Brief Exchange

From a career in public service to the Local Court bench, Judge Jacquie Trad’s journey is anything but ordinary. Based in Broken Hill, her Honour was appointed to the bench not long after her admission.

The Law Society of NSW has 18 policy committees across a diverse range of practice areas. The policy committees represent the Law Society and its members on a range of policy and practice issues across different areas of expertise. In this episode, Monika Matesa, Head of Commercial and Advisory Law Reform, chats about her role, the importance of advocacy, and her non-linear career path.

Richard O’Halloran is a fourth-generation solicitor living and working in Tamworth. Established in 1903, his family’s law firm is one of the oldest in Australia. In this episode, he chats about his career, what it’s like to come from a family of solicitors, the lessons his grandfather taught him, and what life is like in the regions.

In this episode, Magistrate Kasey Pearce traces her path from USYD to criminal defence, the challenges of fighting for disadvantaged clients, and what it really takes to walk into a courtroom and advocate for someone's life. She also explains the often-misunderstood world of coronial proceedings — where the goal isn't to assign blame, but to find the truth.

From North Sydney Boys High to the Supreme Court bench, Greg James has seen it all. In this episode of Brief Exchange, the former Royal Commissioner reflects on a storied career—including becoming a QC at just 38 and navigating landmark cases like the Bathurst jail riots and the Polyukhovich war crimes trial.