Interview with 2024 Australian Young Lawyer Organisation Award winner, Queensland Law Society’s Future Leaders Committee
25 November 2024
What does it mean for The Callover to receive the award?
Our goal in creating the podcast was to showcase the many ways that law can be practiced in the hope of inspiring a generation of connected, capable and healthy lawyers, who are motivated to use their unique skills to serve their communities.
We are honoured to receive this year’s Australian Young Lawyer Organisation Award because it suggests that the episodes have resonated with listeners.
It is incredible to think that what began as an idea in 2021 – in circumstances where no one on the Future Leaders Committee (FLC) knew anything about creating a podcast – has grown into something that has featured nearly 40 remarkable guests and been listened to almost 15,000 times.
That growth is a testament to the tireless efforts of many people. Former and current FLC members have championed the podcast. Particular thanks must go to Zoe Navarro, Ella Thomas, Georgina Peereboom, Gemma Krueger, Ashley Fanning, Caitlin Littleton and Sam Nelson, who have contributed to the hours of research and planning that are required to create The Callover.
The podcast would not be the quality production it is without the team at QLS. We are particularly fortunate to have the assistance of Geoff McLeod, who ensures that listeners enjoy studio-quality content, regardless of whether we record the episode in the studio, someone’s chambers or - in the most obscure example to date – a park bench (when the jackhammers started to work on the construction site above the recording studio).
Most importantly though, the award is a credit to the wonderful guests who generously offer their time, insights and expertise. Without them, we would not be able to create meaningful content for our listeners.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the podcast?
It is an absolute gift to hear about a topic or issue, want to know more, and then have your questions answered by an expert. That is what I enjoy most about being part of The Callover. It is a real privilege to meet with, and learn from, exceptional people who are contributing to the profession and the community through their work in the law.
I have also been blown away by the calibre of guests who have agreed to join us on the podcast. It is heartwarming that so many lawyers are willing to share their personal and professional stories. In doing so, they help the next generation of lawyers find their own place within the profession.
Learning to prepare for, and conduct, interviews that are aimed at explaining topics and entertaining listeners has been both fun and challenging. It’s not something I’d done before and, while I still have a lot to learn about the art of interviewing, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed developing that skill.
What goes into planning just one episode?
Each episode comes together in a slightly different way.
Generally, at the beginning of each season, we brainstorm ideas about topics we’d like to discuss or guests we’d like to speak with. Once we confirm a guest’s appearance, the FLC will prepare a briefing note setting out background information and draft questions. I familiarise myself with that content, undertake any further research and settle the questions based on how I think the interview might flow.
I then meet the guest to discuss the proposed scope of the interview. They always know far more about the topic than I do, so I try to use this pre-recording conversation as an opportunity to deepen my understanding of the topic, identify any gaps I have to fill before the actual interview and build rapport with the guest. We then meet again to record the formal conversation and that becomes the podcast.
Do you ever get nervous interviewing high-profile guests?
Sometimes. The nerves tend to emerge in the hour before we press record, while I’m waiting for the guest to arrive. Having spent hours researching them, it still amazes me that I get the opportunity to meet and interview such accomplished and impressive people. At that point, I just hope I’ve done enough preparation to speak with them in an informed way. Given that I am one of those people who sits scribbling on my notes until the last possible moment, in many ways, it is a relief when the guest arrives. Once they do, I’m usually struck by how down to earth they are. By the time the microphones are rolling, it feels fairly natural. That said, I’m always grateful for the guest’s thoughtful answers, which guide us through the interview.
What’s next for The Callover in 2025? What are some of the key legal issues and challenges The Callover will focus on for young lawyers?
We look forward to bringing our listeners interesting and important conversations on topics that are relevant to young lawyers and the profession more broadly.
While I can’t give too much away about Season 4, I can say that we will continue to foster discussions about how to cultivate a successful and sustainable career, unpack significant cases and legislative developments, and discuss topical issues including, for example, how artificial intelligence might impact the future of the legal profession.
As young lawyers, we particularly appreciate that entering the profession and practising law can be challenging and intimidating at times. We hope that each episode of The Callover demystifies the practice of law a little and fosters a sense of connection between our listeners and our guests. We hope The Callover can be a resource that lawyers turn to when they want to learn about recent developments, hear how others tackle similar challenges or are simply in need of some professional inspiration.
Do you have a particular episode that stands out/resonates with you? Do you have a dream guest that you/the committee would like to secure?
That’s a hard question to answer because every episode is special to me, not least because I’ve learnt something different from each guest.
Interviewing Margaret McMurdo was an honour. When I suggested her as a potential guest, I don’t think we’d even released an episode, so I expected QLS to tell me to taper my expectations to someone who was not such a giant of the profession. When they called me a week later to say that she’d agreed to come on the podcast, I was both excited and terrified. I needn’t have been because her Honour was such an engaging and compelling speaker that she made my job as interviewer easy.
I also particularly enjoyed the conversation with Justin Greggery KC about the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme. There had been a lot of media reporting about the subject. However, it wasn’t until I’d read a significant portion of the report and had Justin explain to me what Robodebt was and what the Royal Commission had found, that I felt I had some understanding of the topic.
Given the significant impact that scheme had on many vulnerable people and the important lessons for lawyers that arose from it, I was proud that we could bring content like that to our listeners.
As to our dream guests, I think you’ll find our season finale for 2024 features one of them. I won’t spoil the surprise but listeners should subscribe the The Callover on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so they are the first to hear who that was when the episode drops in December!
Georgia Athanasellis, host of The Callover and QLS Future Leaders Committee Member, speaking on behalf of the Future Leaders Committee.
Last Updated on 09/12/2024
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