I Am The Law

If you ask environmental protection lawyer Elise Bennett who her clients are, she might joke that some days it’s the frosted flatwood salamander, the gopher tortoise, or Florida panther – but officially, it’s the Center for Biological Diversity. Elise is the Center's Florida and Caribbean Director, leading efforts to protect endangered species and wild places through legal action and advocacy. When developers threaten wetlands or forests, Elise steps in to defend the creatures who can’t speak for themselves. In this episode, she dives into the Endangered Species Act and explains how it safeguards even the smallest living creatures. Elise talks about choosing law as a means to protect the environment she loves, why some cases can stretch on for more than a decade, and what it takes to stay hopeful in the face of ongoing destruction. From the spring pygmy sunfish to the Florida Keys mole skink, her work shows how the law – and persistence – can buy endangered species a fighting chance. Elise is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today! Colorado Law Learn more about Colorado Law

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 maintaining work-life balance. Whitney is a 2019 graduate of the University of Maine School of Law. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today! Colorado Law Learn more about Colorado Law

Rachel Frank is a senior associate at Quinn Emanuel who focuses on appellate litigation. She discusses the journey from summer associate to working on cases before the Supreme Court. Rachel explains what appellate practice actually involves, from preparing partners for oral arguments through intensive moot courts to crafting persuasive appellate briefs. She discusses how she uses AI as a thinking partner, the value of her federal appellate clerkship, and how her work has evolved over time. Rachel reflects on some of her firm's cultural quirks and why they matter to her. She also candidly discusses managing work-life balance. Rachel is a graduate of Yale Law School. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Colorado Law Learn more about Colorado Law Access LawHub today!

Matt Skinner is a public defender with passion. Criminal defense is high-stakes, sometimes chaotic work that can be extremely difficult, but Matt navigates the courts, clients, and his career with genuine sincerity and excitement. As a lawyer for those who are accused of felonies but cannot afford a lawyer, his love for underdogs fuels his advocacy. It was a profound experience in high school, however, that set him on this path. On a high school trip to the local jail, he ran into two of his friends--behind bars. Matt is a 2018 graduate of Seton Hall Law School. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Vermont Law Access LawHub today! Colorado Law Learn more about Colorado Law Learn more about Rutgers Law

For the government, sanctions and export controls are foreign policy tools. For businesses, they are legal minefields. Audi Syarief is a senior associate who helps clients navigate this high-stakes world of regulatory puzzles and enforcement actions. In this episode, Audi explains how sanctions work, the outsized role of ambiguity in his practice, and his approach to managing risk across diverse client situations. He discusses the collaborative nature of working with deal teams, solving complex sanctions puzzles that can make or break deals, and how lawyers help keep clients compliant while enforcement agencies watch closely. From panicked calls about accidental violations to negotiating licenses with government regulators, Audi works at the intersection of law and foreign policy. Audi is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Vermont Law Access LawHub today! Learn more about Rutgers Law

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 is a replay of episode #47 that originally aired on June 20, 2020. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Vermont Law Access LawHub today! Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Rutgers Law

Through her social security disability practice, Asha Sharma represents clients who are often struggling with poverty, homelessness, and complex medical conditions. In this episode, she discusses the realities of building a practice around contingency fees from federal back pay, the challenge of working with vulnerable clients who lack proper medical documentation, and the extensive medical knowledge required to effectively advocate for people with conditions ranging from chronic pain to severe mental illness. Asha reflects on preparing for administrative hearings before federal judges, the impact of fraud cases that have tightened evidentiary standards, and why she finds meaning in work that helps society's most marginalized individuals navigate a complex federal system. Asha Sharma is a graduate of University of Minnesota Law School. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about Rutgers Law Access LawHub today!

Joe Stephens operates at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and traditional legal practice. As both a trial consultant and public defender, he helps lawyers harness AI to transform their litigation strategies and case preparation. Joe discusses how he guides other attorneys through AI integration, from analyzing mountains of depositions to crafting more effective motions. In his own public defender work, Joe has implemented AI tools to efficiently process vast amounts of digital discovery and pinpoint crucial moments in hours of police camera footage, allowing him to provide more thorough representation to indigent clients with limited resources. Joe Stephens is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about Rutgers Law Access LawHub today! Learn more about Rutgers Law

Sudha Setty entered legal academia on a path less traveled—without a clerkship or teaching fellowship. While working as a litigation associate at an elite New York City firm, she prepared for the academic job market and charted her course into teaching and scholarship. In this episode, Sudha reflects on how she built a scholarly agenda, developed an engaging classroom presence, and relied on mentorship to guide pivotal career decisions. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today! Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Rutgers Law

Margeaux Thomas is the definition of lawyer meets entrepreneur. She specializes in business partnership disputes, landlord-tenant conflicts, and contract law. In this episode, Margeaux shares her journey from law school to working at a large firm, the challenges she faced navigating firm dynamics, and the personal experiences that led her to start her own practice. She dives into the realities of running a boutique law firm, building a client base from the ground up, and designing a business for efficiency. Margeaux also reflects on building a work-life balance and what it means to define success on your own terms. Margeaux is a graduate of the Catholic University, Columbus School of Law.  This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Rutgers Law Access LawHub today!

Before becoming a judge, Alex Manning served in the military, worked undercover as a cop, and defended people in complex criminal cases. She was also a key spokesperson advocating against the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. In this episode, Judge Manning talks about what drew her from law enforcement to the law, the challenges of presiding over a courtroom, and the mental and emotional toll of making high-stakes decisions as a day job. She talks about how her investigative experience informs her judge-instincts and gets real about the mental health challenges judges face. Judge Manning is a graduate of Vermont Law and Graduate School. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today! Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Rutgers Law

Today, Venetia Mayhew is one of Oregon’s most well-known clemency and post-conviction lawyers, but her path to the law was anything but typical. She started college at 39 and law school at 43. Her prior experience? Working in film, catering, and truck driving. In this episode, she explains how her unconventional path shaped her work as a criminal defense attorney. She reflects on years spent leading clemency efforts at a law clinic and what it’s meant to her to help clients receive a second chance. Now in private practice, she works on complex criminal cases after her clients are already incarcerated. As she puts it, it’s a field where “you get a lot of losses, but the wins are just very, very sweet.” Venetia is a graduate of Lewis and Clarke Law School. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Vermont Law Access LawHub today! Learn more about Rutgers Law

Alexis Taitel, a commercial litigator and fourth-year associate at a large firm, spent her first two years after law school clerking in federal district court. She explains what a federal clerkship really involves and how that experience helped her launch a litigation career in private practice. Alexis offers a window into her work on breach of contract cases as a mid-level associate, from pre-litigation strategy and writing compelling motions to learning how to advocate effectively from behind the scenes. She shares her love for legal writing and research, comparing research to a scavenger hunt and writing to storytelling. Alexis also reflects on the steep learning curve and pressures of the billable hour, the mentorship she’s received, and how the reality of being a lawyer differs from what she once imagined. Alexis is a graduate of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Vermont Law Access LawHub today! Learn more about Rutgers Law

Eric Bernheim works at the intersection of real estate transactions and land use law—two areas that are often siloed but deeply interconnected in his practice. We focus on his commercial real estate practice, highlighting how he supports restaurant clients through lease negotiations, why standardized provisions matter for growth and sale, and how seemingly small terms can affect a company’s long-term strategy. Eric also discusses how he built his leasing practice by working closely with clients over time, how he navigates common points of friction arise with landlords, and what led him and two colleagues to leave a larger firm and start their own during the pandemic. Eric is a graduate of Roger Williams School of Law. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about Rutgers Law Access LawHub today!

What really draws people to become lawyers? In this special bonus episode, we draw on previously unpublished clips with recent guests. You'll hear from lawyers inspired by family members in the profession, those who found their calling through student government or workplace experiences, and others who were motivated by iconic legal dramas like Legally Blonde and A Few Good Men. But inspiration is just the beginning. Our guests also reveal what pop culture gets dramatically wrong about legal practice. Spoiler alert: it's far less glamorous and much more tedious than TV suggests. From the reality of billable hours to the emotional weight of client relationships, these lawyers share what truly surprised them when they first started practicing. Featured voices include: Adam Deutsch, personal injury lawyer following in his father's footsteps Tijana Brien, securities litigator who promised her refugee father she'd become the lawyer he never got to be Samm Tillotson, commercial litigator inspired by her student government experience Katie King, who discovered her legal calling through workplace advocacy Ezra Lintner, legal aid lawyer using law as a tool for their community service And many more sharing their honest takes on expectation vs. reality This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Rutgers Law Access LawHub today! Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Vermont Law

Jaimie Nawaday is a former federal prosecutor and current white-collar defense and government investigations litigator. In this episode, she reflects on the skills and insights she brought from her time as a prosecutor, switching sides, and how real-world experience shapes confidence in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. Jamie also offers candid thoughts on the drinking culture within the legal profession and the personal decision she made to step away and speak out. She is a partner and head of her firm’s Government Enforcement and Internal Investigations practice and a graduate of Cornell Law School.  This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Rutgers Law Access LawHub today! Learn more about Vermont Law

In this episode, Ezra Lintner (they/she), a legal aid lawyer in San Francisco, discusses defending evicted tenants in a city on the forefront of a civil right to counsel. The conversation highlights the high-stakes reality of eviction defense work, the nuances of habitability, and the emotional challenge of helping clients through a fundamentally disruptive experience. Ezra also reflects on the personal toll of their work, the value of strong support networks, and how the work has only deepened their commitment to housing justice. This episode offers an unflinching look at what it means to defend the right to stay housed in one of the country’s most expensive cities. Ezra Lintner is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Vermont Law Access LawHub today! Learn more about Rutgers Law

Mergers, acquisitions, hostile takeovers...if you've ever watched television lawyers arguing on the big screen, you’ll know these terms. For transactional lawyer Stephanie Hurst, these words are part of her daily diction. As an income partner at Mayer Brown, Stephanie has been negotiating cross-border transactions for years. In this episode, she highlights the complexities of structuring deals, the role of an M&A lawyer on a larger expert team, and her development from a junior lawyer into a partner. She also talks about the realities of finding balance as a Biglaw attorney managing matters on tight deadlines. Stephanie is a graduate of the University of Southern California School of Law.  This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today! Learn more about Vermont Law Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Rutgers Law

Samm Tillotson is a commercial litigator at an elite law firm, where she spends a lot of time defending class action lawsuits for insurance clients. While she doesn't go to trial often, she spends a lot of time in court, preparing for court, and negotiating. Despite the firm's size, Samm's cases are leanly staffed, which means she works a case from beginning to end. She talks a bit about her love of discovery, work-life balance, and partnership. Samm is a graduate of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Rutgers Law Access LawHub today! Learn more about Vermont Law

For Katie King, investigations have always been at the center of her work. As a federal prosecutor turned Title IX and institutional equity expert, she’s spent her legal career tasked with piecing together the truth. Katie now serves as a senior administrator at Cornell University – a job that does not require a law degree or license. In this episode, Katie shares her journey into the world of civil rights law, from handling Title IX cases to overseeing compliance in areas like discrimination and employee accommodations. Katie talks about the need for constant learning and the challenges of navigating an emotional workload. Katie is a graduate of New York University School of Law. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Rutgers Law Learn more about Vermont Law Access LawHub today!