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

Deeann Cropley has always wanted to use her legal skills for "purpose and good". Now running a Geelong-based charity while working as in-house counsel, she's found ways to not only make an impact on the community but also better serve as a corporate lawyer.

In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Barwon Water legal counsel and Pass the Snacks Geelong founder Deeann Cropley about her journey as a lawyer, wanting to use her legal skills for good, her Geelong-based charity and why she founded it, why its work is so important, its reach and further vision, and how she manages running a charity as a full-time in-house lawyer.

Cropley also discusses why it's so important for corporate counsel to roll up their sleeves and be more involved in the communities around them, her sense of service, what she's learnt about herself as a lawyer and how it's made her more curious, agile, and adaptable, how in-house lawyers can make more impact, making the time rather than finding the time, and what excites her about her ongoing work.

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

Having spent years working at the intersection of where the law engages with the community, particularly vulnerable persons, Tania Wolff has seen the system at its best and at points where justice isn't accessible, leading to a loss of confidence in public institutions. Addressing that loss of faith in the system is essential, she says, both for the sake of justice and social cohesion.

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Law Council of Australia (LCA) president Tania Wolff about her varied vocational journey as a practitioner and her work for legal member bodies, what motivates her to advocate for the legal profession, her concerns about the erosion of confidence in public institutions and the justice system, and the potential impacts of such a loss of confidence.

Wolff also delves into LCA's priorities for her term as president, what the member body does, managing the health and wellbeing of the profession while pushing for societal change, professional opportunities created by new technologies, and the "extraordinary privilege" of being LCA president.

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