Just Chat

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 Ukranian Bar Association (UBA), Mykola Stets...

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Appointed as a university lecturer-in-law at 23 and a barrister at 25, Jason Donnelly has worked tirelessly to become one of Australia’s leading immigration and public law academics and barristers. From the most vulnerable members of society to the music and sporting world’s biggest names, he has represented them. He reflects on his remarkable journey, overcoming his challenges, and shares valuable advice for those wanting to follow in his footsteps. Supported by NobleOak.

Send us Fan Mail Six months into her five-year term as Australia's Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Rosemary joins us in the studio to share her insights into the role, the challenges she's encountered, and the progress being made to advance the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in Australia. Supported by NobleOak.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Chief Justice of NSW Andrew Bell shares his thoughts on the bicentenary of the Supreme Court of NSW. He reflects on the court's rich history including the most challenging moments (and colourful characters) of the past 200 years, the significance of being a part of this moment in history, what's next for the court, and the potential issues lawyers and court users could face with the rise of artificial intelligence. Supported by NobleOak.

Send us Fan Mail As the Senior Court Reporter for the ABC, Jamelle Wells has a privileged point of view on the mechanisms of justice in New South Wales. She has seen both the most thrilling, and most mundane court sessions, but always kept her curiosity. In this episode Jamelle reminisces with ex court reporter, Amy Dale, and talks about what she learned about Australia's justice system researching her new book, The Outback Court Reporter. This episode is supported by NobleOak.