Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

One of our 2021 Women in Law Awards finalists shares with Protégé why students do not need to fit into the "perfect" package of what a lawyer should look like – complete with high grades and clerkships – in order to have a successful career.

In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Naomi Neilson is joined by DLA Piper paralegal and one of our finalists from the 2021 Women in Law Awards Sarah McKenzie to talk about how less-than-perfect grades did not put an end to what is fast becoming a successful legal career in the commercial space.

In the episode, Sarah shares: "I never thought I was a person who would be able to get a clerkship. I wasn't that star student who was topping all of the courses, I wasn't involved in moot court. I wasn't on the law student society. I wasn't that package of what I thought a perfect commercial clerkship candidate would look like.

"When reflecting back on my law school experience, it was looking at my law school experience, my uni experience, [and knowing] that it grew me in so many different ways that just my grades and my transcript could never encapsulate [alone]. It was all those experiences I had in courses and throughout my uni experience."

In the episode, Sarah also talks about the Women in Law Awards and what it has been like to work alongside female leaders in a supportive work environment.

The episode also touches on how Sarah has navigated the legal profession with a disability, including what some workplaces are still doing wrong.

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: [email protected] or [email protected]

Socials: Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter or reach out to me directly here.

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with CommBank Professional Services, the reigning Mentor of the Year discusses, among other things, why mentoring should be seen as the right thing to do, rather than simply something employers do for talent retention purposes. Host Jerome Doraisamy and CommBank Executive Manager of Professional Services Julienne Price interview Colin Biggers & Paisley partner Peter Harkin, who won the Mentor of the Year category at the 2021 Australian Law Awards, about why mentoring means so much more than attracting and retaining top talent, his personal experience with mentors, where mentoring programs can make the most difference and what sets good mentors apart. Mr Harkin also outlines what emerging lawyers should look for in a mentor, how lawyers can become mentors in the new normal, how the age of COVID-19 has changed the nature of mentoring relationships, and the need to regularly evaluate one's approach to mentoring and guiding the next generation of leaders in law. To learn more about CommBank's professional services offerings and its recent Legal Market Pulse report, 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Kate Jordan is the GC of a large listed company and, before that, was deputy chief executive partner of a BigLaw firm. Despite her very impressive resumé, she says she has "still got a huge amount to learn". Being curious, and asking questions, is critical to success in-house, she says. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Origin Energy general counsel and executive manager, company secretariat (risk and governance) Kate Jordan, who reflects on her journey from BigLaw to a large law department, how she manages her voluminous workload, the importance of being curious and challenging one's self, and what such an approach has taught her about herself. Ms Jordan also explains why "bringing curiosity to the table" is so fundamental, particularly in the current climate, why being motivated about one's employer's mission is integral, how curiosity aids leaders in self-care and management of wellness needs within teams, and how chairing microfinancing not-for-profit Good Return offers her a more holistic perspective, not only on her work but also on her life. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Nicole Russell and her husband tried, for years, to have a child. The IVF journey took an enormous toll on her – emotionally and professionally – until finally, a friend volunteered to be a surrogate for her. This experience, including the legal processes, inspired her to shift her practice area to supporting families, as hers was supported. (Content warning: this episode may be distressing for some listeners. Discretion is advised.) On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Russell Walker Lawyers founder and director Nicole Russell to discuss her journey to conception, the hardship involved with so many years of trying to have a child whilst working as a lawyer, the vocational thought process that led to her setting up her own firm and why practising in surrogacy law made sense for her. Ms Russell also outlines how she managed the journey in the context of legal workplaces, how she navigates any potentially triggering matters that come across her desk, her reflections on the level of stigma that still exists regarding conception for lawyers, how male legal professionals can be champions for their colleagues and their own partners, and why any lawyer experiencing a similar journey to her should "have trust in the process". Help is available via The Amber Network or Happy Minds for those seeking support and/or further information. Russell Walker Surrogacy also provides resources. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Warning: This show has been marked as explicit Danny King – in her own words – has "never had a filter" and is "fearlessly and shamelessly" herself. Such authenticity, and ownership over her own struggles, all led her to win the Managing Partner of the Year category at the 2021 Australian Law Awards. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Danny King Legal principal Danny King to discuss her journey from graduation to now running her own boutique employment law practice in Sydney, her approach to finding success as a lawyer, the need to embrace one's true self and not suppress, and how beneficial raw honesty has been for her legal practice. Ms King also reflects on the need for leaders to have self-awareness regarding their mistakes, why acknowledging that not having all the answers can, in fact, be the best attitude to adopt, looming challenges and opportunities for managing partners, and why leaning on one's family is so fundamental. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Too often, disconnections exist in the working relationships between law departments and their external providers, which can exacerbate wellness issues for individuals and teams. Better understanding and appreciating how to make those relationships work is key so as to better serve clients and also the wider community. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes Canon Oceania chief legal counsel and director of people and finance David Field and Herbert Smith Freehills business development director in Australia Nora Chlap to discuss the friction points that may exist between in-house and private practice and why, the potential impacts upon legal professionals from such friction and whether the age of COVID-19 has worsened such factors. Mr Field and Ms Chlap also delve into the practical ways to improve "legal value chains", why empathy and open communication is fundamental to such solutions, whether in-house and private practice teams are cognisant of the need for such changes to their working relationships and the improvements to mental health that can and will flow on from making these changes. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Plenti, two leaders of Australian family law firms outline how to create and sustain a successful business – in a challenging practice area and at an extraordinary time in the marketplace. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Plenti head of legal finance Rose Dravitzki, Australian Family Lawyers executive chairman Grant Dearlove and Amanda Little & Associates principal Amanda Little to talk about their respective roles in the family law space, what success means to them, why a firm's financial health is so integral to its success (particularly in a post-pandemic landscape), and the myriad considerations firm leaders have to entertain in ensuring cash flow. The guests also delve into the need to think more holistically about a firm's finances, how best to grow and develop a family law team, the need to invest in the right technologies, triaging the myriad urgent priorities as a business leader, and other reflections on how best to ensure success in this practice area. 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 [email protected] for more insights!

For one of our Women in Law Awards finalists, standing out from her peers started with a schedule packed full of full-time work and full-time studying. Looking back, she tells Protégé that every opportunity and every experience helped get her to where she is today – and she would recommend that all law students do the same. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Naomi Neilson is joined by Coulter Legal law graduate and one of our finalists from the 2020 Women in Law Awards, Alli Taylor, to discuss how she managed to study and work full time, where she found the opportunities, and why other law students should consider the same.

Reflecting on her experience, Alli says: "The importance of trying to gain experience while studying, I would recommend to any law student. Any opportunity that was presented to me or that I could seek out, I definitely did. I felt as though all the little skills you pick up will always benefit you in the future as a lawyer."

Alli also shares how she fell into family law while looking for work in wills and estates and talks about what really draws her into this practice. We also chat about some of the work that she's exposed to and the team she gets to work with.

In the episode, we also chat about the experience of becoming a finalist in one of our awards as a young lawyer and discuss why other aspiring lawyers should apply.

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: [email protected] or [email protected]

Socials: Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter or reach out to me directly here.

On this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with CommBank Professional Services, the reigning Partner of the Year (BigLaw) discusses the myriad aspects of optimal leadership, including and especially empathy, in turbulent and uncertain times. Hosts Jerome Doraisamy and CBA National Director of Professional Services Daniela Pasini speak with Herbert Smith Freehills partner Nicole Pedler – who won the Partner of the Year (BigLaw) category at the 2021 Women in Law Awards – about the need for firms to be adaptable, the challenges faced by firms and their leaders when it comes to talent retention, the need for vulnerability and trust within one's team, and corresponding skills that leaders must display. The trio also explore what constitutes "legal excellence" in the current climate, growth areas in the 2022 marketplace and what Ms Pedler predicts for her own practice area, ensuring flexibility as part of a talent retention strategy and the importance of bringing one's whole self to work in order to build a community, and a business that attracts and retains the best staff. CBA was a gold partner for the 2021 Partner of the Year Awards. To learn more about its professional services offerings and its recent Legal Market Pulse report, 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 [email protected] for more insights!

Kate Jones has worked in-house for three blue-chip companies, including most recently as the general counsel for Samsung. Here, she discusses what she's learned and what she sees as being essential to success as a leader of such big teams. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by the outgoing general counsel and company secretary of Samsung Electronics Australia, Kate Jones, to reflect on her career to date and what she has found to be most rewarding, the importance of comradery and collegiality, and how the age of COVID-19 reinforced the need for soft skills. The pair also discuss the pressures involved with leading the law department of public-facing companies, which soft skills will be fundamental moving forward, the challenges surrounding talent retention, the inherent duties of leaders of large law departments (especially with regards to wellness), and what she sees as being the most important priorities for those leaders in successfully managing their big teams. 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 [email protected] for more insights!