Optimism abounds that emerging technologies like AI will improve access to justice. However, as one law professor's research has found, there is scant evidence to suggest that AI is actually helping aggrieved workers achieve desired outcomes.

In this episode of The HR Leader Podcast – brought to you from our sister brand, Lawyers Weekly – host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Professor Alysia Blackham of Melbourne Law School about her forthcoming research paper, Artificial Intelligence and Access to Justice for Problems at Work: Enabling or Challenging Legal Pathways in the Fair Work Commission?, and its findings about the extent to which justice is currently accessible, the pressure being placed on Fair Work Commission and other jurisdictions, guidance being provided by courts and the significance of that, whether the advent of AI is aiding applicants' prospects or not, the broader implications for legal practitioners and the justice system, and how best employers can and should be responding in the current climate.

In this special episode of The Legal Brief, produced in partnership with Kingston Reid, we unpack what HR teams need to know about the proposed changes to restraint of trade clauses, and, if passed, how employers may need to rethink the way they protect their business, retain talent, and safeguard key customer relationships.

Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Kingston Reid partner Emily Baxter about the reforms proposed by the Albanese government, including a ban on non-compete and co-worker non-solicitation clauses, a new statutory framework for permitted restraints, and a prohibition on cascading clauses. They also discuss the practical steps employers may wish to start thinking about even now, from reviewing employment contracts and protecting confidential information to strengthening retention strategies and workplace culture in an increasingly competitive labour market.

To learn more about Kingston Reid, click here.

In this special episode of The HR Leader Podcast, produced in partnership with Harmers Workplace Lawyers, we detail what constitutes best practice for workplaces in undertaking investigations against the backdrop of increased regulatory scrutiny.

Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Jenny Inness, Harmers Workplace Lawyers executive counsel and team leader, about the uptick in workplace investigations and why this is happening, the need for a case-by-case approach to navigating conflict, overcoming challenges that arise in such investigations, consequences that arise from not conducting an investigation correctly, the nexus between such investigations and workers' psychological safety, plus how law firms retain independence when assisting with investigations, the need to engage with law firms, and more.

To register for Jenny's upcoming webinar on "Managing mental health in the workplace", click here.

To learn more about Harmers Workplace Lawyers, click here.