OpenAI is introducing a new foundation for law firms and legal technology companies to create AI products and workflows around their respective expertise.

The first woman appointed to the High Court changed what was possible for generations of Australian lawyers. But nearly three decades after she challenged the profession to look beyond formal equality, her words raise an enduring question: What does it take to turn opportunity into lasting change?

Law firms are quick to announce the arrival of a high-profile partner or a major team; however, what happens after the headlines fade is less visible. Three years on from a series of significant lateral moves, Lawyers Weekly examines the work behind the announcements – and how firms determine whether their investment has paid off.

Regional practitioners have spent years talking up the complex work, early responsibility, and lifestyle on offer outside the capital cities. Yet vacancies remain difficult to fill, and the consequences extend well beyond the firms trying to recruit.