Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

Practitioners across the board must identify ways to enjoy their work and maintain an optimal level of joy in the day-to-day, one BigLaw partner says. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Jones Day partner Christine Tran about her recent reflections on the importance of stepping back to explore or rediscover the passion one has for their work, what lawyers can learn from professional athletes, the dangers of burnout, and the inability of lawyers to switch off. Tran also delves into how she is deliberate about maintaining joy in her work and why it is so close to her heart, the kind of lawyer she is and how she intends to maintain such an attitude, what she tells junior lawyers in her team about such matters, the practical ways that lawyers can maintain or regain joy in their work, being OK with whatever happens on the journey, and why joy is more important than ever right now. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au

The relatively new general protections regime has seen a "sharp uptick" in Fair Work claims over the past year. Here, we dive into how and why such claims are on the rise and what it means for businesses and lawyers alike. In today's episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Justitia Lawyers & Consultants partner Jess Toop about the state of affairs for general protections claims, why we're seeing an uptick in such claims, what such applications are looking like, how AI is being used to generate the claims, and the impact of these developments. Toop also gets into how the Fair Work Commission is responding, what it all means for employment lawyers, how business behaviours are shifting in the current climate, how employers must prepare, the broader trends to watch out for, and her advice for clients moving forward. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au

In the face of widespread adoption and utilisation of new technologies, there is much that lawyers across the board must take into account when using AI, from client confidentiality to guidance from the courts. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Mills Oakley partner Dalvin Chien to discuss why lawyers must care about ongoing tech developments, guidance that has been issued to and from the profession recently about AI use and what such guidance means, the importance of in-house policies for AI use, and the real-world problems that practitioners face when using AI in practice. Chien also gets into what we've learnt from headline instances of AI use in recent times, practical steps to ensure responsible and effective use of AI tools, the best ways to boost productivity and client service delivery, the need for good training, and how the day-to-day roles of lawyers coming through the ranks will continue to evolve. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au

While trust and lawyers have not always gone hand in hand, Jennifer Gardner has stressed that being trustworthy, credible, and reliable has rapidly become one of the most critical assets a lawyer can possess to succeed in today's evolving legal landscape. In a recent episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Grace Robbie speaks with Jennifer Gardner, a US-based trial lawyer, persuasive communication expert, and dynamic speaker. Gardner explains how the deep understanding of psychology and ability to craft compelling narratives have helped her win trial cases, discusses how lawyers are increasingly recognising the importance of engaging the emotional dimension when representing clients, and stresses that without trustworthiness, a lawyer cannot effectively do their job. Gardner also highlights the common missteps that can undermine a lawyer's credibility and trustworthiness, outlines practical strategies to actively build and strengthen these qualities, emphasises that these attributes should be cultivated from the very outset of a legal career, and stresses how long-term success in the profession is inseparable from being credible, reliable, and trustworthy. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au

For most lawyers, opening a firm is a slow, carefully mapped-out process – but Kate Redman has turned that convention on its head, launching her own practice in just six weeks despite never having envisioned herself as a firm owner. In a recent episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Grace Robbie speaks with Kate Redman, the director and principal solicitor of Kate Redman & Associates, about her remarkable journey of launching her practice in just six weeks despite never having previously envisioned running a firm. Redman reflects on the mindset shift and self-belief that made it possible and shares insights into balancing the intense demands of starting a business with the realities of personal commitments and parenthood. Redman also reveals the key priorities she focused on to open her firm within such a tight time frame, unpacks the biggest challenges she encountered along the way, reflects on the importance of turning lived experience into practical lessons, offers candid advice for lawyers considering taking the leap into firm ownership, and weighs in on whether she would recommend launching a practice under similarly intense time pressure.

While most people receive a neurodiversity diagnosis early, Libby Thomas faced hers in the thick of a high-pressure legal career, using the experience to uncover powerful strategies, shatter stigma, and create a professional life where she can truly excel. In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Libby Thomas, associate at Travis Schultz & Partners, about her journey of receiving a neurodiversity diagnosis in the midst of a demanding law career. Thomas reflects on the challenges of being diagnosed later in life, shares what her daily life as a lawyer looked like before understanding her condition, and recounts the powerful moment she finally received clarity after a decade of searching for answers. Thomas also explains the mindset shifts and practical systems she put in place to thrive professionally, reflects on the presence of stigma in the legal profession around neurodiversity, and stresses the importance of law firms creating an environment where neurodivergent lawyers can flourish. Thomas encourages others on similar journeys to speak openly about their experiences and helps fellow lawyers build more sustainable and fulfilling careers.

From being a comedian in Japan and a creative executive in Hollywood to being a partner in a global law firm, Nick Abrahams has led an extraordinarily diverse career. Here, he reflects on what such a varied vocational journey has taught him, including whether you can be successful by being yourself. Join host Jerome Doraisamy as he speaks with lawyer and comedian Nick Abrahams in this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show. They discuss Abrahams' upcoming shows at comedy festivals in Sydney and Melbourne and what he talks about in those shows, whether one can be successful by being one's self, how he reconciled his creative self with being a lawyer in private practice, and how he came to specialise in digital transformation as a practitioner. Abrahams also gets into futurism and the AI space, finding work that makes sense to him personally and professionally, what he's learnt along the way, and why it's both acceptable and beneficial to have accidental or unexpected movements in one's career.

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Clio, we explore how well legal practices are faring in adopting and managing technological offerings, and why having access and control of data is the "most critical piece" in ensuring firms have the most secure framework possible for success. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clio International General Manager Sarah Murphy about the provider's recently released State of Legal Tech 2026 report, how Australia fares compared to global counterparts, the headline takeaways from the report, operational consequences for practitioners from findings on data, and the serious governance questions firms need to answer. Murphy also delves into the system friction facing lawyers, bridging the gap between the business of law and the practice of law, concerns about cyber threats, how technology is influencing the "legalpreneur" trend, what Australian firms must prioritise right now, and why better data management is key to everything. To learn more about Clio, click here.

Danielle Nahum has learned a lot as a leader over the years, including the power of kindness and the importance of team stability. In times of upheaval, such lessons prove invaluable in navigating periods of broader uncertainty. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Danielle Nahum, ANZ head of legal – group procurement, about what makes a good in-house legal leader and what she's learned about leadership. They discuss whether it's harder than ever to be a good leader in-house, the headline challenges facing law departments at present, and whether there are opportunities arising from this. Nahum also delves into how to lead by example, approaches that may not work, how she looks to build the right kind of culture for her team, creating a stable environment, keeping team morale high, managing a multi-generational workforce, how leaders can upskill, and what aspiring leaders should learn. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Distinctive Finance, we unpack what continued rate rises mean for legal practitioners looking to purchase a property or expand their investment portfolios, and how best they can respond to the market right now. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Distinctive Finance directors and founders Christian Goodall and Leighton Packer on how lawyers can and should be thinking about the economy at this critical juncture, the conversations lawyers are having with brokers right now, what rising interest rates mean for lawyers' investment and financial strategies, and the risk of missing out on key opportunities. Goodall and Packer also delve into the importance of structure in one's borrowing capacity, how self-employed lawyers can maximise their borrowing capacity, refinancing as a strategic move, why debt recycling can be beneficial, how to think about loan structure and offset accounts, taking advantage of what's happening in the market, how 2026 compares thus far to previous years, and whether this year provides a better window of opportunity for lawyers than previous years. To learn more about Distinctive Finance, 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au

In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Axiom, we explore what law departments actually want from their providers right now and how those teams are being pushed beyond standalone AI tools and towards more connected, governed workflow models. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Axiom chief technology officer CJ Saretto and Harvey Australian country head Ashleigh Whittaker about what in-house teams are asking for when it comes to collaboration with providers, why traditional workflows make collaboration difficult, and what law departments should be looking for as they rethink collaboration models. Saretto and Whittaker also delve into Shared Spaces, best use cases and why it's so important, Axiom's role in helping clients move from AI experimentation to real workflow adoption, how law departments should think about the balance between AI, human judgement, and provider support, and what it all says about the future legal operating model. To learn more about Axiom, click here.

For Luke Zadkovich, a "central premise" upon which to build a team is having people whom lawyers like to work with. Taking such an approach has been essential not only to growing the firm he leads but also to ensuring its success. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Floyd Zadkovich managing partner Luke Zadkovich about his journey working in large firms in multiple jurisdictions, setting up a transatlantic firm, lessons he's learnt as a managing partner of an international practice, and what having a cohesive workplace and culture means to him. Zadkovich also discusses balancing business interests against having the right people on the books, challenges that firm leaders face in maintaining cohesion, ensuring everyone feels supported, the practical ways he looks to drive cohesion, what excites him about his firm's journey, and his guidance to other firm leaders about the importance of internal cohesion in driving forward a firm's objectives. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au

Many professional services providers feel uneasy about asking existing clients for work. Here, we unpack the practical ways lawyers can become more comfortable making such requests, without being pushy about it. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Prodonovich Advisory principal Sue-Ella Prodonovich about the need for lawyers to continue building their book, why selling may not come naturally to them, how urgent a priority it is to get more comfortable with asking for work, and tapping into one's ability to listen. Prodonovich also runs through seven ways lawyers can feel more comfortable asking for work, without being pushy about it, adapting their mindset to be better at selling, and the need for lawyers to remember to play the long game. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au

In this episode of the Contested Ground Podcast, produced by Lawyers Weekly's sister brand, Defence Connect, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, and Steve Kuper discuss the immediate aftermath of the US–Israeli strikes against Iran and the ramifications for Australia. The trio lays the foundation for a mini-series of focused podcast conversations over the coming weeks to address the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on Australia and the Australian public. Topics covered by the trio included:

Moving across the world for a semester of law is no small decision, but one student's journey proves the leap is worth it, highlighting the professional, personal, and career-defining benefits that await those who take the plunge. In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Daphne Fong, a recent law graduate from UNSW and a graduate lawyer at King & Wood Mallesons, about the ins and outs of her recent European exchange, reflects on the professional skills she developed from learning in a global classroom, shares the personal growth she experienced from stepping outside her comfort zone, and delves into the invaluable experience of collaborating with law students from across the world. Fong also highlights how the experience has positioned her strongly for the next stage of her legal career, offers a roadmap for law students hoping to follow a similar path, outlines the practical steps needed to turn the idea of an international exchange into a reality, and encourages students who may be unsure about studying abroad to take the leap and embrace the experience.

LawUno, a new platform to connect legal professionals and students, employers, and vendors, is launching this week, in conjunction with Lawyers Weekly's 30 Under 30 Awards. Here, the platform's founder discusses its importance in an ever-shifting professional services marketplace. In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with LawUno, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with LawUno founder Jessal (Jesse) Shah about the platform's support for Lawyers Weekly's 30 Under 30 Awards, the issues facing younger practitioners, what LawUno is and why it's being launched, and the importance of network and connection. Shah also delves into the market challenges that LawUno looks to address, how practitioners and employers alike will benefit from using the platform, the expansion plans for LawUno, crafting one's own journey in law, how the profession has responded to the pending launch already, and his message to all finalists and winners of this year's 30 Under 30 Awards. To learn more about LawUno, 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au

The decision by the United States and Israel to launch strikes on Iran has had significant flow-on consequences – not just geopolitically and economically, but also legally and contractually, for businesses whose cargo sails through the Strait of Hormuz. It is thus incumbent upon shipping lawyers like Alison Cusack to not just support clients through the ongoing conflict but also address misinformation that has run rampant since last weekend. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Cusack & Co founder and principal Alison Cusack to discuss the state of affairs for shipping since the US-Israel-Iran conflict began just under a week ago, the misconceptions floating around, the significance of the Strait of Hormuz, and the ramifications of it shutting down. Cusack also delves into the conversations she's been having with clients to steer them through the conflict, what optimal client service delivery looks like against the backdrop of a potential "forever war", how she's managing herself personally, lessons she's learnt from previous shipping crises and how to apply those lessons now, and the importance of offering the right support in such consequential times. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au

After the first year or two of trading, there is much for SME firm owners to reflect on – and not just business wins, losses, and lessons. For James d'Apice, this process has involved everything from staying true to his personal and professional vision, pursuing passion projects, supporting the local community, and planning for expansion. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Gravamen founder and principal James d'Apice to discuss his headline takeaways from the first two years of running his own firm, the mistakes he's made and learnt from, what the past two years have taught him about himself as a practitioner and business owner, and why staying true to his vision is so essential. d'Apice also delves into the apparent death of the long lunch and what that might mean for business owners in law, the importance of pursuing passion projects to reinvigorate one's practice, how he's looking to grow the firm moving forward, and what he's looking forward to in the future. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au

In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Commonwealth Private, we unpack what 2025 taught us about the investment landscape and how legal practitioners can interpret the market this year and into the future. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Commonwealth Private and Wealth chief investment officer James Foot about his headline takeaways from the market in 2025, the strength of returns for investors, behaviours and ongoing expectations, and what the next five to 10 years could look like. Foot also delves into how and why AI adoption has been highest in professional services, whether AI is a threat or opportunity, the future of US exceptionalism, the need for diversification and having a holistic perspective on the market, the role of alternatives in an investor's journey, and what lawyers should know about the year ahead. To learn more about Commonwealth Private, 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au

In the past year, multiple appeals pertaining to trademark proceedings made their way to the High Court, speaking to the volume and complexity of developments in this area of law. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Halfords IP partner Aparna Watal to discuss her non-traditional path into practising IP law, why 2025 was such a busy year for trademark lawyers, how and why IP lawyers more broadly are being impersonated for scams, and why the High Court is receptive to hearing IP matters in the current climate. Watal also delves into the impact of ongoing challenges for IP lawyers like herself, the trends she's keeping a close eye on in 2026 and beyond, how best such lawyers can better serve clients moving forward, and what's exciting about legal work in this space right now. 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 editor@lawyersweekly.com.au