ABA Law Student Podcast
by American Bar Association
Presented by the American Bar Association’s Law Student Division, the ABA Law Student Podcast covers issues that affect law students, law schools, and recent grads. From finals and graduation to the bar exam and finding a job, this show is your trusted resource for the next big step.
Episodes
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Fast-Track to the Courtroom: Bankruptcy Practice with Anne Burns
Aspiring litigators often assume that gaining real courtroom experience requires sitting behind senior partners or spending years grinding through civil discovery. However, bankruptcy practice provides a unique hybrid of commercial transactions and immediate courtroom advocacy. In this episode of...
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Demystifying Tax Law: Structured Settlements, Strategy, and Career Satisfaction with Jeremy Babener
Tax strategy is one of the most misunderstood and underutilized tools in litigation. In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast, tax law expert Jeremy Babener shares how he developed a passion for and career in tax law and settlement consulting. Jeremy breaks down the mechanics of structured...
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Municipal Law 101: Serving Communities and Shaping Local Governance
In this season-finale episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast, hosts Todd Berger, Eve Albert, and Nayeli Diaz pull back the curtain on municipal law with Dave Eberle, a municipal law attorney and partner at Bloom Sluggett, PC in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dave breaks down what it truly means to...
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The Luncheon Lawyer: Bridging the Gap Between Pop Culture and the Jury Pool
Law school teaches you how to brief a case, but it rarely teaches you how to talk to a jury. In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast, host Eve Albert sits down with Alicia Hawthorne, known online as The Luncheon Lawyer. Alicia, an immigration and criminal defense attorney, shares how her...
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Legal Recruiting 101: Navigating the Job Market and Negotiating Your Career
Navigating the legal job market can feel like a full-time job, but you don't have to do it alone. In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast, hosts Todd Berger, Eve Albert, and Nayeli Diaz learn more about the world of legal recruiting by revisiting the ABA Young Lawyer Rising’s Montana…
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Plaintiff’s Law 101: Building Career Community and Fighting for the Wronged
From the first day of 1L year, the pressure to compete with your peers can feel overwhelming. But what if the secret to a fulfilling legal career isn't a higher grade, but a deeper connection? In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast, host Eve Albert sits down with Spencer Pahlke, a trial...
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From Superfund to Solar: Prof. Michael Gerrard on the Evolution of Environmental Law
Environmental law has shifted dramatically over the last few decades. What started as a battle against pollution and hazardous waste has evolved into a massive sector focused on the energy transition and infrastructure development. Michael Gerrard shares stories from his 30-year career in private...
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The Law Student's Secret Weapon: Understanding How the ALI's Restatements Can Streamline Your Legal Research
Common law can feel like a chaotic patchwork of 50 different jurisdictions. But for the last century, the American Law Institute (ALI) has worked to distill that chaos into clear, persuasive principles. We sit down with Mark Hall, the lead reporter for the Restatement of the Law Third, Torts:...
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The Evolving Copyright Practice: From Static Rules to Global Strategy
Copyright law used to be considered a quiet, "boutique" field—but things have changed. With the rise of AI and global digital marketplaces, copyright has transformed into a high-stakes battlefield. We sit down with Kristyn Webb, a copyright litigator at Fishman Stewart, to discuss how technology…
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The IP Career Path: Blending Law, Biotech, and Business Strategy with Jenna Matheny
Want a legal career blending Intellectual Property (IP), Biotechnology, and Business? We sit down with Jenna Matheny (Vice-President & Managing Director at APIOiX) to break down the path to a high-impact career in medical innovation. This episode is essential listening for law students and those...
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Tribal Law 101: Why It's Essential for Every Law Student
Host Nayeli Diaz sits down with tribal attorney Leah Jurss to demystify the vast and often-overlooked world of tribal law. Leah shares her unique perspective from working both in a firm serving tribes and as in-house counsel for the Bay Mills Indian Community. In a candid and informative…
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Relocating After Law School: How to Prepare and Thrive
Relocating after law school can be daunting. For whatever reason you find yourself in a new city, you often have to rebuild networks, learn the local rules, and figure out how you’re going to excel while you’re still finding your way around. For our first episode of the new season, we welcome new...
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From Jordans to Juris Doctor: The Birth of Sneaker Law
As kids, Kenneth Anand and Jared Goldstein, authors of two textbooks on Sneaker Law, developed a passion and, in time, a mission. Together, they’ve sought to create what they call the “legal bible for the sneaker industry”, not only serving as an invaluable resource for those interested in the...
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Reimagining the Possible: Achieving Success in Sports Law, with Tamika Tremaglio
Ever wondered how a law degree could lead to the highest levels of professional sports? Join us for an exclusive conversation with Tamika Tremaglio, former Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association, as she pulls back the curtain on her remarkable journey. Discover the...
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Why Civil Rights Litigation Deserves Your Attention
Professor Joshua McDaniel is the director of Harvard’s Religious Freedom Clinic, where he and his students provide pro bono representation to members of minority faiths and vulnerable communities in the fight against discrimination and the defense of their constitutional and statutory rights....
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Exploring the Rise of Abortion Shield Laws in Post-Dobbs America
When the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Dobbs reversing Roe v Wade and Planned Parenthood, it began a rapidly evolving conflict between the States on one of the most high profile and controversial constitutional debates of our day. While much has been made of the laws which have either...
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Balancing Data Privacy and Criminal Justice, with Professor Rebecca Wexler
Every day, each of us produce more data that ends up in the hands of third parties: browsing data, shopping data, stored images, writings, and communications. And each of us expects a certain degree of privacy and protections. But when that data can play a critical role in criminal justice, our...
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Becoming An Entertainment Lawyer, With Leah Stevenson
Grab your backstage pass as we dive into the fascinating world of entertainment law and uncover the ins and outs of Hollywood contracts with attorney Leah Stevenson! Leah takes us behind the scenes of her career representing music artists, influencers, and filmmakers. Learn how Leah found her...
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From AI to Cryptocurrency: How Attorneys Influence Our Tech Future
As technology continues to impact our personal and professional lives in new and often exciting ways, the law plays a vital role in ensuring a proper balance between advancement and societal protection. As litigators, advocates, and even possibly legislators, law students are preparing to be in a...
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How Public Defenders Are Key to Fixing America's Criminal Justice System
In 1963, the US Supreme Court ruled that all criminal defendants were guaranteed a right to counsel under the 6th and 14th Amendments. Jonathan Rapping, a former public defender and professor at John Marshall Law School, co-founded Gideon’s Promise to address the inadequacies of our public…
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A Legal View of the 2024 Election: Insights from Harvard’s Election Law Expert
Harvard Law Professor Nicholas Stephanopoulos, a leading authority on gerrymandering and election law, explores the pivotal role that legal professionals play in safeguarding our democratic processes. Professor Stephanopoulos shares his insights on the current state of election law, the impact of...
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Tips To Build Your Legal Brand with Honor Williams
Each year in the US, more than thirty thousand new law school graduates enter a crowded marketplace, joining more than a million other attorneys in practice. It should come as no surprise that many find it difficult to stand out and be seen. Each attorney may take a different approach: spending a...
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What We’ve Learned and Where We're Heading
School’s out for the summer, and the ABA Law Student podcast is wrapping up for the season. Faculty host Todd Berger and student hosts Leah Haberman and Chay Rodriguez get together one last time to reflect on this year’s podcast and discuss the many possibilities that await both law students and...
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What Are the Limits of Students’ First Amendment Rights on College Campuses?
Recent protests at universities across the country pushed the boundaries of free speech, and outcomes for protestors were varied, to say the least. The world of academia encourages the free exchange of ideas, but some protest actions prompted police involvement, disciplinary action by…
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Collaborative Impact: Working Together to Change the World
Many young law students begin their studies with high hopes of generating change by becoming a lawyer and advocate, but what does this lofty dream look like in the real world? Leah Haberman talks with Professor Dorothy Roberts about her career as a lawyer, professor, author, and activist.…
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Plan to Pivot: Embracing Change in Law School and Beyond
Many law students begin their studies thinking they have their legal ambitions all mapped out, only to realize later that their perfect plan is no longer what they want. Having this type of identity crisis in law school isn’t a bad thing, and if it happens to you, don’t panic! Law school and your...
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The Merits Of Being A Little Reckless: How An Arts Lawyer Took On The Sackler Family
Becoming a specialist in a niche area of the law is often touted as the most effective path for attorneys, but there’s definitely much to be said for having a more dynamic approach to your future legal career. As an attorney, you may end up with a client whose needs stretch across multiple areas…
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The Art of Negotiation: Understanding the Nuance and Skill of Advocacy
Labor issues captured the headlines throughout much of 2023, with over 400 strikes involving half a million workers. From a legal perspective, there’s a lot to unpack about negotiation tactics, advances in labor and employment law, impacts on basic human rights, and effective ways to fight for…
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Engaging with AI in Your Future Legal Career
There’s no way to take a pass on tech competence. In your future as a lawyer, you have an ethical responsibility to understand and use technology in your practice, and today’s fastest growing tech is AI. Whether you’re an AI fan or perhaps a little scared of a robot takeover, this podcast will…
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The Unique Experience of a Justice-Impacted Law Student
After a criminal pays their debt to society, should they continue to suffer additional consequences for their crime for the rest of their life? Ricky Panayoty developed a deep passion for the law while serving a 10-year sentence for robbery, but really didn’t know whether he could apply to…
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Don’t Let Law School Crush Your Creativity
As law students learn to be lawyers, some feel that they lose themselves—that their prior creative, dynamic individuality is slowly replaced by an unrecognizable law school robot. If you’ve experienced this disorienting feeling, you’re not alone. Host Leah Haberman is joined by Professor Michelle...
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An Interview with Prominent Defense Attorney Mark Geragos
Mark Geragos made a name for himself successfully representing Susan McDougal, President Bill Clinton’s erstwhile business partner, following her conviction related to the 1990s Whitewater controversy. Since then, he has represented many prominent figures—from politicians to Hollywood elites to…
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Successful Bar Prep: Balancing Discipline and Downtime
The July bar exam is right around the corner, and if you’re like most recent law school grads, you’ve probably got some pre-test jitters. DeMario Thornton welcomes young lawyer Taylor DiChello to pick her brain on strategies for successful bar prep and test-taking. Taylor discusses her approach…
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Niche Legal Practice: Exploring Construction Law
Do you have a particular interest outside of becoming a lawyer? With how incredibly broad the law is, a niche practice area might just align with your passions. For Arlan Lewis, his experience in architecture and some serendipitous happenings in law school led him to a fulfilling career in...
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Accessing Mental Health Help for Law Students
Law school, bar prep, and the legal profession in general can be hard on mental health, but there is help through Lawyer Assistance Programs that even law students can access. DeMario Thornton talks with Molly Ranns about the services and support available to help law students and professionals...
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A Career in Cannabis Law with Jerome Crawford
A lot of us started law school thinking we knew exactly what we would do with a law degree. So what happens when a surprising, but very different opportunity comes along? Jerome Crawford didn’t set out to become a cannabis attorney, but he’s thankful for the goals and pursuits that made him into…
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The Real Law School Experience with Sarah Atkinson
Law school is tough, but you’re not alone! DeMario Thornton welcomes fellow law student Sarah Atkinson to talk through the highs and lows of law school. They share their struggles and discuss the ways they have navigated the stresses and uncertainties of legal education, summer internships,...
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A Conversation With Professor Deleso A. Alford
DeMario Thornton welcomes Professor Deleso A. Alford to discuss her work at the intersection of legal and medical education, where her scholarship helps students gain a broader understanding of how race, gender, and classism have shaped these two fields of study. Professor Alford shares…
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The Legal Accountability Project – Combatting Inequities and Abuse in Judicial Clerkships
In the midst of a nightmarish judicial clerkship, Aliza Shatzman found that there was almost no protection for her, a lowly clerk, suffering harassment at the hands of a seemingly all-powerful judge. This experience and its aftermath spurred Aliza on to create The Legal Accountability Project.…
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Unpacking Law360’s 2022 Summer Associates Survey
What can you expect when trying for a spot at one of the much coveted summer associateships? DeMario Thornton talks with Craig Savitzky of Law360 about the insights gleaned from the 2022 Summer Associates Survey. This two-part survey looks at law students’ approaches to the application and...
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I Wish I’d Known - Michael Nava’s Perspectives on Minority Lawyer Challenges
Minority lawyers operating in white-dominated spaces face unique challenges as they navigate careers in the legal profession. As negative stereotypes assault them from without, self-doubt and imposter syndrome can develop within. DeMario Thornton welcomes Michael Nava, a gay, Mexican-American...
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Omarosa, Part II: The Historically Black College and University Experience
Returning guest Omarosa Newman joins Demario Thornton to go into deeper detail about her educational journey through multiple Historically Black Colleges and Universities and why she chose to attend Southern University–also an HBCU–for law school. Since their inception, HBCUs have focused on...
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Omarosa: Fame, Politics, & The Perks of Being a Non-Traditional Law Student
You know her from “The Apprentice,” “Big Brother,” Trump’s White House, and more; and now she’s in the middle of law school just like you! Brand-new Law Student Podcast host DeMario Thornton chats with Omarosa about her unusual path to law school, her reality tv experiences, the confidence she...
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The Ultimate Discussion of IP Law with Howard Leib
Intellectual property law touches so many corners of law in general, and those interested in pursuing it may take any number of paths in legal practice. To explore the vast world of IP law, Meg Steenburgh welcomes Howard Leib to learn from his exciting career in IP and entertainment law. They dig...
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Court Packing Explained, with Professor Todd Berger
Arguably, a Supreme Court appointment is the greatest prize in American politics, perhaps more so than the presidency. In consequence, these positions lend themselves to manipulation and tactical moves where possible, in spite of past norms. ABA Law Student Podcast host Meg Steenburgh welcomes...
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A Deep Dive Into the Released Dobbs Decision, with Vice Dean Keith Bybee
Even though much has been said about the prematurely leaked draft decision of Dobbs, there’s a great deal to unpack now that the final opinion has been issued. Law Student Podcast host Meg Steenburgh welcomes back Syracuse University College of Law Vice Dean Keith Bybee to explore the reasoning…
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Examining the Supreme Court Draft Leak with Vice Dean Keith Bybee
In the wake of the Supreme Court draft leak, many are questioning what ramifications its language could have on a number of past court decisions, as well as Americans’ rights in a variety of other areas. Law Student Podcast host Meg Steenburgh gets perspective on these issues from Vice Dean Keith...
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Military Legal Practice and Perspectives on the Law of War
Major General John Altenburg was instrumental in transforming the practice of law in the military through his leadership and immersive approaches for military lawyer training. Meg Steenburgh talks with General Altenburg about the legal infrastructure of the United States Military, his thoughts on...
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Understanding the Weaponization of Social Media with P.W. Singer
Information and disinformation campaigns are centuries old, but our social media era has given new and rapid thrust to the sharing of ideas, both for good and ill intent. Meg Steenburgh and Peter W. Singer discuss his book, LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media, which analyzes the poisonous...
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Russia v. Ukraine: The Policy and Legal Considerations of an Unprovoked Attack on a Sovereign Nation
In the conflict instigated by Russia in Ukraine, we have already seen numerous and outrageous Russian violations of the Laws of Armed Conflict, but what legal recourse is there against these acts? Meg Steenburgh of the ABA Law Student Podcast interviews Judge James E. Baker to learn about the...
About this show
Presented by the American Bar Association’s Law Student Division, the ABA Law Student Podcast covers issues that affect law students, law schools, and recent grads. From finals and graduation to the bar exam and finding a job, this show is your trusted resource for the next big step.
Hosted by
American Bar Association