Just Chat

Send us Fan Mail Ben McDermott first picked up a guitar when he was seven years old and started playing publicly in his early teens. After studying music and the arts, he eventually pivoted to law. Now an associate at Hewitt Glass, who specialises in Intellectual Property and corporate and entertainment law, Ben reflects on his musical roots and the different worlds of music and law.

Send us Fan Mail Anna Brown has been involved in most milestones of the LGBTQI+ in Australia, from the apology for the Tasty nightclub raids to the successful Marriage Equality campaign. As the co-founder and CEO of Equality Australia, she talks to Just Chat about how her career led her to social justice, how the plebiscite affected the community, and why Australia should adopt a Bill of Rights.

Send us Fan Mail Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the country has faced immense challenges to its democratic institutions. How can a country maintain the rule of law when its courts and legal professionals are targeted? In this special episode of Just Chat, guest host and president of the Law Society of NSW, Ronan MacSweeney, talks with two people who have been at the centre of the resilience of the Ukrainian legal system: the president of the Ukrainian Bar Association (UBA), Mykola Stetsenko, and the Director of the Institute of Human Rights of the UBA, Inna Liniova.

Send us Fan Mail Early in his career, Eamon Waterford’s involvement in a street count of homeless people in Sydney’s west made him angry. Today, equity and fairness are at the heart of his role as CEO of the Committee for Sydney. In this episode of Just Chat, Waterford discusses infrastructure, investment and why we should be talking more about what Sydney does well.

Send us Fan Mail Describing in-house legal counsel as the “Jack and Jill of all trades,” Ivana Kovacevic, multi-award-winning group general counsel and non-executive director, joins us to chat about the difference between private practice and in-house practice and she shares how in-house legal counsel are in a unique position to shape advice from the outset.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with human rights lawyer Anthony Levin for a deep dive into the experiences that forged his 20-year career at Legal Aid NSW. From his upbringing in Australia to the profound influence of his grandparents’ Holocaust survival stories, Anthony reflects on how these experiences shaped his perception of justice and his commitment to fighting for the marginalised and disadvantaged.

Send us Fan Mail The Hon. Justice Ian Harrison has presided over a number of high-profile cases including the trial of Chris Dawson, speaking to us shortly before his swearing out ceremony late last year, he reflects on his career spanning five decades. He chats about the role of technology in the legal process, scrutiny by the public and the media, and diversity in the profession.

Send us Fan Mail As President of the Law Council of Australia, Juliana Warner has represented the legal profession on a series of important issues, during a period of great change. In this episode, she returns to the Law Society of NSW to discuss the looming impact of the new AML/CTF legislation, the work of solicitors in local communities and the unfinished business for the profession.

Send us Fan Mail After the shooting of young Warlpiri-Luritja man Kumanjayi Walker by NT police officer Zachary Rolfe, investigative journalist Kate Wild spent some time in that community broken not only by that tragic event but by generations of continuous systemic violence. The result is Wild's new shattering book The Red House. She joined us in the studio to talk about her experience and how it connects with "everywhen", the Aboriginal concept that past, present and future are intertwined.

Send us Fan Mail Ko Ko Aung, recipient of the 2023 ‘John Gibson AM Young Australian Migration Lawyer of the Year', joins us to chat about what brought him to Australia from his native Myanmar, how his parents did not want him to study law, his passion for advocacy, social justice and the importance of making a difference.

Send us Fan Mail On this very special episode of Just Chat, guest host, and President of the Law Society of NSW, Jennifer Ball, interviews Baroness Helena Kennedy KC. Scottish Barrister, member of the House of Lords and Human Rights Activist, talks about her distinguished career and the importance of lawyers in maintaining the rule of law.

Send us Fan Mail Gravamen Principal Lawyer, and 'Coffee and a case note' podcast host, James d'Apice, comes to our studio to talk about the challenges in setting up his firm, how he used social media for good, and the other Australian law-based podcasts he can't live without.

Send us Fan Mail Louise Buckingham is CEO of Arts Law, Australia’s only community legal centre for artists and arts organisations. As creative industries face multiple headwinds, Louise discusses the impact of technology, how legal matters can be overwhelming for young artists and the vital role of pro bono lawyers.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Justice Hament Dhanji, of the Supreme Court of NSW. We explore everything from the impact of racial discrimination, to trust in institutions and the rule of law. In addition to his extensive background in criminal law as a solicitor, barrister and then Senior Counsel, on the bench, Justice Dhanji has played an active role in supporting diversity and inclusion.

Send us Fan Mail Justine Zhou is Special Counsel at Speirs Ryan, with expertise across corporate, cyber and property law, and success in several legal awards. She talks with LSJ about her career experiences, beginning with an internship in Singapore, and how to turn crisis into opportunity.

Send us Fan Mail Executive Counsel for Nine Media talks about her career from legal receptionist to being involved with some of the most biggest defamation cases in the recent years, and her experience working directly with court journalists.

Send us Fan Mail Before presenting his keynote at last year's Law Society Conference, U.S. Environmental lawyer Robert Bilott stopped by the Just Chat studio to talk about how he got involved in class action against DuPont chemicals, the effect it's having around the world on the fight against forever chemicals, and how it feels to have two Hollywood stars having dinner at his home in preparation for a film about the case.

Send us Fan Mail Law Society outgoing President, Brett McGrath, reflects on his time in the role, and the changes facing the profession - from reaching out to our rural communities, to how AI can be used as a helpful professional tool. Finally he leaves a message to next year's President, Jennifer Ball. This episode is supported by NobleOak .

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down for a captivating conversation with Professor Mimi Zou, Head of the School of Private & Commercial Law at UNSW Law & Justice. From her unique early experiences to her rise as a leading expert in the legal implications of AI, Professor Zou shares her remarkable journey. Hear the challenges, motivations, and compelling stories that have shaped her influential career, and her tips for those wishing to pursue a career in academia.

Send us Fan Mail In this special U.S. Election episode, Special Correspondent and guest host Joseph Friedman talks with author and journalist Nick Bryant about Australia's fascination with the U.S. election, the strategies both candidates should follow, and what he is looking for on November 5. This episode is supported by NobleOak .