In this episode of Brief Chats, Anna Svenson, Director and Principal Clerk at Svenson Barristers, is joined by Barristers Philip Skehan and Caitrin Davis to unpack the history, purpose, and challenges of juries in the justice system. They explore how juries have evolved from panels of peers to representatives of the public, and how they continue to shape verdicts through the lens of community standards.

From the distinction between criminal and civil trials to the secrecy of jury deliberations and the rare nature of appeals, this conversation offers an insightful look inside one of the justice system’s most enduring institutions.

Get in contact with Svenson Barristers:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-svenson-2610b790/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/svenson-barristers/?viewAsMember=true

https://svensonbarristers.com.au/

Key Takeaways

• Juries are essential for applying community standards to legal decisions.
• The history of juries shows a shift from peers of the accused to members of the public.
• Judges apply the law; juries determine the facts of the case.
• In criminal trials, juries must find guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
• In civil trials, juries decide outcomes on the balance of probabilities.
• Jury deliberations are confidential and protected by law.
• Challenges in jury selection may arise due to perceived bias.
• Media influence is a growing concern for modern juries.
• Appeals on jury verdicts are rare and complex.
• Juries remain a vital part of justice, upholding public confidence in the legal process.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Juries and Their Importance

02:54 The Evolution of the Jury System

05:54 Understanding the Role of the Jury

08:54 The Jury Selection Process

11:50 The Role of Court Associates and Jury Management

15:07 Challenges in Jury Selection

18:03 The Impact of Jury Decisions

20:52 Maintaining Jury Integrity

23:53 Conclusion and Reflections on Juries

27:56 Understanding Jury Verdicts

35:35 The Role of Judges in Jury Trials

40:58 Deliberation Dynamics and Jury Behavior

46:10 Appeals and Jury Verdicts

50:24 The Future of Juries in a Media-Rich World

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Artificial intelligence is transforming industries worldwide — and the legal profession is no exception. In this episode of Brief Chats, Director and Principal Clerk Anna Svenson sits down with Laurence White, barrister and AI expert, to explore how machine learning and large language models are reshaping the practise of law in Australia.

From smarter research tools to alarming courtroom mishaps, they unpack the good, the bad and the downright ugly of AI in legal work. Expect real-world case examples, ethical discussions, and a sobering look at what happens when lawyers rely too heavily on artificial intelligence.

Get in contact with Svenson Barristers:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-svenson-2610b790/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/svenson-barristers/?viewAsMember=true

https://svensonbarristers.com.au/

Key topics include:

• How AI is helping lawyers work smarter, faster and cheaper.
• The risks of hallucinations and fake citations in legal documents.
• Recent Australian cases Dayal DPP v GR, May v Costaras where AI got it wrong.
• What courts and regulators are now saying about responsible AI use.
• Whether clients will use AI to “self-lawyer” — and what that means for the profession.
  
  

Why Listen:
If you’re a lawyer, legal student, or anyone curious about how technology is changing the justice system, this episode offers practical insights and cautionary tales from the front line of AI adoption in law.

Chapters

00:00 – Courtroom cold open — “Silence in the court!”
00:35 – Introducing Brief Chats and today’s topic: AI in the legal profession
01:30 – Meet Laurence White: barrister, FinReg specialist and early AI adopter
02:40 – How AI is being used in law firms today
04:30 – The good: speeding up research and document summarisation
07:20 – The billing dilemma — should clients pay less if AI saves time?
09:00 – The rise of the “AI-educated client”
10:30 – Why legal context still matters: the limits of chatbot advice
12:30 – The risks: confidentiality, bias and accuracy
13:50 – Accuracy studies — GPT-4 vs Lexis, Westlaw and others
16:10 – What are AI hallucinations and why are they dangerous?
19:00 – Case 1: DAYAL — fake citations and the Leap AI scandal
21:40 – Penalties for lawyers who misuse AI
22:10 – Case 2: DPP v GR — when both sides submit AI-generated fakes
24:50 – The temptation to cut corners and why supervision matters
26:05 – Justice Elliott’s warning on AI use in court in Dayal DPP v GR
27:40 – Case 3: May v Costaras — self-represented litigants and chatbot submissions
29:30 – How to spot AI-generated documents
30:30 – Final reflections: transparency, trust and the future of AI in law

Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/svenson-barristers/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover how dupe culture, trademarks and copyright collide. Barrister Susan Gatford breaks down the Aldi copyright case and IP rules for look-alike products.Director and Principal Clerk of Svenson Barristers Anna Svenson sits down with Susan Gatford – barrister, mediator and trademark attorney – to unpack the rising trend of “dupes” in beauty and retail. From Instagram-fuelled hype to the landmark Aldi Australia packaging decision, learn where the legal lines are drawn and what brands should consider before copying a competitor’s look and feel.

Get in contact with Svenson Barristers:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-svenson-2610b790/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/svenson-barristers/?viewAsMember=true

https://svensonbarristers.com.au/

Key Takeaways

• Understand the economics that drive brands to release copycat products
• Learn the difference between trademark and copyright protection in Australia
• Hear how TikTok and Instagram have super-charged dupe culture
• Get practical tips to protect your brand or launch a dupe ethically
• Dive into the first Australian judgment finding Aldi liable for copyright infringement on packaging

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Intellectual Property and Dupes

02:48 Understanding Copyright vs. Trademark

05:57 The Legal Landscape of Dupes in Makeup

08:51 Case Study: Aldi's Copyright Infringement

11:50 The Impact of Social Media on Dupes

15:04 Emotional Aspects of IP Infringement

17:43 Future of Dupes

Guest Spotlight - Susan Gatford

Susan is a Melbourne-based barrister who specialises in intellectual property disputes and commercial law. With qualifications as a trademark attorney, barrister and mediator, she has advised retail giants, start-ups and established labels on brand strategy, IP licensing and enforcement.

Connect: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-gatford-91820b31/

Barrister profile: https://www.vicbar.com.au/Profile?ID=23712

Resources Mentioned

• Federal Court judgment: APL v Aldi Australia (link)
• IP Australia guides on trademarks and designs
• ACCC consumer law overview

Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/svenson-barristers/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.