General legal practice

• Facilitated conclave conferences

  1st Apr 2021

  Where there is a divergence in expert evidence, the experts involved are expected to participate in a conclave conference. Kirsten Van Der Wal and Kathryn McMillan QC discuss the role of an independent facilitator in this process, how to appoint a facilitator as well as practical considerations for legal practitioners.

• Avoid autopilot when using expert evidence

  18th Feb 2021

  Having a solid understanding of expert evidence law and the common law rules is a powerful weapon for a litigator. Anna Morgan provides an overview of the rules of expert evidence, discusses recent cases where expert opinion evidence was rejected, and offers tips on using expert evidence effectively.

• Does the pandemic have us working longer hours?

  24th Sep 2020

  The new normal of remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it the luxury of plasticity in how and when work is done. However, there are also downsides to working from home.

  Travis Schultz explores the difficulties that have accompanied the loss of demarcation between our work and personal lives, with employees working longer hours than ever before.

• Happiness is an inside job

  10th Sep 2020

  Clarissa Rayward reflects on the significance of R U OK?Day and explores the foundational ingredients of any happy and successful legal career.

  She interviews ALA member Dean Spanner in her podcast Happy Lawyer Happy Life on prioritising the things that matter: health and relationships. They discuss mindset, perspective and spirituality, and how with hard work and clarity around what brings joy you can live a successful life in and outside of the law.

• Swapping silks for trackies

  7th May 2020

  While there may be some of you who won't agree, for many lawyers running their own practices, working from home may well be better than planning and taking a holiday. In this engaging article, it is clear that Tom Percy QC is relishing working from home during the COVID-19 shutdown and has enthusiastically embraced the new ways of engaging with courts and clients. 

• Life as a regional plaintiff lawyer

  21st Sep 2017

  The benefits and challenges of life as a regional plaintiff lawyer.