, some vocational options are still being glossed over, says an award-nominated in-house counsel. As such, those coming through the ranks have to be deliberate about identifying the various pathways available to them. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Yarra Capital Management legal counsel Chloe Giamadakis, who was a finalist in the rising star (in-house) category at the recent Australian Law Awards, about the evergreen need for the next generation of lawyers to be fully across the bounty of career options to be explored. She reflects on her own experiences of law school and early career, how and why she went into an in-house role so early in her own vocational journey, the progression options available to those in-house, the extent to which the next generation is aware of the options available to them and what options need further fleshing out, being proactive about finding out the various options, finding mentors, why it’s OK to investigate “alternative” career paths, and why being unafraid to try new things is so critical. 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!

While Carl Gene Fordham feels that the majority of lawyers and judicial officers “do a fantastic job” in working with interpreters and translators, there are underlying issues that must be addressed, he says, so that access to justice is not impeded for persons across the community. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with NAATI-certified interpreter and University of Queensland casual academic Carl Gene Fordham about the work of interpreters and translators in Australia’s court proceedings, the problems that such professionals are seeing in said proceedings and in their engagement with court processes, and why such problems exist. Mr Fordham also details what he sees as being the flow-on consequences if lawyers or judicial officers do not meaningfully work with interpreters and translators, the practical steps that legal professionals can take to ensure better collaboration, the training and education to be across, and why making such efforts remains so critically important. 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 Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Aldermane director and principal Rory Alexander – who won the Innovator of the Year category at the 2023 Partner of the Year Awards – about the mindset he brought to the founding of his legal business, his outlook on innovation and what he wanted to do differently (based on what he’d observed in his legal career up to that point), and structuring one’s business in accordance with innovative strategies and structures. Mr Alexander also reflects on imbibing a culture of innovation, how he implements innovative thinking in the practice area of government procurement, grasping opportunities in one’s area/s of legal practice, responding to what’s happening in the market, and his broader words of wisdom for partners and business leaders to think in more innovative ways. 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!

Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Colin Biggers & Paisley managing partner Nick Crennan about the biggest issues facing heads of large firms in this financial year, the difference between managing and leading, and much more. Mr Crennan reflects on his 35-year journey with Colin Biggers & Paisley and becoming that firm’s managing partner, the state of affairs for Australia’s legal marketplace and the challenges being presented, how those challenges compare to previous market cycles, the “tipping point” being experienced, and ongoing presence of uncertainty. He also delves into the distinction between management and leadership, how and why BigLaw firms will shore up particular practice areas and what strategies are employed when doing so, taking a long-term view of the market, the five big issues for FY24, and the role of managing partners. 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!

Many law department leaders understand, by now, that legal transformation is a commercial imperative. As such, ensuring that one’s in-house team is taking the right steps to meaningfully transition its practices and processes is critical. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back KPMG global head of legal services Stuart Fuller to discuss what legal transformation is, where the profession is at in enacting the changes proposed by such a concept, and how his law department has looked to make a change in recent times. Mr Fuller also outlines how law departments can and must be leveraging generative artificial intelligence, better utilising existing tech stacks, the need to proactively gauge what legal transformation will be needed in the future (particularly during times of economic uncertainty), how to balance the need for transformative approaches against the other urgent priorities for law departments in the post-pandemic age, and more. 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 special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Naiman Clarke, we explore the importance of ethically going out to market as a candidate for a new role – especially given how prospective employers may react. Host Jerome Doraisamy is once again joined by Naiman Clarke managing director Elvira Naiman to discuss some of the latest trends being seen in legal recruitment as we come off FY23, including a reflection on the slowing of salary increases and how the market has shifted from being one for candidates to being one for sellers. Ms Naiman also details some of the bad behaviours that are being witnessed and undertaken in the market right now by candidates, how and why such behaviours are manifesting, how candidates can ensure they conduct themselves in more considerate and transparent ways, how candidates and employers can respond to environmental marketplace shifts, and what will constitute best practice for those exploring a change in their vocational journeys. To learn more about Naiman Clarke, 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!