Bill Doogue in Conversation with Perry Q Wood: Relationships & Growth

Perry: Bill, good to see you again.

Bill: Likewise, Perry. You always spark a good discussion. Where shall we begin?

Perry: Bill, your firm's growth tells its own story. You turned Doogue + George into one of Australia’s leading criminal defence practices after starting out in a small office in Broadmeadows. My firm, Australian Migration Lawyers, holds a similar market position on the immigration side. Without other practice groups to pass matters across, how do you keep new work flowing? Does having a single focus make other skills, such as relationship-building, even more important?

Bill: Well, unfortunately, no single factor is going to fill the diary. An important part of building any successful practice is cultivating relationships, and not just with clients but also with colleagues.

Perry: So, you're saying our professional colleagues can be introducers of new work?

Bill: Precisely. When barristers, fellow solicitors, and psychologists see consistent preparation, fair dealing, and importantly, results, they recommend us without hesitation. They know their clients are in safe hands.

Perry: That mirrors my experience, Bill.

Bill: Well, you'll know the same challenge in migration, won't you? I imagine it’s rare for someone to come back for a second dance with the Department of Home Affairs?

Perry: Yes, that’s absolutely true. Once a migration or citizenship outcome is achieved, you may never hear from that client again. However, this is professionally fulfilling. What I have found to be important, though, are the enduring links I’ve formed with others in the profession. Often, their clients, employees, or contacts are seeking migration outcomes. Likewise, our clients may need their expertise.

Perry: Obviously, creating and cementing relationships within the legal profession is easier said than done. Bill, what’s one habit you’d recommend for seasoned lawyers who want to deepen established networks, and another for those just starting out?

Bill: For more experienced lawyers, choose colleagues you value and connect with them often. Arrange a coffee, ask what challenges they’re facing, then follow up within a week with something useful: a brief insight, a contact, or a small favour. That quiet consistency shows genuine interest and keeps you front of mind when an opportunity arises.

Perry: And your tip for lawyers at the start of their careers?

Bill: Offer value first. For example, after a joint matter, volunteer to prepare a concise case note and circulate it promptly. Ask whether an interesting point could become a CPD session, and offer to draft the outline. Reliability and curiosity build a reputation faster than any business-card exchange. Senior lawyers remember the junior who made their day easier.

Perry: Absolutely, Bill. Relationships are the backbone of a practice at every level; invest time steadily, stay helpful, and the instructions will follow.

Bill: Exactly. When advisers trust each other's expertise, clients experience seamless service, and the profession moves forward together.

Bill Doogue is the founding partner of Doogue + George Criminal Defence Lawyers and is widely accepted as one of Victoria's best criminal defence lawyers. He has represented many high-profile clients from a former Governor-General to politicians federal, state, and local. With over 30 years’ defence experience, including more than 25 years as an LIV Accredited Criminal Law Specialist, he leads a 20-plus-lawyer team renowned for strategic jury-trial work and discreet white-collar investigations. Ranked as a Preeminent Lawyer by Doyle’s Guide and recognised in Best Lawyers, Bill appears regularly in the County and Supreme Courts and his firm has helped shape numerous criminal precedents nationwide.

Perry Q Wood, Immediate Past President of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law, is one of Australia’s leading administrative, immigration, and human rights lawyers. Internationally recognised by Best Lawyers and consistently ranked by Doyle’s Guide, he has been involved in more than 2,500 migration and refugee matters, including crimmigration and deportation cases. A former Senior Member and Practice Leader of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), he now leads Australian Migration Lawyers, the country’s largest independent migration law firm.