California MCLE Podcast
by TalksOnLaw
The California MCLE Podcast by TalksOnLaw is a series of enjoyable interviews with leading law professors, practitioners, and judges. Topics from police power, to technology and privacy, to the ownership of DNA. All subscribers can enjoy our interview series with the titans of law. MCLE credit for this series is available only to our TalksOnLaw premium or TalksOnLaw podcast member. Visit www.talksonlaw.com to learn more and join. Courses are accredited on the date published. However, visit www.TalksOnLaw.com/podcast to confirm whether older courses remain active for MCLE reporting purposes.
Episodes
-
Inside Counsel at Scale
What does it mean to lead the legal function at a company operating at the scale of Meta? C.J. Mahoney, Meta's Chief Legal Officer and formerly General Counsel of Microsoft and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, joins TalksOnLaw to discuss the wave of litigation alleging that social-media products...
-
When Religious Freedom Harms Children
The United States protects religious freedom in the first words of the Bill of Rights and protects children in every state's criminal code. When a parent's faith leads to refusing a blood transfusion, praying over a diabetic child instead of seeking care, or declining vaccination, the law must...
-
Artificial Justice – Navigating an AI Evidence Crisis
Deepfakes, AI-generated documents, and machine-assisted analysis are arriving in courtrooms faster than the rules of evidence can adapt. Judge Paul Grimm joins TalksOnLaw to discuss how courts should authenticate and evaluate AI-generated evidence — and what judges and litigators can do now to...
-
Trump Trials – A Survey in Legal Ethics
The criminal and civil cases surrounding Donald Trump have raised a remarkable range of professional responsibility questions — for prosecutors, defense counsel, and the lawyers who found themselves in the middle. Legal ethics professors Bruce Green and Rebecca Roiphe survey the ethical issues...
-
A Healthier Legal Future
The legal profession has long been defined as a high-performance environment characterized by competition and long hours. While dedication and hard work remain hallmarks of successful lawyers, there is a growing recognition of the tension between these professional demands and attorney mental...
-
Law According to Karp
For more than a decade, Brad Karp has led Paul, Weiss during a period of significant growth and change, including its emergence as one of the most profitable firms in BigLaw. In this episode, Karp describes how large law firms are built, governed, and sustained over time. Karp discusses how Paul,...
-
Bending the Knee
For more than two centuries, the American legal system has operated on a core assumption: lawyers are not punished for the conduct or politics of their clients. In this episode of New Law Order, Jeffrey Toobin examines what happens when that premise is tested by executive power. The interview is...
-
The AI Threat to Privacy
Artificial intelligence is transforming how data is collected, shared, and analyzed—often in ways that outpace existing privacy law. In this insightful conversation, George Washington Law Professor Daniel Solove, one of the nation’s leading experts on privacy, examines how AI exposes the limits…
more -
Defending Words
Free speech has long been a constitutional cornerstone in the United States—but in recent years, calls for censorship have surged. Whether in response to hate speech, misinformation, or online harm, efforts to restrict expression are on the rise. In this provocative conversation, former ACLU...
-
Trump Orders: Law Firms on the Line
When a string of 2025 executive orders barred select law firms from federal buildings, revoked security clearances, and threatened to cancel their clients’ government contracts, Big Law took notice. Yale Law professor John Morley—author of Why Law Firms Collapse—joins Talks On Law host Joel Cohen...
-
Scroll Control – Regulating Social Media for Kids
Growing evidence links heavy social‑media use to rising anxiety, bullying, and sextortion among kids, and state lawmakers are racing to respond. In this interview, Harvard Law School’s Leah Plunkett—reporter for the Uniform Law Commission’s child‑influencer act—and University of Virginia…
more -
Confronting the Disinformation Engine
Digital platforms now enable the near-instantaneous distribution of information, including misinformation and disinformation, to vast audiences. Disinformation refers to false or manipulated information deliberately created to deceive, whereas misinformation is inaccurate or misleading…
more -
Out of Bounds – Negotiations Ethics
An interview with Prof. Carrie Menkel-Meadow In this episode, Professor Carrie Menkel-Meadow of UC Irvine Law School delves into the ethical frontiers of legal negotiation, challenging attorneys to reflect on which tactics align with both zealous advocacy and professional integrity. Menkel-Meadow...
-
A Lawyer's Addiction with Brian Cuban
The legal profession faces alarmingly high rates of substance abuse and mental health challenges. In this conversation, Brian Cuban, attorney, author, and addiction recovery advocate, explores the systemic and cultural factors contributing to addiction among lawyers and provides actionable...
-
Regulating AI as a Natural Monopoly
As artificial intelligence systems become increasingly expensive and resource dependant to develop, a question arises: Are we witnessing the emergence of AI as a natural monopoly? In this conversation, Berkeley Law Professor Tejas Narechania explores how the market forces driving AI consolidation...
-
Autonomous Weapons of War
Autonomous lethal weapons, often sensationalized as “killer robots,” are no longer confined to science fiction—they are a rapidly advancing reality in modern warfare. In this conversation, Georgetown Law Professor Mitt Regan, an expert on the laws of war and international law, delves into the...
-
AI Models & Copyright Battles
Large language models (LLMs) are trained on vast, nearly unfathomable amounts of data—data that is now reshaping the very fields from which it was sourced, including literature, journalism, music, and photography. As a result, these models have sparked high-stakes litigation and raised novel…
more -
Lawyers + LLMs: AI Ethics
AI is changing how lawyers do their work and raising questions about how lawyers can harness artificial intelligence consistent with their professional responsibilities. Georgetown Law Professor Tanina Rostain answers questions about the transformative impact of AI on the legal profession and how...
-
Gun Rights under Rahimi & Cargill
Professor Joseph Blocher (Second Amendment scholar and co-director of the Duke Center for Firearms Law) explains two significant recent Supreme Court cases: United States v. Rahimi and Garland v. Cargill. This discussion provides an in-depth analysis of the legal reasoning behind these decisions...
-
Criminal Lab-Grown Meat
The sale and production of lab-grown meat have been criminalized in Florida and Alabama, with other states considering similar legislation. Food law expert Professor Michael Roberts from UCLA Law School explains what the new laws do as well as how they fit into the federal regulatory framework…
more -
Prosecutorial Discretion – Power & Responsibility
The power of prosecutors extends far beyond the courtroom, shaping the trajectory of countless lives through their decisions. Legal experts Bruce Green and Rebecca Roiphe delve into this immense authority in an insightful interview, exploring the nuances of prosecutorial discretion and its…
more -
Deadly Force as Self Defense
The law of self-defense permits the use of deadly force under a strict set of conditions: the threat must be both imminent and unlawful, and the response, both necessary and proportionate. But what of the murkier scenarios where multiple parties, ensnared in the throes of perceived danger…
more -
Injustice by Forensics
Forensic science, when applied rigorously, has the power to catch and convict criminals, but when mishandled, can lead to tragic miscarriages of justice. In this eye-opening interview with Professor Brandon Garrett (Duke Law School) and Dr. Peter Stout (Houston Forensic Science Center), explore...
-
Weaponization of Outer Space
As the US accuses Russia of developing nuclear-armed satellites, what does international law say about weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in outer space? Space law expert, Professor Frans von der Dunk discusses the weaponization of outer space and the laws that govern weapons beyond the planet.…
more -
A Mindful Lawyer – Combatting Lawyer Stress
The legal profession is known for its high-stakes, high-stress lifestyle. The dangers of stress to mind and body are similarly well known. However, as one endocrinologist famously put it, “It is not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.” In a time of heightened stress, we explore one...
-
War Crimes – Israel & Gaza
In the volatile conflict between Israel and Gaza, the line between legitimate military action and war crimes is often blurred. Professor Michael Newton, an expert in the laws of war, begins with a brief history of war crimes and how these international laws were codified. He then turns to the...
-
Model Minority & Associates
Like all attorneys, Asian-American lawyers generally strive for legal excellence by honing their expertise and delivering quality client service. Yet, they can confront a myriad of stereotypes, biases, and misconceptions from colleagues and even clients. In this interview, Prof. Peter Huang of...
-
Dying Without a Will
When you die without a will, the default rules of inheritance law kick in, allocating assets based on established formulas and hierarchies. In this conversation, Prof. John Morley (Yale Law School) explains basic inheritance law and delves into the default rules that come into play when a person...
-
SFFA v. Harvard
Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College signals a radical shift in how the Supreme Court views favoring racial diversity and affirmative action in higher education. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing the majority opinion in SFFA v. Harvard, rejects the use of race as a factor in college...
-
Why Law Firms Implode
Law firm failures do not merely fall off into bankruptcy - they are spectacles of grand implosions. American law firms suffer from unique structural risks that can drive these formidable institutions to not just falter, but to rapidly collapse even when their balance sheets and profitability…
more -
Police Commands & Police Coercion
Police commands are the cornerstone of law enforcement, at once projecting the authority of the state and instantly creating legal obligations for which the failure to comply can result in arrest, detention, or even the use of deadly force. But what are the limits of police commands? When are…
more -
Inside the Shadow Docket
The term shadow docket refers to the decisions and orders of the Supreme Court outside of the traditional cases. Shadow docket cases generally lack the formal briefings, oral arguments, and reasoned, lengthy opinions of the merits cases. Over the last few years, the Court has increasingly used...
-
Economic Incentives for Diversity
Diversity and inclusion are laudable goals, but how can change be created in an industry driven by tradition and financial return? This interview explores the concept of using economic incentives and data to encourage diversity within the legal profession. The conversation also explores...
-
Lady Justice
The role of women in the legal profession is more bigger than a statistic, or headcount. Journalist Dahlia Lithwick shares insights from her beat (American courts and the law) about the insurgent role women are on the cutting edge of developing law. In an interview that reflects upon her recent...
-
Regulating Crypto after FTX
How are cryptocurrencies treated by the U.S. government? Former Chairman of the CFTC and a pioneer of crypto regulation, Christopher Giancarlo breaks down the crypto-regulatory landscape. Giancarlo explains why some crypto is treated as a commodity, others as a security, while others may not be...
-
God & Football after Bremerton
In the religious freedom case, Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022), the Supreme Court weighed in on the role of God in football in American public schools. Prof. Sarah Barringer Gorden (UPenn Law) explains the case, its impact on the First Amendment's Establishment Clause separating…
more -
Recusal & the Bounds of Judicial Bias
With incredible powers to make life-changing decisions involving liberty and fortune, judges are expected to make decisions with a threshold level of neutrality. In this conversation, we explore the limits of that threshold. When does judicial bias legally or ethically preclude a judge from…
more -
WV v. EPA & the Major Questions Doctrine
On June 30th, 2022, the Supreme Court decided West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), limiting the EPAs ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Beyond its direct impact on climate policy, the case significantly impacts administrative power by supercharging a new legal regime…
more -
Driverless Cars—A Shift in Risk
When algorithms take the wheel and human drivers move to the back seat, who's to blame when an accident occurs? The future of driverless cars is already here, with Waymo test offering its autonomous taxi services and more companies like GM, Nissan, and even Amazon entering the race to market. As...
-
Gun Law after Bruen
On June 23rd, 2022 the Supreme Court decided the landmark gun rights case New York State Rifle and Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen. The case, widely seen as a win for advocates of personal gun rights, fundamentally altered the test that courts use to evaluate constitutionality under the 2nd...
-
Surrogates, Donors, & Same Sex Parental Rights
More than ever before, Americans are turning to assisted reproduction to start their families. In this interview, leading family law expert Professor Douglas NeJaime (Yale Law School) explains how U.S. laws are attempting to catch up to this shift. Traditionally parental rights are based on the...
-
Newsworthiness – Press Freedom v. Privacy (Part 2)
Press Freedom vs. Privacy—Newsworthiness in a Self-Publishing Era (Part 2) An interview with Prof. Amy Gajda The First Amendment provides broad but not absolute freedom of press protections. Louis Brandeis and Samuel Warren first famously articulated the right to privacy in 1890, a “right to be...
-
Newsworthiness – Press Freedom v. Privacy
Press Freedom vs. Privacy—Newsworthiness in a Self-Publishing Era (Part 2) An interview with Prof. Amy Gajda The First Amendment provides broad but not absolute freedom of press protections. Louis Brandeis and Samuel Warren first famously articulated the right to privacy in 1890, a “right to be...
-
The Leaked Opinion: Dobbs v. Jackson
On May 2, 2022, a secret draft of Justice Samuel Alito’s majority opinion in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health was published by the website Politico. The opinion is the first unpublished Supreme Court draft known to be leaked. Drafted by Justice Alito, the decision of the Court would also…
more -
Human Information Privacy (Part 2)
As troves of personal data are collected, stored, and used by governments and private companies in today’s digital age, privacy is becoming an increasing concern. Privacy is essentially about setting boundaries to limit the power that information confers on entities, whether public or private…
more -
Human Information Privacy
As troves of personal data are collected, stored, and used by governments and private companies in today’s digital age, privacy is becoming an increasing concern. Privacy is essentially about setting boundaries to limit the power that information confers on entities, whether public or private…
more -
Cyberattack as Use of Force
The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the risks that states and private entities face in the new realm of cyberwarfare and the need for establishing and clarifying international norms in this context. In this interview we examine cyberattacks under the lens of international law....
-
Cyberattack as Use of Force (Part 2)
In part 2 of the interview with cyberlaw Professor Duncan Hollis, Hollis explains the standards proposed to assess whether a cyberattack amounts to a use of force and how states may respond when non-state actors engage in cyber operations. Prof. Hollis then goes on to discuss how states can...
-
Law of Bourbon
Bourbon is a uniquely American spirit and has played an outsized role in developing aspects of American law. Bourbon history is peppered with dramatic legal battles and legal (and illegal) innovations, whether it’s laying the foundation for trademark protections or establishing the concept of…
more -
Suspicious Clients
If a lawyer suspects, but does not know, that a client or potential client is seeking their services to engage in criminal activity, can they still offer legal counsel? When does a lawyer have a duty to investigate her own clients? In its Formal Opinion 491 issued in 2020, the American Bar...
About this show
The California MCLE Podcast by TalksOnLaw is a series of enjoyable interviews with leading law professors, practitioners, and judges. Topics from police power, to technology and privacy, to the ownership of DNA. All subscribers can enjoy our interview series with the titans of law. MCLE credit for this series is available only to our TalksOnLaw premium or TalksOnLaw podcast member. Visit www.talksonlaw.com to learn more and join. Courses are accredited on the date published. However, visit www.TalksOnLaw.com/podcast to confirm whether older courses remain active for MCLE reporting purposes.
Hosted by
TalksOnLaw
Categories