This week, we revisit our wonderful conversation with Ali Besiroglu. At the time we spoke, Ali was principal lawyer at Robinson Gill and head of their Crime and Advocacy department. Over the course of his career, Ali has been involved in some incredibly significant and high-profile cases, not least of which is the coronial inquest into the death in custody of Veronica Nelson. Please note, since our conversation, Ali has been appointed as the Director of Legal Services at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service.

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This week, we revisit our wonderful conversation with The Hon. Jennifer Coate AO. Throughout her life in the law, Jennifer has served as a Magistrate, Head of the Children’s Court, a Judge of the County Court, Victorian State Coroner, a Commissioner on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and most recently as Chair of the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry.

Her career is extraordinary, marked by deep integrity and an enduring contribution to the Victorian legal system. It was a privilege to hear about her Life in the Law.

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This week, we revisit our 2023 conversation with His Honour Justice Paul Coghlan AO. Paul’s life in the law has taken him from the Deputy Crown Solicitor’s Office to the Bar, from Director of Public Prosecutions to a Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria - and somewhere along the way, he also managed to serve as Mayor of Fitzroy.

A wealth of knowledge, Paul reflects on his approach to prosecuting, his treatment of witnesses and juries, and his experience striking case-cracking deals in the early days of the gangland murder trials.

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From all the team who work on William & Lonsdale - Lives in the Law, and everyone at Greens List, we would like to wish you a happy and safe festive season.

We’ll be kicking off 2026 with more exceptional guests, including former Deputy Commissioner of Victoria Police and professional musician, Ross Gunther, migration lawyer Traci Chen, who has over 250 thousand TikTok followers and used the platform to extraordinary effect to connect with her current and potential clients and The Hon. Lex Lasry, well known for his work as a criminal barrister and Supreme Court Justice.

But for now, have a wonderful break, and we look forward to bringing you more great conversations in the new year.

This week we welcome Her Honour Magistrate Urfa Masood, former criminal barrister, and the first Muslim woman to sit on any bench in Victoria.

Urfa left Sri Lanka and moved to Australia with her immediate family at the age of 11, leaving behind a civil war and a large, deeply connected extended family.

After adjusting quickly to life in Australia and excelling at school, Urfa began her law degree at 16 and graduated with honours.

So when she started applying for legal positions, it was confronting, to say the least, to be met with comments from interview panels like, “No client is going to want to engage someone who looks like you.”

How Urfa got from there to becoming a Victorian Magistrate is a tale of talent, hard work, self-belief, resilience, and a love of the law that just would not leave her alone.

www.greenslist.com.au/podcast

This week we welcome Her Honour Magistrate Urfa Masood, former criminal barrister, and the first Muslim woman to sit on any bench in Victoria.

Urfa left Sri Lanka and moved to Australia with her immediate family at the age of 11, leaving behind a civil war and a large, deeply connected extended family.

After adjusting quickly to life in Australia and excelling at school, Urfa began her law degree at 16 and graduated with honours.

So when she started applying for legal positions, it was confronting, to say the least, to be met with comments from interview panels like, “No client is going to want to engage someone who looks like you.”

How Urfa got from there to becoming a Victorian Magistrate is a tale of talent, hard work, self-belief, resilience, and a love of the law that just would not leave her alone.

www.greenslist.com.au/podcast

This week we welcome The Hon. John Coldrey AM KC to Lives in the Law. 

When reflecting on John’s work and contribution to the criminal bar in Victoria, the words legendary and iconic are entirely appropriate. Along with his decades defending in criminal cases, John was a founding member of the Criminal Bar Association and even wrote and performed songs and skits at Bar Review nights with his close friend and colleague, Frank Vincent.

Following in Frank’s footsteps, John was one of the first advocates to go to the Northern Territory to work at the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Service - an experience that led to his role as Director of Legal Services at the Central Land Council, where he advocated for Indigenous land rights.

Not long after returning to the bar, he was appointed Victorian DPP - a surprising move for a man who had never prosecuted a single case. In 1991, John was appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria. He also served as a member of the Adult Parole Board and as Chairperson of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.

John has had an exceptional life in the law, and it was an honour to welcome him to the show.

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This week, we welcome renowned Australian investigative journalist Nick McKenzie to the show. Although Nick doesn’t work directly in the law, his work intersects with it almost daily. Some of his greatest collaborators have been lawyers - as have some of his greatest foes.

Nick has enormous respect for the law, yet he also sees its limits, and believes journalism can bring justice where the law cannot. And he’s certainly used his craft time and time again to do just that - exposing police corruption, foreign interference in Australian politics, and war crimes. His work has even instigated a Royal Commission.

It’s a dynamic and, at times, surprising conversation and a real delight to hear about Nick’s life and career.

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This week, we welcome Her Honour Magistrate Michelle Hodgson, head of the family violence division of the Magistrate’s Court, to Lives in the Law. Michelle was admitted in 1993 and worked as a Solicitor Advocate at Victoria Legal Aid, the Fitzroy Legal Service, and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, all of which crystallised her desire to go to the bar. As a barrister, Michelle worked on many complex and high-profile cases, including the Nauru Royalty Phosphate Trust case and the Pong Su heroin import case. Her work as a Magistrate has been broad and impactful; in particular, her role now as head of the family violence division is compelling to learn about. It is a fantastic conversation, and a pleasure to welcome Michelle to the show.

This week, we welcome Fiona McLeay, the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner and CEO of the Victorian Legal Services Board. The VLSB+C is the independent statutory authority responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in Victoria.

Long before her fascinating life in the law, Fiona grew up in the country, and was the first person on either side of her family to go to University. 

She is a natural-born leader who brings systems thinking to every role she takes on; from Special Counsel at Clayton Utz to CEO of Justice Connect; from General Counsel of World Vision to Co-Chair of Equality Australia. It is a wonderful conversation and  pleasure to welcome Fiona to the show. 

www.greenslist.com.au/podcast