Brief Exchange

Monika Matesa

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +1000

The Law Society of NSW has 18 policy committees across a diverse range of practice areas. The policy committees represent the Law Society and its members on a range of policy and practice issues across different areas of expertise. In this episode, Monika Matesa, Head of Commercial and Advisory Law Reform, chats about her role, the importance of advocacy, and her non-linear career path.

Richard O'Halloran

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +1000

Richard O’Halloran is a fourth-generation solicitor living and working in Tamworth. Established in 1903, his family’s law firm is one of the oldest in Australia. In this episode, he chats about his career, what it’s like to come from a family of solicitors, the lessons his grandfather taught him, and what life is like in the regions.

Magistrate Kasey Pearce

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:00:00 +1000

In this episode, Magistrate Kasey Pearce traces her path from USYD to criminal defence, the challenges of fighting for disadvantaged clients, and what it really takes to walk into a courtroom and advocate for someone's life. She also explains the often-misunderstood world of coronial proceedings — where the goal isn't to assign blame, but to find the truth.

Greg James AM KC

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +1100

From North Sydney Boys High to the Supreme Court bench, Greg James has seen it all. In this episode of Brief Exchange, the former Royal Commissioner reflects on a storied career—including becoming a QC at just 38 and navigating landmark cases like the Bathurst jail riots and the Polyukhovich war crimes trial.

Hayder Shkara

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +1100

In this episode, former Olympian turned lawyer Hayder Shkara, joins us to discuss his transition from the world stage to the legal profession. We explore the core values that bridge these two demanding fields and the personal mission that drives him to lead the Justice Network.

Judge Amy McGowan

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +1100

Her Honour Judge Amy McGowan of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia takes us through her compelling and diverse legal career, from her start as a solicitor and her impactful time in the not-for-profit sector, all the way to her significant role as a Senior Judicial Registrar before her appointment as a judge. She offers essential wisdom for legal professionals, emphasising the crucial role of ethical practice and the emotional resilience required to navigate the complex landscape of family law.

Luke O'Kane

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Luke O'Kane, Partner at Clyde & Co, joins us to discuss his journey into law—from being inspired by debate and research for Chief Judge Justice Hoeben to his current role in personal injury law. Luke offers crucial advice for young lawyers to take charge of their careers and highlights regulatory efforts in New South Wales to combat claim farming.

Melini Pillay

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:00:00 +1100

Melini shares her intriguing journey, detailing the challenging pivot in her legal career: moving from a prosecutor to representing defendants in complex employment and safety matters. Plus, she offers crucial advice for early career lawyers on embracing change, seizing control of your professional path, and viewing every shift as an opportunity to grow.

Joanne Sanders

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this episode, we chat with Joanne Sanders, a Juris Doctor student at UTS. A former executive manager at the ABC, Joanne chats about studying while working full-time and juggling competing priorities. A self-described theatre kid, Joanne impresses us with her rendition of Shakespeare.

Michael Kirby AC CMG

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +1000

Distinguished international jurist, educator and former Justice of the High Court of Australia (1996 to 2009), the Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG needs no introduction. In a special episode of Brief Exchange, he sits down with LSJ Online to chat about his life, career, and the lessons he has learnt along the way.

Daphne Fong

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 15:00:00 +1000

In this episode, we speak to Law Society Student Ambassador Daphne Fong about her inspirations for studying law, the importance of marks in securing a clerkship, and how she built up her advocacy skills.

Samuel Chu

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode, we're joined by Samuel Chu, a Solicitor at Dentons, who shares his unique journey into law. We dive into what ignited his passion for Charities law and hear his hilarious recounts from his time as a Golden Gavel finalist. Plus, he shares his tips for other aspiring early career lawyers.

Armin Alimardani

Mon, 19 May 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this episode, Armin Alimardani, Senior Lecturer in Law and Emerging Technologies at the University of Wollongong, joins us in the studio to discuss the fascinating intersection of AI, neurotechnology, and the law. He also shares valuable advice for students on leveraging generative AI in their academic and professional journeys.

Liam Meagher

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 11:00:00 +1000

With experience spanning government, private practice, and the Bar, Liam Meagher has built a strong foundation in law. He joins us in the studio to share his wide-ranging legal experience and provide essential guidance for those starting their legal careers or looking for the next step.

Elle Belekas

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:00:00 +1100

In this episode, we're joined in the studio by Elle Belekas, an Associate at MinterEllison, who offers insights into corporate and commercial litigation, along with essential advice for aspiring and junior lawyers.

Mara Lejins Returns

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +1100

Following her appearance at the Law Society’s Annual Conference, Mara Lejins returns to the studio to discuss a range of topics, from insights gained from her fellow panelists and personality types in law, to her confronting experience traveling to North Korea and the lessons she learned about the isolated nation.

Jennifer Shaw and Paul Monaghan

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +1100

Jennifer Shaw, partner at Bartier Perry, and Paul Monaghan, senior ethics solicitor for the Law Society of NSW, delve into the captivating world of space law. Discover the unique legal challenges of this final frontier and the exciting opportunities that await aspiring space lawyers.

Dane Luo

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +1100

Dane Luo, a Doctor of Philosophy candidate at Oxford University, discusses his path to becoming a legal scholar. We explore his deep interest in constitutional law, his extensive in this field, and his insights on the future of constitutional law in Australia.

Jodie Sheen and Will Glowrey

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:00:00 +1100

In this episode, we hear from Jodie Sheen and Will Glowrey, who are tackling the unique challenges of legal access in regional New South Wales. They share their personal journeys, insights into their vital work, and advice for young lawyers passionate about justice for all.

Jennifer Vuu

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +1000

As a self-proclaimed "succession law nerd," Jennifer Vuu has dedicated her career to the intricacies of wills and estates. She joins us in the studio to reflect on her early life and career inspirations to her current role as Special Counsel at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers, and provides valuable advice for aspiring young lawyers.

Linden Barnes

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +1000

In this special episode, Linden Barnes, Senior Ethics Solicitor at the Law Society of NSW, joins us to chat about the ethical obligations of solicitors, how the administration of justice should inform everything a lawyer does, how to navigate social media and what to do if a family member or friend asks you for advice.

Raymond Sun

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +1000

A technology lawyer by day and a programmer by night, Raymond Sun found a way to bring his passions together in a unique area of law. He joins us for a candid chat to share his remarkable journey, valuable tips for young lawyers, and even teaches us some dance moves.

Mara Lejins

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:00:00 +1000

From Big Law to the Office of The Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) with a regular appearance on Channel 7's The Chase Australia mixed in, Mara Lejins, joins us in the studio to share her stories, passions, and the valuable lessons she's learned along the way.

Charlotte Morson

Wed, 15 May 2024 09:00:00 +1000

In this episode, Principal Solicitor at The Legal Costs Consultants, Charlotte Morson, joins us in the studio to share her experience, how she got into this unique area of law, what to expect during the costs process, and valuable tips for early career lawyers.

Taylah Spirovski Returns

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 15:00:00 +1000

In this episode, President of NSW Young Lawyers for 2024, Taylah Spirovski joins us in the studio to talk about her priorities for the year and her tips for young lawyers.

Amy Farrugia

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +1100

There was a time when Amy thought the law wasn't for her, but through her commitment and perseverance, she now finds herself as a legal officer at the Commonwealth Attorney General's department. In this episode, she shares her story, how she found her way into the legal profession, and great tips for aspiring lawyers.

Mei Gong

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 11:00:00 +1100

2023 Young Lawyer of the Year, Mei Gong, has an incredible list of achievements.
At nine years old, she migrated to Australia from China and had to learn English from scratch, which brought about many challenges. However, she found a love for public speaking that drew her to the legal profession, where she is today a Competition and Consumer Law lawyer at Johnson Winter Slattery.

In this episode, she shares helpful tips for other early-career and aspiring lawyers and reflects on her journey and how her dedication, adaptability, and diverse experiences helped shape her legal career.

Jessica Yazbek

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 09:00:00 +1100

In this episode, Jessica takes us through her journey from a work-experience student to a qualified solicitor at Colin Biggers & Paisley. She reflects on the challenges, the lessons learned, and why self-care is paramount to a successful career in law.

Hannah Hurst

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +1100

In this episode, Hannah Hurst reflects on her experiences, from working at a large corporate practice to a non-profit organisation. She chats about the differences, what she’s learned, and her advice for early career lawyers.

Oliver John Williams

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +1000

In this episode, Oliver John Williams chats about a range of social causes he is passionate about, justice and the best advice his mentor gave him about practising in law.

Sophia Ulrich

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +1000

Wendy Yang chats with Sophia Urlich, in-house legal counsel and Vice Chair of the NSW Young Lawyers’ Civil Litigation Sub-Committee, about pursuing law as a second career. Sophia discusses her career from completing an undergraduate degree in psychology/music to moving in-house.

Lachlan Robison

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +1000

In this episode of Brief Exchange, Lachlan Robison, barrister at State Chambers, shares his top tips on how to brief a barrister and his advice for appearing in court.

Jen Casperson

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 14:00:00 +1000

In this episode of Brief Exchange, Jen Casperson, principal solicitor at NSW Crown Solicitor's Office discusses why no two days are the same in government and why government is such a diverse place to work

Anjali Nadarajane

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 16:00:00 +1000

In this episode of Brief Exchange, Anjali Nadarajane, a lawyer at MinterEllison working in the intellectual property practice discusses her career and the Battle of the Bunnies case.

Mimi Lee

Fri, 19 May 2023 09:00:00 +1000

In this episode of Brief Exchange, Mimi Lee, associate solicitor working in the Office of the General Counsel at NSW Treasury discusses what it's like working as a in-house government solicitor.

Olivia Irvine

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 11:00:00 +1000

In this episode of Brief Exchange, Olivia Irvine, lawyer at Hazelbrook Legal and President of NSW Young Lawyers, shares her tips for early career lawyers and the importance of pigeons.