Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

Having taken the time to be more deliberate about what her vocational journey should look like, this senior lawyer has better positioned herself for success in ways that make sense to her, rather than what others may want or demand from a practitioner like herself.

In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Australian Public Service principal legal officer Rachael Karlyl to discuss having worked in so many Australian jurisdictions, how she's found the transition from being a firm owner to working for the public service as a team leader, how and when she started to design her career in more deliberate ways, and how the age of the pandemic has influenced lawyers' thinking on what their careers should look like.

Karlyl also delves into what it means to design one's legal career, the important questions that lawyers need to ask of themselves (even if those questions are confronting), her advice to those who might be scared to undertake such vocational changes, whether it's incumbent upon lawyers to take such steps, and why she's a better lawyer for having done so.

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, X 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 [email protected]

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Mary Technology, we explore the headline challenges and pain points law firms still face with workload volume, and how the right technologies can act as a "flotation device" if a sense of being drowned arises.

Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Mary Technology co-founder Rowan McNamee about how the tech provider came to be, the need to solve evergreen pain points, what's new at Mary Tech, the most common issues and challenges the provider sees with law firms, and why feeling like a team or firm is "drowning" in documentation is such a "massive problem" across the board.

McNamee also dives into the conversations the provider is having with firms to address these issues, how Mary's AI can assist with specific workflows, the end result from following certain steps, flow-on benefits for workplace collaboration, mitigating fact chaos, the need to proactively address compounding challenges, and where Mary is headed in the future.

To learn more about Mary Technology, click here.

Here, the head of arbitration at a BigLaw firm reflects on the proliferation of digital infrastructure projects globally, together with treaty considerations and protections for Australian investors, and how the combination of a "massive" expansion of data needs in the age of AI and elevated national security concerns makes this area one of the most consequential in the coming 10 years.

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Corrs Chambers Westgarth head of arbitration Nastasja Suhadolnik to discuss why she's so stimulated by arbitration work, why there is such a proliferation of projects regarding digital infrastructure at present, the myriad challenges arising from such developments, why Australian investors need protections for investments in such projects, and how lawyers can and should look to navigate the regulatory and legislative hurdles to ensure optimal outcomes for clients.

Suhadolnik also delves into the three overarching rules she advises clients to consider in such matters, how best to stay on top of voluminous change in the space, her approach to successful collaboration, why digital infrastructure will be such a defining feature in years to come, why arbitration teams may grow in stature in Australian law firms, and what excites her about ongoing developments in this space.

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, X 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 [email protected]

In a demanding and high-stakes profession like law, Irene Kuo stresses the importance of finding and cultivating a supportive network – connections that not only help you navigate challenges but also empower you to grow, succeed, and truly thrive in your career.

In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Irene Kuo, director of prime contract management at Fluor Australia and immediate past president of the Western Australia division of the ACC Australia, about how Legally Blonde sparked Kuo's interest in law, the hurdles she faced moving from Taiwan to Australia as a child, and explains how discovering her own support network in the legal profession allowed her to "survive" and thrive in a law firm.

Kuo shares insights on how to build and nurture a network within the legal profession, emphasises that while some connections may fade over time, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, shares the benefits of surrounding yourself with a supportive tribe throughout your legal career, stresses the importance of starting to cultivate your own tribe even at university, and highlights that the key to building an effective network requires self-reflection, understanding the types of people you work best with, and being your authentic self around them.

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Actionstep, we unpack the challenges being faced by firms big and small, their technological priorities versus the reality being experienced on the ground, and how tech can better enable the achievement of those priorities.

Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Actionstep's regional vice president in ANZ, Zahn Nel, to discuss the myriad challenges being faced by firms across the spectrum at present and what can be learnt from those challenges, law firms' top priorities in the current climate, and the disconnect between priorities and on-the-ground realities.

Nel also delves into issues surrounding client expectations, changing the mindset of leadership and the firm more broadly, defining digital maturity, questions that firms need to be asking to ensure tech can properly enable change, revenue capture and compliance readiness, practical steps to better achieve a firm's priorities, frequency of evaluation of progress, and ensuring the firm's strategy is fit for purpose.

To learn more about Actionstep, click here.

Earlier this year, award-winning sole practitioner Claire Styles worked from Europe for two months. That working holiday allowed her time to reflect on what was working and not working in her business, and since then, she's moved to not only adapt her approach and home in on what she truly wants to do, but she has also started a side hustle – all of which is providing greater personal and professional meaning for her.

In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back C Legal founder and principal Claire Styles (a former winner of the Sole Practitioner of the Year category at the Women in Law Awards) to discuss living out her personal values in her business, why she did a working holiday and what she learnt, undertaking a new firm structure, and why working holidays can be a happy medium for practitioners who are afraid to step away from the business.

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, X 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 [email protected] for more insights!

In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, produced in partnership with LexisNexis, we explore the opportunities in front of law departments to expand the breadth of what they can achieve, including by taking small, accessible steps to improve familiarity with new technologies.

Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with LexisNexis APAC head of legal Ali Dibbenhall about the work she does and what she enjoys about it, her observations about the success or otherwise that law departments are experiencing in onboarding and effectively utilising new technologies, the universality of being "resource constrained", and where we're at with AI governance in-house.

Dibbenhall also delves into having safe places to experiment, using platforms as a sounding board or devil's advocate, taking small steps to find efficiencies and streamline departmental operations, changing one's habits, and the benefits of AI in in-house legal practice.

To learn more about Protégé now in Lexis+ AI® 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, X 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 [email protected]

In the current climate, maintaining psychological safety in law departments requires much more than box-ticking – a stronger focus on culture, and use of AI to ensure greater focus on human issues, is paramount moving forward, says an Award-Winning and GC Powerlisted Group General Counsel.

In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back former group GC of Tabcorp, Ivana Kovacevic, who now serves as a fractional GC and advisory board member for Thomson Reuters Practical Law, and keynote speaker, to discuss the importance of building psychological safety in legal teams in the current climate, her perception of what constitutes psychological safety for law departments, and how well the in-house sector is faring when it comes to ensuring such safety.

Kovacevic also delves into the need to move beyond compliance box-ticking, the urgency is prioritising psychological safety, the starting point for in-house teams in creating and maintaining psychologically safe working environments, catering to idiosyncratic needs within one's team, practical steps she has taken within her own teams and what has worked, making time to implement changes, using AI to take a more human approach, leading by example, and the need to be curious and vulnerable.

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, X 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Dion Barber, a former ward of the state, recently won a "seismic" judgment for $2.85 million against Western Australia over sexual abuse suffered as a child in state care. Here, his lawyer Hugo Seymour reflects on the significance of the proceedings and the implications for survivors moving forward. (Content warning: This episode contains references to child sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.)

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Maurice Blackburn associate Hugo Seymour about his work as a historical sexual abuse lawyer and how he manages the subject matter, Dion Barber's proceedings against the state of Western Australia, the issues that the court had to resolve leading up to judgment, and why the judgment awarding Barber $2.85 million is so significant.

Seymour also delves into what the future might hold for such proceedings, how lawyers can and should interpret the significance of the judgment, and his broader thoughts about the future of such litigation, and what can be learnt from Barber's bravery in coming forward.

Help is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636. Each law society and bar association also has resources 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, X 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 [email protected]

Following COVID-19, there has been an "e-sports winter" – however, there are murmurs, one lawyer says, of a looming spring, which could see a proliferation of legal work in this space.

In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Game Legal principal Mat Jessep to discuss what it means to be an e-sports lawyer, why there has been a "winter" regarding legal work in this space and the impact of such a downturn, where the sector could be headed in the future, and the green shoots that he is seeing moving forward.

Jessep also delves into why he remains bullish about this legal space, the untapped potential for investment and regulatory oversight in this space, how lawyers like himself can advocate for driving this space forward, adapting and pivoting to best serve client needs for a looming spring, and his predictions for the e-sports law space.

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, X 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 [email protected] for more insights!