William and Lonsdale - Lives in the Law

This week we welcome recently retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, The Honourable Christopher Beale - and, for the first time on Lives in the Law, we welcome a second guest later in the episode: Chris’s eldest son, Max, a well-known and much-loved member of Melbourne’s legal community.
Chris became known around the world as the presiding judge in the case of Erin Patterson, the so-called “mushroom murders.” We will hear about that experience in detail, but despite the global attention the case attracted, it is far from the most compelling chapter in his life.
Across his career, Chris has seen the criminal law from every angle, starting young at the Victorian Bar, lecturing in criminal law at Monash University, working as a Crown Prosecutor, and later presiding over some of the state’s most significant cases. Along the way, he also authored and continues to update Pocket Evidence Law - an iconic and freely available resource relied upon by practitioners across Victoria. 
It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Chris and Max to the show, and hear about their Lives in the Law.
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This week, we welcome migration lawyer, principal and founder of Mason Chen Lawyers, Traci Chen. As you’ll hear today, Traci is a natural entrepreneur. While studying law, she built and sold a successful solar panel business, purchased her first home at just 19, and over the past five years has grown Mason Chen Lawyers from a sole practice operating out of her home office into a firm with more than 80 employees.
Traci has also used social media to extraordinary effect, building a powerful platform to communicate with current and prospective clients and grow her business. She has more than a quarter of a million followers on TikTok and an even larger audience on Instagram.
It’s a fantastic conversation, and a real pleasure to hear about Traci’s Life in the Law.

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www.themelbournemap.com.au

This week, we welcome former Deputy Commissioner of Victoria Police, Ross Guenther APM.
Across a 40-year career with Victoria Police, Ross held a wide range of roles, from frontline policing and training, to establishing the newly formed Counter Terrorism Command in 2015, and ultimately serving as Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety and Security.
But before entering the police academy, Ross had an entirely different career - as a professional musician. He played in the house bands of television programs at the ABC and Channel 9, supported some of the biggest acts in Australia, and performed alongside legendary international artists including Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner and Barry White.
It’s a fascinating conversation, and a real pleasure to hear about his Life in the Law.
www.greenslist.com.au/podcast
www.themelbournemap.com.au

This week, we are delighted to welcome The Hon. Lex Lasry AM KC, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria and current Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. Lex is one of Australia’s most recognisable criminal lawyers, a leading barrister at the Victorian Bar prior to his appointment to the bench, and a long-time opponent of the death penalty. 
He is also known for his pursuits beyond the law, including car racing, playing the drums, and, in his early years, a keen interest in becoming a dairy farmer. It’s a fantastic conversation, and a real pleasure to hear about his Life in the Law.
www.greenslist.com.au/podcast
www.themelbournemap.com.au

Today we revisit our conversation with Forensic & Child Psychiatrist Dr Adam Deacon. Throughout his career Adam has worked in many areas of the justice system including with adult inmates in prison, youth in the juvenile justice system, writing psychiatric court reports for both defence and prosecution and when we recorded with him in 2023, working at the Youth Forensic Specialist Service with Alfred Health. All this along with a thriving private practice! Adam brings a fascinating lens to Lives in the Law and it’s a pleasure to have him on the show.
www.greenslist.com.au/podcast
www.themelbournemap.com.au