Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Naiman Clarke, we dive into what lawyers need to know when considering a vocational shift to corporate legal life, from salary expectations to requisite experience. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Naiman Clarke’s managing director, Elvira Naiman, about how life in-house has evolved over the last two decades and what change has been witnessed since the onset of COVID-19, evolving and emerging trends on the back of the pandemic, what roles law departments are most keen to fill right now, how much experience private practice lawyers should have before moving in-house, and additional skills they may need before doing so. Ms Naiman also details the extent to which branding is important in making such a vocational shift, salary expectations and realities for those shifting to corporate legal roles, post-pandemic and/or recession-inspired fluctuations in in-house roles, and why in-house life may be so rewarding for certain practitioners — but not all practitioners. 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!

With the Reserve Bank (RBA) announcing its policy decision for April, there is much speculation about whether the central bank has reached the peak of its current rate hike cycle or if there is still more pain to come for borrowers. So in this episode, Smart Property Investment’s Phil Tarrant and Finni Mortgages’ chief executive, Paul Glossop, talk about the factors that will affect the bank’s decision-making process in the coming months before unpacking the current sentiment among consumers, particularly borrowers who are bearing the brunt of the rate increases. With owner-occupier refinances hitting a record high, the duo discuss the importance of borrowers “looking under the hood” of their loans before looking into how mortgage holders can “sharpen the pencil” on their finances. Lastly, they also share their opinion on where — and when —  the RBA may choose to close out its rate rise cycle.

Succession planning is something that all boutique firm leaders must proactively prepare for. Knowing how and when is the right price to sell your firm for, however, may be eluding certain business owners. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with California-based practitioner Mike Chastaine about his journey as a firm owner, how and why he ended up selling that practice, adopting a state of mind whereby you’re a business owner providing legal services and the need for flexibility in getting a firm to a position where it can be sold for a price that the owner is happy with. Mr Chastaine also details how to quantify the right price to sell at based on personal circumstances and one’s practice area, any black and white questions that must be answered in determined how and when to sell, realising that — one day — every firm will be handed over in some capacity, being more open to acquisition opportunities and meaningfully working on agile succession plans. 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!

Most people come to law, Matthew Endo says, because they are interested in solving problems. Understanding one’s values prior to entering the profession can be critical, he notes, so that emerging practitioners can be best placed to make a difference. On this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Squire Patton Boggs associate Mathew Endo about how, as a claims and contract specialist, he came to decide to study and practise law, what he’s learnt from working in multiple jurisdictions across the globe, having a holistic perspective on coming into legal education and his thoughts on the future of online learning for law students. Mr Endo also discusses his views on balancing professional development and legal education, the importance of extracurricular activities in further developing one’s legal skills, how cultural issues in law will continue to play out, and his broader guidance to junior lawyers about how they can put their best foot forward in identifying the right vocational 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!

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Legalwise Seminars, we dive into the rise of artificial intelligence platforms like ChatGPT, the lawfulness of and issues surrounding such tech, and the broader implications for practitioners of all stripes. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Patrick Fair, adjunct professor at Deakin University and principal of Patrick Fair Associates, about ChatGPT and why its advent is so significant, how and why such technologies are only going to get better, the lawful considerations that practitioners have to take into account with these platforms and the need for legislative and regulatory frameworks to catch up to the pace of change. The pair also discuss how platforms like ChatGPT can alter the ways in which practitioners operate day-to-day, the checks and balances that will have to be implemented in utilising such platforms, new skills that will have to be developed, and tasks to be undertaken, the broader implications and opportunities for practitioners across the country, and how Legalwise Seminars is supporting lawyers’ growth on such questions. To learn more about Legalwise Seminars and preview Patrick’s upcoming SoCI webinar series, click here.

Any and all responses that businesses can make to a ransom demand are fraught with risk. Lawyers working with clients in the face of such cyber extortions must be able to navigate the legal and ethical issues arising from breaches and attacks and ensure they are continually upskilling against the threat of this evolving landscape. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Lander & Rogers partner Melissa Tan to discuss the state of affairs with cyber extortion payments, why mitigating factors surrounding the pressure of extortion payments aren’t taken into account by regulators, fueling the fire for potential class action proceedings, and how such ransom demands are fraught with risk, no matter how an extorted entity reacts. Ms Tan also dives into where the law is at on the criminalisation of such payments, how strictly said laws are being enforced, any urgent legislative updates that might be required, mechanisms or frameworks that businesses can and should be putting in place, how to determine what will constitute best practices for lawyers advising in this space, and the realities that such lawyers have to grapple with when dealing with 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, 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!

Relative to other jurisdictions, Australia is “very well prepared” for data and cyber breaches. However, the law remains “untested”, and how proceedings for such breaches will play out remains to be seen. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Professor John Swinson, who teaches privacy law and cyber security law in the School of Law at the University of Queensland, about growing awareness of data and cyber security issues and subsequent legal proceedings, where we’re at with such proceedings, how prepared Australia is compared to overseas jurisdictions and why. Professor Swinson also delves into broader privacy issues, what’s happening in the United States and what lessons can be taken from that jurisdiction for Australia, particularly pertaining to the awarding of damages, how courts here might quantify damages for certain proceedings, whether arbitrary determinations will be needed moving forward, and predictions for what the future could look like. 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, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with nrol director Jesse Shah about the gaps that legal employers are trying to fill, from practitioner to support positions. Mr Shah details the hiring constraints he is currently seeing in the legal profession and why such constraints are in place, whether he thinks the prospect of a recession is having an impact on hiring for certain positions, the state of affairs for legal support roles and how issues can be overcome, and why he believes partners need to take urgent action in filling certain positions. The episode also details Mr Shah’s views on the importance of retention for legal employers, why the current market is the hardest period of his career to date, why he perceives the candidate’s market remaining in place for a while longer, and how best he thinks employers and prospective employees alike can respond to what he’s seeing in the market. 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!

With the CPD deadline fast approaching, many lawyers will be looking for ways to complete their annual requirements. On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with LawCPD, we discuss why legal professionals may find themselves scrambling to get their points in and how best they can manage in the home stretch. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with LawCPD director Sarah Mateljan about the various circumstances facing lawyers that may impact their ability to accrue the requisite points, whether the post-pandemic new normal has made things harder for lawyers, pain and pressure points in finding time to get points, and practical steps that can and should be taken to avoid overwhelming one’s self in anticipation of the deadline. The pair also detail how best lawyers can ensure they are ticking the right boxes in accruing points, balancing their education accordingly between capped and uncapped, how providers can help lawyers keep an account of their points, what CPD sessions may still be available so close to the deadline, what LawCPD is currently offering, and how best lawyers can avoid the mad scramble this time next year. To learn more about LawCPD, 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!

Onboarding a new director in a law firm is a “really significant decision”. Staying true to the vision of your firm, and remembering what is most important, will help boutique leaders ensure that bringing new people into the fold is successful. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Polaris Lawyers principal and director Meg Caines about her own vocational journey towards directorship, whether it is something she had aspired to, the daily duties and responsibilities for directors of law firms, and what it’s like both personally and professionally. Ms Caines also details what a law firm needs to consider in determining how and when to introduce a new director into the fold, the boxes to be ticked in getting from A to B, how it can be a case-by-case process, the need to be flexible in going through the motions, lessons learnt from previous experiences of bringing on new directors, and her advice to other boutique firm leaders considering bringing more directors into the fold. 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!