I Am The Law
134 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 49 ratingsI Am The Law takes a deep dive into the various practice areas and settings of law. We interview law school graduates with thought-provoking questions for an insider look into the realities of a career in law, recipes for success, and the biggest challenges lawyers face today.
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Episodes
Insurance Defense Litigation (SD): Pre-Trial Practice at a Mid-Size [Law Firm]
June 21, 2015 15:38 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBThis episode is presented by The United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corp. Where did you say you went to school? In a state where 75% of active lawyers went to one school, where you attended law school matters a great deal. While South Dakota is an extreme, it's just one example of how your law school choice can pay off or hamper you. In this episode, we interview insurance defense litigator and University of South Dakota School of Law alumna Meghann Joyce. While she's hired a...
Prosecuting Federal Drug Laws
June 08, 2015 08:00 - 33 minutes - 76.6 MBMike Hunter is an Assistant U.S. Attorney. In this episode, he details his role in the criminal justice system. From Fourth Amendment advice for federal agents making a bust to deciding which cases to take, when to seek indictments, and who to make plea agreements with, Mike tells us how he makes choices in pursuit of justice. Mike is a graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. This episode is hosted by Debby Merritt. Mentioned in this episode: Idaho Law Learn more about Idaho Law ...
Assistant U.S. Attorney (OH): Prosecuting [Federal] Drug Laws
June 08, 2015 04:00 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBThis episode is presented by The United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corp. Don't make a federal case of it! Or do. That's a choice left to attorneys for the United States Government. In this episode, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law alumnus Mike Hunter details his role in the criminal justice system. From 4th Amendment advice for federal agents making a bust to deciding which cases to take, when to seek indictments, and who to make plea agreements ...
Excelling at a Large Corporate Healthcare Firm
June 01, 2015 06:42 - 26 minutes - 61 MBHolly Carnell, a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, describes her challenge of getting a biglaw job after graduating from a regional law school. She spends a lot of time helping healthcare providers draft contracts, properly engage employees, and remain in compliance with the many applicable laws. While the job may have been difficult to get, excelling at it has more to do with doing quality work, managing junior associates, and exercising good judgment than where she went to school. Th...
Corporate Healthcare at a Chicago [Large Firm] (IL)
June 01, 2015 02:42 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBThis episode is presented by The United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corp. At a large law firm, the hours, pay, exit opportunities, and desire to leave are among the tradeoffs associates continuously negotiate -- if you can get the job in the first place. In this episode, Holly Carnell, a 2009 graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law, describes her challenge of getting a biglaw job from a non-elite law school. Holly discusses her corporate healthcare practice in the...
Criminal Pleas, Fees, and Justice
May 18, 2015 08:00 - 22 minutes - 50.6 MBJessica Burke details her role in the criminal justice system as a criminal defense lawyer. From her approach to plea bargaining to her philosophy on fee arrangements, her choices underscore the importance of letting clients make informed choices about their future. Jessica also shares how expanding the geography she covers, rather than the scope of practice, allowed her firm to grow in a saturated legal market. Jessica is a graduate of Washington & Lee College of Law. This episode is hoste...
Criminal Defense (VT): Pleas, Fees, and Justice [Small Firm]
May 18, 2015 04:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MBThis episode is presented by The United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corp. The integrity of our criminal justice system depends on every individual receiving high-quality legal counsel -- even those who are guilty. Sometimes the attorney is hired by the defendant. Other times the attorney is appointed by the government. In this episode, Vermont criminal defense lawyer and Washington & Lee College of Law alumna Jessica Burke details her role in the criminal justice system. Fro...
Consumer Protection: Suing Debt Collectors
May 11, 2015 08:23 - 25 minutes - 58.6 MBPete Barry is a consumer rights lawyer who sues debt collectors who harass or discriminate against consumers. Pete describes important criteria for taking a client, what's at the core of every lawsuit, and the federal laws that help him market to those who do not realize they’ve been legally harmed. Pete is a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law. This episode is hosted by Debby Merritt. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Vermont Law Albany Law Learn more about Baylor Law...
Suing Debt Collectors (MN): Consumer Protection Federal Litigation [Small Firm]
May 11, 2015 04:23 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBThis episode is presented by The United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corp. What did you just call me? Many Americans are late -- way late -- on their debt obligations. But debt does not entitle a debt collector to use racial epithets, shame consumers, or call them at certain times. In fact, these practices are illegal. In this episode, Minnesota consumer rights lawyer and William Mitchell College of Law alumnus Pete Barry explains the federal law that drives his law practice. ...
Making Injured Sea Workers Whole
March 23, 2015 08:19 - 26 minutes - 59.8 MBMarissa Olsson is a maritime lawyer who helps fishermen, ferry workers, and others injured on the job sue their employers. when they've been injured at work. Marissa's maritime practice is similar to other personal injury work: she must assess the value of potential cases to decide whether to invest her time and resources because her compensation is tied to recovery. Although her confidence and skills have grown noticeably, she often faces opposing counsel who treat her differently because s...
Maritime Injuries (WA): Making Sea Workers Whole [Small Firm]
March 23, 2015 04:19 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBFive years ago, while still in law school at the University of Washington, Marissa Olsson interned at a small, Seattle-based maritime law firm. She earned a full-time job by making herself indispensable to the firm's three attorneys. Today, she helps fishermen, ferry workers, and others sue their employers when they've been injured at work. These maritime workers sue under the Jones Act, a federal statute that allows those injuried "in service of the vessel" to sue for negligence. Although ...
Health Policy and Medical Professional Prosecutions
March 16, 2015 07:45 - 31 minutes - 72.1 MBJohanna Barde is a lawyer for the Tennessee Department of Health. In her capacity as assistant general counsel, Johanna creates public health policy—researching and writing rules of conduct—and prosecutes medical professionals during administrative hearings before state health boards. For a medical professional, her property right (a license) is at stake during these hearings. When the government tries to take that right away, she's afforded due process. At the hearing, just like at a trial,...
State [Government] Counsel (TN): Health Policy and Medical Professional Prosecutions
March 16, 2015 03:45 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBThere are many ways lawyers protect the public from wrongdoing. The lawsuit is one tool, but professional licensing boards also play a major role. Lawyers advise these boards on the creation of professional rules of conduct, and prosecute those who violate them. In this episode, we talk to Vanderbilt Law School alumna Johanna Barde, a lawyer for the Tennessee Department of Health. In her capacity as assistant general counsel, Johanna creates public health policy -- researching and writing r...
Representing Medical Malpractice Plaintiffs
March 09, 2015 07:39 - 17 minutes - 40 MBGreg Aycock shares how he transitioned from representing defendants to representing plaintiffs. He left his insurance defense practice on a leap of faith and discusses the struggles of being your own boss and getting a firm off the ground. Until Greg gets his medical malpractice practice off the ground, he pays the rent with divorces and child custody work. For either practice, Greg spends considerable time explaining the legal process and law to clients, while keeping them under control so ...
Personal Injury (LA): Representing Medical Malpractice Plaintiffs [Solo Practice]
March 09, 2015 03:39 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBOops, the doctor used an infected surgical instrument and now you're sick. If the doctor won't admit to wrongdoing, how do you prove that the tool was not only infected, but caused your illness? Medical malpractice lawyers specialize in this tangle of medical responsibilities, norms, and facts. In this episode, Louisiana lawyer and Washington University School of Law alumnus Greg Aycock tells us how he transitioned from representing defendants to representing plaintiffs. He left his insuran...
e-Discovery in Modern Civil Litigation
March 02, 2015 07:56 - 23 minutes - 53.1 MBNat Croumer is the discovery attorney administrative manager for the WilmerHale DiscoverySolutions team. In this role, he oversees coaching and career development, hiring, personnel matters, budgeting and finance, and marketing of the group. Nat discusses how electronic document discovery is essential to modern civil litigation. Nat is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. This episode is hosted by Debby Merritt. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Blueprint ...
e-Discovery (OH): Reviewing Electronic Documents for Litigation Support at a [Large Firm]
March 02, 2015 03:56 - 21 minutes - 20 MBBiglaw is changing. America's largest firms are experimenting with a variety of attorney tracks with less pay, fewer hours, and different expectations. Among the pioneers is WilmerHale, one of the largest law firms in the world. As part of the firm's larger effort to reduce overhead expenses, WilmerHale DiscoverySolutions -- located in Dayton, Ohio -- provides litigation support for WilmerHale attorneys around the country. Nat Croumer, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of La...
Running a Transactional Legal Services NGO
February 23, 2015 09:00 - 18 minutes - 42.4 MBRachel Spears is the executive director of Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta (PBP-ATL) that organizes local volunteer lawyers to meet the non-litigation needs of nonprofit clients. She shares how organizations like PBP-ATL are rare and small but keep nonprofits within the law by leveraging the generosity of members of the legal profession. Not only does Rachel need vast legal knowledge to see what her clients don't, but she also needs to manage her board of directors and staff, develop a budge...
Running a Transactional Legal Services NGO for 501(c)(3) [Non-Profits]
February 23, 2015 05:00 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBSmall and mid-size nonprofits have many legal needs that would not be met without the generous donation of time and resources by lawyers around the country. To this end, the Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta (PBP-ATL) organizes local volunteer lawyers to meet the non-litigation needs of nonprofit clients. From contracts to corporate governance, PBP-ATL maximizes the impact Georgia nonprofits have on their communities. After all, organizations need legal services not just when something goes wr...
Navigating the Administrative Maze for Immigrant Clients and Their Families
February 16, 2015 09:00 - 25 minutes - 57.5 MBManuel Escobar discusses his experience representing people as an immigration lawyer. In this episode, Manuel addresses some key questions pertinent to immigration law. What options are available to those seeking relief from deportation? How does an immigration lawyer prepare for hearings? What challenges do immigration lawyers face, and which strategies can help mitigate stress from work? Manuel is a graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law. This episode is hosted by Debby Merritt. ...
Immigration Law (TX): Navigating the Administrative Maze for Immigrant Clients and Their Families [Small Firm]
February 16, 2015 05:00 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBDeportation can rip families apart, and it's up to immigration lawyers to help individuals seek relief under the law. The job is pressure-filled and has high stakes. In this episode, immigration attorney and St. Mary's University School of Law graduate Manuel Escobar discusses his experience representing people whose livelihoods are on the line. As Manuel tells us, an essential part of his practice is interacting with clients during "intake" sessions. Manuel spends a portion of every day in...
Obtaining Writs of Mandamus to Assist Aggrieved Government Employees
February 09, 2015 07:23 - 26 minutes - 60 MBMichael Morguess discusses his new appellate practice where he frequently seeks writs of mandamus—an order to a government agency or official to behave in accordance with the law—for clients terminated by government agencies. With jobs and livelihoods on the line, Michael faces a lot of pressure running his own firm, but the intellectual challenge and thrill of victory buoy his non-traditional litigation practice. Michael is a graduate of Western State University College of Law, This episod...
Administrative Appeals (CA): Obtaining Writs of Mandamus to Assist Aggrieved Government Employees [Solo Practice]
February 09, 2015 03:23 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBOne of the most famous cases in U.S. history involved a writ of mandamus -- an order to a government agency or official to behave in accordance with the law. In Marbury v. Madison, William Marbury asked the U.S. Supreme Court to order the U.S. Secretary of State (James Madison) to affirm Marbury's commission as the D.C. Justice of the Peace. Today, courts still use these writs to compel government action. In this episode, Michael Morguess discusses his new solo practice in southern Californ...
Delving into Residential Real Estate Law
February 02, 2015 04:40 - 24 minutes - 56.7 MBBarbara Stewart is a real estate lawyer. Barbara started her career as in-house counsel for a large communications company before venturing into real estate law. Today, she spends her time drafting real estate transaction documents to help clients purchase and sell residential homes. Barbara outlines several common trappings that face real estate lawyers. If her sky-high malpractice insurance is any measure, it's among the riskier practice areas around. Barbara is a graduate of University o...
Real Estate Law (NC): Residential Home Transactions [Solo Practice]
February 02, 2015 00:40 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBThink you might be allergic to litigation? In this episode, real estate attorney and University of Texas School of Law alumna Barbara Stewart shares what keeps her out of the courtroom. Barbara started her career as in-house counsel for a large communications company before venturing into real estate law. Today, she helps clients purchase and sell residential homes. She spends her time drafting real estate transaction documents -- usually from forms -- and helping people understand the proc...
Representing Alleged Criminals Who Can't Afford a Lawyer
January 26, 2015 09:00 - 24 minutes - 55.3 MBLaurie Landsittel gives us valuable insight into the day-to-day duties of public defenders. Laurie shares some of her personal experiences, such as her biggest challenges representing defendants who committed serious crimes, as well as the time when she helped a teenage girl get out of jail and back on her feet. Laurie is a graduate of the University of Georgia Law. This episode is hosted by Derek Tokaz. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Blueprint Learn more about Vermont Law ...
Public Defender (GA): Representing Alleged Criminals Who Can't Afford a Lawyer [Government]
January 26, 2015 05:00 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBInterested in becoming a public defender? Appointed to represent those who cannot afford an attorney, public defenders play an essential role in the criminal justice system. Oft-romanticized in television shows and in movies, public defense is a complex field that bears little resemblance to its glamorous portrayals crafted by Hollywood execs. In this episode, former public defender and University of Georgia Law alumna Laurie Landsittel gives us valuable insight into the day-to-day duties o...
Litigating and Prosecuting Patents
January 23, 2015 10:14 - 22 minutes - 52.1 MBCarlos Rosario is a patent lawyer who has twice switched law firms in Silicon Valley to strike his ideal balance between patent prosecution and patent litigation. Today, Carlos works for one of the largest intellectual property (IP) firms in the world. This interview illustrates the IP world to listeners generally—including whether certain IP lawyers need special credentials—before diving into the particulars of day-to-day practice. Carlos is a graduate of Santa Clara University School of La...
Patent Law (CA): Litigating and Prosecuting Patents at a [Large Firm]
January 23, 2015 06:14 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBSee that shiny new smart phone of yours? It's the product of many powerful inventions created by engineers and protected by patents. The patent system seeks to protect these inventions in exchange for detailed public disclosure about how they work. In this episode, we hear from patent attorney Carlos Rosario, a graduate of Santa Clara University School of Law. Though he graduated 3.5 years ago, he has twice switched law firms in Silicon Valley to strike his ideal balance between patent pros...
The Insurance Maze, Tough Clients, and Prevalent Sexism in Personal Injury Practice
January 21, 2015 10:26 - 35 minutes - 81.4 MBTricia Dennis has been a personal injury lawyer for almost 30 years. From dealing with sexist opponents to corralling tough clients, Tricia reveals several challenges she's faced in her career. She walks us through a plaintiff lawyer’s perspective on client intake, negotiations, and settlement. By the end of this episode, listeners understand that, more than anything, Tricia is a small business owner who helps her clients navigate an insurance maze. Tricia is a graduate of the University of ...
Personal Injury (TN): Settlement Negotiation for Vehicle Collision Plaintiffs While Confronting Sexism [Solo Practice]
January 21, 2015 06:26 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBCrash! The U.S. tort system provides civil redress when one party unfairly harms another. Plaintiff lawyers represent clients who allegedly suffered physical, emotional, and economic injuries as the result of somebody else's negligent or intentional action. Despite the alleged harms, in the vehicle collision world, the injured rarely file lawsuits and trials almost never happen. In this episode, we talk to Tricia Dennis, a graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Law. She's been a ...
Mediation, Conciliation, and Litigation in Family Law
January 19, 2015 15:00 - 22 minutes - 51.7 MBGabriel Cheong is the owner of a small family law firm. In this episode, Gabriel explains how his use of technology and fixed fees maximizes time spent on his clients' legal dilemmas. He mixes traditional litigation with mediation, conciliation, and guardian ad litem. With this kind of work, Gabriel experiences emotional ups and downs. Yet he observes that they’re two sides of the same coin. After all, his job is to help clients whose lives are being torn apart. Gabriel is a graduate of Nort...
Family Law (MA): Mediation, Conciliation, Litigation, and Guardian Ad Litem for Child Custody, Divorces, etc. [Small Firm]
January 19, 2015 11:00 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBDivorces don't have winners or losers. They're messy disputes over assets and kids. The lawyers who handle them? Many just want to help their clients move on with their lives as quickly as possible. When Gabriel Cheong—owner of a small family law firm in Boston—graduated from Northeastern Law School at the start of the Great Recession, his back was against the wall. Today he's proven that he can build a sustainable business by putting client needs first. In this episode, Gabriel explains ho...
Introduction to I Am The Law, a Series of Informational Interviews with Law School Graduates About Their Jobs
January 05, 2015 22:37 - 11 minutes - 11 MBI Am The Law is the inaugural podcast produced by Law School Transparency for LST Radio. In the introductory episode, LST's executive director (Kyle McEntee) outlines why LST decided to venture into public radio. He'll interview legal education leaders and others about why the show is important for the legal profession and those seeking to join it. LST's mission is to make entry to the legal profession more transparent, affordable, and fair. We have thus far focused on the statistical side...