Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

Charles Cho – the general counsel at NSW Treasury – joins the show to discuss his department’s winning of the Government Team of the Year category at the 2022 Corporate Counsel Awards and why government work is so stimulating. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, Mr Cho speaks with host Jerome Doraisamy about the various projects that his law department has worked on in the past 12 months leading to their eventual award win (including and especially the NSW government’s stimulus package during the peak of COVID-19). Mr Cho reflects on the duties of in-house teams in government departments and having a heightened sense of social responsibility, how government work may evolve for in-house lawyers in the near future, his analogy for the difference between in-house and private practice legal work in navigating client relationships, and makes his pitch to other lawyers to consider working in-house in government, in light of the purposeful and consequential work that can be undertaken. 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 special episode, produced by Lawyers Weekly’s sister brand, Cyber Security Connect, hosts Phillip Tarrant and Major General (retired) Marcus Thompson speak with Clyde & Co partners Reece Corbett-Wilkins and Avryl Lattin about how cyber has evolved into a legal obligation for businesses and firms. The episode begins with an analysis of the proceedings of the Federal Court against RI Advice, in which ASIC argued that cyber security controls within businesses were fundamental to minimise the threat of data misuse. The guests continue with an analysis of the requirements of financial services reporting in the event of cyber security breaches. Finally, the podcast wraps up with an examination of how businesses can ensure that they are meeting their obligations for data protection. To learn more about Cyber Security Connect, click here.

Water is foundational to life on this planet, and increasingly, we cannot take it for granted. Ensuring access to clean, safe water has been recognised internationally as a basic human right, and here in Australia, we need to start thinking of it as such in how our communities and marketplace move forward. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by University of Canberra Law School senior lecturer Dr Cristy Clark to discuss what is meant by the idea of water being a basic human right, how and when it was recognised as such by the United Nations, when the human right to air may be acknowledged, and the legal implications of recognising water as a human right, particularly against the backdrop of climate concerns. Dr Clark also outlines the state of affairs in Australia in recognising water as a human right, the level of consciousness that Australians have about some of the dire consequences of lack of access to water across the country, what can be done by lawyers and non-lawyers alike, and why this is such an important legal, social and environmental issue for our nation 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!

The movement away from paper, and acceleration in uptake of technological platforms, is perhaps no more stark than in the conveyancing space. And, there is much more change and excitement still to come. On this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Sympli, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Sympli chief executive Philip Joyce about the state of affairs in the conveyancing landscape in Australia and the acceleration of recent trends, the flow-on benefits from increased marketplace competition, the advent of interoperability and why it is so important, and looming issues and challenges following the passage of recent legislative changes in this space. Mr Joyce also outlines the journey of Sympli as a provider, the need to meaningfully communicate value propositions for practitioners experiencing a high volume of change in their daily practice methodologies, overcoming the potential for “change fatigue”, and what practitioners must be looking out for in the short term so as to grasp the myriad opportunities that lie ahead. To learn more about Sympli, click here.

The notion of “doing more with less” is a foremost consideration for in-house legal teams. For team leaders, ensuring that the health and wellbeing of the department doesn’t fall by the wayside in the process has to be inextricable from such a notion. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by NSW Department of Planning and Environment deputy general counsel of property and commercial Somerset Hoy to discuss the need to be seen as an enabler rather than a roadblock and how this may free up more budget for the legal team, prioritising the health and wellbeing of individual team members when trying to do more with less and whether this is oxymoronic. Ms Hoy also delves into how to ensure that doing more with less whilst catering to wellness is a compatible approach, the need for creative and out-of-the-box thinking, and a reframing of the conversation with other departments in the business, so that the legal team can thrive in the right ways, and also her guidance for law department leaders as to what works and doesn’t work in striking the right balance. 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 being born with total blindness, Amanda Heal has always been determined to make a difference. Here, the lawyer-turned-author and keynote speaker reflects on her journey in law, the challenges faced in practice and why all can be overcome if one has an underlying mission in their life. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Ms Heal about her early life and living with a disability, the struggles she faced in finding work in law, her 17-year stint as a government lawyer, whether those years were formative in helping her find her vocational purpose, and ultimately realising that, deep down, she had always wanted to help and inspire people. Ms Heal discusses the vocational epiphany she had and the steps she took to realise her dreams, the central message she imparts and advocates for, how lawyers can determine if they are living out their true purpose and whether it has to be vocationally driven, what lawyers can take away from her experiences, and if lawyers can and should be striving for more in their lives. 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!

Anjali Nadaradjane has always been interested in international relations – a passion which she has immersed herself in whilst furthering her legal development. It’s an area and skillset, that will be fundamental for the next generation of lawyers, she believes. On this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by MinterEllison lawyer Anjali Nadaradjane to discuss her long-term interest in international relations and international law, the bounty of projects she has involved herself in (from the US Consulate Sydney Youth Advisory Counsel to New Colombo Plan National Summit), and what she has learned – both about herself and the world around us – from such engagement. Ms Nadaradjane also argues for emerging legal professionals to better educate themselves about the Asia-Pacific region, noting that literacy about our region is essential – not only as the geopolitical and sociocultural landscape evolves, but also so that lawyers can adopt a broader, more holistic understanding and appreciation for legal practice and how best to serve clients in the future. 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!

Legal employers have made great strides in recent years to better accommodate and cater to the myriad wellness needs of professionals. However, there are longstanding structural issues that impact the wellbeing of those coming through the ranks, which are incredibly difficult to overcome. On this episode of Legal Lightbulbs, produced by Lawyers Weekly and Bowd, hosts Jerome Doraisamy and Fionn Bowd discuss the circumstances that give rise to elevated levels of unhappiness as well as psychological distress, anxiety and depression among new practitioners. They talk about reactive versus proactive approaches, inherited structural problems, and whether junior lawyers prefer WFH arrangements as a way of counteracting some of the worst aspects of the workplace. Jerome and Fionn also reflect on whether WFH arrangements will improve happiness levels over time or whether they will give rise to new problems. They ask whether employers have a duty to meaningfully and honestly communicate with staff about the expectations and parameters of legal work, whether there is an individual responsibility to manage one’s own wellness, and ultimately, whether we should take the view that honesty from all parties is essential to moving forward. To learn more about Fionn Bowd, click here. If you have any questions you want to see answered on this show, reach out to Jerome at editor@lawyersweekly.com.au.

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with 30 Under 30 principal partner Taylor Root, Lawyers Weekly speaks with two of the finalists for the financial services category about the challenges of the past year and how they have navigated those. Hosts Jerome Doraisamy and Taylor Root head of Australia Hayden Gordine speak with The Fold Legal senior associate Glenjon Aligiannis and Herbert Smith Freehills solicitor Sarah Webster about how and why they got into financial services, the headline issues and challenges that they have had to grapple with in the past 12 months, how the advent of WFH arrangements has changed the nature of financial services work and the opportunities for young lawyers to establish themselves in this practice area. The quartet also discuss cyber security challenges for AFSLs moving forward following a recent Federal Court case and how those proceedings reinforced what constitutes best practice for lawyers, the ever-present cyber security concerns that businesses must be across, what Mr Aligiannis and Ms Webster are most excited about moving forward as lawyers in this space, and what works and doesn’t work when it comes to succeeding as an emerging practitioner. 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!

Twice in his expansive career, award-nominated lawyer Michael Guilday has served as the inaugural general counsel for a business he has worked for. Establishing the law department – as well as its processes and position within the business – whilst ensuring optimal service, brings with it myriad challenges but also opportunities. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Sydney Fish Market general counsel Michael Guilday to discuss how he came to be the inaugural in-house lawyer for two different businesses, the process through which a business will look to engage its first-ever corporate counsel and the reasons for doing so, the need to help reduce costs and address other headline issues that led to the hiring of a lawyer. Mr Guilday also reflects on how overwhelming it can sometimes be to manage such a workload as the only lawyer but also the opportunities that come from such circumstances, the need to be “comfortable being uncomfortable”, the balance between proactive and reactive professional development and training, how and when to debrief following difficult days, and the lessons he’s learned that other inaugural GCs can and must take away from his experiences. 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!