In this episode, Chiara Rawlins, Principal in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group at McCabe Curwood, talks to law graduates Monique Messenger and William Wade about her path to Principal.

Chiara has a candid discussion on her career journey, the challenges she has faced, and the advice she would give to people seeking a career in law.

# 38 - The path to Principal

The #FreeBritney movement, and Britney Spears' conservatorship, has had a lot of media attention in recent years.

But why is Britney under conservatorship? And do we have a similar arrangement here in Australia?

Hosted by Stephanie Andrew, a lawyer in McCabe Curwood's Litigation and Dispute Resolution group, and law graduate Monique Messenger.

#39 - #FreeBritney and conservatorship

New Zealander Laurel Hubbard became one of the first openly transgenders athletes to compete in an Olympic Games this year. However, her participation was heavily criticised as she was competing in the over 87-kilogram weightlifting event. Some critics deemed this to be unfair as she was born biologically male.

Where does the law lie for female transgender athletes?

Law Graduates Emma Jagot and Jacqueline White discuss the guidelines for female transgender athletes competing in the Olympics, and the rules with other sports bodies.

# 45 - Transgender athletes and the law

From citizen's arrests by anti-Uber activists, to a Sydneysider implanting the chip from an Opal travel card into his hand, we have seen some unique legal cases pop up over the years.

In this episode of Trial By Podcast, Law Graduates Emma Jagot and Monique Messenger count down their top five most unusual legal cases in Australia.

# 47 - 5 unusual legal cases that actually happened in Australia

The High Court confirmed on 8 September 2021 that media companies are responsible for the disparaging comments made on their Facebook posts, and can even be sued for these comments.

Law Graduates Jacqueline White and William Wade discuss the case of Fairfax Media Publications v Voller, and some of the potential consequences of the decision made by the High Court.

# 48 - Fairfax Media Publications v Voller: Media companies liable for comments on Facebook posts

Whether it’s Alexa, Google Home or Siri, most of us probably use at least one of these. But a heated topic of debate continues to surround these devices: are they listening to us and recording our conversations?

In this next episode of Trial By Podcast, Graduate Lawyers Monique Messenger and William Wade answer three of our biggest questions:
- Are they recording my conversations?
- Where is that information stored?
- What is being done with that data?

#49 - Hey Alexa: Are our AI smart assistants recording us?

In this episode of the Trial By Podcast, law graduates Emma Jagot and Jacqueline White discuss the laws in place to help homebuyers avoid buying property with a spooky past.

# 50 - Halloween Special: Haunted Houses

In case you somehow missed it, Gladys Berejiklian resigned from her position as NSW Premier in September after ICAC announced that they were investigating whether she breached the public trust. 

In this Trial By Podcast episode, Graduate Lawyers William Wade and Emma Jagot unpack what ICAC is, and take a deep dive into why everyone is talking about it.

# 51 - What is ICAC and why is everyone talking about it?

Law Graduate Jacqueline White discusses the implications of vaccine policy for employers as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

# 52 - Vaccine Policy

If you’re a dog lover, there aren’t too many things better than a cute puppy. Characteristics such as wrinkles, tiny heads, or flat noses are always aww-worthy, but selective breeding for ‘cute’ purposes has been proven to lead to genetic disorders in dogs.

In this Trial By Podcast episode, Law Graduates Kaitlyn Oliver and Ella Trevena dive into the world-first law changes in Norway around dog-breeding, and what reforms are in consideration here in Australia.

#mccabes #auslaw #law #legalpodcast #graduateprogram #lawgrads #graduatelawyer #pets #dogs #puppies #norway #dogbreeding

# 55 - Impawfections: What reforms are underway for dog breeding?

The roads of the future will inevitably be lined with autonomous vehicles, leaving the decision-making to artificial intelligence rather than humans.

Law Graduates Jack Cale and Tennille Chester discuss the innovative laws that will form in response to this eventuality, and see what is in store as we begin to adapt to these new technologies.

# 58 – Self Driving Cars: Who’s liable when they crash?

The growth of social media has correlated with the growth of online advertising, often stealthily hidden through influencer promotions.

Law Graduates Jack Cale and Catherine McCorriston discuss the laws around whether influencers are required to disclose when they are advertising, and how brands need to navigate this new and lucrative way to reach new customers.

# 59 – Do influencers need to tell you when they are advertising?

It's common for makeup stores and chemists to have makeup samples for customers, so that they can try before they buy. 

In this Trial By Podcast, Law Graduates Naomi Ralphs and Tiffany Wong discuss what happens when this process can go wrong, such as the 2015 incident where Sephora was sued by someone who contracted oral herpes from a lipstick at one of their stores.

#60 - Rouge Awakening: What happens if makeup in a shop gives you an infection?

In this Trial By Podcast, Law Graduate Ella Trevena discusses the Fair Work Legislation Amendment Bill 2022. 

This bill aims to amend the Fair Work Act 2009 in several key areas in order to increase wages and improve the gender pay gap.

#61 - Significant changes from the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill

Reality TV is one of Australia’s most guilty pleasures, with new programs within the genre being released constantly. However, there is a layer of manufactured drama behind the ‘unscripted’ programs, and with this brings legal and moral issues.

In this Trial by Podcast episode, Law Graduates Isabella Bagus, Morgan Graham, and Chantal Ryan-Linnane examine just how much we really know about reality TV.

#62 - Guilty Pleasures: The laws behind reality TV drama

From streamlining legal processes to predicting case outcomes, AI has the potential to revolutionise the legal profession.

In this Trial By Podcast, Law Graduates Matthew Sitima, Ryan Greenaway, and Emma-Lee Jones explore the ethics, risks, and limitations of relying on machines for legal decision-making.

#63 - Judge Bot: Is Chat GPT changing the legal system for better or for worse?

Australia has become one of the largest consumers of cosmetic surgeries in the world, but what are the legal ramifications of these procedures if they go wrong? 

In this Trial By Podcast, Law Graduates Antonia Bonura, Prineeka Sharma and Britney Tassone explore the not so glamorous side of cosmetic surgery in Australia.

#64 -  Beauty or Botched: The legal consequences of cosmetic surgery

In this episode of Trial by Podcast, law graduates Antonia Bonura, Emma-Lee Jones, and Britney Tassone explore the complicated world of copyright in the music industry, taking a closer look at its recent impact through a high-profile landmark decision involving Ed Sheeran.

#65 - A Familiar Tune: Navigating music copyright laws

In the digital age, a great deal of communication is enacted through text messages, emails and social media platforms, where emojis are frequently used. A Canadian Court recently held that the thumbs up emoji was enough to constitute acceptance of contractual terms, similar to a signature, to create a legally binding contract.

In this Trial by Podcast, Law Graduates Emma-Lee Jones, Britney Tassone and Antonia Bonura discuss how emojis are becoming intertwined into the legal landscape.

#66 - Thumbs Up: Can an emoji really signify a contractual agreement?

In this episode of Trial by Podcast, law graduates Leah Ahokava, Michelle Tan, and Alyssa Whiffin discuss the 'Pink Tax', the hidden extra costs that women pay for everyday goods and services.

#67 - Pink Tax: The pricing discrimination that persists

In 2020, Taylor Swift began the famous task of re-recording her songs that had already been released to claim artistic and financial control over them.

In this Trial by Podcast, law graduates Abby Adams, Jessica Lees, and Michelle Tan explore how Taylor Swift was able to do this legally, and discuss the broader dynamics of copyright law.

#68 - Bad Blood: Music copyright and re-recordings

Flight tracking means that no celebrity is safe from criticism of using their private jets just a bit too much, raising questions about just how impactful this is on the environment. 
 
Join Alyssa Whiffin, Angela Vangdahl, and Leah Ahokava in this Trial By Podcast as they discuss the challenges of air pollution and the regulatory efforts to curb it.

#69 - Not So Private Jets: Aviation laws and environmental impact

Do you find yourself answering work calls and emails from your manager outside of work hours? You might be able to start leaving them on read. 
 
In this Trial by Podcast, law graduates Abby Adams, Sarah Sassine, and Alyssa Whiffin discuss the right to disconnect, part of the Closing Loopholes amendment to the Fair Work Act.

#70 - Do Not Disturb: Can you now legally ignore your employer?

Is it time to begin your career in law? Applications for the 2025 cohort of the McCabes Graduate Program are open until July 31st 2024.
 
In this Trial By Podcast, law graduates Leah Ahokava, Sarah Sassine, and Angela Vangdahl dive into the Graduate Program experience. Hear tips and tricks on the application process, what opportunities you can expect throughout the program, and why you should kick-start your career with McCabes.

Apply today: https://mccabes.com.au/careers/graduate-program/

#71 - McCabes Graduate Program: Unlock your legal potential

In this Trial by Podcast, law graduates Abby Adams and Claire Ascoli discuss the complex and high-profile defamation case of Bruce Lehrmann vs. Network Ten.
 
Please note, this episode includes discussions of sexual assault which may be distressing for some listeners.

#72 - Allegation to Defamation: The Lehrmann Saga

In this episode, graduates Andrea Cuadros Lu, Antara Labiba, and Jason Weerasuriya examine the Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni case, a dispute that’s as much about defamation and PR strategy as it is about contract law. 

#73 - Gossip to Gavel: Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni

A high-profile feud between rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar captured global attention, escalating into a defamation debate as Drake took legal action against Universal Music Group.

In this episode of Trial by Podcast, law graduates Shashank Shimoga, Allegra Zacest, and Isabel Lowe explore the debate, discussing where the line is drawn between artistic expression and reputational damage.

#74: Drake vs Kendrick: A Minor Lyric to A Major Defamation Claim

A trade mark is a powerful asset that defines a brand’s identity and reputation, which means that it is a necessity to go to extreme lengths to protect it.

In this episode, law graduates Mariana Ishak, Meaghan McLeod, and Fadi Khousho discuss three of the most hotly contested trade mark wars in recent times, and explore why a strong strategy around protecting an IP is critical for the longevity of a brand. 

#75: Trade Mark Wars: Burgers, Blush, and Birth Names

In this Trial By Podcast, Antara, Meaghan, and Andrea discuss their experiences so far in the McCabes Graduate Program. 🎓
 
Hear the best application tips and what you can expect in rotations through different practice groups.

#76: The McCabes Graduate Program Experience

In this Trial by Podcast, law graduates Alem Paric and Fadi Khousho explore what pro bono legal services are and who they serve, and why accessibility to legal services are vital.

#77 - Why do pro bono legal services matter?

Do you know who has possession of your body when you die? Can human tissue and sperm samples from a deceased person be valid items of property? And what are the legal implications of such questions?

In episode one of Trial by Podcast, litigation lawyer Luke Dominish goes back 100 years to examine English and Australian cases discussing burial rites, human tissue and sperm samples to determine what can happen to your body when you die. 

Subscribe to this podcast on SoundCloud and iTunes to learn more about the weird and wonderful world of law and some of the more fascinating issues that affect our lives and those around us!

#1 - Who has possession of your body when you die?

How to ensure your beloved animals are taken care of after your death. Dylan Heffernan discusses pets and estate planning. Whether this is making sure your pet isn’t passed on to your loved ones as property or establishing a trust to cover their ongoing care, Dylan covers all bases on this topic.

#2 - Estate planning and pets

In episode 14 of Trial by Podcast, Law Graduate Ethan Aitchison and Law Graduate Stephanie Lowy discuss what to do when you move into an apartment and the strata by-laws don't allow for your pet to live with you.

# 14 - Pets and Apartments

Who owns my body after I die? Can I leave my entire estate to my dog? Do I own the rights to the tattoo on my arm? Welcome to Trial by Podcast, a fortnightly podcast series by Australian law firm, McCabes where we discuss dinner-party legal topics, current events and the laws surrounding them.

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