Rob Alexander charted a challenging path from short-term contract work to his own law firm. Episode 49 chronicled his time on the doc review circuit, with his now-partner Kimber Russell. Now, they've started a criminal defense firm. Rob talks about how he built his confidence in legal practice, navigating DUI cases, and the strategic expansion of their firm's practice areas. Rob also delves into the intricacies of running a law firm, highlighting the strategy behind their transparent pricing...

Heather Stephenson, a deputy district attorney, prosecutes crimes against children. The conversation delves into the intricacies of the prosecution process. She contrasts the misdemeanor unit's handoffs between lawyers at different stages of a case with the importance of a single attorney handling each case from start to finish when prosecuting sensitive cases. Heather reflects on the importance of building trust with victims, how critical a team of lawyers and non-lawyers are to a...

Liana Nobile, a trial attorney specializing in insurance defense litigation, predominantly handles personal injury lawsuits stemming from one major client's everyday business operations. Her ability to balance professional excellence with a healthy work-life balance exemplifies the value of expertise, effective time management, and refusing to be defined by her job. Liana details her overarching litigation strategy -- meticulously preparing as if heading to trial, though trying a case to...

Eric Lauria-Banta is a corporate transactional lawyer at the satellite office of a global law firm. As a senior associate, he wears multiple hats as he leads intricate M&A deals, taking on the roles of project manager, legal advisor, and negotiator while overseeing a team of specialists and junior associates. Eric also delve into his work in venture capital, where he guides startups through their growth journey. He candidly discusses the work-life balance (or lack thereof) in the world of...

Jason Hernandez is a local government lawyer for a consolidated city and county government. He shares his journey from being a non-traditional law student to a public defender and, later, a key legal role in local government management. While still junior in his second career, Jason is already developing his niche with public safety departments, representing them in lawsuits and in collective bargaining agreements, as well as helping them navigate workplace policy changes. Ensuring a just and...

Nathania Reyes litigates commercial disputes on behalf of financial services organizations like banks. Nathania recounts her journey from uncertain law student to finding her place in civil litigation. She describes her diverse experiences, including immigration and in-house internships, a judicial clerkship, and her transition to private practice. She emphasizes the importance of work-life balance at her current firm, how the Hispanic Bar Association has shaped her career to date, and how...

Mia Getlin specializes in the state-legal cannabis industry in Oregon and Washington. She shares insights into the challenges and complexities of navigating the highly-regulated cannabis sector, emphasizing the importance of trust-building with clients coming from diverse backgrounds, including those transitioning from the illicit market. Mia highlights the role of advocacy in shaping industry regulations, issue spotting for compliance, and maintaining a supportive, problem-solving approach...

David Lieberman represents whistleblowers who provide information to the federal government about their employer's fraud against the government. He discusses workings of whistleblower cases under the False Claims Act, a Civil War era law that's newly under attack as unconstitutional. David discusses whistleblower motivations, how he counsels them about the risk of coming forward, and the intricate journey from filing a case under seal to working collaboratively with the Department of Justice...

Pia Biswas is a commercial lawyer at Microsoft. The company's legal department, her business unit's needs, and Pia's daily work reflect the complexity you'd expect from a huge company with diverse product offerings. While legal strategy and document drafting is an essential part of her job, she views herself as a business advisor too. Pia is a 2010 graduate of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this...

Whitney Lallas is a family law attorney in Maine. She shares her journey into family law, influenced by her interest in psychology and math. The emotional and financial aspects of her work figure prominently into what she likes about her work, as well as what's challenging. She provides insights into handling prenuptial agreements, child-related matters, and dealing with hidden assets. Whitney also explains her eat-what-you-kill compensation structure and emphasizes the significance of...

Linsey Gleason talks about her estate planning practice at a large firm. Her role involves helping clients determine their beneficiaries, trustees, and how to distribute their assets after death. She navigates emotionally complex conversations about end-of-life wishes and legacy planning. Her work often extends beyond just legal matters, as she guides clients through the practical and emotional dimensions of estate planning. The conversation also delves into networking and client acquisition...

Angela Alvarado, a career-changer, discusses her role as an immigration lawyer with a legal aid organization in south Texas. She sheds light on the complexities and challenges faced by victims of human trafficking, the importance of empathy, and how she helps clients navigate the immigration system. Angela discusses the intake process and goes into detail about T visas. Angela is a recent graduate of St. Mary's School of Law. This episode is hosted by Kimber Russell. Mentioned in this...

Ryan Evans discusses his work as an in-house franchise and general business lawyer for Qdoba. He discusses his experience on both sides of the franchise relationship. He worked first as a lawyer for a company that franchises several different concepts (a franchisee) and then as a lawyer for a company that sells access to its systems (a franchisor). His work involves many different elements, from HR and commercial leases to negotiations and document preparation. Ryan is a graduate of Boston...

Chukwukpee Nzegwu is a junior associate practicing commercial litigation at a large, general practice law firm. While he didn't go to law school to do commercial lit, he's found it both exciting and challenging. He explains that his decision was influenced by the opportunity to gain trial experience and be involved in oral advocacy. Chukwukpee discusses his work as a problem solver for clients involved in lawsuits and highlights the complexity of commercial litigation. He shares his...

After a long career in litigation, Diane Sorenson is transitioning to arbitration and mediation, also known as alternative dispute resolution or ADR. She discusses the differences and similarities between litigation, arbitration, and mediation. For ADR, experience is paramount not only for getting cases to resolve but also figuring out how to actually resolve them. Diane is a graduate of the University of Kansas. This episode is hosted by Kimber Russell. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more...

Executive producer Kyle McEntee introduces one of I Am The Law's new hosts, Katya Valasek. They preview some upcoming episodes and make a number of helpful observations about legal careers. The first new episode under LawHub airs May 22nd.

Ilya Lerma runs a small solo practice where she takes on insurance companies in complicated brain injury cases. She discusses the difficulty of running a contingency-fee practice, litigating as a woman of color, and how she manages the stress of being a lawyer. Ilya is a graduate of the University of Arizona. This episode is hosted by Kimber Russell. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today! Learn more about Baylor Law Learn more about LSAT Lab Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more...

Dan Drake served in law enforcement for a decade before going to law school and becoming a prosecutor. He discusses how student debt is a real issue and is what prompted him to get into real estate transactions and litigation at a small firm. Dan is a graduate of Stetson College of Law. This episode is hosted by Kimber Russell. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about LSAT Lab Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about Baylor Law Learn more about Blueprint Learn more about Northeastern...

Jon Holscher prosecutes crime in a rural county. While the facts differ among cases, they must all add up to the elements of a crime to get a conviction. Jon is a graduate of Drake Law School. This episode is hosted by Derek Tokaz. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Seton Hall Learn more about St. Mary's Law Learn more about Northeastern Law Learn more about Blueprint Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about LSAT Lab Learn more about Baylor Law Access LawHub today!

We dive into a roundtable discussion with three law school graduates about short-term contract work, a job that resides at the bottom of the legal profession hierarchy. Known to some as “the circuit,” it's filled with new graduates trying to break into the profession, older graduates trying to on-ramp back in, and others who need the money to get by as they start their own practice, balance a family, or try to start fresh after a grueling job.  This episode is hosted by Kyle...

Zoe Sharp works at Optoro, a software company that keeps her busy in many areas of law. She talks about how she plans for the worst, which has been especially helpful during a pandemic and after a tornado destroyed one of the company's warehouses. Zoe is a graduate of Stanford Law School. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today! Learn more about Seton Hall Learn more about Northeastern Law Learn more about St. Mary's Law Learn more about...

Jeremy Evans managed to outlast hundreds who started law school hoping to do sports and entertainment law. He talks about the struggle to start his own firm and why he thinks he was among the last standing. Jeremy is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson School of Law. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Blueprint Access LawHub today! Learn more about LSAT Lab Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about Baylor Law Learn more about Seton Hall Learn...

Choi Portis is a lawyer for the water and sewerage department in Detroit. She handles litigation for the department, develops policies and procedures, and reviews contracts—so one day is rarely the same as the next. Choi is a graduate of Thomas Cooley Law School. This episode is hosted by Kimber Russell. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about LSAT Lab Learn more about Baylor Law Learn more about Blueprint Access LawHub today! Learn more about Northeastern...

Alan Fowler, a graduate of Mercer University School of Law, primarily represents tourists who got into trouble while on vacation. He talks about finding clients, their urgency in resolving their legal trouble, and how he learns about what they really want. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about Seton Hall Learn more about Blueprint Access LawHub today! Learn more about Baylor Law The law school is located in St. Paul,...

Matt Hoisington, a graduate of Boston College Law School, explains his path to and through the United Nations. He talks about how he managed to obtain one of the most sought-after jobs in the law as an international human rights lawyer. He discusses his time doing law and policy at UN headquarters in New York City, and time abroad in Abyei and Darfur, Sudan. This episode is hosted by Debby Merritt. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about Seton Hall Learn more...