While many lawyers feel that the only “right” career path is to remain in a large law firm for life, Mia Madafferi emphasises the importance of recognising that pivoting into innovative legal careers is not only possible but also often deeply rewarding. Speaking on a recent episode of the Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Mia Madafferi, the founder of Grey Rock Consulting, who reflects on the early stages of her legal career at Herbert Smith Freehills, recalls how a role-play exerci...
Jun 27, 2025•42 min
In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, recorded at the Partner Summit 2025, LEAP Legal Software founder and chief executive Christian Beck talks about the most notable productivity gains we’re seeing from the increased use of artificial intelligence by law firms across the board. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Beck about the monumental shifts being witnessed from such increased use of AI by law firms, his perception of firms’ embrace of AI and new technologies, the key challenges...
Jun 26, 2025•16 min
Earlier this month, new regulations for buy now, pay later (BNPL) services in Australia came into effect. Here, a BigLaw partner explains how and why this has come to pass and what the implications are for consumers and practitioners alike. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Dentons partner Yechiel Belfer about the circumstances, including the banking royal commission, that have led to the introduction of the BNPL laws, the headline takeaways from the n...
Jun 25, 2025•18 min
In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, recorded at the Partner Summit 2025, Attune Legal’s principal reflects on the extent to which firm partners and principals are satisfactorily proficient with artificial intelligence (AI) and why improving one’s grasp of new technologies is of paramount importance. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Attune Legal principal Yule Guttenbeil about his frustrations about perceptions that law firm leaders are not properly grasping AI at this point in t...
Jun 23, 2025•15 min
As law students begin the summer clerkship application process, Jessica Trinh shares essential tips and insights – covering the often-overlooked details and common pitfalls – to help law students stand out and secure a position. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Jessica Trinh, a fourth-year law and medical science student at UTS and current paralegal. She shares her inspiration for pursuing a law degree, discusses what she enjoys most about her work in the dis...
Jun 19, 2025•26 min
While there are myriad risks inherent with silent AI, one BigLaw partner also feels there are opportunities to develop risk controls and garner business. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clyde & Co partner Darryl Smith about the concept of silent AI and its implications for insurers and businesses, why the issues surrounding it are “very quiet” right now, the perfect storm that is brewing, and the potential challenges coming for the insurance spac...
Jun 16, 2025•19 min
Given that one of the most common gripes clients have about their lawyers is (perceived) high fees, it is essential that practitioners get this right – as “it’ll save us a lot of time”. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Gale Family Law director David Gale to discuss the importance of addressing costs concerns, how urgent a priority it is amid other urgent priorities for practitioners, whether pressure to get costs right is getting more burdensome,...
Jun 13, 2025•20 min
Believing that you must be available 24/7, that money brings happiness, and that asking for help is a sign of weakness are just some of the common myths lawyers have come to accept as truth. Here, John Kormanik challenges these misconceptions and offers practical advice on what to believe – and do – instead. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with John Kormanik, a former trial lawyer turned certified professional coach for lawyers, about his early career in t...
Jun 12, 2025•39 min
In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, recorded at the 2025 Corporate Counsel Summit, two in-house lawyers from ClearBridge Investments reflect on their takeaways from the annual gathering of corporate lawyers and what others need to know. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with ClearBridge Investments head of legal, risk and compliance Annette Golden and legal counsel Sydney Abba about life for lawyers in the financial services sector, their key insights from the summit, how corporate...
Jun 11, 2025•13 min
After a decade-long career as a professional rugby union player, marked by captaincy honours and the pride of representing his country, Michael Wells shares his journey from the rugby pitch to the legal profession. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Michael Wells, an associate at BlackBay Lawyers, about his career as a professional rugby union player. He reflects on his decade-long sporting career, including the honour of representing his country, opens up abou...
Jun 06, 2025•38 min
As a small-firm owner, James d’Apice is walking the road less travelled – not just in terms of his marketing and revenue distribution but also in terms of how he views the firm as an entity. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Gravamen founder and principal James d’Apice to discuss his firm’s journey since its recent inception, its success thus far, whether he’s had a clear vision in mind or has figured the business approach out along the way, what ha...
Jun 05, 2025•32 min
In this special episode of LawTech Talks, produced in partnership with Thomson Reuters, host Lauren Croft speaks with Thomson Reuters associate general counsel Janine Cane, Abt Legal global associate general counsel Camille Cedergren, and Thomson Reuters director of legal transformation Tyrilly Csillag about building the right legal tech stack for modern legal teams. From overcoming common implementation challenges to getting leadership buy-in and measuring ROI, building an adaptable, integrated...
Jun 02, 2025•25 min
With many feeling lost and overwhelmed when starting their own law firm, one young lawyer who has navigated these challenges covers key steps to launch and manage your own legal practice with clarity and confidence. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Ahmad Faraj, the principal and senior lawyer at Faraj Defence Lawyers, delving into what inspired him to take the leap and start his own law firm. He shares the surprises and challenges he encountered in his journe...
May 30, 2025•36 min
Many senior in-house lawyers, Adrian Moffatt says, find themselves stuck in what he calls the “GC waiting room”. Here, he fleshes out how best law department leaders can support their growth. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Ausco Modular executive general manager of legal and corporate (APAC) Adrian Moffatt about why he’s so motivated by in-house life, the inherent issues with the leadership bottleneck in-house and why it is a pervasive challenge,...
May 28, 2025•20 min
In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, produced in partnership with FTI Consulting, we explore best practices for conducting investigations and regulatory responses and the importance of pivoting from a reactive to a proactive approach to prevention and detection. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Natalie Faulkner, FTI Consulting’s Head of Risk and Investigations, Australia, to discuss the work that she and her team do, why she likes helping organisations “against the bad guys”, ...
May 26, 2025•23 min
Here, a BigLaw partner reflects on what we’ve learnt in the last year and a half from the Secure Jobs, Better Pay legislative changes and what it all means for the market moving forward. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Norton Rose Fulbright partner Alexandra Shields about her work in employment and labour law, the “human element” of such legal practice, what the recent Secure Jobs, Better Pay amendments are and why they were introduced, the key takea...
May 23, 2025•30 min
In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, produced in partnership with Elevate Flexible Legal Resourcing, we explore why contracting roles are no longer a stopgap and how legal departments and law firms are staying ahead with adopting agile resourcing strategies. We also delve into the changing attitudes in the industry and what is driving these changes. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with the Head of APAC at Elevate Flexible Legal Resourcing, Val Pitt, about her industry insights. Th...
May 21, 2025•21 min
In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, recorded at the 2025 Corporate Counsel Summit, Professor Michael Adams reflects on the myriad issues law departments in tertiary education settings have to grapple with in terms of students’ use of artificial intelligence. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Professor Michael Adams, a former law school dean and general counsel, about students’ use of AI for exams and assessments, the questions that faculties across campuses are having to navig...
May 20, 2025•14 min
In the modern age, we are seeing multiple examples of reactionary legislation being passed based on faulty, after-the-fact reasoning. Lawyers, among others, have a duty to speak out (as servants of the courts and communities) and educate about the implications of passing laws that do not strike the right balance. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back JSA NSW director Andrew Tiedt to discuss the phenomenon of after-the-fact reasoning giving rise to the pa...
May 16, 2025•20 min
In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, recorded at the 2025 Corporate Counsel Summit, SBS senior legal counsel Nicole Choolun reflects on why it is so important for the law department to showcase its risk appetite. Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Choolun about the importance of being seen as less risk-averse, legal’s perceptions from other business functions, and balancing one’s risk-averse training against having a greater risk appetite. Choolun also delves into the questions ...
May 14, 2025•10 min
In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with Distinctive Finance, we unpack the current economic outlook, including the potential for further interest rate cuts before Christmas and what it could mean for legal professionals looking to get ahead. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by Christian Goodall and Mitchell Lobb, co-founders and directors of Distinctive Finance. Together, they share how they support legal professionals in building stronger financial future...
May 12, 2025•19 min
A recent report from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) pertaining to government use of messaging apps raises pertinent legal and compliance questions, says one BigLaw partner. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Holding Redlich ACT managing partner Elizabeth Carroll to discuss the latest in government legal work, the recent OAIC report pertaining to government use of messaging apps, whether conversations on commercial apps ca...
May 09, 2025•21 min
Despite progress in recent years to raise awareness of in-house vocational pathways, much work remains to be done, one GC argues. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with University of Adelaide general counsel and executive director of legal services Shanti Berggren about why she is so passionate about the education sector, the ever-present need to increase awareness of in-house vocational pathways for next-generation lawyers, what is missing from career c...
May 07, 2025•22 min
In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with NSB Cyber, we explore how and why it is more important than ever for lawyers and their businesses to better collaborate and engage with experts in the face of myriad cyber security concerns. Host Jerome Doraisamy is joined by NSB Cyber co-founder and chief executive Shane Bell to discuss the work of NSB Cyber, how lawyers are moving past a “set and forget” mindset to cyber matters, the current state of affairs with ...
May 05, 2025•24 min
Here, a leading tax lawyer reflects on the current state of affairs for practitioners, the intangibles and implications from a high-profile High Court proceeding, and what makes tax law such a meaningful vocational pathway. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Corrs Chambers Westgarth head of tax controversy Angelina Lagana about her career in this practice area and what she finds uplifting about it, the headline trends and challenges facing practitioners...
May 02, 2025•25 min
Juggling university life, work commitments, and social activities seems like an impossible task for many law students. However, Aaron Lee argues that with the right strategies, law students can effectively manage their studies without compromising other important aspects of their lives. In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Aaron Lee, a fourth-year commerce and law student at the University of NSW and a paralegal in personal injury law, about how his interest in p...
Apr 30, 2025•24 min
In this special episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, produced in partnership with LegalVision, we explore how innovative legal teams can navigate the myriad of legal, ethical, and professional concerns and risks as they adopt and embed artificial intelligence into their practices and processes. Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back LegalVision General Manager and Head of Legal Emmanuel Giuffre to discuss how in-house legal teams are managing AI adoption, what they’re hearing from clients across ...
Apr 28, 2025•30 min
With voting now underway for the 2025 federal election, we take a look at the legislative and constitutional requirements governing our electoral processes, the quirks of the Australian system, and what – apart from the beloved “democracy sausage” – makes the Australian way special. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Professor Donald Rothwell of the Australian National University about his work in international law, how our electoral system came to be a...
Apr 24, 2025•33 min
Given the unique needs of clients in family law proceedings, it is fundamental that those in regional and rural Australia have access to the requisite court resources, processes, and, ultimately, access to justice. Much more work, one principal argues, needs to be done to ensure this. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Tiyce & Lawyers principal Michael Tiyce to discuss the political promises that get made to better support those in the regions, t...
Apr 23, 2025•21 min
While one cannot control the external environment, one can control the progress and direction of their legal career. As this BigLaw partner has learnt, putting one’s best foot forward on any given client matter and making the biggest difference one can is the best way to get ahead and open new professional doors. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clifford Chance partner David Clee about his professional journey, the idea of not always following commonl...
Apr 17, 2025•23 min
