Making mistakes and navigating ethical issues with Dan Rogers, Legal Director, Robertson O'Gorman Solicitors

On this International Women's Day, we celebrate the extraordinary strides of women across social, economic, cultural, legal, and political spheres. In keeping with this spirit, we bring you a true leader of the legal profession, the Honorable Michelle May AM KC, on The Callover podcast to take us through her life in the law.

Michelle was admitted to the bar in 1978 and when she became Queen's Counsel in 1993, she was the first barrister with a predominantly family law practice to achieve that level of seniority. In 1995, she became the first female judge of the Family Court, and after 22 years, she retired from the bench in 2017, and returned to the Bar. In that year, she was also appointed a member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her significant service to law, judicial administration and professional associations.

Listen now!

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On this episode of The Callover, we speak with the Queensland Law Society’s outgoing CEO Rolf Moses to discuss the 2023 Job Readiness Survey conducted by the QLS in conjunction with researchers at Bond University. Rolf explains the survey results and what the QLS hope to achieve with this added insight into the profession's views on law graduates and newly admitted lawyers entering the profession.

To find the full Job Readiness Survey report:  qls.com.au/Content-Collections/Reports/2022-Job-Readiness-Report

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Walter Sofronoff KC has a formidable resume. He was called to the Bar in 1978, made silk ten years later and went on to become the President of the Bar Association, the President of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, the Solicitor General of Queensland, and then in 2017, the President of the Queensland Court of Appeal.

Since his retirement from the bench in 2022, Mr Sofronoff has led the Commission of Inquiry into Forensic DNA Testing in Queensland and, most recently, the Board of Inquiry into the criminal justice system in the Australian Capital Territory.

On this episode of The Callover, he joins us to discuss the art of advocacy, the importance of professional ethics and other lessons learned from his incredible career.

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On this episode of The Callover, we speak to Mel Scott, Senior Legal Counsel at Megaport, a global technology company. Mel has worked in-house for nearly a decade, after deciding to take the leap from a top tier firm just three years post admission.

Long before she was awarded the Queensland Law Society’s 2023 In-House Counsel of the Year Award, Mel has been a passional advocate for in-house lawyers.  You may have also seen her on Instagram and TikTok under the moniker @inhouselawyer or heard her on her podcast, Counsel.

On each platform – and in this interview – she shares insights into life as an in-house lawyer and demystifies (and destigmatises) the move in house for law students and young lawyers.

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Are you interested in going to the Bar? Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a barrister?

On this episode of The Callover, we hear from three junior barristers in Queensland (Melia Benn, Patrick Nevard and Georgina Morgan) about how they made the transition from the solicitor’s branch of the profession to the Bar. This episode is a must-listen for  young law students or lawyers thinking about a career at the Bar. Additionally, it also provides some useful insights into how to prepare a brief to ensure you get off to a good start with your junior counsel.

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Trigger warning!

This episode contains content about mental health and suicide. If you need to talk to someone, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

On this episode of The Callover, we speak with Denise Marshall, a Legal & Workplace Culture Consultant with the Queensland Law Society

R U OK Day is held annually on the second Thursday of September. It is a day to remind us to check in with ourselves, our friends, family and colleagues and encourage us to connect with those around us on the topic of mental health and aim to prevent social isolation and suicide.

On this episode of The Callover, we hear from Denise Marshall, a Legal & Workplace Culture Consultant with the Queensland Law Society. Denise will share the importance of protecting our mental health as legal professionals, why R U OK Day matters and provide us with some practical tips and key takeaways from the QLS Mental Health First Aid Course.

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On this episode of The Callover, we speak with Fauve Kurnadi, the International Humanitarian Law Coordinator for Australian Red Cross about International Humanitarian Law, what it is, how it’s relevant in 2023 and how it impacts war, law and business.

Fauve has a Master of Laws in Public and International Law from the University of Melbourne and was a Pro Bono Australia Impact 25 Winner in 2022.

To read a transcript of this episode: War, Law, and Business - A conversation about International humanitarian law with Fauve Kurnadi

To find Fauve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fauve-kurnadi

To find Georgia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-athanasellis-21713715a/

To find the War, Law and Business module: https://ihl.redcross.org.au/

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On this episode of The Callover, we speak with the Honourable Justice David Boddice about the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into Forensic DNA Testing in Queensland and the Court’s approach to dealing with them.  

Admitted as barrister in 1984, Boddice JA developed a busy practice in civil and criminal matters, appearing in state and federal courts and the High Court of Australia. He was appointed silk in 2001 and then after 26 years at the Bar, became a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2010. Earlier this year, his Honour was appointed as a Judge of the Court of the Appeal.

To find Georgia:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-athanasellis-21713715a

To find more content for young lawyers, visit The Hub: https://www.qls.com.au/Membership/The-Hub

To contact the Future Leaders Committee email: futureleaders@qls.com.au

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Good journalism is fundamental to a democratic society. On this episode of The Callover, we unpack what constitutes good journalism, how it has shaped Australia and why it is so important to our legal system, with special guest, Russell Marks. 

Russell Marks, an author, adjunct Research Fellow at La Trobe University, journalist for The Monthly and criminal defence lawyer practising in the Northern Territory.

Special thanks must go to Ella Thomas, Ashleigh Fanning, Georgina Peereboom and especially, Geoff McLeod, for their contributions to the production of this episode. 

To read a transcript of this episode: https://www.qls.com.au/Membership/The-Hub/Podcasts 

To find Russell:  https://au.linkedin.com/in/russell-marks-2a563353

To find Georgia:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-athanasellis-21713715a

To find more content for young lawyers, visit The Hub: https://www.qls.com.au/Membership/The-Hub

To contact the Future Leaders Committee email: futureleaders@qls.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jo-Anne Bragg OAM has been advocating in public interest environmental law for more than three decades. In 2022, she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her services to environmental law and is currently serving as the General Counsel of the Environmental Defenders Office. She is the perfect person to speak to in celebration of World Environment Day 2023, about the state of environmental law in Australia, the challenges that it is facing and where to from here.

Special thanks must go to Ella Thomas, Ashleigh Fanning, Georgina Peereboom, Miranda Unwin and Geoff McLeod for their contributions to the production of this episode.

To read a transcript of this episode: https://www.qls.com.au/Membership/The-Hub/Podcasts 

To find Jo-Anne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-anne-bragg-a9002750/ 

To find Georgia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-athanasellis-21713715a

To find more content for young lawyers, visit The Hub: https://www.qls.com.au/Membership/The-Hub

To contact the Future Leaders Committee email: futureleaders@qls.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.