Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

Here, a BigLaw partner reflects on what we've learnt in the last year and a half from the Secure Jobs, Better Pay legislative changes and what it all means for the market moving forward. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Norton Rose Fulbright partner Alexandra Shields about her work in employment and labour law, the "human element" of such legal practice, what the recent Secure Jobs, Better Pay amendments are and why they were introduced, the key takeaways from the last 12 to 18 months following the passage of the amendments, and the issues and challenges that have arisen. Shields also delves into how best to respond to those issues and challenges, the more encouraging developments from the last 12 to 18 months, whether developments in the market can be attributed to the amended legislation, why changing the employment and labour market is a longer-term project, going by the "vibes", how employers should respond to the current climate, considering their reputations, and what is best practice for lawyers in this space 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!

In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, produced in partnership with Elevate Flexible Legal Resourcing, we explore why contracting roles are no longer a stopgap and how legal departments and law firms are staying ahead with adopting agile resourcing strategies. We also delve into the changing attitudes in the industry and what is driving these changes. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with the Head of APAC at Elevate Flexible Legal Resourcing, Val Pitt, about her industry insights. They discuss the catalysts for increased interest in contracting roles and what it means for the legal services marketplace; the environmental factors that make contracting more appealing right now; how contract lawyers are being integrated into law departments; and the questions lawyers should ask of themselves in order to successfully integrate into a team. Val also explains the growing recognition of flexible work as being a viable career pathway, the win-win scenario for both individual lawyers and law departments as they onboard new technologies and manage budgetary constraints, why contracting is so "transformative", why more law departments are embracing it, and what listeners should know about what makes Elevate Flexible Legal Resourcing a stand-out option. To learn more about Elevate Flexible Resourcing, click here.

In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, recorded at the 2025 Corporate Counsel Summit, Professor Michael Adams reflects on the myriad issues law departments in tertiary education settings have to grapple with in terms of students' use of artificial intelligence. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Professor Michael Adams, a former law school dean and general counsel, about students' use of AI for exams and assessments, the questions that faculties across campuses are having to navigate, and why in-house legal teams in universities have to be part of the conversation determining the right balance for students' use of such platforms. Adams also delves into how the law departments can better collaborate with academics, the need to engage the student body as a key stakeholder, and why such questions and challenges will become increasingly pertinent for law departments in the education sphere 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!

In the modern age, we are seeing multiple examples of reactionary legislation being passed based on faulty, after-the-fact reasoning. Lawyers, among others, have a duty to speak out (as servants of the courts and communities) and educate about the implications of passing laws that do not strike the right balance. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back JSA NSW director Andrew Tiedt to discuss the phenomenon of after-the-fact reasoning giving rise to the passage of bad legislation, how and why this occurs, the impact of social media, how key stakeholders can be left out if laws are being passed based on public perceptions and pressure, and why parliamentarians may wish to do this. Tiedt also delves into why it isn't necessarily a good thing for parliamentarians to respond to the court of public opinion, the implications of the passage of bad laws on practitioners (such as criminal lawyers), how lawyers can prevent such laws from being passed, their duty to be advocates, the longer-term dangers of such bad laws passing, who else bears responsibility for ensuring laws are measured and reasonable, and why it can be so hard to strike 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!

In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, recorded at the 2025 Corporate Counsel Summit, SBS senior legal counsel Nicole Choolun reflects on why it is so important for the law department to showcase its risk appetite. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Choolun about the importance of being seen as less risk-averse, legal's perceptions from other business functions, and balancing one's risk-averse training against having a greater risk appetite. Choolun also delves into the questions that legal should ask of itself to have a greater risk appetite, the flow-on benefits that come from not being as risk-averse, what she has learnt from times when she and her team have been less risk-averse, and how best other in-house can take steps to be better seen as trusted business advisers. 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 of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Distinctive Finance, we unpack the current economic outlook, including the potential for further interest rate cuts before Christmas and what it could mean for legal professionals looking to get ahead. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Christian Goodall and Mitchell Lobb, co-founders and directors of Distinctive Finance. Together, they share how they support legal professionals in building stronger financial futures, offer insights into the current market, and discuss the impact of inflation on Reserve Bank decisions and property prices. Goodall and Lobb also explore how lawyers should approach the property market today, how to strengthen loan applications, the value of expert financial advice, and what's driving legal professionals to take action now. To learn more about Distinctive Finance, 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!

A recent report from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) pertaining to government use of messaging apps raises pertinent legal and compliance questions, says one BigLaw partner. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Holding Redlich ACT managing partner Elizabeth Carroll to discuss the latest in government legal work, the recent OAIC report pertaining to government use of messaging apps, whether conversations on commercial apps can be compromised, whether use of such apps by government agencies or workers is widespread, and why they may use those apps rather than more official channels. Carroll also delves into best practice for the use or otherwise of such messaging apps, the steps that must be taken, being proactive about use by agencies and workers, and her broader guidance to government stakeholders about upholding their duties to their departments as well as to the taxpayer.

Despite progress in recent years to raise awareness of in-house vocational pathways, much work remains to be done, one GC argues. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with University of Adelaide general counsel and executive director of legal services Shanti Berggren about why she is so passionate about the education sector, the ever-present need to increase awareness of in-house vocational pathways for next-generation lawyers, what is missing from career conversations, and how technology makes it even more important to communicate the value of such pathways. Berggren also touches on what constitutes a good in-house lawyer in the current climate, how other business units are increasingly appreciating the legal function, the need for law departments to better promote themselves to graduates and students, how her university is starting to make strides to educate those coming through the ranks, moving past misconceptions, and the key pillars for good leadership and development for the next generation. 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 of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with NSB Cyber, we explore how and why it is more important than ever for lawyers and their businesses to better collaborate and engage with experts in the face of myriad cyber security concerns. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by NSB Cyber co-founder and chief executive Shane Bell to discuss the work of NSB Cyber, how lawyers are moving past a "set and forget" mindset to cyber matters, the current state of affairs with lawyers and cyber, taking cyber protections and frameworks to the next level, and ensuring proactivity above reactivity. Bell also delves into the need for all lawyers to be across cyber security concerns as they pertain to their practice areas, lawyers' cognisance of their elevated duties, wearing multiple hats, how having a trusted adviser on board can assist and the practical benefits of doing so, whether such relationships are being driven by clients, questions to be asking of one's business, and more. To learn more about NSB Cyber, 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, a leading tax lawyer reflects on the current state of affairs for practitioners, the intangibles and implications from a high-profile High Court proceeding, and what makes tax law such a meaningful vocational pathway. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Corrs Chambers Westgarth head of tax controversy Angelina Lagana about her career in this practice area and what she finds uplifting about it, the headline trends and challenges facing practitioners in this space, how different the climate may be for tax lawyers post-election, and how such practitioners are clamouring for change. Lagana also delves into the PepsiCo proceedings in the High Court and the case's implications and intangibles, what to look out for with the bench's looming decision, what will constitute best practice for tax lawyers moving forward, and why the younger generation coming through the ranks should view tax law as an appealing vocational pathway. 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!