Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network

Recent Episodes

1. Budget backlash – has Australia lost its political middle ground?

   Jul 17, 2026

   Dr. Marcus Thompson, retired Major General, joins Phil Tarrant on Contested Ground to discuss Australia's recent federal budget and its impact on social cohesion and political polarization. The conversation examines whether Australia is moving away from its traditional political center toward greater extremism, explores the divisive nature of recent budget measures affecting property investment and housing affordability, and considers implications for national unity and leadership.

2. Unpacking psychological injury claims against employers

   Jul 15, 2026

   Jeremy Roche, founder of Gain Lawyers and 2026 Partner of the Year Award winner in personal injury, discusses the rising trend of psychological injury claims against employers in Australia. The episode explores why workers delay lodging these claims, misconceptions surrounding psychological injuries, systemic differences across states, and the complexities of managing psychological claims compared to physical injuries. Roche advocates for early intervention, proper management of claims, and adherence to psychosocial codes to improve outcomes for injured workers.

3. The graduate law jobs crisis: Fact or fear?

   Jul 13, 2026

   Sai Mutakma, a paralegal at Gilbert and Tobin currently seconded to the Attorney General's Department, discusses the reality behind fears about AI and legal tech disrupting junior lawyer roles. Despite headlines suggesting a crisis in graduate legal employment, Mutakma argues that law students have more opportunities than ever, with AI creating demand for new skill sets and expanding career paths beyond traditional big law. The conversation covers how universities, law firms, and students themselves must adapt to technological change while maintaining the human skills that remain central to legal practice.

4. The growing legal access crisis in regional and remote Australia

   Jul 10, 2026

   Ronan McSweeney, President of the Law Society of New South Wales, and Danielle Ford, President of the Central West Regional Law Society and director solicitor at Cheney Sothers Lawyers, discuss the critical access to justice crisis in regional and remote Australia. The episode examines infrastructure gaps in regional courts, including inadequate audiovisual link (AVL) facilities and physical courtroom limitations, and explores how underinvestment undermines public confidence in the justice system. Both speakers advocate for a long-term, publicly available justice infrastructure strategy and highlight the compounding effects of courthouse closures on regional communities and legal practice sustainability.

5. What personal injury clients most value

   Jul 8, 2026

   Garbas Kolakosian, Deputy Managing Partner of Gerrard Maloof and Partners (GMP), discusses what personal injury clients value most and how life-changing incidents shape advocacy, trust, and justice. The episode explores the day-to-day realities of personal injury law, client resilience, the importance of early case strategy, and how firms like GMP balance empathy with commercial viability while serving injured claimants on a no-win-no-fee basis.

6. Privacy concerns for Tranche 2 entities

   Jul 7, 2026

   Simone Herbert Lowe, founder of Law and Cyber, discusses privacy obligations now facing Tranche 2 AML/CTF reporting entities like law firms, accounting firms, and real estate agencies as of 1 July 2024. Despite having no turnover threshold previously, these entities must now comply with the Australian Privacy Principles regardless of size. The conversation covers practical compliance steps, the recent $5.8M penalty in ACL v OAIC, and the concept of 'reasonable steps' under APP 11, emphasizing that privacy and AML/CTF due diligence should be integrated rather than treated separately.

7. Trusts changes post-budget, and implications for lawyers and clients

   Jul 1, 2026

   Claire Styles, founder and principal of C Legal and Co, discusses the federal budget changes affecting discretionary trusts and their implications for estate planning and legal practice. The conversation covers the 30% minimum tax on discretionary trust distributions, CGT changes on investment property, the carve-out for testamentary trusts following legal profession advocacy, and SMSF restrictions on residential property. Styles advises lawyers on conducting client audits, managing uncertainty, and positioning themselves as strategic advisors rather than transactional practitioners.

8. LawTech Talks: Delivering new types of work as law moves beyond experimentation

   Jun 26, 2026

   Ashley Whittaker, Country Manager for Harvey in Australia and New Zealand, discusses the legal profession's transition from experimental AI adoption to foundational integration in 2027. The episode covers agentic AI capabilities, findings from the RSGI study showing 52% of Harvey users now view the platform as foundational infrastructure, and new features including contract intelligence and command center for ROI tracking. Key themes include workflow transformation, agent deployment across firms of all sizes, and evolving collaboration models between in-house counsel and external providers.

9. Charge accordingly for your expertise

   Jun 24, 2026

   Renee Romanos, principal of Renee Romanos Legal, discusses the fundamental transformation of conveyancing practice in Australia. The episode explores how conveyancing has evolved from a simple, process-driven service to a high-complexity, high-risk practice area requiring sophisticated expertise in AML/CTF compliance, cyber security, fraud prevention, and regulatory obligations. Romanos argues that practitioners must charge significantly more to reflect the true value and risk they carry, while also reimagining their service offerings to include advisory and holistic support rather than transactional work alone.

10. Introducing LawBlazer: A new funding option for small law firms

    Jun 23, 2026

    Ian Marshall, Head of Professional Services at Trailblazer Finance, discusses the launch of LawBlazer, a new commercial funding product designed specifically for small law firm owners in Australia. The episode explores how LawBlazer addresses cash flow challenges unique to small legal practices—including working capital gaps, ATO debt consolidation, and growth funding—and how accessing this financing can improve law firm owners' eligibility for home loans. Andrew Johnson from Legal Home Loans joins to explain how clearing business debt and improving firm cash flow directly supports lawyers' personal property aspirations.