Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

Eleven years ago, the former Queensland state government proposed laws to criminalise gays, lesbians and singles from undertaking surrogacy. Internationally renowned surrogacy expert Stephen Page was among those who fought against the flagged laws and ultimately won that fight. Here, he discusses why lawyers can and must embrace change and always remember to serve others. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Page Provan director Stephen Page about his personal and professional journey, leading the fight against the then Queensland attorney-general's push to criminalise gays, lesbians and singles from undertaking surrogacy, why this fight was so important and the toll it took on him. Mr Page also reflects on the legal skills he drew on during that fight, how it made him a better lawyer and advocate, why the label "activist" isn't a bad thing for legal professionals, and how and why it is so critical for lawyers to remember that they are ultimately servants of the court and the communities around them. 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 Naiman Clarke, we discuss why it is so important for lawyers who are hoping for pay rises in the new financial year to be pragmatic about what salary increases they can garner in the current climate. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Naiman Clarke director Elvira Naiman to discuss whether we are in danger of seeing lawyers have unrealistic expectations about their potential salary increases, why lawyers may be anticipating higher-than-normal pay rises, the factors that can and will drive the quantum of increases, and how a potential recession might impact such eventualities. Ms Naiman also reflects on the potential outcomes for lawyers who may find that their salary increases aren't in line with what they were expecting, whether there could be increased movement between employers in the near future, the salary ranges we might be able to expect in the near future, the incentives being offered by employers in place of bigger salary increases, how to temper one's expectations, and discusses Naiman Clarke's upcoming salary guide. To learn more about Naiman Clarke, and find out about its upcoming salary guide, 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!

Here, an ex-police prosecutor turned law student discusses why he has decided to swap ends of the bar table. On this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jess Feyder speaks with Joshua Kelly, who has spent two decades as a cop and held the role of police prosecutor, about why he decided to begin a law career. Mr Kelly discusses why his role in the police force has aided his understanding of the law and why it gives him a unique perspective to practise from. He discusses cases during his time as a prosecutor that impacted him and motivated him to make the change to law. Mr Kelly also talks about where he sees his legal career going and where Australia's prosecution system might be flawed. 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!

Given how much the legal landscape is modernising, relationships are more essential than ever before. As Gabriella Pomare says, "it's who you know, it's who you get to know, and it's about putting yourself out there". On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with The Norton Law Group partner Gabriella Pomare about becoming a leader in the firm set up by her father, what leadership means to her in the context of their family law firm, and the challenges involved in being a good leader in the age of COVID-19. Ms Pomare also details her thoughts on good relationship management, instilling the right mentalities in junior staff, navigating idiosyncratic needs and personality differences within a team, building and maintaining relationships with various external stakeholders, what constitutes a good investment of time and energy in relationships, why it is more important than ever before, and balancing such management on top of all other responsibilities for boutique law firm leaders. 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 Corporate Counsel Show, produced in partnership with LOD, we explore how law departments can successfully navigate cost-cutting in these economically uncertain times. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by LOD head of market insights Mark Dodd and senior legal counsel Helena Kolenbet to discuss what in-house legal teams are currently grappling with when it comes to cost-cutting, the impact of such fiscal constraints on those teams, how Australian law departments might be faring compared to overseas counterparts, and whether cost-cutting is at, or near, the top of in-house leader's list of urgent priorities. Mr Dodd and Ms Kolenbet also outline practical ways that law departments can thrive amid a cost-cutting environment, including ruthless prioritisation, eliminating waste, avoiding over-involvement so as to better manage given tasks, being pragmatic about what can be achieved, and boosting team morale, and how those in-house teams can and will benefit from implementation of such approaches. To learn more about LOD, 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!

Justice David Smuts of the Supreme Court of Namibia shares how he has helped shape Namibia's laws and legal system to imbed human rights into the country. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jess Feyder speaks with Justice David Smuts about the changes he's been instrumental in in Namibia's legal system and how he went about securing those changes. Justice Smuts discusses how he challenged laws and aspects of the constitution, at a time when the country gained independence and its constitution and legal framework were being formed. His Honour also discusses how he has presided over court cases and worded judgments, aiming to influence the law and broader society to move towards equality and rights for both humans and animals. Justice Smuts discusses his career path, his motivations, and the methods he's used to challenge laws and drive change, reflecting on how Namibia's society has changed and how the judiciary has played a role in moving the country towards equality. His Honour also muses on the significance of the judiciary in its role of upholding moral principles and human rights for a country and gives advice to Australian lawyers who are passionate about driving positive legal and social change. 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!

Becoming a parent did more than reshape Matthew Hodgkinson's personal life — it also changed, for the better, his professional pathway, leading him to become a "fractional" general counsel and have a greater appreciation for the need for "forgiving" advice and perspective as an in-house lawyer. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Papillon Lawyers principal and managing partner Matthew Hodgkinson about how and why he ended up being a "fractional" general counsel, what that means and how it differs from being a freelance GC, the familial circumstances that mean operating as a fractional counsel is suitable for his needs. Mr Hodgkinson also unpacks how his vocational journey has shaped his thinking on what it means to be a good general counsel, the need for "forgiving" legal guidance and business advice, how fractional GC life is compatible with the post-pandemic world, whether he thinks the number of fractional GCs will increase in the future, and what excites him about that prospect. 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!

Historically, Simon Tupman muses, the legal profession has associated strong performance as a practitioner with leadership capabilities. In an ever-changing professional services marketplace, he says, leadership in law must have a more all-encompassing approach — because good lawyers don't necessarily make good leaders. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Simon Tupman — a consultant, speaker and mentor to law firms — about what he believes law firms and legal teams are getting wrong when it comes to identifying leaders and why, whether poor leadership can cancel out any financial benefits that arise from promoting successful practitioners, and whether a revamp of business models in law will be required to better elevate certain leaders. Mr Tupman also reflects on how flexible and adaptable leaders in law have been since the onset of the global pandemic and what they are getting right in the new normal, the need for leaders in law to be more holistic in their approaches, and the key principles he has identified that will constitute effective leadership in the legal profession moving forward. 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 Protégé Podcast, Sydney-based law student Niki Nojoumian talks about why Australia should lower the voting age, and the legal and societal changes that would surround it. Host Jess Feyder speaks with Niki Nojoumian, a law student whose essay on lowering the voting age in Australia has gained recognition. Ms Nojoumian discusses the changes that should come with Australia adopting a voting age of 16, why it is especially relevant for this change to happen now, and why she found it important to advocate for a lower voting age. She also talks about why she decided to formulate the essay and the influential role her mentors have played in the project, discusses how law students can become engaged with the topic, and gives advice on how to successfully pursue research projects.

Across Australia, corporate entities have taken a stance on the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament. But what happens if a lawyer in a firm has a different view from their employer? On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Swaab partner Michael Byrnes to discuss why so many corporate entities, including law firms, have decided to take a position on the Voice, the market factors driving such corporate positioning, and the potential implications for their employees — particularly those who might have opposing views. Mr Byrnes details the various employment and workplace relations scenarios that will have to be worked through, how employees can reasonably express their views if they are in conflict with their employer's position, the dangers of overstepping in publicly contradicting one's employer, and the steps both sides may need to take to ensure freedom of expression is balanced against corporate interests. 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!