How I Lawyer Podcast with Jonah Perlin

Welcome back to another episode of the How I Lawyer Podcast, where Professor Jonah Perlin interviews lawyers about what they do, why they do it, and how they do it well.Today's guest is Professor Woodrow Hartzog, an internationally recognized expert in privacy and technology law whose work has been published in numerous top journals and books. Before becoming a law professor, Woodrow followed a nontraditional path that included earning his JD/MBA from Samford University, practicing at the regional law firm Burr and Forman, earning an LLM from George Washington University Law School, working as a trademark attorney at the US Patent and Trademark Office, and ultimately earning a PhD in mass communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.In this episode, Professor Hartzog shares valuable insights about privacy, technology law, and career development including:🌐⚖️ How his undergraduate journalism class sparked his interest in technology law when his professor admitted "nobody knows what the law of the Internet's going to be" [3:24]🎵💿 How writing about Napster for his college newspaper and receiving feedback about copyright infringement further pushed him toward law school [4:11]🔍📱 How the events of September 11, 2001 and the subsequent USA Patriot Act made him think seriously about privacy issues for the first time [5:04]📚✍️ How he discovered his passion for academia when he realized he was writing law review articles about privacy "for fun" while working as a trademark attorney [11:29]🎓🔄 How his mentor Dan Solove told him being a "privacy attorney" wasn't yet a real career path in the early 2000s—a reality that has dramatically changed [10:26]🌊🚣 How sometimes you need to "feel where the river is taking you" in your career while still making intentional choices [13:16]🎯💭 How the most important writing advice he received was that readers will only remember one thing from anything you write—so make that one thing count [32:51]📝🧠 How his writing process often starts with "white hot rage" about something wrong that needs fixing, then breaking complex concepts into simpler parts [32:21]🔑🚪 How reaching out to professors and mentors is crucial for success—"people are kind and want you to succeed" [40:18]❓🧠 How asking questions, even when afraid of looking foolish, is essential because "real wisdom is understanding what you don't know" [41:31]This episode is sponsored, edited, and engineered by LawPods, a professional podcast production company for busy attorneys.

This episode was recorded LIVE at Stetson University College of Law as part of the school's landmark campus to career program! Special thanks to Stetson for inviting me to do this episode on their beautiful campus.Welcome back to another episode of the How I Lawyer Podcast, where Professor Jonah Perlin interviews lawyers about what they do, why they do it, and how they do it well.Today's guest is Howard Williams, an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the District of Florida. Before his current role, Howard served as a public defender in the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Florida and worked in private practice. He holds degrees from Northwood University and Stetson University College of Law. In this episode, Howard shares valuable insights about the legal profession including:🧠💼 How his pre-law background in business management, including managing UAW facilities and sports stadiums, helped him develop people management skills that serve him well as an attorney [3:13]🔄⚖️ How transitioning from business (which is results-based) to law (where "the why matters") required a significant mental shift in his approach to problem-solving [4:00]🤝🙏 How public defense is fundamentally about helping people through the worst situations of their lives, often when the deck is stacked against them [7:13]🕵️‍♂️🔍 How federal cases differ from state cases because federal prosecutors typically build cases for months or years before making arrests, while state cases are often more reactionary [8:28]🗣️👥 How his background helps him translate legal concepts into everyday language for his clients, making complex legal situations understandable [9:55]🏥🔪 How state court work is like being an "ER doctor" (fast-paced triage) while federal court work is like being a "surgeon" (methodical, precise, and slower-paced) [14:20]📝⚡ How depositions are a critical tool in state court practice that he misses in federal court, as they allow attorneys to lock in witness testimony and discover case weaknesses [18:29]🔎⚖️ How facts are the foundation of legal practice, with juries ultimately deciding what the facts are based on witness testimony [23:04]🛣️🔄 How career paths often involve unexpected turns, including jobs not received that ultimately proved beneficial for his professional development [25:12]⏰👶 How balancing the demands of criminal defense work with personal life requires being fully present in whatever you're doing, whether work or family time [32:17]🔍💯 How self-reflection and knowing what truly makes you happy is essential for long-term career satisfaction in the legal profession [35:01]This episode is sponsored, edited, and engineered by LawPods, a professional podcast production company for busy attorneys.

In this conversation, Kyle Robisch, a Partner at Latitude Legal and former litigation partner, shares how high school debate shaped his career in law. He discusses the critical decision of selecting the University of Florida for financial flexibility, and the invaluable lessons gained while clerking for a federal judge. Kyle reflects on his move from DC to Florida, which he initially saw as a downgrade but ultimately broadened his practice. He emphasizes the evolving landscape of legal careers, the significance of work-life balance, and the courage to pivot towards fulfilling roles.

Welcome back to another episode of the How I Lawyer Podcast, where Professor Jonah Perlin interviews lawyers about what they do, why they do it, and how they do it well.Today's guest is Mike G. Silver, a Partner at Husch Blackwell's DC office specializing in consumer financial services law. Before joining Husch Blackwell, Mike spent 12 years at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and 7 years as an associate at Pillsbury. Mike earned his degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (where he served as student body president) and George Washington University Law School (where he was active on Law Review and Moot Court Board). Prior to law school, Mike worked as a legislative assistant at the Religious Action Center.At this moment, the CFPB's future is very much in question but Mike's story remains an important one about how government works and where his industry may go in the future. In this episode, Mike shares other valuable insights about the legal profession including:🎓💼 How his path to law wasn't predetermined, but emerged from his interests in history, government, and politics [3:18]📚⚖️ How being active in various law school activities and internships enhanced his legal education experience [5:01]🏢💫 How his initial real estate practice at Pillsbury evolved unexpectedly from litigation aspirations [11:18]🏛️🔄 How joining the newly-created CFPB in 2011 allowed him to help build regulatory frameworks from the ground up [17:51]👥📊 How being a civil servant requires adapting to changing administrations while maintaining institutional expertise [33:46]💼🎯 How transitioning to private practice requires developing marketing skills and building a business plan [40:25]📋💡 How consumer financial services law involves navigating complex regulations governing personal financial transactions [46:08]🔄🌟 How career pivots require recognizing transferable skills and maintaining a growth mindset [50:26]This episode is sponsored, edited, and engineered by LawPods, a professional podcast production company for busy attorneys.

Welcome back to another episode of the How I Lawyer Podcast, where Professor Jonah Perlin explores the diverse paths and practices of successful attorneys.Today's guest is Molly Duane, a senior attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights in New York. A Princeton graduate with both a JD from Cardozo Law School and MPH from Johns Hopkins, Molly has become a leading voice in reproductive rights litigation. Her groundbreaking work was recently featured in the documentary "Zurawski v. Texas," and she earned recognition in Time 100 Next 2024.In this powerful episode, Molly shares insights including:🔬📚 How her unexpected journey from aspiring scientist to reproductive rights attorney shaped her unique approach to advocacy [2:11]⚖️👩‍⚖️ How her federal clerkship with Judge Chin helped develop her voice as an advocate rather than a neutral observer [10:25]📊💡 How making yourself indispensable on legal teams creates opportunities for growth and responsibility [19:35]📝🗣️ How storytelling through litigation can transform legal advocacy, particularly in reproductive rights cases [24:03]🎭😊 How maintaining a neutral expression during heated court proceedings requires practice and self-awareness [33:04]👨‍👩‍👧‍👦❤️ How balancing intense advocacy work with family life requires embracing the integration of personal and professional passion [35:36]⚡🔮 How reproductive rights advocacy represents broader challenges to individual autonomy and civil rights [37:45]This episode is sponsored, edited, and engineered by LawPods, a professional podcast production company for busy attorneys.

Welcome back to another episode of the How I Lawyer Podcast, where Professor Jonah Perlin interviews lawyers about what they do, why they do it, and how they do it well.Today's guest is Nancy Vinsel, a retired lawyer who previously served as general counsel at a Kentucky state agency regulating public utilities. Nancy brings a unique perspective as a second-career lawyer who attended law school at age 50 after working as a librarian and paralegal. She's also an avid runner and the mother of previous podcast guest Ashley Herd (Episode 86). Nancy is a proud graduate of Brandeis Law at the University of Louisville.In this episode, Nancy shares valuable insights about the legal profession including:👥📚 How informational interviews with practicing attorneys helped shape her decision to first become a paralegal before pursuing law school [2:16]🎓💪 How her family's support, especially her husband's willingness to handle daily responsibilities, enabled her to focus entirely on law school [3:53]🤝📖 How her approach to law school emphasized collaboration over competition, setting a positive tone for fellow students [5:52]🎯💼 How she strategically pursued her legal career path by identifying an agency that matched her interests in civil matters and statutory interpretation [11:51]📊🤝 How utility regulation requires constant learning and collaboration with financial analysts, accountants, and inspectors [14:30]✍️📋 How writing clear, accessible legal documents for non-lawyer audiences became a crucial part of her role [21:24]👩‍⚖️🔄 How navigating organizational hierarchy requires a balance of confidence without arrogance [25:10]🌟👥 How actively seeking mentorship and later becoming a mentor shaped her career development [27:31]💫📈 How successful mentorship requires vulnerability from mentees and patience from mentors [31:36]This episode is sponsored, edited, and engineered by LawPods, a professional podcast production company for busy attorneys.

In today's episode I share some reflections with the newest members of the legal profession, the Class of 2024. In these remarks, first delivered to Section 4 of the Georgetown Law Class of 2024, I talk about how career trajectories are rarely linear and I encouraged the graduates to embrace serendipity. It is a message I think we all need to hear. The Class of 2024 is a special one for this podcast because the graduates today are the first class that has had access to this podcast since the day they began law school. In some ways it's How I Lawyer's first graduation. This episode is sponsored, edited, and engineered by ⁠⁠⁠LawPods, a professional podcast production company for busy attorneys⁠⁠⁠. Want to Support the Podcast in 2 minutes or less? Leave a ⁠⁠⁠Review⁠⁠⁠ (this helps the algorithm connect me to new listeners) Follow on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify

Ryan McKeen, Connecticut Personal Injury Lawyer & Law Firm CEO, discusses his journey in the legal profession, leveraging technology in his practice, achieving a $100 million verdict, challenges in personal injury law, and the evolving role of lawyers in the digital age.

Hello & Welcome Back! In today’s episode I am excited to speak with Mike Spivey who is the Founding Partner and CEO of The Spivey Consulting Group LLC and previously a senior level administrator and admissions dean at Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, and The University of Colorado. Mike is an expert on law school administration and admissions and has been a featured speaker and panelist. In addition to his law school consulting work, he hosts the Status Check with Spivey Podcast. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University from which he holds a BA and a Doctorate in Education and the University of Alabama where he earned his MBA. After learning a little bit about Mike, I am excited to chat with him about three topics near and dear to this podcast and its listeners: mental health, admission, and the 2024 US News rankings which are scheduled to be released very soon. This episode is sponsored, edited, and engineered by ⁠⁠LawPods, a professional podcast production company for busy attorneys⁠⁠.Want to Support the Podcast in 2 minutes or less?Leave a ⁠⁠Review⁠⁠ (this helps the algorithm connect me to new listeners)Follow on ⁠LinkedIn⁠Subscribe on ⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Spotify

In today’s episode I speak with Regan Smith, who is Senior Vice President and General Counsel at the New/Media Alliance as well as an Adjunct Professor at GW Law where she teaches copyright law. Regan is a trustee of The Copyright Society of the U.S.A and the Chair of the ABA’s Copyright Legislation Committee. Before joining New/Media Alliance, she worked as the Head of Public Policy in Spotify’s Government Affairs group and spent seven years working at the United States Copyright Office including three years as General Counsel of the Copyright Office and Associate Register of Copyrights. She began her career at two large law firms focused on IP litigation and transactions. Her interest in media goes way back — she even worked as a record store clerk in Ann Arbor Michigan during college.In this episode, Regan and Jonah discussed:💼 Regan's transition from entertainment business to law.👩‍🔬 How an unexpected foray into patent litigation led to valuable experience. [05:23]⚖️ The difference between litigation and transactional work [06:32]🇺🇸 Government work v. private practice [15:34] 🎧 Relationship between lawyering and business strategy in her time at Spotify [19:53]💻 Tensions between copyright and AI [26:29]✍️ Important skills: writing, multitasking, experience, and patience [32:45]This episode is sponsored, edited, and engineered by ⁠LawPods, a professional podcast production company for busy attorneys⁠.Want to Support the Podcast in 2 minutes or less?Leave a ⁠Review⁠ (this helps the algorithm connect me to new listeners)Follow on LinkedInSubscribe on ⁠iTunes⁠ or ⁠Spotify