I Am The Law

Epizode

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  Criminal Justice Advocacy from Within the L.A. Mayor's Office (replay) 19.08.2026 22min

  Kimberley Baker Guillemet helped form the Los Angeles Office of Reentry to ensure that when someone leaves prison, limited employment options do not lead to a cycle of crime. In this episode, she discusses her work helping the formerly incarcerated rejoin society and altering conditions that lead to initial jailings. Kimberley is a graduate of the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Access LawHub today!Learn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Haynes Boone LLP
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  Commercial Litigation at a Large Firm (replay) 12.08.2026 22min

  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 working on cases from the beginning to the end, including drafting motions, researching statute of limitations arguments, and participating in appeals. Chukwukpee is a graduate of the University of Maryland.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Haynes Boone LLPAccess LawHub today!Learn more about Juno and private student loans
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  Regulating Ethics in Politics: Advisory Opinions and Agency Operations 29.07.2026 26min

  Amanda Arriaga is General Counsel for the Texas Ethics Commission, the state agency that oversees campaign finance, lobbying, and financial disclosure. In this episode, she explains what it means to represent an institution rather than any individual official, and how her office answers questions from the public through an informal helpline and through formal advisory opinions that people can rely on afterward. Amanda also describes why most of her day goes to operations rather than legal research: reviewing agency contracts from initiation through management, training staff on procurement rules, and managing a team. She talks about the scrutiny that comes with spending money that belongs to the public, and why management is a skill more lawyers should build. Amanda is a graduate of the University of Texas.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Access LawHub today!Learn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Haynes Boone LLP
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  Fine Print, Big Money: Making Insurers Pay Up 22.07.2026 42min

  Storm Lineberger is a fourth-year associate at global large firm Haynes Boone who practices insurance coverage litigation on the policyholder side. When an insurer denies a company's claim, he sues to recover what the policy promised. In this episode, Storm separates coverage work from insurance defense, walks through how a denied claim becomes a lawsuit, and explains why the underlying event, a refinery explosion or a hurricane, matters less than the words of the contract. He details the substantive work that falls to mid-level associates on leanly staffed cases, from drafting summary judgment motions to assessing settlement risk. The conversation also covers AI in document review and what changes when a senior associate starts managing other people. Storm is a graduate of Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Haynes Boone LLPLearn more about Juno and private student loansAccess LawHub today!
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  One Career in Three Acts: Big Law, Contract Work, Plaintiff Firm 15.07.2026 32min

  Charles Star thought he'd become a union-side labor lawyer but like many law students, he followed the pull of Big Law instead. The prestige and paycheck were there, but the work left him unfulfilled. Charles walked away to pursue stand-up comedy, supporting himself as a hourly contract lawyer. Eventually he landed on the plaintiff side, where he works as a staff attorney on consumer class actions and feels connected to the work. In this episode, Charles reflects on golden handcuffs, career pivots, and what it takes to find a legal path that fits. Charles is a graduate of Columbia Law School.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Juno and private student loansAccess LawHub today!Learn more about Haynes Boone LLP
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  Sharpening the Craft of Special Victims Prosecution 10.06.2026 35min

  Like most prosecutors, Jennifer Long learned on the job. Now she helps train them. After starting her career in a DA's office, Jennifer moved into handling child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault cases. Today, she's the founder and CEO of AEquitas, a nonprofit that supports prosecutors across the country working on those same crimes. Jennifer spends her time writing grants, managing projects, and developing the next generation of experts in the field, while still keeping her hands in the substantive legal work. She explains how she built her advocacy skills in court as a new prosecutor, what it takes to handle deeply sensitive cases, and why strong writing became central to her impact. Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Seton HallLearn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLPLearn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about BlueprintAccess LawHub today!
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  After the Headlines: Lawsuits in the Wake of Disaster 03.06.2026 32min

  .Richard Hy is a lawyer who represents people harmed in large-scale incidents, from mass shootings to defective products to public health crises. In this episode, he explains the strategic differences between mass torts and class actions, and uses his work on the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting litigation to highlight how plaintiffs' lawyers think through which court, who to sue, and how to coordinate across dozens of law firms. Richard discusses the economics of contingency-fee practice, how AI is changing document-heavy work, and the secondary trauma that comes with intake after a mass-casualty event. He also reflects on how moving from insurance defense into plaintiff-side work early in his career shaped the way he approaches litigation today, giving him a clearer read on what the other side is likely to do. Richard is a graduate of Gonzaga School of Law.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Access LawHub today!Learn more about Seton HallLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about BlueprintLearn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLP
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  More Than Legal Advice: Building a Firm for High-Conflict Divorce 27.05.2026 29min

  Jonathan Merel runs a mid-sized family law firm built around high-conflict divorce. In this episode, he talks about the kinds of cases his firm takes on, how he sets strategy across a team of lawyers, and what shifted when he moved from full-time litigator to running the business. He also reflects on the emotional weight of family law, why it draws certain practitioners and burns out others, and how he separates emotion from legal judgment.We also hear from Kristina Lindsay, the firm's in-house divorce coach. With a background in domestic violence advocacy, she helps clients navigate trauma, safety, and conflict, operating under the firm's attorney-client privilege. Together, they show how legal strategy and emotional support can work side by side and shape the outcome of a case. Jonathan is a graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about BlueprintAccess LawHub today!Learn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLPLearn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Seton Hall
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  Building a Practice Around Delaware's Corporate Code 13.05.2026 29min

  Mark Purpura thought he might head to Wall Street but found his niche in law instead. Now a Delaware-based attorney, he works on the deals that keep the financial world moving, from forming trust companies to advising on complex transactions. In this episode, Mark breaks down why Delaware has become the center of corporate law, what it’s like to work on fast-moving, high-stakes deals, and how he built a practice that blends business and law. He also shares how his work goes beyond clients, with a hand in shaping state legislation and advancing LGBTQ+ rights. Mark is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Access LawHub today!Learn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLPLearn more about BlueprintLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about Juno and private student loans
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  Federal Bankruptcy Judge: Running a Second Chance Court 29.04.2026 33min

  Judge Elizabeth Stong calls bankruptcy court a "second chance court," a forum where companies in financial distress and individuals buried in debt can find a path forward, even if it's rarely the one they hoped for. She serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York, sitting in Brooklyn.Becoming a judge was never on Judge Stong's radar — she was a happy litigation partner with no bankruptcy background when a job announcement caught her eye. In this episode, Judge Stong describes managing more than 300 active Chapter 11 cases alongside individual filings, the rhythm of case management conferences, and how she works with law clerks to prepare for hundreds of orders each week. She unpacks the structure of Article I bankruptcy judgeships and the Second Circuit's appointment process, and reflects on the weight of decisions that shape whether a family keeps its home or thousands of employees keep their jobs. The Honorable Elizabeth Stong is a graduate of Harvard Law School.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLPAccess LawHub today!Learn more about BlueprintLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Boston University School of Law
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  An Introvert's Path to Running an Immigration Law Firm 22.04.2026 33min

  As an international student graduating from a U.S. law school, Jimmy Lai struggled to find employers willing to sponsor him. Rather than leave the U.S., he chose to build something from scratch. In this episode, Jimmy talks about how his visa barriers pushed him to co-found an immigration law firm. Jimmy reflects on failing the bar exam three times before passing, navigating the financial and legal risks of starting a firm, and learning to think like a business owner rather than a lawyer. He also talks about doing all of this as a self-described introvert — someone who once avoided grocery store aisles to dodge small talk — and how he forced himself into networking and sales before eventually delegating those roles to more extroverted team members. Jimmy is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about Boston University School of LawAccess LawHub today!Learn more about BlueprintLearn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLPLearn more about Oklahoma City University School of Law
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  IRS Tax Lawyer: From Tax Strategist to the Government (replay) 15.04.2026 24min

  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:Access LawHub today!Learn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLPLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Blueprint
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  Space Law: The Work Behind an Emerging Practice 08.04.2026 26min

  Michelle Hanlon spent 25 years as a cross-border M&A lawyer before earning an LLM in space law and reinventing her practice around an environment that nobody quite controls but many want to. Space law is barely developed, but much of the daily work looks like any other industry: contracts, regulatory compliance, and drafting provisions that account for risks nobody else is thinking about yet. Michelle holds a permanent observer seat at the UN committee where international space law is written, and in this episode she breaks down the craft of persuading legislators and diplomats, why industries often write the standards Congress later codifies, and how deep subject-matter fluency reshapes even conventional legal work. Michelle Hanlon is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Access LawHub today!Learn more about BlueprintLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLP
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  Concierge Outside Counsel: Compliance, Contracts, and Keeping Clients Deal-Ready 01.04.2026 34min

  Yuliya Flynn is a partner at a small business law firm where she acts as concierge legal counsel for small and mid-size companies — handling the kind and breadth of work an in-house lawyer would, but for multiple clients at once. In this episode, she walks through what that role looks like day to day, from drafting employment agreements and reviewing leases to fielding emergency calls about severance. Yuliya explains how she audits new clients for compliance gaps, why she treats compliance as preventative medicine, and how those gaps can tank a purchase when it's time to sell. She also digs into the complexity of structuring employee compensation and retention plans, where equity participation sounds simple but quickly intersects with succession planning and corporate governance. Yuliya Flynn is a graduate of Kostanay State University in Kazakhstan and also earned her Master of Laws from American University with a specialization in International Business and Trade Law.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about Haynes Boone LLPLearn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawAccess LawHub today!Learn more about Blueprint
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  Small Firm, Big Mountain: Ski Injury Law in Colorado 25.03.2026 35min

  Evan Banker didn't plan to become a ski lawyer, but a chance opportunity led him to a niche practice handling collisions on the slopes. He explains how skiing accidents become legal cases, from right-of-way rules and Colorado's Skier Safety Act to evidence like witness accounts, video footage, GPS tracking data, and damage patterns on the skis themselves. Evan discusses why injured skiers hesitate to pursue claims and how personal injury lawyers navigate the profession's stigma. He also talks about leveling the playing field against deep pockets with his firms contingency fee model. The conversation also offers a behind-the-scenes look at small firm life and succession planning. Evan is a graduate of the University of Denver College of Law.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about Juno and private student loansAccess LawHub today!Learn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLPLearn more about Blueprint
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  Poisoned Goods: Suing to Clean Up Consumer Products 18.03.2026 31min

  Vineet Dubey is an environmental litigator in California who sues companies selling consumer products tainted with toxic chemicals. His primary legal vehicle is California's Proposition 65, a ballot-initiative statute requiring companies to either warn consumers about chemical exposure or remove offending products from shelves. In this episode, Vineet explains how cases come to him through environmental testing groups, how toxicologists help establish whether a violation exists, and why he pushes companies to reformulate products rather than simply slap on a warning label. He also walks through his case against Gerber over lead in baby food, the realities of contingency work against corporate giants, and what it takes to learn hard science as a political science major. Vineet Dubey is a graduate of UCLA Law.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLPLearn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about BlueprintAccess LawHub today!
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  Outside In-House Counsel: Small Business Lawyer (replay) 11.03.2026 22min

  Philip Selio, a solo practitioner, helps small businesses and entrepreneurs with their corporate law needs. He discusses managing all aspects of a solo shop -- and how it helps him better serve his clients who face similar challenges. Philip discusses client relationships, research processes, and social media as a tool to further build his client roster. He also shares how he thinks about his firm's potential growth. Philip is a 2019 graduate of California Western School of Law.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Access LawHub today!Learn more about BlueprintLearn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLP
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  Public Defender to Private Practice: Criminal Defense From Scratch 04.03.2026 40min

  Devin Morse is a criminal defense attorney in Alaska, specializing in the state's most serious charges. In this episode, Devin explains the distinction between factual and legal guilt, her intensive intake process, and why she deliberately delays hearing a client's version of events. She also discusses what it means to review a "phone dump" — an entire digital life — and how that shapes the attorney-client relationship. After a decade as a public defender, Devin and two colleagues spent a year plotting the launch of their own firm. She walks through the realities of billing, compensation conversations, and what it feels like to know a family sold their home to fund the defense. Devin Morse is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLPLearn more about BlueprintLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Juno and private student loansAccess LawHub today!
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  The Therapist Who Left Law: Treating Perfectionism in Lawyers 11.02.2026 38min

  Doron Gold spent roughly a decade practicing law before realizing the profession was slowly crushing him. In this episode, Doron shares the experiences that led him to leave law for good. Doron discusses his transition to therapy and his current practice helping lawyers navigate burnout, perfectionism, and career dissatisfaction. Drawing on his own experience, Doron highlights how perfectionism, external validation, and misaligned values can undermine personal and career satisfaction. He also reflects on professional boundaries he learned as a family lawyer — maintaining objectivity while caring deeply — and how those skills transferred to therapy. Doron is a graduate of the York University Osgoode Hall Law School (JD) and the University of Windsor (Master of Social Work).This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Seton HallLearn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about BlueprintAccess LawHub today!Learn more about Haynes Boone LLPLearn more about Oklahoma City University School of Law
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  Scientist to Regulatory Lawyer: Getting Medical Devices to Market 04.02.2026 34min

  What does it take to bring medical devices to the market? It’s a question lawyer Randy Prebula thinks about every day. Randy is a partner at a global law firm who specializes in the regulatory world of medical devices and technology. In this episode, he shares how he transitioned from a more than 20-year career as a scientist into the world of law and how that informs his legal work. He breaks down FDA’s emergency use authorization, what qualifies as a device versus a drug, how products navigate FDA approval pathways, and why risk-benefit analysis drives every FDA decision. He also reflects on what it was like working in this field during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to bring one of the first at home COVID-19 tests to market. Randy is a graduate of the Catholic University of America.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Oklahoma City University School of LawLearn more about Haynes Boone LLPLearn more about Juno and private student loansLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about BlueprintAccess LawHub today!