Trial by Podcast

Most of us have accepted a product or service's 'Terms and Conditions' without actually reading them, like with gym memberships or mobile phone plans. But what if one of the terms in the contract allowed the brand to increase fees without telling you? What if, instead of paying $50 a month, they could suddenly increase it to $100?

In this episode, Lawyer Emma Connolly and Law Graduate Monique Messenger take a look at Unfair Contract Terms, and the recent amendments made to the legislation. They also discuss McCabe Curwood's new app, MC Act, which helps businesses and individuals identify unfair contract terms.

You can access MC Act here: https://mccabecurwood.com.au/the-firm/firm-resources-web-applications/

Uber is now trialling 'Uber Pet', which allows people to ride with their pet. With 4 in every 10 Australian households owning a dog, it's a service many of us will be interested in.

However, this raises questions on how the laws surrounding dogs in cars would apply.

Law grads Jacqueline White and Monique Messenger discuss:

- The NSW legislation governing the rules and regulations of restraining dogs in cars

- Penalties faced, including potential fines and imprisonment

- Who might be liable if legislation is breached when 'Riding with pets': the owner, driver, or the corporation Uber itself?

McCabe Curwood's 2021 rotating graduate program launched last month. In the first episode of Trial by Podcast for the year, new graduates Emma Jagot and William Wade ask lawyers (and past-graduates) Stephanie Andrews and Andrew Gouveia about their experiences in the program.

This includes:

- Their biggest concerns when starting as law graduates

- The team they thought they would settle in, and where they actually ended up

- Why they chose McCabe Curwood's graduate program over other firms

The first COVID-19 vaccines have been rolled out in a handful of countries overseas, and Australia is set to launch their program at the beginning of 2021. A number of legal issues will likely arise during this, one being whether your employer can make you get the vaccine.

In the final episode of the series, Emma Connolly and Lachlan Hallab discuss a recent case involving an employee's refusal to get the flu vaccine, and how this might translate with Australia's COVID-19 vaccine roll-out next year.

Today's episode looks at a topic widely circulated over the past few weeks: voter fraud. Trump accuses the Democratic Party of using it to win the 2020 US Presidential Election. But, when are claims of voter fraud baseless, how does it apply in Australia, and what are the penalties? Law Graduate Andrew Gouveia answers all this, and discusses some unique voter fraud cases you probably aren't aware of.

Today, we're looking at one of the primary issues facing transgender people in Australian correction centres: which prison do they serve time in, the prison of their biological sex or of their identified gender? Law Graduate, Talia Mason, looks at how it works in each state across Australia, and key areas of concern for this community.

Today's episode looks at charitable promises made by businesses, and how misleading marketing could cost you millions. Emma Connolly and Lachlan Hallab particularly look at eyewear retailer Oscar Wylee, who was fined $3.5 million for contravening the Australian Consumer Law.

You may have seen #AFairCode trending online, or Facebook and Instagram threatening to stop Australians sharing and spreading news on their platforms. In this episode of Trial by Podcast, Andrew Gouveia looks at the news media bargaining code and how it could impact on everyday social media users, online platforms, news outlets and journalists.

What is a Cease and Desist order, what do they do and how do you get one? In this episode Emma Connolly and Talia Mason discuss this, and the case of In-N-Out Burgers, Inc v Hashtag Burgers Pty Ltd.

Can sperm become property? When a man dies, could it be owned by someone else? Law Graduates Andrew Gouveia and Lachlan Hallab take a look at this fascinating topic in this next episode of Trial by Podcast.