Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

Being the first in-house lawyer for a business, and working without a blueprint, can be a daunting prospect. However, it is also a hugely rewarding and stimulating opportunity. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by JobAdder general counsel Simone Vrabac to talk about the foremost challenges faced by legal counsel in start-ups during the age of coronavirus and how they have had to grapple with those, the vocational pathways available for those interested in working as the lawyer for a new venture and the practical skills needed to succeed, particularly in the new normal. The pair also delve into the need for effective, meaningful communication – both within one's business but also with a community of legal counsel in similar roles, for the purposes of knowledge-sharing, so that one can better serve one's business, and why such work is so exciting on a personal level. 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!

Making sure that the local community knew that Argon Law "had its back" during the worst of the age of coronavirus has been critical to the firm's success in the past year. Here, they delve into how they went about solidifying such support. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Argon Law founder John Gallagher and senior associate Melinda Bryant to talk about how their Maroochydore-based practice determined the best practice approach to the onset of the age of coronavirus, crafting a recipe for success in this time. The trio also reflect on how Argon moved to better support clients with meetings in the car park while wearing PPE, understanding the benefit of community intimacy and the utility of cross-referrals, and key lessons (including and especially the need for good workplace culture) for other suburban and regional firms from their experience in this turbulent time. 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!

Chris Parsons has led an incredible legal career, across multiple countries for one of the world's biggest law firms. However, he believes that the best thing he has ever done is go public about his debilitating mental health issues. (Content warning: This episode contains content that may be disturbing or distressing to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.)On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Herbert Smith Freehills partner and India Practice chair Chris Parsons to the circumstances that led to his breakdown and battle with severe mental health issues, why it was so important for him to be transparent with the outside world about his battle, and how his workplace responded to his needs. Mr Parsons also delves into how his journey has shaped his perspective on the duty of leadership, his optimism for the mainstreaming of lawyers being able to tell their stories, and how best to come back "from a place of brokenness". Help is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636. Each law society and bar association also has further contacts 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, 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!

These three former legal counsel left behind in-house life to pursue creative opportunities. The professional experience gleaned as corporate lawyers, however, has been invaluable to their new vocational pathways. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by interior decorator Katie Riddell, florist Corrie MacGregor and writer Kate Nakashima to reflect on how and why they each decided to stop being in-house lawyers and start chasing their creative dreams, the challenges faced with such shifts in career direction, and how the pandemic impacted upon their new pursuits. The quartet also delves into the practical ways that lawyers can engage with creative opportunities, why such creativity can make one a better legal professional, and offers guidance to lawyers who might be reluctant about making time to be creative. 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!

A healthy quantum of competition can be useful for lawyers, both in challenging themselves and achieving optimal outcomes for clients. However, competitive streaks can often cross the line, venturing into abuse against those across the table. On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Kalpaxis Legal director and principal Cassandra Kalpaxis and Barton Family Lawyers principal Courtney Barton to discuss the prevalence of overly competitive and adversarial approaches among litigators (which have been amplified since the onset of COVID-19), and why some lawyers might engage in such behaviour. The trio also talk about the role of leaders in modelling the right behaviours for their staff and those coming through the ranks, the need for more collaborative practice and balancing it against one's duty to win for their clients, and how such approaches can and will work in the post-pandemic 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 [email protected] for more insights!

For one ambitious, future lawyer, a longstanding commitment to helping others and connecting with influential leaders to achieve real change will follow her throughout her career alongside a drive to pass on everything she has learnt so far. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Naomi Neilson is joined by final-year Australian National University (ANU) international securities and laws student Angelique Nelis to chat about some of her many incredible achievements and how everything she has done has served vulnerable communities and her peers. Some of these accomplishments include studying at The Hague Academy of International Law, participating in the Change the World Model United Nations (CWMUN) in New York and representing not-for-profit groups like the NSW Women's Alliance and the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia. Angelique has also connected with a number of influential and inspirational leaders to inform the best practices for helping others. Before flying to New York to represent Samoa as a CWMUN delegate, Angelique reached out and connected with the Samoan high commissioner in Canberra to discuss the very real issues. In the episode, Angelique also shares advice for other students on following a similar path, talks about mentoring and shares her international law ambitions. 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. 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.

Right now, 37.5 per cent of fee earners at one Sydney-based practice are pregnant and due to take leave. Here, that firm's director – who is one of those expecting lawyers – discusses how the firm is taking steps to ensure its ongoing success. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Holmes Donnelly & Co Director Laura Donnelly to talk about the adjustments that her firm is currently undergoing to not only support those taking time off but also ensure those who will still be working can flourish. Ms Donnelly also delves into the opportunities that have arisen as a result of such a high proportion of fee earners taking maternity leave, how her career to date has informed her leadership approach in this time, what she wants other firms to take away from what her firm is doing, and her desire for the normalisation of family planning conversations in the workplace. 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!

With D&I having emerged as a top priority for law departments, understanding how best to have confronting interactions will be critical in ensuring legal teams can meaningfully move forward. On this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Collective Wellness Group legal counsel Darshana Parekh who says there is a need to have conversations that are "not fun and not comfortable", for the reason that they allow us to better appreciate and respect the many differences that people bring to a workplace. The pair also delve into the need or otherwise for defined structures to facilitate such conversations, how such engagement can be engineered in the "new normal" in which workforces will be more scattered, and the role of leaders to create a more naturally evolving inclusive workplace. 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!

Cross-selling should be a result, not a strategy, Sue-Ella Prodonovich argues. Otherwise, you run the risk of "crass-selling". On this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by returning guest Sue-Ella Prodonovich, who is the principal of Prodonovich Advisory, to discuss some of the potential pitfalls of cross-selling by law firms, particularly in the age of coronavirus, distinguishing cross-selling from "niching down", and how cross-selling can impact upon the health and success of a legal business. The pair also discuss the need to seek appropriate feedback from clients about the breadth of service delivery, having as many conversations with trusted advisers about firm offerings, and whether there are any succession strategies and/or creative opportunities that firms can instead be exploring. 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!

It used to be the case that a graduate lawyer with one payslip was seen by banks as a safer bet for a home loan than a barrister with 23 months' worth of bank statements. Given how the world has changed this past year, that impression may be shifting. On this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by returning guest Cullen Haynes, who is the director of sales at Legal Home Loans, to discuss how the age of coronavirus – and subsequent market changes – gives rise to new opportunities for lawyers to seek home loans sooner than they might have expected, meaning practitioners may not have to make the choice between striking out on their own or buying a house. The pair also talk about whether "FOMO" has been heightened in the past year given the mainstreaming of flexible and remote working, whether now is a good time for lawyers to refinance their mortgages and what they could do with equity that comes with it. 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!