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She reached the exact job most lawyers are still chasing, Head of Legal for Asia Pacific at a global software company, and walked away from it in under two years. Mel started as a graduate lawyer at Corrs Chambers Westgarth with no clerkship and an average transcript, then moved in-house through Brisbane Airport Corporation and over a decade scaling two fast-growing tech companies, before leaving corporate law altogether to build Counsel Media and The Counsel Podcast full time. The throughline is that leadership in law is a separate skill from being a good lawyer, that AI is already killing the billable hour, and that the gatekeeping built into the traditional path is exactly what she's spent the back half of her career trying to dismantle. She also gives Friends In Law listeners an exclusive first look at CouncilCon, the new industry conference she's launching in Brisbane in March, including priority access to tickets before they go public.

Martin Richardson spent over a decade in-house: Legal Counsel at BlueScope Steel, then General Counsel roles at AWB, Adecco and Sodexo, before walking away to build a legal practice from scratch around a single industry: recruitment. In this episode, Martin unpacks why he bet an entire brand on one niche, the KPI he was handed at BlueScope that had nothing to do with billable hours, and the moment he got physically confronted at a set of sale yards over a misunderstood client visit. We talk about what credibility and authority actually look like when you strip away the letterhead, and why understanding a business beats explaining the law to it every time.

What happens when your career refuses to follow a straight line? Nadia Bromley never met a lawyer before enrolling in law school, and her path since has taken her from a decade in criminal law at Legal Aid, into HR, into leading a 300-person IT team with no technical background, into general counsel, and eventually to CEO of Women's Legal Service Queensland, an organisation she's grown from $6 million to $14 million in four years.  In this episode, Nadia talks candidly about missing out on a CEO role she desperately wanted, what she learned from that knockback, and the moment she told a hiring panel exactly how much a job meant to her. She also shares the skills she believes every lawyer already has and doesn't realise, and why the hardest part of leadership is deciding what not to do.  For lawyers wondering whether their own path needs to look conventional to count, this one's for you.  Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive https://www.alexcorreaexecutive.com.au/

Adrian has spent over a decade as General Counsel at Ausco Modular and has since expanded into one of the most expansive executive roles in the business, covering legal, HR, IT and property across APAC. Alongside that, he has built a genuinely global following as a voice on in-house legal leadership, and this conversation covers the territory he knows best: what it actually takes to move from senior counsel to general counsel, and why those are fundamentally different jobs. We get into the story of a deputy GC who was passed over for a role everyone assumed was hers, and what that moment reveals about the gap between technical excellence and executive readiness. Adrian also talks about the communication traps in-house lawyers fall into, why he bans the word no in his team, and how he coaches lawyers to reframe their advice around business decisions rather than legal positions. Listeners will leave with a clear and honest picture of what the path to general counsel actually demands, and some practical ways to start building it now. Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest: Adrian Moffatt Friends in Law is edited and produced by Dayera Creative

What does a fulfilling legal career actually look like when you're in it, not just planning it? In this episode of Friends in Law, Alex sits down with Georgia Huf for a conversation about career uncertainty, non-linear paths, and the decisions that quietly shape where you end up. Georgia shares how she didn't set out to study law, why her early exposure to the profession through recruitment changed the way she thought about "fit", and how she found her way into projects and construction law, an area most law students don't even realise exists. They talk about the reality of starting out in top-tier firms, navigating imposter syndrome, and learning that perfection isn't the goal. Instead, it's about curiosity, relationships, and being willing to try things before you feel ready. The conversation also explores what it means to build a career without a fixed plan. From working with barristers and mentors, to making the decision to move overseas early in her career, Georgia reflects on the moments that required her to trust her instincts, even when the path wasn't clear. Together, Alex and Georgia unpack the idea that there is no single way to "do" a legal career. They discuss why culture and people matter just as much as the work, how exposure to different areas shapes better lawyers, and why some of the most rewarding paths are the ones you didn't initially consider. Georgia also shares what surprised her most about practicing in Abu Dhabi, the pace and scale of projects work, and why saying yes to a single LinkedIn message can sometimes open doors you didn't know existed. If you've ever felt unsure about your direction, questioned whether you're making the "right" decisions, or felt pressure to have everything figured out early, this episode is a reminder that you don't need a perfect plan to build a meaningful career. — Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest : Georgia Huf Friends in Law is edited and produced by Dayera Creative

What makes someone choose you when there are ten other people offering the same service? In this episode of Friends in Law, Alex sits down with Jason from Superpower Portraits for a conversation about branding, belief, differentiation, and why trust is not something you manufacture, but something that grows when you remove uncertainty. Jason shares how one awkward meeting in Dubai forced him to confront a hard truth. He knew his work mattered, but he couldn't clearly explain why. That moment sent him down a much deeper path, figuring out how to communicate not just what he does, but what sits underneath it. The values, beliefs, and personal convictions that make someone's work feel distinctive rather than just competent. Together, Alex and Jason explore what this means for lawyers, especially in a profession where so much communication sounds polished, credible, and technically strong, but often feels interchangeable. They unpack why credentials and expertise are only the baseline, how lawyers can communicate the human outcome of their work, and why the strongest professional brands are built not on performance, but on clarity. From client relationships and interviews to bios, websites, and personal positioning, this episode is a thoughtful look at what it really means to connect with people in a way that feels honest, memorable, and aligned. Jason also shares why he thinks confidence is overrated, why "trusted advisor" is not the goal, and how asking better questions about belief, identity, and feeling can completely shift the way you talk about your work. If you have ever struggled to explain your value without sounding rehearsed, overly polished, or like everyone else in your field, this conversation is for you. Extra Links Identity Alchemy - https://bit.ly/4rIbKay  Vision & Values Alignment Guide - https://bit.ly/3OjzjYR Small Hinges Swing Big Doors - Behavioural Branding 'Swipe File' -  https://bit.ly/4tJHGxk 5 Powerful Habits that Attract Fully Aligned Clients - https://bit.ly/4bJSNzL 13 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Photographer (beyond "What does it cost?" and "What do I get?") - https://bit.ly/4qxwhh8 Topics Personal branding for lawyers Trust and credibility Lawyer bios and LinkedIn profiles Differentiation in professional services Client connection and communication Brand positioning Identity, belief and values Authenticity in legal careers Professional storytelling Career development in law Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest : Jason Malouin | Superpower Portraits Friends in Law is edited and produced by Dayera Creative

"I wouldn't take it back for all the money in the world." That's how Marcus Payne chooses to reflect on his role as Chief Counsel for Queensland Health during a global pandemic. "It was a wonderful experience in terms of the pressure and what I learnt but would I choose to go back and do it again? I'm not sure!" Now Head of Legal at Urban Utilities, Marcus clearly likes a challenge - in September he completed a bucket-list goal, swimming across the English Channel in 14 hours and 29 minutes. "I'm a pretty firm believer that anyone can do amazing things, it's just about having the right approach and not trying to do too much too quickly." The "right approach" to something as difficult as swimming The Channel includes training in the cold and dark from three in the morning, ahead of a busy work schedule. But most importantly, it involves a team of motivators. "You're not allowed to wear a watch either so I very quickly found myself surrendering to the fact that I didn't know where I was, I didn't know how long I'd been out there, I didn't know how long to finish - I just resigned myself to be very present in each moment." In this final episode of Friends in Law for 2022, Marcus explains the lessons such a huge physical challenge share with the daily challenges of life and career, the role senior lawyers must play in a post-pandemic office and the slowly tipping scales of work/life balance that can only come when you truly enjoy what you do. TOPICS LinkedIn for Lawyers (and all other professionals)   Corporate Athlete  Career planning Goal Setting Legal careers   In-house legal career  Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy!  Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here   Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn    Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive   With thanks to our guest : Marcus Payne Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb)  Produced by Bern Young

What's your first thought when you get a notification from LinkedIn saying "You appeared in X searches this week"? Do you want to know immediately who they are, why they're interested in you? Perhaps a more pressing question is - what did they discover when they searched for you? As a LinkedIn specialist, Karen Hollenbach says the platform is so much more than Facebook for professionals and refutes that it's even part of the social media cohort. "It can be a fantastic source of information, a place to learn, a place to stay connected, a place to be found and a place to manage your online reputation." Karen is the first non-lawyer to feature in the Friends in Law podcast because her insights into this powerful platform are helpful no matter what age or stage your legal profession is at. From thought leadership ("is not for everyone") to the basics of using good photos ("you wouldn't walk into a room with a paper bag on your head!") to cheering others on from the sidelines even if you're not ready to commit the time to regular posts. "The reason why a lot of people approach myself and my team is because they see people who aren't as competent as them, shining brighter on LinkedIn." "I don't like comparison, I think it's really dangerous but the reality is most of the clients we work with have completely under-represented themselves online - that's a career limiting move." TOPICS LinkedIn for Lawyers (and all other professionals)   Personal branding and marketing    Career planning Managing your personal online brand Legal careers   Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy!  Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here   Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn    Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive   With thanks to our guest : Karen Hollenbach Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb)  Produced by Bern Young

Having a conversation with someone who's literally written the book on conversations should be daunting, shouldn't it? Bill Ash's professional experience is nothing short of impressive, from globetrotting corporate lawyer to highly respected counsellor/coach and now author of "Redesigning Conversations - A Guide to Communicating Effectively in the Family, Workplace and Society." But what's truly impressive is Bill's own mood contagion - one of generosity, observation and insight.  In this episode of Friends in Law, Bill Ash shares some of his own work and life experience, his thoughts on leadership and seniority and navigating personal and professional relationships.  He chalks it all up to "taking notice". "When I look back on my career, the important things have been the relationships I've had in that career - you know I've done this, that and the other projects but it's the relationships (that are important)."  "I've been very lucky with the leaders I've had, they've probably never been to a leadership course in their life but they're fabulous leaders because they're human, experienced and relational." "I just encourage everyone to make those requests .. senior people love to be asked." TOPICS Leadership  In-house lawyers  Alternative careers Effective communication for life, work, and family    Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy!  Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here   Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn    Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive   With thanks to our guest : Bill Ash Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb)  Produced by Bern Young

How many times have you said or heard, everything happens for a reason? When Kara Cook was a Judge's associate, sitting through highly detailed cases before the Planning and Environment court, she couldn't have foreseen that one day she'd be part of making the very decisions developers appeal. At that time, early in her legal career, she was more concerned about matters of social justice like domestic violence and fair representation for women who'd lost their power and their voice. Now a Brisbane City Councillor, Kara Cook's path to politics was not via the well-worn journey of student politics or volunteers and advisors, which is one reason she wasn't ready for the brutality. But as you'll hear, her legal career readied her for the fight. "I constantly remind people around me that the political environment is not the real world and how people behave and act in that environment is not what would happen in a regular organisation." "You can be empathetic and still be a good leader." "I was never the smartest kid in the class but my husband jokes to me, that I'm like the little engine that could."   TOPICS Women in politics  Alternative careers in the law Agents of change  Social Justice  Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy!  Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here   Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn    Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive   With thanks to our guest : Kara Cook Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb)  Produced by Bern Young

Philosopher John Dewey said, "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." For Ann-Maree David, who once imagined she'd be a teacher, studying law is how she discovered her outlet to educate. The 2018 Agnes McWhinney Award winner is Executive Director at The College of Law where she has dedicated the past two decades to other lawyers' career paths. From the danger of perfectionism, to the nuances of networking, Ann-Maree tells Alex Correa about her own non-traditional legal career, her drive to boost equality and how the current generation simply won't follow the mistakes of the past. "We can actually be humans at work, that's a big lesson for people to learn and if you've been a career lawyer for 30-50 years that's not something you're going to give up readily because it's what you know." "That armour still exists .. We've seen a lot of people leave the profession over the last few decades because they couldn't maintain that armour, it was too heavy." "We can be very good at our jobs but we can also accept that we are fallible humans." TOPICS Career alignment through values and purpose          Perfectionism in the workplace and the shift toward being our authentic selves     Cultivating the next generation of legal talent Diversity & Inclusion Alternative careers in law  Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy!  Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here   Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn    Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive   With thanks to our guest : Ann-Maree David Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb)  Produced by Bern Young

Suzy Cairney has seen a lot of shipping containers in her time but the most memorable one was in the foyer of a French shipping agency, transformed into a giant shark tank. "That was brilliant advertising, you knew exactly what you were getting into when you negotiated with those guys." The former European Legal Counsel for the Port of Singapore, has worked in several in-house roles in Australia and overseas and is now a partner at Sparke Helmore in Brisbane. She speaks to Alex Correa about the family priorities which saw her choose Australia over her homeland Scotland, how helping build something is better than endless litigation and why her eyes light up when she talks about supply chains! Suzy also details the diagnosis which changed her approach without ever changing her attitude. "I would not suggest that cancer was something anybody wants .. however, I'm actually quite grateful for the experience." "You do mature, maybe grow into yourself a little bit and I really think that changing perspective is something that has been a surprise for me." TOPICS Working in-house for multi-national companies  Practicing law in Europe, Asia, and Australia     Life as a law firm partner         Women in engineering and construction   Maintaining wellness while practicing law Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy!  Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here   Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn    Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive   With thanks to our guest : Suzy Cairney Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb)  Produced by Bern Young

"You don't have to do things the way people have done them for 50 to 100 years." "We've got legal rules that confine us, but we don't have to be confined with the way in which we deliver those legal services." And with that, Helen Kay set out to create a very different law firm from the ground up. The Managing Director of Rise Legal shares her journey from the UK to Australia, starting in one of the biggest firms and eventually working for herself as a sole-trader, only to find that what she needed, and wanted, was somewhere in between. "It started as a niggle and that niggle was, don't like the mahogany desks, I don't like hourly rate billing, I don't like this part of it." "I had a goal in mind and I needed to build a network of people who I knew, liked and trusted and who were going to know, like and trust me, ready for when I wanted to start my own law firm and I knew it was going to look different this time." "So I didn't say no to anything. That was a sort of taboo word .. even if I was exhausted, even if I had four other things on that week, I never said no." TOPICS     Goalsetting and the business of law      From big law to the evolution of new law     Entrepreneurship, networking and building a profile      Client service and KPI's - a new measure of success!    Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy!  Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here   Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn    Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive   With thanks to our guest : Helen Kay Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb)  Produced by Bern Young

Do you remember when lawyers didn't even have computers at their desks? The opportunity for robotics and automation and how that will impact the future of work is an issue across all industries, including the law. Alister Fitzgerald, CEO and founder of Field, is at the forefront, providing a digital platform that is already reshaping legal work within the property industry. But can technology reduce the all-consuming nature of being a lawyer and make for a more sustainable, enjoyable career?  Quotes "I'm very interested in technology and how it can change the way things operate for the better. I'm a systems person, and not in the sense necessarily of the micro level, but I like things that should connect to work better." "I don't think everyone needs to know how to be an expert software developer but the threshold to learn to do some simple coding isn't that high. And I think they're probably skills that are useful, if only to have an understanding and empathy for people who are going to be very relevant in the profession." "(By 2050) I can't imagine lawyers doing what lawyers do now .. but I would hope that the thinking and the intellect and the morality of the processes that find themselves into software are directed by people with similar intelligence and application in the legal profession as they do now." TOPICS     The Future of Law and automation      Legal tech, client delivery, and career fulfillment      Partnership, big law, and life outside of private practice     Lawyers who are entrepreneurs         Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy!  Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here   Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn    Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive   With thanks to our guest : Alister Fitzgerald Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb)  Produced by Bern Young

When Antonia Mercorella first turned her back on a career in law to pursue a life in the arts, she couldn't have imagined her job title now - CEO of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland. "I got a clerkship at a highly regarded commercial law firm in Adelaide. But I really didn't enjoy it. And I left to join the State Theatre Company." "I remember people saying to me, you're mad. And a few times in my career that's happened, where people have judged me and said, 'What are you doing? You're all over the place.'" As the first female CEO of the REIQ, Antonia is determined to right the gender imbalance in leadership and thrives on settling the disputes that inevitably brings. QUOTES: "I feel a responsibility now as a CEO, I have women ask me, how did you do this and how do you manage it? And I try and be really honest about the fact that it's a real challenge. You know, juggling everything is a real challenge. And there's no perfection in any of it." "I have mixed feelings about it. At one level, I feel extremely privileged to be the first female in 103 years. And at another level, it really disappoints me that it's taken that long for a female to lead REIQ." "We were labeled anti-tenant, and we were labeled as heartless. And that was challenging because I actually have a very strong social justice slant." "Why are you apologising for being pregnant? There's no need for an apology. And I think it's really disappointing that that occurs, and yet I've been there myself, I'm guilty of it." TOPICS From private practice to the C-Suite and industry-shaping     Authentic leadership, parenthood and quotas   Diversity, inclusion and organisational change Traditional legal career path vs a flexible/divergent path        This podcast tackles the topic of quotas for women.  Visit Developing Talent if you are looking for fun and innovative ways to build confidence and capability around these issues of diversity and inclusion within your organisation.      Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy!  Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here   Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn    Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive   With thanks to our guest : Antonia Mercorella Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb)  Produced by Bern Young