Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Naiman Clarke, we explore the myriad impacts of a high-stress environment on lawyers and why prioritising one’s health and wellbeing when seeking a new role is not only necessary but also puts one in the best position to then satisfy their vocational and financial goals. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Naiman Clarke owner and managing director Elvira Naiman to discuss why mental health concerns remain such a pertinent factor in any conversation about legal recruitment, the current state of affairs for jobseekers and how they are prioritising wellness as a consideration when looking for new legal roles. Ms Naiman also reflects on some of the new-age professional challenges and scenarios that lawyers are dealing with that both impact wellness and influence thinking about vocational pathways, how recruiters can and do look to navigate conversations about wellness with jobseekers in law, how best to perceive and navigate high-stress environments, how to present as the best possible candidate for a vacancy, and why health and wellbeing must be at the top of one’s priority list when looking for a new role in law. 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!

There is a presumption, among some legal professionals, that transactional experience is preferable for those working in-house. As Belinda Wong demonstrates, however, bringing a litigation background to a corporate legal role can be just as valuable, particularly in an ever-changing market. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Laing O’Rourke corporate counsel Belinda Wong about her litigation background and experience to date, the upskilling she has done since moving over from BigLaw to an in-house role, her perception of litigation experience and how it has shaped her abilities as a lawyer, and how her skills have been transferrable to her new in-house role. Ms Wong also outlines how perceived requisite skills may be evolving in the post-pandemic landscape, whether there’s an increased demand for litigators in-house, other trends she sees in the market, whether we will get to a point where litigators are preferred to transactional lawyers, and how best corporate counsel can acquire litigation skills to better support their businesses. 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!

By his own admission, Nick Mann was naïve about the practicalities of founding a law firm. Because of that, however, he was forced to focus more intensely on his vision for a new practice. Setting and abiding by such a vision, he says, is integral for success. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Polaris Lawyers founder and director Nick Mann about how and when he made the decision to start his own practice, the various considerations he undertook in getting from A to B, identifying what one wants one’s firm to look like, and the difficulty of staying true to that vision. Mr Mann also details the importance of being able to identify if and when a firm owner has erred in the formulation of direction and how best to get back on track, the lessons he has learnt on this front, and what other boutique law firm owners can take away from his experience in thinking about where they want themselves, and their businesses, to be 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!

Andrew Raad is only in his early 30s and is already an equity partner at his firm. Having a clear understanding, when he was at law school, of what he wanted to do helped put him on the path to achieving his vocational goals. Figuring out how to pave your own way, he says, is key. On this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Speirs Ryan partner Andrew Raad about his journey since graduating from law school, reflections on the culture of the tertiary environment and how it can influence students’ thinking about career direction, how he garnered insight and self-awareness into who he was and what he wanted, and how others can best balance those considerations. Mr Raad also delves into the construction of one’s day-to-day, how those coming through the ranks can start asking themselves pertinent questions to better define their own career path, additional steps to take in a post-pandemic market, and how the next generation can and must be receptive to change, especially if and when their careers take divergent pathways. 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!

Firm owner Geoff Ebert has been coaching Australian rules football, including at the professional academy level, for nearly three decades. There are numerous lessons, he says, that senior lawyers can learn from his experience in nurturing the next generation. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Your Online Legal Group principal Geoff Ebert, who talks about his background and career in Australian football, why coaching was of interest to him, what his coaching regimen looks like for teams, as well as his mentality in leading players, and what he gets out of such a vocational pursuit. Mr Ebert also outlines his journey as a legal professional and now firm owner, how he juggles his coaching commitments with his development as a lawyer and business manager, transferrable skills and traits between those two pathways, tackling various mental health challenges that arise with those in his charge, lessons he’s learnt, and what other lawyers can take away from the experience of professional Australian football. 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!

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with nrol, we delve into the proliferation of burnout among legal professionals in the post-pandemic environment and its impact on perceptions of the job market in law right now. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back nrol director Jesse Shah to discuss the complexity of burnout and factors driving it in the current climate, recent studies detailing the extent to which lawyers are currently suffering, what is being seen on the ground right now with candidates, and what recruiters across sectors have to navigate as a result. Mr Shah also explores some of the lessons coming out of conversations being had with candidates right now as it pertains to burnout in the profession, whether the current climate is making candidates rethink what they want in a legal job, what they are valuing right now, some practical steps that candidates can take to ask themselves the right questions in order to seek a suitable role, and his guidance for those looking to wade through the ongoing turbulence of the new normal. To learn more about nrol, 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!

The law is just one aspect of multifaceted decisions for businesses of all stripes, and for corporate counsel, being integrated as part of the DNA is fundamental in the post-pandemic marketplace. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Investa chief legal and risk officer Lesley Chan about what it means to be a good lawyer and how to achieve success in-house, how perceptions of being a good lawyer in-house have evolved since the onset of the global pandemic, and why juggling multiple hats may no longer be good enough in the current climate. Ms Chan also discusses her views on what’s driving the need for in-house lawyers to be more than just good lawyers, who is driving that need for change, how law department leaders can upskill themselves and their teams, and what excites her about challenging herself and those around her to be better and do more than simply being a good legal professional. 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!

With the Reserve Bank (RBA) delivering a shock rate decision for May, mortgage holders are left reeling on what steps to take to minimise the impact on their finances. So in this episode, Smart Property Investments’ Phil Tarrant and Finni Mortgages’ chief executive, Paul Glossop, talk about the central bank’s surprising move to resume rate hikes after a month-long pause to check the economy’s pulse and unpack the data points that influenced the latest decision. And while the duo acknowledged the latest cash rate increase will be the “nail in the coffin” for some borrowers due to higher repayments, they encouraged mortgage holders to reassess their current strategy and create a plan that can help them weather the latest rate hike storm. They also unpack the various options available to borrowers, which include mortgage restructuring, refinancing to a fixed or variable rate, or switching to a different lender that offers a more competitive product.

All SME law firm leaders and owners will face hurdles to overcome, both personal and professional. What matters is what one takes away from such trying times and how best you apply those lessons in moving forward. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Gale Family Law director David Gale about some of the setbacks he has faced in his life and why he chose to share those in the public forum of LinkedIn recently, the impact of those setbacks and how he has responded in order to move forward, both personally and professionally. Mr Gale also reflects on the lessons that can and should be gleaned from experiencing certain setbacks, the practical approaches he has applied in navigating those setbacks and what works and doesn’t work, safeguarding one’s self and one’s business from future potential hurdles, whether boutique firm owners can be better at talking about the setbacks they’re facing, and how best he thinks they can discuss them with a broader audience. 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!

On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, we explore the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence and digital media, how Australia and the globe should go about regulating tech advancements, and the role lawyers play in this area.   Host Jess Feyder spoke with Shane Budden, special counsel in ethics at the Queensland Law Society, about the critical juncture point we are at in the need to regulate new and existing technological inventions, while ensuring doing so in a way that its benefits are not suppressed for individuals and society.   The pair discuss where Australia is at with regulating tech, the major harms facing Australian society, and how Australia can be at the forefront of understanding and regulating new tech creations.   They also talk about how Australia can navigate regulation on a global level and the need to bring tech companies “along for the ride”, delve into the current look of prosecution against tech companies, and how the area may evolve.   Finally, the pair discuss the role of the lawyer, the unique skills and understanding lawyers possess that makes them well placed to tackle issues that new tech poses, and what lawyers can do to assure tech is harnessed in a way that is beneficial for society.