File notes, compliance and call recording.
Plain-English guides for Australian brokers, advisers and anyone who writes up calls. What a defensible file note needs, the recording rules in your state, and how to keep client calls private.
AI for family lawyers in Australia: where it helps, the tools, and the new court rules
AI for family lawyers in Australia: where it helps, the best AI tools for family law firms, the FCFCOA AI practice direction and family violence risks.
ReadAI for personal injury lawyers in Australia: the jobs it helps with and the tools worth trying
AI for personal injury lawyers in Australia: the jobs it helps with, the best AI tools for PI firms compared, health privacy risks and NSW court rules.
ReadAI note taker for in person meetings: the options for client meetings in Australia
AI note takers for in person meetings compared for Australian lawyers, brokers and advisers: Plaud, phone apps, Microsoft Copilot and a dictated recap.
ReadAI for small law firms: the best AI tools for Australian lawyers (2026)
AI for small law firms in Australia, sorted by job: research, practice management AI, client calls, dictation, and ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot, with prices.
ReadDictation software for lawyers: the best options in Australia (2026)
Dictation software for lawyers in Australia compared: Dragon Legal, BigHand, Philips SpeechLive, Word Dictate, Windows and Apple, with prices and best fit.
ReadMortgage broker CRM in Australia: the main options compared (2026)
The mortgage broker CRMs Australian brokers use: Mercury Nexus, MyCRM, Infynity, BrokerEngine, Salestrekker, Effi and HubSpot, with published prices.
ReadChatGPT record mode: what it does, and should you use it for client meetings?
What ChatGPT record mode does, which plans and devices have it, where the audio goes, and what Australian lawyers, brokers and advisers should check first.
ReadiPhone call recording in Australia: how it works, where it saves, and the law
Yes, iPhone call recording works in Australia from iOS 18.1. How to turn it on, the announcement, where Notes saves the transcript and what the law says.
ReadSmokeball vs LEAP: how their AI compares for small Australian law firms
Smokeball vs LEAP for small Australian firms: LEAP's Matter AI and AI Paralegal, Smokeball Archie and its cost, plus Actionstep and Clio AI compared.
ReadAre AI note takers safe? What Otter, Fathom and Fireflies do with your calls
Are AI note takers safe for client calls? What Otter, Fathom, Fireflies, Teams and Zoom say they record, store and train on, plus a firm checklist.
ReadThe best AI tools for mortgage brokers in Australia, by job
The best AI tools for mortgage brokers in Australia, by job: leads, fact find, documents, lender policy, file review, call notes and marketing.
ReadChatGPT for mortgage brokers: what is safe, what to keep out, and 10 prompts
ChatGPT for mortgage brokers in Australia: what is safe to use it for, what to keep out, the privacy settings that matter, and 10 prompts to copy.
ReadIs it legal to record a phone call in NSW?
Is it legal to record a phone call in NSW? Generally only with everyone's consent. Section 7, the two exceptions, penalties and consent wording to copy.
ReadIs it legal to record a phone call in QLD?
Is it legal to record a phone call in QLD? Yes, if you are a party to it. What the Invasion of Privacy Act 1971 allows, and the limits on sharing it.
ReadIs it legal to record a phone call in South Australia?
Is it legal to record a phone call in South Australia? Only with consent or a listed exception. What the Surveillance Devices Act 2016 (SA) says.
ReadIs it legal to record a phone call in Victoria?
Is it legal to record a phone call in Victoria? Yes, if you are part of the conversation, but sharing the recording is restricted. Sections 6 and 11.
ReadIs it legal to record a phone call in Western Australia?
Is it legal to record a phone call in Western Australia? Only with consent or a listed exception. What the Surveillance Devices Act 1998 (WA) says.
ReadLaw firm AI policy template for small Australian practices
Law firm AI policy template for small Australian practices. Eleven clauses to copy, each traced to the conduct rules, regulators and court practice notes.
ReadMarloo vs Paradino: pricing, reviews and features compared for Australian advisers
Marloo vs Paradino for Australian financial advisers: how each records meetings, file notes and SOAs, integrations, data hosting, AUD pricing and reviews.
ReadSection 167 notice from AUSTRAC: what it is and what to do first
A section 167 notice from AUSTRAC compels information or documents. What it can require, time to respond, penalties, privilege and a 48 hour checklist.
ReadAI file notes: how they work, what a good one contains, and three examples
What an AI file note is, how it is made, what a good one contains and where the data goes. Worked examples for mortgage broking, financial advice and law.
ReadAI meeting notes for accountants: staying inside the TPB Code
How Australian accountants can use AI to write up client meetings and calls inside the TPB Code. What the file note needs, a worked example and the tools.
ReadAI note taker for Teams: Copilot, a bot, or the transcript you already have
Three ways to get AI notes from a Microsoft Teams meeting: Copilot and recap, a bot that joins the call, or the transcript you already have. Compared.
ReadAI note takers for mortgage brokers: what to check before you buy
What Australian mortgage brokers should check before buying an AI note taker: best interests duty records, NCCP record keeping, consent and CRM fit.
ReadBest AI note taker for lawyers in Australia: the options, and what law societies say
The best AI note taker for lawyers in Australia: note taking apps compared, what law societies and insurers say, and the checklist to run on any tool.
ReadDoes an AI note taker put legal professional privilege at risk?
No Australian court has ruled on it. How the Evidence Act 1995, Mann v Carnell and ASCR r 9 apply to a third-party AI note taker, with practical steps.
ReadAI note taking policy template for small Australian firms
A one-page AI note taking policy template for small Australian firms. Copy it, then adapt it for a law firm, advice practice or mortgage brokerage.
ReadTranche 2 AML/CTF for law firms: what to record on the file
Tranche 2 AML/CTF started 1 July 2026. Which legal work is a designated service, what a law firm must record, how long to keep it, and an example note.
ReadASIC's best interests duty review of mortgage brokers: where it stands
Where ASIC's best interests duty review of mortgage brokers stands at October 2026, what ASIC has said so far, and what your file notes should show.
ReadASIC file note requirements for financial advisers
ASIC file note requirements for financial advisers: what s 912G says to record, the 7 year record keeping rule, RG 175 and a worked example file note.
ReadThe best AI note takers in Australia for client-facing professionals (2026)
Nine AI note takers compared for Australian brokers, advisers, lawyers and accountants: bots, recording, phone calls, data location, CRM and price.
ReadCall recording disclosure wording: examples you can copy
Call recording disclosure wording for Australian firms to copy: spoken consent script, phone announcement, engagement letter clause and transcription.
ReadCan you record phone calls with a Plaud in Australia?
How a Plaud Note records phone calls, and whether you need the other person's consent in each Australian state. Table by state, plus wording to ask.
ReadClient advice record vs statement of advice: is the SOA being replaced?
Is the Statement of Advice being replaced? What has passed, what is only draft or announced in DBFO tranche 2, and why file notes matter more either way.
ReadFile note template: three free templates in Word, with examples
Three free file note templates to copy or download in Word: general client, legal attendance note and broker or adviser call note, each with an example.
ReadParadino alternatives for Australian financial advisers
Paradino alternatives for Australian financial advisers after the Netwealth deal: Claras, Marloo, Filenote.ai, Sombra Notes and CallNote compared fairly.
ReadPlaud for lawyers in Australia: consent, confidentiality and the file
Can Australian lawyers use a Plaud recorder? What it records, where audio and transcripts go, consent by state, law society guidance and the file note.
ReadTeams transcription licence requirements: which Microsoft plan you need
Which Microsoft licence you need for Teams transcription, what needs Teams Premium or Copilot, how phone calls differ, and the admin policies to check.
ReadTeams transcription without recording: how to set it up
Yes, Teams can transcribe a meeting without recording it. The exact steps, what participants see, where the transcript is stored and how to download it.
ReadThe TPB AI guidance for accountants: permission, review and records
What TPB(GS) 55/2026 says about tax and BAS agents using AI: client permission, confidentiality, human review and records. Checklist and sample wording.
ReadTranche 2 AML/CTF for accountants and bookkeepers: what to document
Tranche 2 AML/CTF began 1 July 2026. Which accounting and bookkeeping services are caught, what to document for each client, and how long to keep it.
ReadTranche 2 AML/CTF for conveyancers: the records you need on a property matter
Since 1 July 2026 conveyancers are regulated by AUSTRAC. What to record on a property matter, when to do the checks, and how long to keep the records.
ReadWhat software do Australian mortgage brokers use?
The software Australian mortgage brokers use, by job: aggregator CRM, lodgement, serviceability, documents, ID, e-signing, phones and file notes.
ReadHow to get Aircall call notes into HubSpot
What Aircall's HubSpot integration and AI Assist log on a contact, when that is enough, and how to add a proper file note to HubSpot after client calls.
ReadAttendance notes in Clio from client phone calls
Where attendance notes live in Clio Manage, what a phone log does and does not record, and how to get a note from a client call onto the Clio contact.
ReadDialpad call notes: from AI Recap to a proper file note
What Dialpad's AI Recap gives you after a call, when it is enough, and how brokers, advisers and law firms turn Dialpad transcripts into proper file notes.
ReadFile note software in Australia: a buyer's guide for brokers, advisers and law firms (2026)
How to choose file note software in Australia for brokers, advisers and law firms: a 7-point checklist, the main options compared, and which suits whom.
ReadGranola alternatives for financial advisers in Australia
Granola alternatives for Australian financial advisers: Claras, Paradino, Marloo, Zocks, Jump, Teams recap and CallNote compared on data, notes and price.
ReadHow to get Microsoft Teams meeting notes into Dynamics 365
Three ways to get Teams meeting notes onto the client record in Dynamics 365: the Dynamics app in Teams, the Copilot Sales agent, or a transcript tool.
ReadOtter.ai alternatives in Australia: an honest comparison for brokers, advisers and lawyers
Six Otter.ai alternatives for Australian brokers, advisers and lawyers, compared on recording, meeting bots, data location, file notes, CRM push and price.
ReadZoom AI Companion notes and compliance: turning a Zoom meeting into a proper file note
Is a Zoom AI Companion summary enough for brokers, advisers and lawyers? What Zoom summaries and transcripts do, where they fall short, and the fix.
ReadAttendance note examples: six short notes, as CallNote writes them
Six attendance note examples for Australian solicitors: a new matter, advice on an offer, costs, changed instructions, refused advice, the other side.
ReadCredit guide, quote and credit proposal disclosure: the NCCP rules for brokers
When a broker must give the credit guide (s 113), quote (s 114) and credit proposal disclosure document (s 121), what each must say, and how to prove it.
ReadCredit representative obligations: what sits with you, what sits with your licensee
What a credit rep must do under the NCCP Act, what stays with the licensee, who answers for the file, and how a broker team keeps file notes consistent.
ReadFile notes for employment lawyers: what to record, and when it matters
What an employment lawyer's file note must capture: the dismissal date, 21-day time limit advice under ss 394 and 366, instructions, settlement and costs.
ReadFile notes for migration agents and immigration lawyers
What the Code of Conduct requires registered migration agents to record (ss 55-56), the 7-year file rule, how lawyers differ, and a worked example note.
ReadFirst home buyer file notes: what a broker must document
What brokers must document for first home buyers: requirements and objectives, deposit and LMI options, the 5% Deposit Scheme, guarantors and s 158LA BID.
ReadLegal file note abbreviations: the attendance note shorthand Australian solicitors use
The shorthand Australian solicitors use in attendance notes (ATT, TC, CL, OS, INS, ADV, CA, s32, EPOA and more), grouped by practice area, with the risks.
ReadMortgage broker record keeping requirements: what to keep and for how long
Mortgage broker record keeping requirements under the NCCP Act: what to keep, how long to keep it (at least seven years) and what a file audit checks.
ReadRefinance file notes and the best interests duty
What a broker's refinance file note must show under NCCP s 158LA and RG 273: switching costs, break-even, the stay-put option and clawback conflicts.
ReadReasonable inquiries under the NCCP: what a broker's file note has to show
NCCP ss 115-117 require a preliminary assessment, reasonable inquiries and verification. What each means under RG 209 and what a broker's note must show.
ReadTerminating a retainer: what rule 13 says and what your file note needs to show
When a solicitor can cease to act under ASCR r 13, the 2026 just cause changes, handing over the file under r 14 and 15, and what the file note must show.
ReadTestamentary capacity file notes: how solicitors assess and record capacity
How Australian solicitors assess testamentary capacity: Banks v Goodfellow, red flags, when to seek a medical opinion, undue influence and a sample note.
ReadAI file notes for mortgage brokers: what compliance actually requires
Can mortgage brokers use AI to write file notes? What the NCCP Act, RG 273, the Privacy Act, recording laws and your aggregator expect, plus a checklist.
ReadFile notes for personal injury lawyers: what to record on a no win no fee file
What Australian personal injury lawyers should record: no win no fee costs advice, limitation dates, offers and settlement instructions, and a worked note.
ReadAFCA complaints and file notes: how your notes are weighed as evidence
How AFCA weighs contemporaneous file notes when a client disputes what was said, what happens with no note, and what makes a broker or adviser note credible.
ReadAI note-takers and ASIC compliance: what financial advisers need to check
Are financial advisers allowed to use AI note-takers? What s 912G, the Privacy Act, recording consent laws and ASIC's REP 798 require, plus a checklist.
ReadAttendance note template for lawyers: telephone, conference and advice given
Attendance note template for Australian lawyers: a telephone attendance note, a client conference and an advice note. Each one blank, then filled in.
ReadAI attendance notes with LEAP, Smokeball and Actionstep: the honest workflow
An honest workflow for AI-drafted attendance notes when your firm runs LEAP, Smokeball or Actionstep. What each system does natively and where Zapier helps.
ReadThe best AI note taker for financial advisers in Australia (2026)
The best AI note taker for financial advisers in Australia: 12 tools compared on recording, file notes, data hosting, AUD pricing and who each one suits.
ReadThe best AI note taker for phone calls in Australia (2026)
Most AI note takers only join video meetings. We compare what works on phone calls in Australia: VoIP systems, Plaud, desktop apps and state consent rules.
ReadCan lawyers use AI for file notes in Australia?
Yes, with conditions. What ASCR r 9, privilege, the regulators' joint statement and court practice notes mean for AI file notes, plus a vendor checklist.
ReadFile notes for criminal law matters: recording instructions on plea
What Australian criminal lawyers should record: advice and instructions on plea, sentence discounts, signed instructions, custody conferences and a worked note.
ReadFile notes for wills and estates: recording will instructions and testamentary capacity
What Australian solicitors should record when taking will instructions: the Banks v Goodfellow test, who attended, the testator's own words, and a worked note.
ReadHow to turn a Microsoft Teams transcript into a file note
How to switch on Teams transcription, download the .vtt, and turn it into a structured file note. Licences, Teams Phone calls, consent and Copilot recap limits.
ReadHow to turn a Zoom transcript into a file note
How to get a Zoom transcript (cloud recording VTT, in-meeting transcript or Zoom Phone), what AI Companion summaries miss, and how to turn it into a file note.
ReadFile note template for financial advisers: three examples you can copy
File note template for Australian financial advisers: three to copy, each with a filled file note example. Discovery, strategy (s 961B) and annual review.
ReadBest interests duty for mortgage brokers: the rules and what your file note must show
Best interests duty for mortgage brokers: NCCP Act s 158LA, the conflict priority rule, what ASIC looks for and what your file note has to show.
ReadMortgage broker compliance audit checklist: what reviewers check and how file notes get marked down
What aggregator and licensee file reviews check on a mortgage broker's loan file, how file notes get marked down, and a full audit-readiness checklist.
ReadMortgage broker file note template: three broker notes you can copy
Mortgage broker file note template: three broker notes to copy for fact-find, recommendation and follow-up calls, blank and filled, mapped to the NCCP Act.
Reads961B of the Corporations Act: the 7 safe harbour steps, listed and explained
Section 961B of the Corporations Act 2001 explained: the seven safe harbour steps in s 961B(2) listed plainly, with what to record in the file for each.
ReadThe appropriate advice duty (s961G), and how it connects to best interests
What the appropriate advice duty in s961G of the Corporations Act requires, how it depends on s961B best interests, why the two fail together, and what the file note must capture.
ReadThe conflicts priority rule (s961J): disclosure is not enough
Section 961J of the Corporations Act requires advisers to prioritise the client when a conflict exists - not just disclose it. What that means in practice, and what your file note must record.
ReadStatement of Advice vs Record of Advice: which do you need?
When an Australian adviser needs a Statement of Advice or a Record of Advice, what each must contain, and the file note that should sit behind both.
ReadOngoing fee arrangements and Fee Disclosure Statements, explained
Plain-English guide to ongoing fee arrangements (OFAs), the annual FDS, and the consent requirement for Australian financial advisers. What changed in 2021 and under the DBFO reforms.
ReadThe financial advisers Code of Ethics, explained (the 5 values and 12 standards)
The Financial Planners and Advisers Code of Ethics 2019 in plain English: the five values, all 12 standards, and the records that show you meet them.
ReadWhat to record in a financial advice file note (a practical guide)
A practical guide to what belongs in an advice file note - mapped to the s961B safe harbour, with a worked example and common mistakes. AU guidance for financial advisers.
ReadBest interests duty examples: where advisers fall short (and how to fix it)
Six illustrative scenarios showing where Australian financial advisers fall short of the best interests duty under s961B, what good looks like, and exactly what the file note should capture.
ReadAre attendance notes privileged?
When legal professional privilege protects a solicitor's attendance note, when it does not, and how the way you write notes can waive privilege without you realising.
ReadFile notes for family law matters
Family law generates more complaints and more disputed recollections than almost any other practice area. What Australian family lawyers should record in attendance notes, and when.
ReadAustralian Solicitors' Conduct Rules and file notes: what each rule needs on file
The Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules never say keep file notes. Rule by rule, see which duties you can only prove with one: rules 7, 8, 10, 11, 12.
ReadCapturing billable time from client calls
Most Australian firms lose billable time on short client calls that never make it into the system. Where the leakage happens, what it costs, and how to close it.
ReadConveyancing file notes: what to record on a property matter
High volume, tight deadlines, and advice given in short calls. What Australian conveyancers and property lawyers should record, and the four moments that generate claims.
ReadWhat is an attendance note in law? Meaning, example and what it contains
What is an attendance note? The meaning in law, what attendance notes must contain, a worked example and a template, for Australian solicitors and staff.
ReadHow to write a client attendance note after a phone call (with a template)
Write a legal attendance note after a client call: what to capture, a full worked example, the common mistakes, and a free attendance note generator.
ReadLegal file note requirements in Australia: what the rules actually say
There is no single "file note law" in Australia. Instead, a web of obligations under the LPUL, ASCR, costs-disclosure rules and PI insurance requirements makes good attendance notes essential. Here is what those rules actually say.
ReadCosts disclosure and file notes: what to record after a client call
Under the Legal Profession Uniform Law, costs disclosure often happens verbally on a call. Your attendance note is how you prove what was said. Here is exactly what to record.
ReadContemporaneous notes as evidence: when a file note is admissible and what makes it strong
Contemporaneous notes as evidence in Australia: what counts, when a file note is admissible under the Evidence Act, and how to write one that holds up.
ReadSoftware for law firms: the best tools for attendance notes in Australia (2026)
Software for law firms that helps with attendance notes: LEAP, Smokeball, Actionstep and Clio, AI note takers and transcript-to-note tools compared.
ReadAutomating attendance notes vs a paralegal typing them up
Should your law firm automate attendance notes or keep using a paralegal? An honest comparison of cost, speed, accuracy, and control - with a calculator to run your own numbers.
ReadFile note vs attendance note vs case note: what's the difference?
A clear breakdown of file note, attendance note, case note, progress note, and contact note - who uses each term, what it records, and what the terms have in common across professions.
ReadHow to connect Dialpad to CallNote
Connect Dialpad to CallNote so every call transcript becomes a finished file note automatically. No API keys to wire up. Step-by-step setup, free 14-day trial.
ReadRG 273 explained: ASIC's guide to the mortgage broker best interests duty
RG 273 is ASIC's regulatory guide on the mortgage broker best interests duty. What it is, who it applies to, the key paragraphs and what to record.
ReadHow long do you have to keep client file notes in Australia?
Mortgage brokers (NCCP) and financial advisers (Corporations Act) keep client file notes 7 years. When the clock starts and what "keep" means. AU guidance.
ReadBest interests duty for financial advisers: what it is, with a worked example
Best interests duty for financial advisers in plain English: what s 961B requires, the safe harbour steps, and a worked example statement and file note.
ReadWhat happens if you do not keep file notes?
No file note at AFCA means it comes down to your word against the client's. What poor record keeping actually costs brokers and advisers, with real cases.
ReadThe best file note software for mortgage brokers in Australia (2026)
Compare file note tools by how you get the transcript, match your format, review the draft and file it. Includes a worked broker example and setup checks.
ReadAI note takers that don't record audio: which ones, and what each really keeps
Looking for an AI note taker without recording? Which meeting assistants keep no audio, which don't train on your data, and which need no bot.
ReadIs it legal to record a phone call in Australia? Call recording laws by state
Is it legal to record a phone call in Australia? It depends on the state. Call recording laws for all eight states and territories, with consent wording.
ReadHow to write a compliant NCCP file note (with checklist)
What a defensible NCCP file note needs: requirements and objectives, the s130 not unsuitable test, fees, and a practical broker checklist. AU guidance.
ReadDo AI note takers work on phone calls, not just video? And do they record you?
Do AI note takers work on phone calls, not just video? Which tools handle ordinary phone calls and how, which ones record you, and where the audio goes.
ReadAI note taker without a bot: how to get notes with nothing joining the meeting
Want an AI note taker without a bot? Which tools take notes without joining the meeting, which still record, and how a transcript-only tool differs.
ReadFile Notes for Financial Advisers in Australia
What a good adviser file note captures, how it sits with your record of advice, and how a transcript-only tool cuts the audio you have to store and govern.
ReadHow to connect Aircall to CallNote
Connect Aircall to CallNote in about two minutes - no API keys. Every call transcript becomes a finished file note automatically. Step-by-step setup guide.
ReadHow CallNote works
How CallNote turns a call transcript into a finished, structured file note in about two minutes: Generate, Review, Publish. Templates, CRM push and AU data.
ReadStop writing file notes by hand.
CallNote turns a transcript, a 30-second voice memo or pasted text into a clean, compliant file note in under two minutes. Built in Australia, data stored in Sydney.