Best Abovethelaw Podcasts (2024)

1
Making The Journey From Biglaw To In-House with Catherine Dawson - Episode 170 22:46

7d ago22:46

22:46

In this episode, Kathryn interviews Catherine Dawson, General Counsel at Affinipay, discusses her career transition from big law to in-house counsel, emphasizing her interest in technology. She also talks about the benefits of using AI in legal practice, such as task automation and increased efficiency. Dawson recounts her experience of working par…

1
Sexism And Harassment In Biglaw Are Nothing New with Erin Gordon - Episode 169 25:24

14d ago25:24

25:24

In this episode, Kathryn interviews Erin Gordon, author of "Look What You Made Me Do", a memoir exposing a toxic culture in a prominent law firm. Erin shares her experience of continuous micro-harassments, personal defamation, and inadequate work allocation, leading to extreme stress and impeding her professional growth. Despite having a strong leg…

1
The Path To In-House with Dina Segal - Episode 168 22:59

21d ago22:59

22:59

In this episode, Kathryn interviews Dina Segal, the Chief Legal Officer at Gusto, and discusses her personal and professional journey including her transition from a big law firm to an in-house counsel position and her experiences as a working mother. She speaks about the Lexis Plus platform's innovative Judicial Brief Analysis tool and highlights …

1
A Work Partnership Makes All The Difference with Cara Bain and Allison Rosner - Episode 167 24:31

28d ago24:31

24:31

In this episode, directors Cara Bain and Allison Rosner from Major Lindsay in Africa discussed the trajectory of their legal careers and the importance of workplace partnerships. While detailing their unique career paths, they stressed the benefits of diverse backgrounds and perspectives in enhancing team performance. They encouraged listeners to b…

1
How To Go From Just A Lawyer To A Rainmaker with Sejal Patel - Episode 166 23:16

2M ago23:16

23:16

In this episode, Kathryn interviewed Sejal Patel from Sage Ivy Consulting. Sejal traces her unique career from law to consulting, emphasizing that law schools should better guide students about alternative legal careers and business development. She suggests young lawyers maintain their professional relationships from law school, cultivate new ones…

1
Law Firm Managing Partner Shares Her Journey To The Top with Frieda Garcia - Episode 165 24:17

2M ago24:17

24:17

Kathryn interviewed Frieda Garcia, a managing partner at BAL. Frieda shares her journey to becoming an immigration lawyer, primarily influenced by her family's legal immigration issues. Although the field is challenging due to its complexity and politicized nature, it is also rewarding, particularly in cases where she's assisted scientists and nurs…

1
Lawyers Need To Invest In Professional Development with Elise Holtzman - Episode 164 28:24

2M ago28:24

28:24

Kathryn interviewed Elise Holtzman, President of The Lawyer’s Edge, who shares her journey from pre-med to law and discusses challenges faced by lawyers. She highlights the pressure being overwhelming leading to visible stress, but advises breaking down goals into smaller achievable tasks. Elise also points out that self-doubts often block individu…

1
Decision Fatigue Might Be Hurting The Quality Of Your Work with Susan Myres - Episode 163 33:45

3M ago33:45

33:45

Kathryn interviewed Susan Myres, a Managing Partner of Myres & Associates PLLC, who discusses the prevalence of “decision fatigue” in the legal industry. She suggests lawyers take regular breaks and maintain a work-life balance to counter fatigue and stress. She emphasizes the components of self-care and health in a lawyer’s responsibility to their…

1
The Fight For Sane Gun Regulation Continues At The Supreme Court with Doug Letter and Shira Feldman - Episode 162 25:52

3M ago25:52

25:52

Kathryn Introduces guests Douglas Letter and Shira Feldman from Brady United, an organization focused on reducing gun violence. They discuss their driving factors for practicing law, touch on their work, and explore specific gun laws, including the case of United States vs Rahimi, relevant to domestic violence prevention. Shira outlines the current…

1
Civil Rights Are About More Than Liberation with Dylan Penningroth - Episode 161 24:48

4M ago24:48

24:48

Kathryn interviewed Dylan Penningroth to discuss the intersections of Black history, law, and the civil rights movement. Penningroth, author of "Before the Movement: the Hidden History of Black Civil Rights", stresses the importance of viewing the Black community as a diverse group with various perspectives, and using the law as both an instrument …

1
Happy Lawyers Do Exist with Amanda Wolfman - Episode 160 23:46

4M ago23:46

23:46

Kathryn interviewed Amanda Wolfman, who shares her career transition from social work to law and advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal field. From her experiences at various law firms, she emphasizes the importance of problem-solving skills and having these values ingrained in all facets of a firm's operations for it to be…

1
Law Firm Mergers Are Opportunities For Women with Melinda Wallman - Episode 159 27:02

4M ago27:02

27:02

Kathryn interviewed Melinda, a Partner based in London, who focuses on the recruitment of partners into elite international firms in the UK and Europe. In the course of her 25-year career, she has placed hundreds of partners and partner-teams into AmLaw 100 and UK 20 firms and has launched numerous offices for law firm clients. She successfully rep…

1
The Future of DEI with Natalie E. Norfus and Shanté S. Gordon - Episode 158 31:29

4M ago31:29

31:29

Kathryn interviewed experts Natalie E. Norfus and Shanté S. Gordon discussing the legal industry, the application of AI in legal research via Lexis Plus's new platform, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Regarding burnout, Shanté advises identifying needs and seeking support. Natalie emphasizes realism in work allocation and sett…

1
The Fight For Justice For The Last Colony with Philippe Sands - Episode 157 25:49

4M ago25:49

25:49

Kathryn interviewed Philippe Sands, who discussed his extensive law career including trade and human rights cases, his work on the Chagos Archipelago case for Mauritius, and his aim to humanize law through understanding case individuals. Philippe also provided insight into his role as a counsel for Samoa regarding nuclear weapons, diving into the r…

1
Kids Books And The Future Of The Legal Profession with Tiffany Obeng - Episode 156 25:36

5M ago25:36

25:36

Kathryn speaks with Tiffany Obeng, author and lawyer, who shares her journey into law and children's literature. Inspired to become a lawyer at a young age, she highlights the need for diverse portrayals of professions in children's literature, starting with her book 'Andrew Learns about Lawyers.' Tiffany challenges the notion that black boys don't…

1
Communication, Empathy, And Understanding In The Practice Of Law with Kelly Olivier and Allyson West - Episode 155 24:58

5M ago24:58

24:58

Kathryn speaks with Kelly Olivier and Allyson West, the founders of The Themis Group Trial by Women in Hale & Monico. They discussed their recent trial and its highs and lows. They remain committed despite a disappointing result. They also shared their future plans for Themis - to grow, reach more women, and serve as a powerful force for women's is…

1
The Future Of The Legal Profession Must Be Diverse with Catherine Kemnitz - Episode 154 22:28

5M ago22:28

22:28

Kathryn speaks with Catherine Kemnitz about her career in law. Catherine shares her journey from pursuing her law degree at 17, working at Thomson Reuters, to becoming the Chief Strategy and Development Officer at Axiom. They discuss the launch of revolutionary legal research platform, Lexis Plus, and the value of diversity in the legal profession.…

1
The Case Against Family Court with Jane Spinak - Episode 153 32:54

5M ago32:54

32:54

Kathryn and guest Jane Spinak, a Columbia Law School professor, discuss the issues with the U.S. court system's handling of child delinquencies. Jane argues that the system causes more harm than good, often exacerbating issues rather than resolving them. She believes the approach towards these cases should be shifted from courts to supporting commu…

1
A Legend In The Making with Nichad Davis - Episode 152 25:31

6M ago25:31

25:31

Kathryn interviews attorney Nichad Davis who shared his journey to law school and his legal work post-graduation, particularly in civil rights where he achieved policy changes and settlements for clients. Nichad emphasized the importance of supporting aspiring legal professionals, especially those from diverse backgrounds. He urged people to persis…

1
How Lawyers Can Prevent Burnout with Adrienne Prentice - Episode 151 24:59

6M ago24:59

24:59

Kathryn interviews Adrienne Prentice, CEO of Keep Company, discussing work-life balance, focusing on the challenges faced by caregivers and working parents, which affect people of all genders. Adrienne, once a corporate attorney, emphasizes the need for skills in managing professional boundaries, a training lacking in many industries. She suggests …

1
How Legal Ops Can Get You To Your Work Joy with Sumi Trombley - Episode 150 22:28

8M ago22:28

22:28

Kathryn interviews Sumi Trombley, a senior advisor at UpLevel Ops, who delves into the world of legal operations. They discuss Sumi's career transition, the influence of the pandemic on workflow, the role that legal ops can play in promoting diversity, and how it bridges the gap between legal and business concerns. She emphasizes the need for authe…

1
In The Trenches With A Family Law Attorney with Margaret Klaw - Episode 149 28:56

9M ago28:56

28:56

Kathryn interviews Margaret Klaw who is a writer, a lawyer, and a founding partner of BKW Family Law, an all-women law firm in Philadelphia. Named a Preeminent Woman Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell, she has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and designated a Pennsylvania “Super Lawyer” in the area of family law. Starting with day-in-the-life v…

1
How Diversity On The Supreme Court Got So Partisan with Nancy Scherer - Episode 148 26:31

10M ago26:31

26:31

Kathryn interviews Nancy Scherer who highlights the importance of diversity in courts, covering aspects like race, gender, and minority representation. The discussion also reveals the challenges faced in increasing diversity due to opposition regarding judges' qualifications and education. However, research shows no significant difference in the qu…

1
Working To Close The Gavel Gap with Sadiqa Reynolds - Episode 147 24:32

11M ago24:32

24:32

Kathryn interviews Sadiqa Reynolds, CEO of Perception Institute, who speaks about her career journey and the significance of diversity in the legal profession. Her current work involves addressing implicit bias and promoting genuine conversations about racial and gender disparities. Reynolds emphasizes the importance of having diverse representatio…

1
Instilling DEI into a Law Firm's Identity with Marlon Lutfiyya - Episode 146 21:53

11M ago21:53

21:53

Kathryn and Marlon Lutfiyya, Director of Talent and Diversity at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, discuss the advancements in legal research and the importance of DEI integration in law firms. Marlon highlights the benefits of joining a mid-sized firm like his, providing associates opportunities to work closely with senior partners and advance at their ow…

1
Starting Your Own Law Firm To Make The World A Better Place with Margot Hoppin and Alanna Kaufman - Episode 145 27:10

11M ago27:10

27:10

In this episode, Kathryn, Alanna Kaufman, and Margot Hoppin discuss the Lexis Plus platform and share their experiences in the legal industry. They emphasize the importance of doing meaningful work, creating inclusive law firm environments, and networking. Alanna and Margot highlight the values of their public interest private law firms and their f…

1
Getting Yourself In The Right Mindset For Negotiation with Emily Poler - Episode 144 21:29

12M ago21:29

21:29

In this episode, Kathryn speaks with Emily Poler about her experience founding Poler Legal and navigating the legal profession. They discuss negotiation strategies and managing gender dynamics. Emily shares the challenges and rewards of creating her own law firm such as gaining autonomy, selecting compatible clients, and handling the impact of the …

1
‘Stalkerish’ Behavior is not the Way to Sell your Legal Tech Product: Real Talk From a CLO with Jenny Hamilton - Episode 143 22:50

1y ago22:50

22:50

In this episode, Kathryn interviews Jenny Hamilton, Chief Legal Officer at Exterro. They discuss the launch of the Lexis Plus Platform and its AI-powered Judicial Brief Analysis tool, Hamilton's journey into the legal profession, her experiences with e-discovery, and her perspective on being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Hamilton shares her…

1
Biglaw Partner Ends The Gatekeeping And Shares What You Need To Know To Be Successful In An Appellate Practice with Michelle Kallen - Episode 142 27:09

1y ago27:09

27:09

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Michelle Kallen, a Partner at Jenner & Block, to her journey to becoming an appellate lawyer. She explains that the more she learned about law, the more she was drawn to the field. She then goes on to talk about the appeal process and how it can be a difficult one to enter. Finally, Michelle shares her advice on ho…

1
What You Need To Know About The Biglaw Job Market with Jennifer Henderson - Episode 141 20:34

1y ago20:34

20:34

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Jennifer Henderson, a Partner with the legal recruiting firm, Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), to discuss why she decided to go to law school and how she ended up becoming a legal recruiter. She also talks about the current lateral market and provides advice for those looking to make a move. Additionally, she shares …

1
No One Else But You Is Going To Advocate For Your Career with Laura Bianchi - Episode 140 25:37

1y ago25:37

25:37

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Laura Bianchi, Co-Founder of Bianchi & Brandt and a leading entrepreneur, attorney, and strategic advisor for the cannabis industry. Laura emphasizes the importance of finding areas of law that you enjoy, as it is a huge part of your life and will determine how much you get out of your career. As a lawyer who speci…

1
How Personal Experience Impacts This Immigration Lawyer's Work with Karine Sokpoh - Episode 139 21:03

1y ago21:03

21:03

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Karine Sokpoh, CEO of the Midlands African Chamber, to talk about the highs and the lows of focusing on immigration law. Karine reveals that she did not consider other career paths because she wanted to help people and had a goal to work for an international organization in war zones and help with peacekeeping and …

1
Plaintiffs' Attorney Shares What It's Like To Hold Companies Responsible For The Opioid Epidemic with Jayne Conroy - Episode 138 24:37

1+ y ago24:37

24:37

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Jayne Conroy, a plaintiff’s attorney at Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, to talk about the risks and rewards of being a plaintiff’s attorney, and how MDLs work, and offers advice to younger lawyers interested in similar cases. She stresses the importance of being curious and open to learning new things, recognizing the wo…

1
Career Appellate Prosecutor Dishes On What It's Really Like To Argue Before The Supreme Court with Lisa Sarnoff Gochman - Episode 137 25:19

1+ y ago25:19

25:19

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Lisa Sarnoff Gochman, an appellate lawyer and author of the book At the Altar of the Appellate Gods: Arguing before the US Supreme Court, to talk about how her career shifted from being in law school to being an appellate lawyer who has spent the last 40 years writing. Lisa also discusses how an appellate attorney …

1
Biglaw Partner Shares Behind The Scenes Look At The Affirmative Action Case Before The Supreme Court with Ishan Bhabha - Episode 136 28:13

1+ y ago28:13

28:13

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Ishan Bhabha, co-chair of Jenner and Block's Education Practice and a member of its Appellate and Supreme Court Practice, to talk about the well-publicized affirmative action cases at the oral arguments at the Supreme Court. He discusses his experiences representing the Ivy League and other schools, as well as the …

1
Legal Industry Harassment Is Not Rare, But Rarely Shared with Aliza Shatzman - Episode 135 25:12

1+ y ago25:12

25:12

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Aliza Shatzman, an attorney, advocate, and former DC Superior Court law clerk, to talk about her experience as a clerk in the DC Superior Court where she faced gender discrimination, harassment, and ultimately retaliation by the now former judge for whom she clerked. She also discusses how she reached out to her la…

1
The Rewarding Truth Behind A Legal Aid Career with Laurette Mulry - Episode 134 22:11

1+ y ago22:11

22:11

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Laurette Mulry, an Attorney-in-Charge at the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society, to talk about working with different clients as legal aid attorneys. Laurette breaks down the principles that guided her when working with clients, as well as her advice to those who are in a legal job that requires a lot of attention an…

1
A Lifetime Of Fighting Against Injustice with Richard Zitrin - Episode 133 21:33

1+ y ago21:33

21:33

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Richard Zitrin, a trial lawyer and lecturer at the University of California, Hastings College of Law, to talk about how he became a criminal justice advocate and shares some advice for aspiring lawyers. He explains his involvement in the San Quentin Six Case, which became the impetus for his career in criminal just…

1
Biglaw Partner Leads Effort To Help Afghan Refugees with Grant Sovern - Episode 132 25:24

1+ y ago25:24

25:24

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Grant Sovern, a Partner of Quarles & Brady LLP, to talk about his area of concentration: Employment immigration. Grant recalls how he shifted to immigration law and describes the challenges of working as an immigration lawyer. Additionally, Grant shares his work with Afghan refugees and where the immigration law st…

1
Biglaw Firm Gives Back To The Boys & Girls Club with Linda Benfield - Episode 131 21:07

1+ y ago21:07

21:07

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Linda Benfield, an environmental lawyer, and Partner from Foley & Lardner LLP, to talk about how she became wanting to be a problem solver in law school to be on top of the profession. Linda also recalls the different programs created in partnership between Foley and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as well as ho…

1
The Heart And Soul Of Vermont Law School with Shirley Jefferson - Episode 130 28:49

1+ y ago28:49

28:49

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Shirley Jefferson, the newly appointed Vice President for Community Engagement and Government Affairs at Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS), and together, they talk about how the law is an effective tool to affect change in the world. Shirley, being the first person of color to be appointed as the VLGS’s VP, al…

1
Building A Practice Around Trauma-Informed Lawyering with Rena Paul and Margaret Gandy - Episode 129 22:51

1+ y ago22:51

22:51

Who Are The Guests? Rena Paul and Margaret Gandy are the founders of Alcalaw, a women-founded legal consultancy comprised of former federal and state prosecutors who believe that the most effective advocates are those whose legal acumen and depth of experience are matched by their emotional intelligence. Alcalaw provides legal guidance to individua…

1
Use Your Superpower In Your Legal Career with Shana Simmons - Episode 128 27:16

1+ y ago27:16

27:16

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Shana Simmons, a General Counsel at Everlaw, to talk about how her career in the world of law started. Shana leads the legal department and is responsible for all legal, regulatory, privacy, risk and compliance, and governance issues around the company. She describes the transition from working as the Head of Googl…

1
Balancing A Lawyer And A Novelist with Jessica Martin - Episode 127 23:11

1+ y ago23:11

23:11

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Jessica Martin, a lawyer, and a published novelist, to talk about balancing life as a lawyer, a writer, and having a family. Jessica recalls how she got into the world of law, and how she slowly transitioned from big law to working as an in-house lawyer. She also describes the process she underwent to be a publishe…

1
Biglaw Associate Starts Scholarship To Pay It Forward with Imani Maatuka- Episode 126 24:18

1+ y ago24:18

24:18

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Imani Maatuka, a Commercial Litigation Associate at Sidley Austin LLP, to talk about Bridging the Gap Scholarship. Imani recalls how what made her decide to follow in the footsteps of her other family members and what the big difference is between what she expected and the reality now that she’s working as a litiga…

1
Why Women Are Leaving The Law - And What To Do About It with Laura Leopard - Episode 125 26:04

1+ y ago26:04

26:04

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes back Laura Leopard of Leopard Solutions to talk about their white paper, Women Leaving Law. Laura narrates their experiences writing and running the survey: How depressing it is knowing the reasons why women are leaving the law space and how unfair some firms are to them. She shares how culture affects the work env…

1
The Work To End Sexual Harassment Is Always Going On with Alexandra Brodsky - Episode 124 24:36

1+ y ago24:36

24:36

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Alexandra Brodsky, a staff attorney at Public Justice and author of Sexual Justice Supporting Victims, Ensuring Due Process, and Resisting the Conservative Backlash, to talk about the differences between a dog whistle and real concerns with the due process and what the Title IX is. She shares her thoughts on what’s…

1
This Lawyer Found The Silver Lining Of The Pandemic In A Kitchen with Danielle Caminiti - Episode 123 21:52

1+ y ago21:52

21:52

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Danielle Caminiti, a Per Diem Attorney and local counsel for New York Law Firms. With 7 years in a malpractice defense firm, 5 years as a prosecutor, and 2 years in commercial litigation experiences under her belt, Danielle narrates how she went from law school to where she is right now. She shares how she balances…

1
Mediator Shares Why She Loves What She Does with Joann Selleck - Episode 122 24:55

1+ y ago24:55

24:55

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Joann Selleck, a mediator from Selleck Mediation, to talk about the ins and outs of being a mediation professional. Joann narrates how she came into the practice area. She cites the qualities a person should have to be a facilitator, as well as why people are handling litigations differently. Joann also describes w…

1
The Shoes Behind A Noteworthy Legal Career with Kellie Johnson - Episode 121 28:13

1+ y ago28:13

28:13

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Kellie Johnson, the Enforcement Chief Public Ethics and former Deputy District Attorney of Oregon. Kellie shares the very unique reason why she decided to go to law school to how other people around her helped and guided her, despite the hardship of women and people of color studying the law. She also talks about h…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Abovethelaw Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide