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What happens when abuse leaves no bruises? In this episode of Sue Me Later, Hayder Shkara sits down with family lawyer Amy Pattle to discuss coercive control, one of the most misunderstood and difficult forms of domestic and family violence. Coercive control often occurs behind closed doors and can involve manipulation, isolation, intimidation, monitoring, financial control, emotional abuse, and patterns of behaviour designed to dominate another person. We discuss: • What coercive control actually is • Common warning signs and red flags • How coercive control appears in family law matters • The impact on victims and children • Evidence and challenges in proving coercive control • Recent legal developments in Australia • What to do if you believe you or someone you know is experiencing coercive control Whether you're navigating separation, supporting a loved one, or simply wanting to better understand this important issue, this episode provides practical insights into a topic affecting thousands of Australians. Subscribe for more conversations about law, relationships, family disputes, current issues, and the legal stories shaping Australia. #SueMeLater #CoerciveControl #DomesticViolence #FamilyLaw #AmyPattle #HayderShkara #LegalPodcast #FamilyCourt #Relationships #AustralianLaw

Are Australians about to face inheritance tax by stealth? The proposed changes to testamentary trusts could have a major impact on how families pass wealth to the next generation. For years, testamentary trusts have been used as part of estate planning to protect assets, provide flexibility, and manage tax outcomes for children and beneficiaries. But if the rules change, your will may not work the way you think it does. In this video, I speak with estate planning expert, Tara Lucke from The Art of Estate Planning https://www.theartofestateplanning.co... We discuss: What testamentary trusts are Why families use them What the proposed tax changes mean Whether this is really inheritance tax in another form And why parents should review their estate plan before it is too late Estate planning is not just about writing a will. It is about making sure your family is protected when you are no longer here. Watch this before you update your will or assume your current estate plan is enough. #inheritancetax  #estateplanning  #willsandestates  #australianlaw

Thinking about studying in Australia? Before you choose a course, you need to understand where that course is actually taking you. Too many international students enrol first and ask questions later. They spend thousands of dollars, commit years of their life, and only then realise their study pathway may not lead to the visa or migration outcome they were hoping for. In this video, we explain why choosing the right course is not just an education decision. It can affect your graduate visa options, skilled migration pathway, future employment opportunities, and long-term plans in Australia. We cover the common mistakes students make, why “popular” courses are not always the right courses, and why getting proper advice early can save you time, money, and stress. If you are an international student, or you are planning to study in Australia, watch this before you enrol. #internationalstudents  #studyinaustralia  #australianvisa  #studentvisa  #graduatevisa  #australiapr  #migrationadvice

What actually happened after the ISIS Brides and children returned from camps in Syria to Australia? One woman is facing terrorism-related charges (including allegedly entering or remaining in a “declared area” and alleged membership of a terrorist organisation). Two others are facing some of the most serious allegations you can see in an Australian courtroom: slavery offences and “crimes against humanity – enslavement”. But what do those charges really mean under Australian law? How can Australia prosecute alleged conduct that happened overseas, in a war zone? What happens with bail? And what about the kids, who didn’t choose any of this? #Terrorism #TrueCrime #LawExplained #AustralianLaw #BreakingNews #Syria #HumanRights #ModernSlavery

Buying property is exciting, but it can also be expensive if you miss the wrong details. In this video, I break down 3 costly mistakes property buyers make and what you should watch out for before signing a contract, paying a deposit, or committing to a purchase. These mistakes can lead to unexpected costs, delays, disputes, or serious regret after settlement. We cover: Why you need to understand the contract before signing The danger of skipping proper searches and due diligence Why finance, cooling-off periods, and settlement dates matter How small assumptions can become expensive problems When to get legal advice before it is too late Whether you are a first home buyer, investor, or upgrading your home, this video will help you slow down, ask better questions, and avoid common property buying traps. Disclaimer: This is general information only and is not legal advice. Property laws differ between states and territories, so speak with a qualified property lawyer or conveyancer about your specific situation before making any decisions.

I break down the Interim Report of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. This report was released while criminal proceedings are still underway, which means the Commission is legally limited in what it can reveal publicly. So instead of a full blow-by-blow narrative, the public version focuses on the systems behind national security: how intelligence is handled, how agencies share information, how counter-terror coordination works, and what changes the Commission thinks need to happen now. We’ll walk through the key public recommendations and we’ll also talk about the trust issue at the heart of this document: 14 recommendations exist, but 5 are confidential, meaning the public can’t fully judge the full package. If you want to understand what this Interim Report reveals about Australia’s security and policy direction you’re in the right place.

Can you actually go to jail for what you say in Australia? In this video, I break down: What hate speech actually means under Australian law The difference between offensive speech vs illegal speech When your words can cross the line into criminal conduct And where free speech really stands in Australia today This is about understanding the law so you don’t accidentally find yourself on the wrong side of it.

You’ve been arrested. Now what? Most people think they know what to do… They don’t. And in the first few minutes after an arrest, one wrong move can make your situation a lot worse. In this video, I break down the 7 things you need to remember if you’re ever arrested in Australia. 👉 What you say will be used against you 👉 What you do next actually matters 👉 And most people get it completely wrong ⚖️ In this Podcast: What to say (and what NOT to say) Your right to silence  and when it matters What police are allowed to ask you The biggest mistake people make after arrest What happens in those first critical moments

In this video, I respond to some of the claims I have heard online about the Roberts-Smith case. How the outcome of the defamation trial mattersDoes indemnity automatically destroy a witness’s credibility?Do the rules of engagement override the laws of armed conflict? This isn’t about picking a team. It’s about understanding how the rule of law actually works when allegations are this serious. The criminal process now carries a much higher evidentiary threshold, and yes I understand, the findings of the Federal Court are not criminal convictions.  But they are not meaningless either.  Drop your thoughts in the comments. And if you value legally grounded analysis on difficult topics, consider subscribing.

In this podcast, I break down the recent court decision that struck down New South Wales’ protest laws and why it matters more than most people realize. These laws were introduced quickly, with the intention of giving police broader powers to control protests. But when tested in court, they didn’t hold up. So what went wrong? It’s about the limits of government power. It’s about how far the law can go before it crosses the line. I explain: What the protest laws actually didWhy the court found them unconstitutionalThe concept of “freedom of political communication” in AustraliaWhat this means for future laws and police powers The real question is: how much power should the government have to control their people? 0:00 - Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. 0:14 - The Court of Appeal’s decision 0:53 - Context of the Bondi Beach shootings 1:25 - The "Form 1" process vs. the temporary PARD restrictions. 2:49 - Australia’s "implied freedom of political communication." 4:23 - Why the court ruled even though the specific PARD had expired. 4:53 - Consequences for protesters 5:50 - Political fallout 6:11 - The future of protest rights in NSW.

The case against Ben Roberts-Smith is shaping up to be one of the most difficult prosecutions Australia has ever attempted. In this video, I break down the real problems with this case from the perspective of an Australian lawyer. Once you strip away the media coverage - what you’re left with is a prosecution that faces serious legal and practical hurdles: – Allegations coming out of a war zone, years after the fact – Heavy reliance on witness evidence that will be aggressively challenged – The overlap with a civil case that already made findings against him – And the sheer complexity of trying to prove criminal guilt beyond reasonable doubt This is where things get interesting I also cover: – why delay is such a big issue in cases like this – how credibility battles can make or break a trial – and the legal risks both sides are walking into 0:00 - Ben Roberts-Smith Charged with War Crimes 0:18 - An Extreme Prosecution Challenge 1:03 - Meet Hayder Shkara 1:31 - The Problem of Time 1:43 - Lack of Physical Evidence 1:55 - Fading Witness Testimonies 2:13 - Witness Logistics in Afghanistan 2:36 - Comparing Domestic vs. War Zone Forensics 3:34 - Witness Credibility & Reputation Pressure 4:20 - National Security vs. Public Interest 4:41 - Document Redaction & Immunity Claims 5:35 - Defamation Trial Context 6:10 - Pre-trial Media Prejudice 6:21 - The Risk of a Hung Jury 7:12 - Conclusion & Outro

Ben Roberts-Smith is back in court with his bail application.  In this video, I break down what actually happened at the bail application, what the court is considering, and why this stage of the case is far more important than most people realise. We go through: What Roberts-Smith has been charged with The legal test for bail in Australia The key arguments his lawyers are likely making The risks the court weighed up  If you want to understand what’s really going on from an Australian Lawyer (without the media spin), this is the breakdown. 00:00 Intro: The Bail Contest 01:15 Defense's Arguments 05:01 Prosecution's Case 06:27 The Judge's Ruling 07:00 Risk Assessment 07:29 What's Next?

If you’re going through a separation or thinking about starting family law proceedings, the process can feel overwhelmin and confusing. In this video, I break down the entire family court process in Australia from start to finish. ⚖️ What we cover: -What happens before court even starts -Filing an application in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia -The first court event and what to expect -Interim hearings and urgent issues -Disclosure and gathering evidence -Mediation and dispute resolution -Preparing for a final hearing (trial) -What judges actually look at when making decisions -Final orders and what happens after 👨‍⚖️ Why this matters: Most people go into family court blind. They don’t understand the stages. They don’t know what’s coming next. And that uncertainty creates stress, bad decisions, and unnecessary legal costs. 0:00 - Introduction 0:55 - Mediation requirement (Section 60I Certificate) 1:43 - Step 1: Filing the Initiating Application 2:14 - Affidavit and other supporting documents 3:36 - Initial legal costs 4:26 - Serving the documents 5:19 - Respondent's response 6:08 - Step 2: The First Court Date 7:46 - Interim orders and hearings 8:44 - Step 3: Dispute Resolution/Mediation 10:22 - Step 4: Final Hearing preparation 11:15 - Potential legal fees after one year 12:24 - The Final Hearing process 13:31 - Reserved judgment timeline

Domestic and family violence in Australia doesn’t always look the way people expect. It doesn’t always involve sirens, shouting, or visible injuries. In this video, I break down what domestic and family violence really looks like, how common it is, why leaving is one of the most dangerous moments, and where Australia’s systems succeed, and fail, in keeping people safe. Using national data, real cases, and recent legal reforms, this video explores: • The true scale of domestic and family violence in Australia • Why emotional abuse and economic abuse are so common — and so damaging • What coercive control actually means in practice • How technology is being used as a tool of surveillance and control • Why separation increases risk, rather than ending it • The connection between domestic violence, homelessness, and financial insecurity • What recent cases like Molly Ticehurst, Hannah Clarke, Lilie James, and Luke Batty reveal about systemic gaps • Australia’s current reforms, including coercive control laws and family law changes • The tension between legal intention and real-world outcomes This isn’t a video about individual “bad relationships.” It’s about patterns, power, and systems — and what happens when support exists on paper but doesn’t arrive in time. ⚠️ Content warning: This video discusses domestic and family violence, coercive control, and homicide. Viewer discretion advised.