Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

Five years ago, the Coalition government announced it closed the loophole that enables perpetrators of sexual abuse to hide assets in superannuation. Since then, nothing has changed. As such, Andrew Carpenter is on a mission to ensure that this changes — and soon. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks to Websters Lawyers senior associate Andrew Carpenter about how and why he started working with survivors of sexual abuse, the financial issues they encounter, the impact upon those survivors, and the broader legal and societal implications for perpetrators being able to hide assets in their super accounts. Mr Carpenter also delves into the specific changes that advocates like himself — and numerous foundations he collaborates with, including the Grace Tame Foundation — are pushing for, the likelihood that the new Labor government will introduce measures to close this loophole, the state of affairs in jurisdictions across Australia, and whether lawyers themselves can support this campaign. 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 one’s own employer can be a daunting prospect. However, if the right opportunity presents itself, junior lawyers should be unafraid to grab it with both hands. On this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with award-nominated lawyer and principal of KF Lawyers Australia, Katrina Favre, about the circumstances that led to her leaving her job to set up her own firm, the personal and professional deliberations that went into making that decision, the navigation of client relationships in such a process, and weighing up the pros and cons of such a vocational window of opportunity. Ms Favre also reflects on making such a leap during a global pandemic, ensuring that one’s branding is up to scratch in order to succeed, the challenges to overcome in establishing a new practice as a junior lawyer, the non-negotiable steps that a new business owner must take, thinking of one’s self as a business owner and not just a lawyer, and why others coming through the ranks should be unafraid of setting up their own firms if the timing is right.

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Blumers Personal Injury Lawyers director Noor Blumer to discuss the application of ethics, and ethical conduct, particularly in uncertain and turbulent times, and why ethical conduct remains so critically important for all lawyers. Ms Blumer outlines practical examples of ethical problems she has witnessed during her storied career, why ethical conduct is as important as ever, if the need for ethical conduct is heightened in the current age, navigating particular hypothetical ethical conundrums, whether abiding by ethical conduct rules is becoming harder, and her guidance for fellow lawyers in ensuring optimal ethics in the post-pandemic new normal. To learn more about Blumers, 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!

On this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with LexisNexis, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with LexisNexis executive vice-president and general counsel Ian McDougall about how technology, in general, is proving to be as much of a challenge to the rule of law as a support to it. Mr McDougall details how and why there is an intersection between the rule of law and the advancement of legal technological platforms and processes. Are lawyers losing sight of the importance of the rule of law amidst the mainstreaming of legal tech? He discusses the practical steps that lawyers must take to ensure the rule of law is not lost in the shuffle, why the rule of law is not a competing priority in the wake of myriad market disruption and turbulence, and the benefits that will flow — both for lawyers and their clients — should the rule of law be promoted in one’s use of tech. For more information about the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation at their efforts, 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!  

Corporate counsel have, for some time, been cognisant of the need to be more adept with cyber security. The recent Optus attack is not only a timely reminder of this need — but it also offers myriad lessons and warnings for in-house lawyers in how they manage their business’ affairs. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes Hall & Wilcox partner and head of cyber Eden Winokur to discuss the fallout from the recent cyber attack on telco giant Optus, the key takeaways from a legal standpoint from that attack, and why in-house lawyers must see this as a wake-up call for ensuring that cyber is front and centre of everything that they do within and for their business. Mr Winokur details the corporate lessons from the attack, practical steps that corporate counsel can and must take moving forward, stakeholders with whom they have to engage, challenges they will have to navigate, and the opportunities to be grasped in prioritising cyber 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!

Despite multiple award wins, Jason Betts doesn’t allow himself to get complacent. No matter what, he always pushes himself to do more and won’t ever presume that a client is fully satisfied with his service. Being comfortable in such discomfort, he feels, has been critical to his success. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Herbert Smith Freehills partner Jason Betts — who won the Litigation Partner, the Dispute Resolution Partner, and the Excellence Award categories at the 2022 Partner of the Year Awards — about the traits that are necessary to success for law firm leaders, avoiding intellectual arrogance, and having the fortitude to be humble. Mr Betts also explains why he thinks partners must be comfortable being uncomfortable, what that looks like and how to embrace it, what he has learnt from failures in his career, maintaining hunger for the role, and offers advice for aspiring partners in the modern marketplace. 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 novelty of working remotely, or flexibly, has not worn off for many legal professionals. The mainstreaming of WFH is, for some, an irreversible trend. But are there ways that the office can become a more enticing workspace? On this episode of Legal Lightbulbs, our hosts — Lawyers Weekly editor Jerome Doraisamy and Bowd chief executive Fionn Bowd — reflect on the bounty of choice that legal professionals have in determining where they work from each day, the systemic and environmental issues that meant that some pre-pandemic workplaces were not conducive to collegiality and development, and why businesses should even see upside in having staff come back in to a shared workspace. The hosts also dive into whether the law office is even salvageable in the post-pandemic new normal, how best collaboration and efficiency can be gleaned in new-look office spaces, the inextricable need for better training and development in person, and understanding that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to recreating a vibrant, full office moving forward. To learn more about Fionn Bowd, click here. If you have questions you want to see answered on this show, reach out to Jerome at editor@lawyersweekly.com.au or Fionn at fionn.bowd@bowd.legal. 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!

Advocating for your career as a junior lawyer is “not just about going for the next rung” — so much more is involved, says this professional. On this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with K&L Gates lawyer Mei Gong about her career to date, how she learnt about the need to advocate for one’s career, why it is so important for junior lawyers to do so, and whether such advocacy comes naturally to her and to other new legal professionals. Ms Gong also discusses her experiences during the COVID-19 lockdowns and how they inspired her to better advocate for herself, what she has learnt along the way, the questions that junior lawyers should ask of themselves in getting started on the advocacy journey, practical steps to take, and what she has learnt about herself — personally and professionally — on her journey. 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!

One decade ago (to the date of publication of this episode), Lawyers Weekly editor Jerome Doraisamy admitted himself to hospital, in light of his spiralling anxiety and depression, which verged on suicide ideation. Here, he reflects on that period of ill-health, his journey since, and lessons learned. Content warning: This episode contains content that may be disturbing or distressing to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Herbert Smith Freehills senior associate Codie Asimus interviews Jerome Doraisamy about his mental breakdown 11 years ago, the 18-month bout of ill-health that followed (including hospitalisation), what he learned from his experiences with severe clinical anxiety and depression, and how he feels reflecting on that time of his life, one decade on. Codie and Jerome also discuss the current state of affairs for wellness in Australia’s legal profession, the evolving role of team leaders post-pandemic and the increased need for individual responsibility in the new normal, and also flesh out some advice for lawyers across the board who may be suffering from psychological distress. Help is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636. Each law society and bar association also has further contacts 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!

A must-listen for anyone with a mortgage, Property Finance Uncut gives Aussies the latest intel on the lending scene. Join Smart Property Investment’s Phil Tarrant and Finni Mortgages chief executive Paul Glossop to unpack the latest Reserve Bank of Australia cash rate decision.