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 bi...
Oct 30, 2023•31 min•Ep. 64
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 sa...
Oct 23, 2023•24 min•Ep. 63
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 she's...
Oct 02, 2023•27 min•Ep. 62
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 as a...
Sep 25, 2023•31 min•Ep. 61
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 to ...
Sep 18, 2023•28 min•Ep. 60
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 epis...
Sep 11, 2023•24 min•Ep. 59
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 maintaini...
Sep 04, 2023•29 min•Ep. 58
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 str...
Aug 28, 2023•29 min•Ep. 57
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 episode: L...
Aug 21, 2023•28 min•Ep. 56
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 Unive...
Jun 05, 2023•27 min•Ep. 55
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 experiences ...
May 30, 2023•22 min•Ep. 54
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 abo...
May 22, 2023•25 min•Ep. 53
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. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today!
May 02, 2023•12 min
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 Blueprint Utah Law Learn more about Utah Law Learn mor...
Aug 24, 2020•29 min•Ep. 52
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 Baylor Law Learn more about Blueprint Utah Law Learn more about Utah Law Learn more about Seton Hall Access LawHub today!...
Aug 17, 2020•34 min•Ep. 51
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 Utah Law Learn more about Utah Law Learn more about Blueprint Learn more about Baylor Law Access LawHub today!...
Aug 10, 2020•27 min•Ep. 50
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 McEntee. Mentioned in...
Aug 03, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 49
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 Utah Law Learn more about Utah Law Learn more about Blueprint Learn more about Baylor Law...
Jul 27, 2020•25 min•Ep. 48
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 Baylor Law Learn more about Seton Hall Utah Law Learn more about Utah Law...
Jul 20, 2020•31 min•Ep. 47
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 Baylor Law Learn more about Blueprint Access LawHub today! Utah Law Learn more about Utah Law Learn more about Seton Hall...
May 13, 2019•22 min•Ep. 46
Alan Fowler 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. Alan is a graduate of Mercer University School of Law. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Baylor Law Learn more about Blueprint Access LawHub today! Learn more about Seton Hall Utah Law Learn more about Utah Law...
May 06, 2019•22 min•Ep. 45
Matt Hoisington 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. Matt is a graduate of Boston College Law School. This episode is hosted by Debby Merritt. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Baylor Law Learn more about Blueprint Learn mor...
Apr 29, 2019•30 min•Ep. 44
Alisha Backus has an inspiring passion for her work representing people accused of crimes. When she was younger, she experienced the ugly side of our justice system as a victim of domestic violence. While this understandably causes others to choose a different path, it helps her suss out reliable information from not only victims, but her clients as well. Alisha is a graduate of Barry University School of Law. This episode is hosted by Kimber Russell. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about ...
Apr 22, 2019•30 min•Ep. 43
Deepan Patel explains his role at the IRS. While the IRS has many types of lawyers, he focuses on business taxpayer guidance, which ensures certainty for businesses making major decisions. He describes how he got into tax, where his career might go, and trade-offs between government and private practice. Deepan is a graduate of Florida State University College of Law. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Utah Law Learn more about Utah Law Learn more about Seton Hall...
Apr 15, 2019•23 min•Ep. 42
Dan Minc discusses how he managed to rise to his firm's managing partner after starting there as a first-year lawyer. He also talks about how he builds his book of business and what he assesses when determining whether to take a client. After all, as a personal injury lawyer, he's only paid if his client wins. Dan is a graduate of Seton Hall School of Law. This episode is hosted by Derek Tokaz. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Blueprint Access LawHub today! Learn more about Seton Hall...
Jun 06, 2016•21 min•Ep. 41
Candace Hom explains her role in the criminal justice system. She also talks about how she builds trust with her clients, the various legal roles within the federal public defender office, and the challenges of dealing with prosecutors—even the good ones. Candace is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. This episode is hosted by Debby Merritt. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Seton Hall Utah Law Learn more about Utah Law Learn more about Blueprint Learn more about Baylor Law...
May 23, 2016•23 min•Ep. 40
Melina LaMorticella worked as a paralegal for 15 years before going to law school. After graduation, she moved from a local immigration boutique to a larger firm in Portland to practice business immigration law. In this episode, Melina talks about how the U.S. considers immigration applications from professional workers and the charged political atmosphere she operates in, as well as what her typical day looks like. Melina is a graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School. This episode is hosted by ...
May 16, 2016•26 min•Ep. 39
Kathryn Cockrill started her career at a small firm and then went out on her own to reap the rewards of building a business in estate planning and probate. In this episode, Kathryn explains the ins and outs of probate, for both the living and the deceased. She also talks about how she avoids bill collection pitfalls, why she plans to hire help once her firm is on a more stable financial footing, and why her practice keeps her interested and invested. Kathryn is a graduate of Touro Law School. Th...
May 09, 2016•25 min•Ep. 38
Virginia Whitner Hoptman changed course several times throughout her career before settling back where she started with a highly specialized appellate practice. In this episode, Virginia explains the appeals process for winners and losers at the trial level. She also talks about elitism in the world of appeals, how difficult it is to become a full-time appellate lawyer, and what makes appellate lawyers fundamentally different than trial lawyers. Virginia is a graduate of the University of Virgin...
Apr 03, 2016•27 min•Ep. 37
Matt Swain started his own criminal defense practice in a college town 20 miles outside of Oklahoma City immediately after graduation. In this episode, Matt describes the importance of understanding your business inside and out and the techniques he uses that ultimately make him more efficient and more likely to notice opportunities that help his clients move forward with their lives. Matt is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law. This episode is hosted by Kimber Russell. Menti...
Mar 21, 2016•30 min•Ep. 36
