ABA Law Student Podcast

The process of trying criminal cases can be complex. In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast , hosts Chris Morgan and Sandy Gallant-Jones speak with Washington state trial attorney Mark Vovos about his journey toward trying death penalty cases and the difficulties and challenges these cases can present. Mark Vovos has practiced law in the State of Washington for 44 years and his practice fo...

Many young lawyers turn to the Law Student Division of the ABA for invaluable resources, benefits, and leadership opportunities. However, it can be challenging for students who are interested in a deeper level of engagement in the ABA to continue their involvement as they enter the legal market. In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast , which originally aired on March 24th 2016, host Fabian...

In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast , host Sandy Gallant-Jones speaks with McDermott Will & Emery partner Andrea Kramer about her new book, Breaking Through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work, and gender equality in the workplace. Andrea recalls the life experiences and occupational observations that motivated her and her husband to write their new book and...

In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast , host Sandy Gallant-Jones talks with Above the Law Editor Joe Patrice, CuroLegal CEO Chad Burton, LegalZoom General Counsel Chas Rampenthal, Clio Lawyer in Residence Joshua Lenon, and Legal Talk Network Executive Producer Laurence Colletti about alternative careers in law. Joe opens the interview by advising law students to experiment if they are uns...

In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast , host Sandy Gallant-Jones speaks with General Jack Rives , executive director of the American Bar Association about his career as a military lawyer, his transition to civilian life, and his current role within the ABA. Jack reminisces about his passion for the legal profession from an early age, his undergraduate time at The University of Georgia on...

In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast , hosts Sandy Gallant-Jones and Kareem Aref chat with Brooks Brothers District Manager Mic Clark about courtroom appropriate fashion and wardrobe elements that every lawyer should have. Mic acknowledges that most law students are operating on a budget, but emphasizes that the goal is to use simple affordable pieces to build a wardrobe that gives you a...

In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast , host Kareem Aref speaks with Stark & D’Ambrosio, LLP partner Anna Romanskaya about her journey through law school and her struggles finding work as a legal practitioner. Anna shares that she never aspired to become a lawyer, had no family members that were attorneys, and that she perceived the profession as stuffy and intimidating. Her passion f...

Even though research shows that African American males are no more likely to use or sell drugs than Caucasian males, in at least 15 states they are admitted to prison on drug charges at rates 20 to 57 times higher. Some law students are drawn to pursue legal careers with the goal of bringing positive change to these and other statistics and to impact the criminal justice system on a neighborhood l...

A big motivator for some individuals to attend law school is the ability to positively influence the communities from which they come. However, what assistance can a lawyer provide for their neighborhood if they feel the community is being unfairly targeted by law enforcement? How can members of the profession have a positive effect on incarceration rates through the application of restorative jus...

When it comes to a capital case, prosecuting or defending an individual whose life rests on the verdict can be a personal struggle. How does a lawyer cope with the loss of a client and what restorative justice options can they seek in lieu of the death penalty? In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast, host Fabiani Duarte and guest host Linsey Addington speak with Professor Sarah Gerwig Moor...

Between 21% and 36% of practicing attorneys exhibit drinking behaviors that could be considered hazardous, harmful, or possibly alcohol dependent. 28% of licensed and employed attorneys are struggling with either mild, moderate, or severe depression, and 19% are battling with clinically significant levels of anxiety. How prevalent are mental health and substance misuse issues in the profession and...

Marcia Clark is best known for being the lead prosecutor for theO.J. Simpson murder trial. The former Heisman Trophy Winner wasaccused and found not guilty of the June 1994 death of Nicole BrownSimpson and waiter Ronald Lyle Goldman in a trial that captivatedthe country. Thrust back into the spotlight by "The People vs. O.J.Simpson" miniseries, a new generation is now fascinated by Clark,the discr...

20% of lawyers suffer from depression, more than double that of the general population. Beyond that, 60,000 law students suffer from depression by the end of their second year. What resources are available for lawyers who find themselves battling the rigors of the profession and the struggles of depression? In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast , hosts Fabiani Duarte and Madison Burke sit...

Many law students, upon graduating, find it very difficult to acquire employment in the legal profession straight out of school. Numerous law firms are unwilling to hire recent grads that have no previous work experience listed on their resumes. What should a recent graduate do to help increase their chances of finding a firm that is the right fit for them while providing the work experience neces...

The ABA Law Student Division serves to not only provide options for students to better engage with their peers but also to provide valuable leadership and career development opportunities. Individuals who wish to promote positive change within the profession will often seek to aid their peers by serving on the Law Student Division Board of Governors. In this ABA Law Student Podcast hosts Fabiani D...

The Law Student Division of the ABA provides many young lawyers with invaluable resources, benefits, and leadership opportunities. However, many students who are interested in pursuing a deeper level of engagement in the ABA aren’t sure how to continue their involvement as they enter the legal market. In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast , host Fabiani Duarte chats with guest Bryan Roger...

Have you ever wondered how many lawyers continue to practice after acquiring their Juris Doctor Degree? Perhaps you’ve pondered how your legal knowledge can be applied to different types of public work or social activism. In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast , host Fabiani Duarte takes an in-depth look at the American Bar Foundation research attempting to answer these questions with its...

One of the most demanding endeavors that any recent law grad will face is studying for and passing the bar exam. However, upon entering the legal market, many graduates aren’t aware of the challenges associated with transferring their bar exam scores between jurisdictions. In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast, host Fabiani Duarte and guest Christopher Jennison, the Board of Governors rep...

As the law becomes ever more complex and the legal market continues to shift and grow, entering the workforce can be incredibly intimidating to a current student or recent grad. Sifting through the options and finding the career path that is right for you can sometimes feel daunting for even the most well-prepared of students. In this installment of the ABA Law Student Podcast David Lat, founder a...

If you are one of the 40 million Americans who funded their education with student loan debt, you may be asking yourself now what? The bad news: you probably can’t get out of it with bankruptcy. The good news: with over 1.3 trillion dollars locked up in American educational loans, the country has a vested interest to pave the way for repayment. So what does that mean for you? Tune in to find out....

With lower starting salaries and higher tuition rates, today’s law students face tough decisions when it comes to financing their education. In addition to school rank, employment rates, and average starting salaries, future lawyers need to be aware of loan terminology and how it affects their future ability to pay. But how much do you have to know to make an informed decision? Unfortunately, ther...

If you are in or plan to go into public service, you may have heard about public service loan forgiveness (PSLF for short). This economic incentive was intended to attract and keep employees in public sector positions such as district attorney or public defender by offering student loan forgiveness following a minimum period of service and on-time payments towards the borrower’s debt. The cost of...

ABA Law Student Podcast hosts Fabiani Duarte and Madison Burke sit down with Chris Jennison, the ABA Law Student Division’s representative to the ABA Board of Governors, to discuss the governing role of the ABA Board of Governors and how its actions affect the lives of law students and recent grads. Since 2009, the Law Student Division has been able to vote on the Board of Governors and they are a...

On this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast, Senator Lindsey Graham joins hosts Fabiani Duarte and Madison Burke. Together, they discuss getting through law school, being an advocate, and public service loan forgiveness. Tune in to hear about his early career and the importance of having your character tested in law school.

Surviving law school is difficult enough, but law students also need to be thinking about how to best prepare themselves for the future. In this episode of the ABA Law Student Podcast, Fabiani Duarte and Madison Burke talk with Paulette Brown, current president of the American Bar Association, about her path through law school, advice she has for current law students, and legal initiatives she thi...