Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

Lawyers “have an obligation to give back”, Paula Robinson argues. Not only it is incumbent upon practitioners to use their privilege for good, she says, but it also helps them better serve their clients and businesses. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Ailier principal Paula Robinson – who is also chair of the Queensland Academy of Sport Advisory Board, chair of Tennis Australia’s National Gender Equality Task force, vice-president of Football Queensland and former vice-president of Tennis Queensland – to discuss why wearing numerous hats and garnering executive experience can be critical to one’s success as a boutique firm leader. The pair delve into Ms Robinson’s journey as a management executive prior to her legal career, how such experience served her in legal practice, how she balances wearing so many hats, the importance of giving back, and the practical steps that other firm owners can take to garner such executive experience. 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!

Allowing fears, nerves, or anxieties dictate what new lawyers can and cannot do has prevented many of them from taking up extraordinary opportunities and carving out a place for themselves in the legal profession – but it’s time to find freedom from those stressors and put themselves and their careers first. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, we’re doing things a little bit differently because it marks the first time that one of Lawyers Weekly’s book reviews/interviews is done over a podcast. Today we’re looking at Freedom From Fear by Vera Culkoff, an experienced barrister working out of Second Floor Selborne Chambers.  In Freedom From Fear, Vera talks not only about her personal and professional journeys but explains how the power of thoughts creates illusory fears that prevent many from realising their dreams. For lawyers, that could mean saying no to opportunities they feel they aren’t ready for (even if they are) or considering passing it onto more senior professionals (which Vera almost did).  In addition to exploring the many key messages for new lawyers, this episode touches on how Vera herself navigated her own fears to make it as a barrister and the advice she can pass on to new lawyers. We also chat about how Vera made it into the profession in the first place: surprisingly, it all started as a hobby.  The episode has more by the way of tips for lawyers of all ages and career stages (and some particularly for female lawyers) as well as what life is like at the bar. Have a listen below!  If you have any questions about the episode or if there are any topics that you might want us to look into, please reach out – we would love to hear from you!  We’re also always open to new guests, so if you have an exciting story to tell, if you’re standing out as a student or graduate, or if you can offer some tips for our young lawyers, get in touch.  You can reach us here: Emails: editor@lawyersweekly.com.au or naomi.neilson@momentummedia.com.au Socials: Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter or reach out to me directly here.

There has been an “explosion of interest” in the clean energy space, say three senior lawyers from Gilbert + Tobin, with a fascinating 2021 set to lead to an even busier and more interesting 2022. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by G+T partner Michael Blakiston and special counsel Patrick Tydde and Christopher Marchesi to discuss the year that was in clean energy and decarbonisation, the big issues that lawyers in this space have had to grapple with (particularly given the political undertones), the role of hydrogen moving forward, and the economic viability of new energy pathways. The BigLaw trio also delve into the state of affairs with carbon markets, how Australia is performing relative to global counterparts, the challenges created for lawyers in advising clients, the impact of “greenwashing”, and what’s been happening in the courts with regards to energy, including but not limited to the outcomes of recent cases, the likelihood of climate-related class actions, and what lawyers in this space can look forward to as 2022 approaches. 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 LexisNexis, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Lindsay O’Connor about ongoing issues practitioners are experiencing with drafting and the role of technology as the profession moves to adapt to more modern methods of practice. Ms O’Connor – who is the head of online solutions at LexisNexis – outlines the myriad of pain points that practitioners of all stripes are facing, and have faced in a pre-pandemic world, that are impacting upon their businesses and clients. She explains why better integration for one’s drafting processes and tech capabilities is such an urgent priority moving forward, the extent to which legal teams and firms are cognisant of the need to do so, and the dangers in not acting fast. She also delves into the various transitions that might be required in order to drive a legal practice forward, including but not limited to movement away from billable hours towards fixed fees, broader practical steps that leaders can and should be taking, what a successful practitioner looks like in 2022 and how LexisNexis can help one achieve this. 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 traditional understanding of what makes a good in-house counsel “is no longer” – in the post-pandemic market, only a counsel who not only understands but helps shape a business’ governance frameworks will be successful. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Youi executive general manager of legal, compliance and regulatory affairs Russell Redsell to discuss what governance is and its constant principles, how and where governance failures lead to issues, and the need for those in-house to ensure they are more than simply lawyers, particularly at this critical juncture. The pair also talk about the myriad hats that those in-house must wear, the added burdens of staying on top of governance matters, practical steps one can take to better serve their businesses, and other advice regarding the need to be more attuned to good governance. 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!

Whilst Hayley Tarr is based at Burleigh Heads Beach in Queensland, she boasts clients from all over the world. Anything is possible, she says, in building a practice that thinks and lives beyond physical boundaries. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Tarr Law founding director Hayley Tarr (who was a finalist in the sole practitioner of the year category at the 2021 Women in Law Awards) to discuss how she found her current vocational path amidst personal turmoil and why it is so important to add more strings to one’s bow by way of having a broader client base in the post-pandemic market. The pair also talk about how such an approach to one’s client base can bring success moving forward, the need to think like an entrepreneur, avoiding complacency and managing one’s workload, the potential to grow a larger firm by way of having international clients, and what others can learn from her approach and 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!

With WFH becoming increasingly mainstream, there is an opportunity for employers to create office spaces and working environments that are better fit for idiosyncratic needs and purposes and for employees to leverage what is important to them. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Bowd Legal chief executive Fionn Bowd, who returns to the show to discuss why she believes we are entering a “golden age” for legal offices, what this means, and the many avenues that employers can explore in enticing staff into office spaces that are tailored to personal and professional needs, thereby better imbibing community, collegiality and, ultimately, productivity. The pair also flesh out why demarcation between home and work is so important, striking the right balance in such demarcation, how employees can communicate what is important to them, and the flow-on effects of making such structural, physical, environmental and, ultimately, vocational changes to the office. 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!

Newly elected ACC global board chair Mike Madden – just the second Australian to hold the role – speaks with Lawyers Weekly about how the role of general counsel is evolving and his hopes for in-house professionals more broadly. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Hyne Timber head of group legal, compliance, commercial and procurement Mike Madden, who was recently elected global board chair for the Association of Corporate Counsel, to discuss his journey in the legal profession, how and why it was important to him to get involved in the in-house member association and what he hopes to achieve as chair. The pair also talk about what Mr Madden envisions for the future of in-house lawyers, how he sees their roles evolving as we enter the post-pandemic market, the challenges he foresees for such professionals, as well as the opportunities for them to grasp in the new normal. 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 term “intersectionality” was first coined by a lawyer. As a move towards the post-pandemic market, adopting an intersectional approach to legal practice will be increasingly essential for meaningful service of one’s clients. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Regal Lawyers principal Mannie Kaur Verma to discuss what intersectionality means in the context of legal practice, how and why such an approach is so important to Ms Kaur Verma and the barriers she has faced in life that gave rise to such an approach in law. The pair also talk about how intersectionality pertains to the underlying altruism of legal practice, pushing back against potential scepticism to mainstream adoption of intersectional approaches to clients, how it applies in an increasingly virtual practice environment, and practical steps that lawyers and leaders can take to reposition their collaboration 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!

Outside of the unrealities played out on television screens, criminal law can be packed full of exciting cases, clients and, sometimes, court appearances – but it’s also highly competitive, so how can new lawyers make a career out of it? Protégé chats with a relatively new criminal lawyer on the pathway he took into the field. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Naomi Neilson is joined by criminal lawyer Ben Watson to discuss his career journey into this exciting space of the legal profession. Much like many other practice areas, this meant pursuing stepping stones and alternative careers before finding the best move forward. In another episode packed full of advice for new lawyers, Ben chats about how a different career dream came first but ultimately led him to criminal law. He also discusses what soon-to-be-lawyers wanting the same career should start doing now and offers tips for law students on making it into the wide world of law. Ben also shares how a Facebook page he created turned into a useful source of information for criminal lawyers. Not only is this space an opportunity for lawyers to chat about cases and ask for advice, but it has also become a hub for a community to engage with each other, network, and share professional and personal stories. For all this and more, have a listen below! If you have any questions about the episode or if there are any topics that you might want us to look into, please reach out – we would love to hear from you! We’re also always open to new guests, so if you have an exciting story to tell, if you’re standing out as a student or graduate, or if you can offer some tips for our young lawyers, get in touch. You can reach us here: Emails: editor@lawyersweekly.com.au or naomi.neilson@momentummedia.com.au Socials: Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter or reach out to me directly here.