Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

BigLaw partner Peter Hunt, an avid sports fan, says there is much that legal professionals can learn from the new-age style of cricket being played by the English national team. Lawyers, he submits, should look to all corners for guidance on how best to adapt and evolve their practice and service delivery in an ever-changing marketplace. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with McCabes partner Peter Hunt about the phenomenon of “Bazball” (the England cricket team’s new style of play) that was most recently on display in the Ashes series against Australia and the lessons that can be drawn from that style of play for legal professionals to be adopted into one’s approach to practice. Specifically, he reflects on the importance of being bold, taking calculated risks, backing one’s self, and the need to stay strong, as well as learning from one’s failures, what we can all take away from the Matildas’ success in the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup, and drawing inspiration from all aspects of life in how one can and should be a better lawyer. 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 Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Lea Hiltenkamp, an associate at HFW, to discuss the challenges and issues facing young lawyers in relation to workplace culture. Ms Hiltenkamp highlights the lack of support around reporting sexual harassment in the profession, which she has been working to improve in her role on the Young Lawyers WA committee and Women Lawyers of WA sub-committee on sexual harassment reporting. She emphasised the need for clear and transparent processes for addressing and resolving complaints of sexual harassment, particularly in smaller firms that may not have dedicated HR departments. She also details the need for those coming through the ranks to trust their gut instincts about choosing the right workplace and finding an employer with whom one feels motivated to get out of bed in the morning, can have fulfilling work, and makes you want to be and stay a lawyer. 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!

Two recent experiences with senior counsel have given Sach Fernando pause for reflection on the extent to which racism and unconscious bias still exist in Australia’s legal profession. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with the principal lawyer of Maxiom Injury Lawyers, Sach Fernando, to discuss recent instances where senior counsel made culturally insensitive comments that served as a reminder that, despite progress, the legal profession has lingering issues pertaining to racism and cultural diversity. Those two instances served as valuable lessons for Mr Fernando in determining the best path forward – not just for one’s self but for one’s clients, business and staff. He reflects on his own journey as a lawyer with Sri Lankan heritage, the responsibility to ensure that clients are treated with dignity and respect, and the importance of speaking up in a strategic and professional manner if and when the time calls for it.  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, CXT Legal director Christos Tsonis – who won the corporate category at the 2023 Partner of the Year Awards – discusses adopting a mindset and approach to help grow your legal practice into a nationwide operation. Mr Tsonis talks about his journey in law and setting up CXT Legal, practising in private market transactions, the importance of understanding clients’ commercial objectives and delivering value through legal advice, and the need for flexibility and adaptability in the face of market changes and trends. He also touches on the need to imbibe a mindset of growth and national presence in one’s employees and how best to work with and for clients right across the country.  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!

After over a decade in-house, Jeremy Hanrahan decided to head back into private practice, joining the partnership at Lander & Rogers. Here, he discusses the requirements to succeed in making such a vocational move. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Lander & Rogers partner Jeremy Hanrahan about his expansive career (both in private practice and in-house), what he learnt from more than a decade of working in-house, how and why he decided to go back into a law firm, and the personal and professional drivers for such a transition. Mr Hanrahan also details the importance of staying adaptable and open to opportunities, the personal adjustments required when making career shifts, including the importance of self-care and maintaining a work/life balance, the nuances of understanding client needs from both an in-house and private practice perspective, the importance of problem solving and being solution-oriented and shares his views on the current state of the employment and industrial relations workplace safety space, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in the field. 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, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with lawyer, academic and COO Fabi Fugazza about the pervasive issue of unconscious bias in the legal profession and how it impacts hiring, sourcing and progression practices. Ms Fugazza – a lawyer at Equity Generation Lawyers, sessional academic at Western Sydney University and the University of Sydney, and chief operating officer of the Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights – stresses that unconscious bias is not limited to overtly discriminatory behaviours but also includes covert, unintentional biases that can significantly impact recruitment and progression within organisations. She shares alarming insights indicating that unconscious bias is still prevalent in the legal profession and reflects on the fact that despite the increasing number of women lawyers in Australia, only a small percentage reach leadership positions – a disparity that is not limited to gender but extends to ethnic and racial minorities as well. Ms Fugazza offers practical suggestions for combating unconscious bias, including standardising interviews, focusing on objective data, setting diversity goals, and fostering open conversations about bias within organisations. She also proposes the idea of “blind” recruitment processes, where identifying information is removed from applications to reduce bias. 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 Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Modaxo and Trapeze Group senior legal counsel Emilie Franklin, who recently won the TMT Lawyer of the Year category at the Corporate Counsel Awards, about navigating the challenges and opportunities that come with being the inaugural in-house lawyer for a business and building legal structures and processes from scratch. Ms Franklin emphasises the importance of team growth and nurturing young lawyers to ensure a seamless transition to the remote work environment. She also shares her strategies for maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders overseas, fostering collaboration, and securing a seat at the executive table. The duo delve into the delicate balance between effecting change without disrupting the established organisational flow, especially for legal departments often seen as an impediment rather than an enabler. Ms Franklin offers practical advice on engaging with stakeholders and creating positive test cases to gain support for substantial changes. 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, Smart Property Investment’s Phil Tarrant and Finni Mortgages’ chief executive, Paul Glossop, discuss the current state of Australian lenders and the property finance landscape following on from yet another rate decision. The duo delves into the latest Reserve Bank meeting and its impact on interest rates and mortgage rates, discussing conflicting data on unemployment and within the retail sector, and the potential for future rate fluctuation. Paul highlights the significant rental growth in the past 12 months, making it an opportune time for property investors, before emphasising the importance of investors taking proactive steps to refinance, extract equity and borrow responsibly. 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!

Law can be an elitist profession. Socioeconomic diversity can put some practitioners at a disadvantage in building relationships in a profession in which one’s network is one’s net worth. However, as one award-winning lawyer explains, there are ways that practitioners and the broader profession can overcome such disparities. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Emplawyer managing principal Michelle Dawson, who won the employment category at the 2023 Partner of the Year Awards, about the effects of socioeconomic disparity on lawyers’ careers, and the need for broader recognition and opportunity. Ms Dawson details her personal and professional experiences, outlines the practical steps she has taken to succeed and offers her guidance, both for individuals and the broader profession, to address socioeconomic diversity as part of broader diversity and inclusion efforts profession-wide. 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 Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Morgan Collens, a paralegal at Nevile & Co Commercial Lawyers in Melbourne, to discuss what she has learnt about the need for the next generation of legal professionals to take control of their personal and financial futures, specifically by ensuring they have a will and testament in place. Ms Collens discovered her passion for wills and estates while working with lawyers. She emphasises the importance of considering wills and estates early in one’s career, particularly for the younger generation, including members of the queer community who may have unique challenges in estate planning. She highlights the need to view oneself as a client and to list all assets, even small ones like bank accounts or share portfolios, to ensure a smoother transition for loved ones after one’s passing. 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!