The Callover

Practising law in one of Queensland’s most remote communities brings unique challenges and rewards. In this episode of  The Callover , host Georgia Athanasellis is joined by Louise Prychidczuk, a solicitor who has spent the past 16 years in Weipa, at times as the town’s only private practitioner. Louise reflects on her journey to far north Queensland, the wide-ranging nature of he...

On this episode of The Callover , we are joined by acclaimed Australian writer Helen Garner. Known for her unflinching observations of human behaviour, her works Joe  Cinque’s Consolation and This House of Grief are powerful accounts drawn from the courtroom. Garner has also been asked to participate in workshops, helping judges refine their writing to improve clarity and accessibility. In t...

One of the most high-profile unlawful termination cases in recent years, Lattouf v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (No 2), thrust employment law into the national spotlight. In this episode of  The Callover , host Georgia Athanasellis is joined by Shannon Chapman, a Partner practising in employment, industrial relations and safety at Lander & Rogers, to unpack the decision and its wid...

Interpreters play a critical role in ensuring meaningful access to justice for people who speak languages other than English. In the latest episode of  The Callover , Brisbane-based court interpreter and forensic translator Carl Gene Fordham sat down with host Georgia Athanasellis to talk about the realities of interpreting in legal settings. Their discussion shed light on the often-unseen ro...

The Callover returns in 2026 with Terry O’Gorman, one of Queensland’s most persistent defenders of civil liberties.   As a young law student, Terry witnessed a confronting police crackdown during a protest in the Bjelke Petersen years. It set him on a path that would span five decades in criminal law and public advocacy.   In this episode, he talks through some of the moments...

The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG returns to The Callover for a deeper dive into his remarkable career. From his “curtain call” case to his memorable work at the United Nations, Justice Kirby reflects on the power of multidisciplinary approaches, the role of alternative dispute resolution, and how technology continues to reshape legal practice. To find Georgia: https://www.linkedin.c...

On this episode of The Callover, we speak with Judge Dženita Balić of the Queensland District Court about her extraordinary journey from refugee to the bench. After fleeing the Bosnian War and arriving in Australia as a teenager, Judge Balić learned English as her third language, graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 2005, and the next 17 years at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions,...

On this episode of The Callover, we are joined by leading wills and estates expert Dr John de Groot AM to discuss the importance of succession law, not only for our clients, but also for ourselves. John has led a distinguished career in law spanning more than 35 years, during which he has authored textbooks and looseleaf publications, and lectured at the University of Queensland. In 2024, he was a...

On this episode of The Callover , we speak with outgoing Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall. With a career spanning more than 30 years in community legal advocacy, public policy and social justice, Scott has been a strong and consistent voice for human rights in Queensland. As his term as Commissioner comes to an end this month, we reflect on his journey through the law, his time...

To mark R U OK? Day , The Callover presents a special reprise of an episode from our first season, featuring two guests who share their insights on managing mental health to sustain a long and fulfilling legal career. First, you’ll hear from Professor David Heilpern, a former magistrate now working in academia, who will also be a guest panellist at QLS’s upcoming Mental Health Breakfas...

On this episode of The Callover, we are once again joined by Stafford Shepherd, the Principal Ethics and Practice Counsel of the Queensland Law Society Ethics and Practice Centre and the Legal Practitioner Director of QLS Solicitor Support Pty Ltd, a wholly owned incorporated legal practice of QLS.  Stafford talks about conflicts of interest – including how to identify them, the differe...

On this episode of The Callover, we are thrilled to speak with Former Judge Alexander (Sandy) Horneman-Wren SC. A champion of all things regional Queensland – whether that be the development of the legal profession or the arts – he is known for his excellent humour, generosity of spirit and eloquence. Former Judge Horneman-Wren was called to the bar in 1993, took silk in 2009 and...

On this episode of The Callover we have the immense privilege of speaking with Judge Nathan Jarro. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Jarro practiced as a solicitor, a barrister and a deputy public interest monitor. He has also served as a member of various tribunals, including the Children Services Tribunal, the Mental Health Review Tribunal, and the Queensland Civil and Administrative...

On this episode of The Callover, we are joined by Emma Hoiberg, Barrister at Level 17 Chambers, to discuss preparing high-quality witness statements — a fundamental skill for effective litigation. Emma’s legal career has spanned a range of impressive roles — from Associate to a High Court Judge, to solicitor at Clayton Utz, and policy officer at the New South Wales Law Reform Com...

On this episode of The Callover, we speak with Stafford Shepherd, the Principal Ethics Solicitor of the Queensland Law Society Ethics and Practice Centre and the foundation Legal Practitioner Director of QLS Solicitor Support Pty Ltd, a wholly owned incorporated legal practice of QLS, about what Legal Professional Privilege is, why it is such a fundamental part of the legal profession, how we can...

On this episode of The Callover, Peter Applegarth, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, takes us inside the mind of a judge. He shares important insights on how judges deal with problems such as information overload, time-pressured decision-making and cognitive biases. He also explains the importance of lawyers crafting submissions based on how judges think, and the difference thi...

On this episode of  The Callover,  we speak with Stafford Shepherd, the Principal Ethics and Practice Counsel of the Queensland Law Society Ethics and Practice Centre and the Legal Practitioner Director of QLS Solicitor Support Pty Ltd, a wholly owned incorporated legal practice of QLS, about the fundamentals of billing as a legal practitioner. Billing is not just a financial practi...

On this episode of The Callover,  to celebrate International Women’s Day for 2025, we have the privilege of speaking with a trailblazer for women in sport and the legal profession, Moya Dodd AO. Moya has been a Matilda, a football administrator and is now a partner at Gilbert & Tobin.  In 2018, she was ranked 7th in Forbes list of Most Powerful Women in International Sports and...

On this episode of The Callover, we are joined the Honourable Justice Elizabeth Wilson and Dr Jane Phillips to discuss the value of expert psychiatric evidence in legal proceedings. Justice Wilson graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) at the Queensland University of Technology in 1995, was admitted to the Bar the following year and, in 2011, was appointed as senior counsel. While at the...

On this episode of The Callover, we speak with Edward Santow, a leading voice in human rights and technology to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and the law, human rights and ethics. We discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal landscape, the challenges it presents, and the opportunities it offers for the future of law.   Edward Santow i...

In our season finale for 2024, we have the immense honour of speaking with the Honourable Justice Michael Kirby AC CGM. Michael Kirby is a man who needs no introduction. He was called to the Bar in 1967, and in 1975, became the youngest man to hold a federal judicial office when he was appointed as the Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. Later that year he w...

On this episode of The Callover, we speak with Ben Ihle KC, about what sports law actually is and the key legal issues that arise within it. Ben was admitted in 2004, called to the bar the following year and made silk in 2020. He has cultivated a broad practice with a particular focus on tort, criminal, administrative and sports law and appears at both trial and appellate levels. He is recognised...

On this episode of The Callover, we speak with Gavin Rebetzke about the key principles of defamation law, along with some of the recent cases in this space. Gavin grew up in Townsville, studied at James Cook University and the University of Queensland before undertaking his articles at Roberts & Kane Solicitors in 1993. He was admitted in 1995 and continued to work in that general practice in...

As we continue this month of promoting health and wellbeing in the profession, we speak with Tim Franklin, the lawyer turned ultra-marathon runner, triathlon coach and motivational speaker who has recently become one of 8 people to have quite literally run around the world. Join us as we discuss his incredible adventure and what we, as a profession, can learn from it. Stay connected! Follow us for...

Palwasha Nawabi is part of a generation of young lawyers seeking to make a positive impact on society. In 2023, Palwasha was awarded the Law Council of Australia – Australian Young Lawyers Award in recognition of her significant achievement in leading the operational and administrative aspect of a pro bono initiative which resulted in the successful procurement of 90 subclass 449 visas for many Af...