Show Notes
Today, we revisit our conversation with Dan Meagher, Professor and Chair of Law at Deakin University. As we’ll hear, despite studying law and doing his articles, Dan initially tried fairly hard to avoid a life in the law, until he found academia or perhaps more accurately, until it found him. Dan specialises in constitutional law; lecturing, studying and publishing on the topic all over the world. We recorded this episode in the lead-up to the 2023 referendum, and it was truly enlightening to hear his insights on the Voice to Parliament. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
More from William and Lonsdale - Lives in the Law
This week we re-visit our wonderful conversation with The Hon Anthony North KC. Tony has been involved in some of the largest cases in Australian history as both a barrister and a judge, including the pilots strike in the late 1980’s, the Patricks waterfront dispute, the Tampa Affair and multiple native title cases. He is currently the chair of the Victorian Law Reform Commission, working on many fascinating projects, including the incredibly important work of Improving the Response of the Justice System to Sexual Offences. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week, we welcome Raelene Sharp KC, Director of Public Prosecutions for the Commonwealth, to the show. Raelene has had an incredibly impressive Life in the Law, but back in high school, when she told her careers counsellor she wanted to study law, she was advised against it, largely because she didn’t know any lawyers and had no connections in the profession. She persisted regardless. And once she made her way to law school, she quickly knew two things: she loved the law, and she wanted to prosecute. That instinct has taken Raelene through an extraordinary range of roles. She began her career at the Victorian OPP, went on to work at the then Australian Crime Commission and with the United Nations in Lebanon, before being called to the Victorian Bar in 2010. In 2023, she was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions, leading an office responsible for prosecuting offences against Commonwealth law across an enormous and varied jurisdiction. It’s a wide-ranging and wonderful conversation, and a pleasure to hear about Raelene’s Life in the Law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week, we welcome Her Honour Judge Liz Gaynor, former Judge of the County Court of Victoria, to Lives in the Law. Liz began her legal career in earnest, as a duty solicitor with Victoria Legal Aid before coming to the Bar in 1985, where she built an extensive criminal defence practice, including significant work in the Children’s Court. She was appointed to the County Court in 2002 and went on to spend more than two decades presiding over criminal matters. But Liz’s path to the bench was far from straightforward. Disheartened by her first experience of legal practice, she briefly left the law to pursue journalism before ultimately finding her way back, and discovering her passion in the courtroom. It’s a wide-ranging and wonderful conversation, and a privilege to hear about Liz’s Life in the Law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week, Michael Green speaks with Hugh de Kretser, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission. Hugh has spent much of his career working to advance human rights and social justice. After beginning his career in commercial law, he moved into the community legal sector, going on to work with the Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria, the Victorian Law Reform Commission and the Sentencing Advisory Council. He later led the Human Rights Law Centre and was CEO of the Yoorrook Justice Commission before being appointed President of the Australian Human Rights Commission. Along the way, each role has brought Hugh into different communities and given him a deeper understanding of the people and experiences that sit behind questions of law, justice and human rights. We’ll hear about all this and more in today’s episode. It’s a fascinating conversation, and an honour to hear about Hugh’s Life in the Law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au
This week, we welcome criminal lawyer Lauren Cassimatis, founder and principal of Gallant Law. Lauren has spent more than two decades defending people at some of the most frightening and consequential moments of their lives. For Lauren, good representation means seeing the person behind the charge and understanding the bigger picture of their life. Lauren is also the founder of Connecting Lawyer Mums, a nationwide community supporting thousands of women as they navigate law, leadership and family. We’ll hear about all this and more in today’s episode, including Lauren’s insights into the experiences of women who commit crime, her love and study of fashion, and the influence of her Greek heritage on her life and career. It’s a fascinating conversation, and a pleasure to hear about Lauren’s Life in the Law. www.greenslist.com.au/podcast www.themelbournemap.com.au