

Young Lawyer Rising
American Bar Association
Hosted by Montana Funk, Young Lawyer Rising covers issues pertinent to young lawyers, from newly minted attorneys to lawyers 10 years into practice and beyond. From dealing with the daily grind and career management to social issues and financial, mental, and physical wellness, this show features the voices of young lawyers from across the country sharing their stories and advice to help all lawyers navigate their careers and rise to where they want to be.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 11, 2021 • 43min
What I Wish I’d Known
Most lawyers remember what their first two years of practicing law were like. There’s a lot to learn and sometimes not much guidance. What do you know now that you wish you knew then? Sonia Russo sits down with a panel of young lawyers who have been practicing for several years. They share wisdom on topics like setting boundaries at work and recovering from mistakes. Whether you’re in your first two years of practice or beyond, the advice from our guests Danielle Borel, Silvia Mansoor, and Jess Arena will be insightful.Special thanks to our sponsor, The Velvet Hammer.

Sep 15, 2021 • 1min
Season 2 Trailer
Sonia Russo returns for a special announcement about upcoming season two. Stay tuned for new episodes.

Aug 9, 2021 • 33min
Legal Education
Mathew Kerbis, of the ‘Financial Wellness Minute’, talks about a topic near and dear to his heart (legal education) with Kyle McEntee, the co-founder and executive director of Law School Transparency. Together they discuss the inputs and outputs that can impact a career before it gets started. Issues like cost, school ranking, and licensing can all play a part in those early job options but what can we learn from it? How do we optimize? Stay Tuned for the ‘Financial Wellness Minute’ when Mathew discusses the value of life insurance (even for young in-debt lawyers).Special thanks to our sponsor, The Velvet Hammer.

Jul 14, 2021 • 32min
Financial Wellness (Part 2)
In this part two of two, Sonia continues her conversation with Ravi Ramanathan and Mathew Kerbis about financial health. In this episode, they discuss what you need to consider before refinancing your student loans, the recommended savings everyone should have, and whether or not the Nintendo Switch can save you money. {hint} ... It’s about less subscriptions and more Mario. Special thanks to our sponsor, The Velvet Hammer.

Jul 14, 2021 • 42min
Financial Wellness (Part 1)
In this part one of two, Sonia Russo is joined by her friend and unofficial financial advisor Ravi Ramanathan as well as our financial wellness segment host Mathew Kerbis to talk about ways to become and remain financially healthy (even early in your career). Among the many topics of discussion are higher cost of living, managing student loans, and living within your means. {hint} ... It’s either brunch or property. Special thanks to our sponsor, The Velvet Hammer.

Jun 14, 2021 • 39min
Tech Fiction’s Future Law (Part 2)
In this part two of two, Sonia Russo talks with Hema Lochan who participated in the American Bar Association’s Legal Tech Fictional Writing Competition. Together, they discuss her short story ‘F(A.I.)LED US’ which is about the unintended consequences for using artificial intelligence (instead of a lawyer) in a future criminal justice system. Stay tuned for the Financial Wellness Minute when contributor Mathew Kerbis discusses how and why everyone should keep an inventory for future insurance claims.

Jun 14, 2021 • 36min
Tech Fiction’s Future Law (Part 1)
In this part one of two, Sonia Russo talks with the winner of the American Bar Association’s Legal Tech Fictional Writing Competition, Theresa Yuan, about her winning dystopian-future short story ‘In The Matter of Infinite Monkeys’ and how it cautions against over-trusting predictive algorithms to determine what kind of person a child will become. Stay tuned for the Financial Wellness Minute when contributor Mathew Kerbis shares the wisdom and rewards for paying your student loans early.

May 17, 2021 • 53min
Racism in the Legal Profession
As far as the legal profession has come, there are still elements of racial inequality and it’s not always easy to see. Host Sonia Russo talks with attorneys Tiana Towns, Andrew Hairston, Paulina Vera, and Jerome Crawford about their personal experiences with racism while practicing law. Stay tuned for the Financial Wellness Minute when contributor Mathew Kerbis shares practical tips for saving money. Special thanks to our sponsor, The Velvet Hammer.

Apr 12, 2021 • 41min
COVID
What can we learn from the pandemic to advance ourselves and our careers? Special thanks to our sponsor, The Velvet Hammer.

Apr 12, 2021 • 51min
Civility
Toxic people can be a danger to your career. What is the best way to handle them? Special thanks to our sponsor, The Velvet Hammer.