Best Stanford School Of Law Podcasts (2025)

1
Waitlist Predictions for the 2024-2025 Law School Admissions Cycle 14:08

2d ago14:08

14:08

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike discusses the various factors that are at play for this cycle's waitlist season, his predictions for how it will go, and his advice for waitlisted applicants. For more on waitlist strategy, check out our Waitlist Deep Dive podcast episode! You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on …

1
The Trump Administration and the Rule of Law Under Pressure 46:11

12d ago46:11

46:11

On March 6, President Trump issued the executive order “Addressing Risk from Perkins Coie LLP,” essentially preventing the firm from doing business with the federal government, stripping its staff of security clearances. It was the first of several presidential orders aimed at law firms that represented clients and/or employed attorneys at odds wit…

1
Trade Wars, Economic Chaos, and Law: Unpacking Trump's Trade Tactics with Alan Sykes 32:52

25d ago32:52

32:52

Joining Pam for this week's episode is Stanford Law Professor Alan Sykes, a leading expert on the application of economics to legal problems whose most recent scholarship is focused on international economic relations. In short, he is an international trade and law expert—and the right person to help us understand today's chaos. The discussion cove…

1
Following a Law School Applicant Through the 2024-2025 Cycle (Part 3, Decisions & Wrap-Up) 40:43

23d ago40:43

40:43

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, we have our third and final interview with "John" (not his real name; u/Muvanji on Reddit), who we've followed throughout his law school admissions cycle for 2024-2025. John discusses his final decision on where to attend, his process of requesting scholarship reconsideration, his decision not to pursue …

1
Trump’s Forced Deportations to El Salvador Prisons, Detentions, and Fear on College Campuses 33:43

1M ago33:43

33:43

Do asylum seekers in the U.S. have rights? Can the U.S. government forcibly deport them to a prison in El Salvador without due process? What about green card holders attending college? Since taking office, President Trump has focused on legal and undocumented immigrants alike, from Venezuelan asylum seekers to visa and green card college students—i…

1
Accountability in Government: Glenn Fine on the Crucial Role of Inspectors General, the Government's Watchdogs 28:18

2M ago28:18

28:18

How do we prevent or catch mismanagement, corruption, and waste of taxpayers' dollars in federal agencies? On January 24, 2025, days into his second administration, President Trump fired Inspectors General from 17 different federal agencies, including the Department of Labor. If no one is watching, does that mean there's nothing to see? In this epi…

1
Gaza Conflict: Governance, Rebuilding, and Legal Challenges 29:39

2M ago29:39

29:39

International Law expert Allen Weiner joins Pam for a comprehensive overview of the legal challenges and humanitarian concerns in one of the world's most contentious regions, looking at the Israel/Gaza conflict and the delicate balance between military strategy and civilian safety. Allen and Pam explore the principles of proportionality in warfare,…

1
Five Categories of Law School Admissions Interview Questions & How to Answer Them 34:36

2M ago34:36

34:36

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Anna Hicks-Jaco is joined by Karen Buttenbaum, one of Spivey's most experienced consultants and a former Director of Admissions at Harvard Law School, to talk about law school admissions interviews. They discuss a strategy for thinking about and preparing for interviews by categorizing the potential ques…

1
Suing DOGE: Musk, Trump, and an Imperial Presidency 28:38

3M ago28:38

28:38

A coalition of privacy defenders led by Lex Lumina and the Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a lawsuit on February 11 asking a federal court to stop the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from disclosing millions of Americans’ private, sensitive information to Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). As the federal …

1
Following a Law School Applicant Through the 2024-25 Cycle (Part 2: Interviews, Decisions, Waiting) 43:38

3M ago43:38

43:38

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, we catch up with "John" (not his real name; u/Muvanji on Reddit), the applicant who we're following throughout his law school admissions cycle for 2024-2025. We talk about rejection, decisions he has (or hasn't) received, interviews he's done, typos in applications, and more. Stick around until the end f…

1
Trump's Pardons: Political Violence, Hate Groups, and the Rule of Law 30:37

3M ago30:37

30:37

What are the legal implications of the unprecedented mass pardoning of the January 6th rioters? What does it say about American rule of law? President Biden’s DOJ prosecuted nearly 1,600 of the January 6, 2021, rioters—many for acts of shocking violence against police and government offices. On January 20, newly sworn-in President Trump, in one of …

1
The Law School Waitlist: Deep Dive with Former Admissions Officers 1:10:43

3M ago1:10:43

1:10:43

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Anna Hicks-Jaco has a discussion with two Spivey consultants—Joe Pollak, former Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Michigan Law School, and Nathan Neely, former Director and Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Law and The University of Hous…

1
Criminal Justice in Divided America: Can Democracy Survive a Broken Justice System? 30:57

4M ago30:57

30:57

Criminal law expert and Stanford Law Professor David Sklansky joins Pam Karlan to discuss his book Criminal Justice in Divided America: Police, Punishment, and the Future of Our Democracy, published in January. In this episode, they explore what he sees as the failures of America’s criminal justice system—from overly harsh sentences and prosecutori…

1
Mid-Cycle Pep Talk & 2024-2025 Update from Mike Spivey 8:38

4M ago8:38

8:38

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike gives a brief update and pep talk for current law school applicants during the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. Mike mentions our podcast with world-renowned psychologist Dr. Guy Winch in this episode—you can listen to the full interview here: Dr. Guy Winch on Handling Rejection (& Waiting) in the Admiss…

1
Special Counsel Smith's Report on Trump's Interference in the 2020 Election 30:04

4M ago30:04

30:04

In this episode, Pam Karlan is joined by Stanford Law School Professor David Sklansky, a leading criminal law expert, for a wide-ranging discussion of Smith’s report, the evidence against the president-elect, and more. In the early hours of January 14, 2024 the Department of Justice released its long-awaited election interference report against Pre…

1
California Burning: LA Fires, Climate Change, and Insurance Nightmares with Environmental Lawyer Debbie Sivas 29:43

4M ago29:43

29:43

The fires in Los Angeles, fueled by drought and the notorious Santa Ana winds, have wreaked devastation on the largest county in the United States, taking at least 10 lives and destroying thousands of structures as of January 10—with much of the Los Angeles metropolis, suburban neighborhoods like Pasadena and Pacific Palisades engulfed in smoke, an…

1
A Look at the New 509 Law School Data with Kyle McEntee 47:58

4M ago47:58

47:58

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike has a conversation with Kyle McEntee, LSAC's Senior Director of Prelaw Engagement and the founder of Law School Transparency, centering around the newly released 2024 ABA 509 disclosures and how applicants should consider the data therein. They discuss interpreting class size changes, the ongoing ri…

1
Tariffs, Trade Wars, and Policy Shifts under Trump: A Tutorial on the Global Economy and Trade 29:01

5M ago29:01

29:01

Just weeks before he was elected president of the United States, during a conversation at the Economic Club of Chicago, Donald Trump declared, “The most beautiful word in the dictionary is ‘tariff.’ And it’s my favorite word.” As the president-elect takes to the bully pulpit, leaders of nations threatened with new tariffs are calling Trump or even …

1
"Why X" Essay Deep Dive: Advice from Former Law School Admissions Officers 58:16

5M ago58:16

58:16

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Anna Hicks-Jaco has a conversation with two Spivey consultants and former law school admissions deans—Derek Meeker, former Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid for the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and Shannon Davis, former Assistant Dean for Admissions and Communications at Lewis & Cl…

1
The Future of Legal Education, AI, & Admissions with Dean Megan Carpenter 36:55

5M ago36:55

36:55

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike has a conversation with Megan Carpenter, Dean of the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, on the highlights and challenges of being a dean, the future of law school and innovation in legal education, generative artificial intelligence as it relates to both admissions and the practice of law, and her b…

1
The Presidential Pardon Power, from Biden and Trump to Ancient Kings 26:20

5M ago26:20

26:20

Presidential pardons are in the headlines again after President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter. But the vast majority of presidents have used this awesome power, which was enshrined in the Constitution at the founding of the country and dates back to 7th Century English monarchs. What are the issues at play with modern presidential pardons? W…

1
Exploring AI in Healthcare: Legal, Regulatory, and Safety Challenges 48:19

6M ago48:19

48:19

Artificial Intelligence holds the potential to transform much of our lives and healthcare professions are embracing it for everything from cost savings to diagnostics. But who is to blame when AI assisted healthcare goes wrong? How is the law developing to balance the benefits and risks? In this episode, Pam and Rich are joined by health policy exp…

1
Crime, the Opioid Crisis, and Gun Violence: New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin on How Action at the State Level Is Making a Difference 47:58

6M ago47:58

47:58

Matt Platkin, who was the youngest-ever AG in the country when he was appointed in 2022, discusses some of his public safety initiatives such as the ARRIVE Together program, which pairs mental health professionals with law enforcement to improve responses to mental health crises. Among other pressing issues facing New Jersey, Platkin also addresses…

1
Addendum Deep Dive: Advice from Former Law School Admissions Officers on LSAT, GPA, C&F, and Other Addenda 1:00:11

6M ago1:00:11

1:00:11

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Anna Hicks-Jaco has a discussion with two Spivey consultants—Derek Meeker, former Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid for the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and Danielle Early, former Harvard Law School Associate Director of Admissions—diving deep into the law school application addendum. This e…

1
The Election on Earth 3817 36:50

6M ago36:50

36:50

Alex and Evelyn talk about what has been happening on social media, and the discourse about what has been happening on social media, in the run up to the 2024 US Election, how it compares to past US elections, and what to watch in the aftermath.By Evelyn Douek, Alex Stamos

1
Racism in Property Deeds: Stanford Team Develops AI Tool to Identify and Map Racial Covenants 30:00

7M ago30:00

30:00

Stanford Law's Daniel Ho and computer science/law student Mirac Suzgun discuss the enduring impact of racially restrictive covenants in real estate with host Rich Ford. Though unenforceable since 1948, these clauses are a lingering reminder of housing segregation and racism in the United States, as Professor Ho's own experience of discovering a cov…

1
Predicting the 2024-25 Law Admissions Cycle with Northwestern Law Admissions Dean Don Rebstock 26:22

7M ago26:22

26:22

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike Spivey has a conversation with Associate Dean Don Rebstock—who, among multiple other departments, heads both Admissions and Career Services at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law—about the first 2024-2025 law school applicant data that was released last week, what it means for applicants,…

1
Following a Law School Applicant Through the 2024-2025 Cycle (Part 1, Preparing Applications and the LSAT) 43:45

7M ago43:45

43:45

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Anna Hicks-Jaco introduces "John" (not his real name; u/Muvanji on Reddit), the applicant who we'll be following throughout his law school admissions cycle for 2024-2025 (a series back by popular demand!). We talk more about John, his background, his application materials, and his goals in the episode, b…

1
Killing in Self Defense: The Legal Complexities of Abuse-Related Crimes and the Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Women's Criminal Convictions 29:59

7M ago29:59

29:59

How are victims of intimate partner violence meant to protect themselves—and, often, their children—without winding up dead, in hospital, or prison? It’s a situation that many find themselves in. Approximately 15 percent of women in the United States are victims of intimate partner violence, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. But …

1
Elon Musk's Six Wolves (And Character Limits) 47:53

7M ago47:53

47:53

Alex and Evelyn sit down with New York Times technology reporters Ryan Mac and Kate Conger to talk about their new book on Elon Musk's acquisition (and destruction) of Twitter, Character Limit, and where they think Musk goes from here.By Evelyn Douek, Alex Stamos, Ryan Mac, Kate Conger

1
MC LIVE 9/27 1:07:31

8M ago1:07:31

1:07:31

Alex and Evelyn repeat the now-annual tradition of recording the podcast in front of probably their entire active listener base. They are joined by David Thiel, Brian Fishman, and Daphne Keller, to say goodbye to Theirry Breton and RT's accounts on Meta, talk about Zuckerberg's retreat from politics, and all the developments in the land of the Firs…

1
Challenging Originalism: Putting the Electoral College, Presidential Immunity, and Recent SCOTUS Decisions into Historical Context 32:15

8M ago32:15

32:15

Is the president above the law? Is the Electoral College democratic? In this episode, historian Jonathan Gienapp critiques the mainstream use of originalism, arguing that it often neglects crucial historical context, overlooking the complexities of original public understanding. The conversation dives into recent court cases, highlighting tensions …

1
Making Your Law School List: Advice & Resources for Deciding Where to Apply 51:50

8M ago51:50

51:50

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Spivey Consulting President Anna Hicks-Jaco has a conversation with three Spivey Consultants and former law school admissions officers—Sam Kwak (Stanford Law, Northwestern Law, Indiana University Law), Paula Gluzman (UCLA Law, UW Law), and Joe Pollak (Michigan Law)—a group that has collectively spent ove…

1
Brazil Bans Elon Musk's X 47:10

8M ago47:10

47:10

Alex and Evelyn are joined by Carlos Affonso Souza, a Professor of Law at Rio de Janeiro State University and the Director of the Institute for Technology & Society in Rio de Janeiro, to talk about Brazil's ban of X, the local legal and political context, and how this is similar or different to other show downs between regulators and American tech …

1
Election Stress Test: Can America's Electoral System Weather 2024? 26:52

8M ago26:52

26:52

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Nate Persily forecasts complications along with it. Persily, a Stanford law professor and a leading expert in election law and administration, says the coming election cycle could pose unprecedented challenges for voters and election officials alike. “We are at a stage right now where there's a lot of a…

1
The Differences Between College & Law School, with "How I Lawyer" Host Jonah Perlin 35:53

8M ago35:53

35:53

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike interviews How I Lawyer podcast host Jonah Perlin on some of the many differences between college and law school, from cold calls to being graded on a curve to the nature of attending a professional school and more. Links to other resources: How I Lawyer Podcast with Jonah Perlin How I Lawyer #134: …

1
The Arrest of Telegram's CEO 55:46

8M ago55:46

55:46

Alex and Evelyn discuss the arrest and charges against Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, in France, what we do and don't know, and what it means for the future of platform regulation, with Frédérick Douzet, Professor at the French Institute of Politics and the director of GEODE, and Daphne Keller, director of the Program on Platform Regulation at Stanfo…

1
High Court, High Stakes: The Massive Weight of Recent Supreme Court Rulings 39:51

9M ago39:51

39:51

The Supreme Court's latest term was marked by decisions of enormous consequence. However, the way the Court has communicated about these rulings far undersells the gravity they carry. While “expressing itself in extremely modest terms,” Professor Jeffrey Fisher says, the current Supreme Court has “[handed] down decisions that have enormously conseq…

1
Experience/Perspective Essay (Diversity Statement) Deep Dive with Former Law School Admissions Officers 1:05:20

8M ago1:05:20

1:05:20

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Anna Hicks-Jaco speaks with three Spivey consultants—Tom Robinson, former Harvard Law Director of Admissions; Sir Williams, former Wisconsin Law Director of Admissions; and Anne Dutia, former Michigan Law Assistant Director of Admissions—about the relatively new category of law school admissions essays t…

1
How Lawyers Can Undermine Russian Sanctions and Ukraine War Effort 27:37

9M ago27:37

27:37

The bedrock of the legal profession is a commitment to upholding the rule of law. Unfortunately, as Stanford Law researchers discover in the complex world of international sanctions, lawyers can often facilitate non-compliance and evasion. It’s been two years since Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. And yet, businesses are still skirting sanctio…

1
News Update 8/13: DDoS Attacks Everywhere 57:53

9M ago57:53

57:53

Alex and Evelyn talk about Trump's return to X and other platforms, Thierry Breton's attempt to make it all about him, the hack and leak of Trump's campaign, the FBI's new rules around communicating with platforms about foreign interference, Apple imposing its 30% commission on Patreon, and a small little sporting event that happened recently.…

1
How PARENTS Can Best Support Law School Applicants (Former Admissions Officers Weigh In) 55:52

9M ago55:52

55:52

In this special episode of Status Check with Spivey directed toward parents of law school applicants, Anna Hicks-Jaco and two Spivey consultants—Danielle Early, former Harvard Law Associate Director of Admissions, and Shannon Davis, former Assistant Dean for Admissions and Communications at Lewis & Clark Law—discuss how parents can best support the…

1
The Future of Environmental Regulation Following SCOTUS’ Overruling of the Chevron Doctrine 27:54

9M ago27:54

27:54

Do courts have the expertise to decide on important environmental law issues? Pam Karlan and Rich Ford speak with environmental law expert Debbie Sivas, director of the Environmental Law Clinic at Stanford, about recent Supreme Court decisions affecting environmental and administrative law--including the Court's decision to overturn decades of sett…

1
Addiction & Recovery in College with Author Mitch Leff 31:20

9M ago31:20

31:20

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike has a conversation with Mitch Leff, author of My Addiction, My Superpower, about his experiences overcoming addiction at a young age, the lessons he learned, and how others can use his insights to improve themselves. As attorneys suffer significantly higher rates of substance abuse and depression re…

1
Law School Application Resume: Deep Dive with Former Admissions Officers 49:45

10M ago49:45

49:45

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Anna Hicks-Jaco speaks with two Spivey consultants—Karen Buttenbaum, former Director of Admissions at Harvard Law School, and Nathan Neely, former Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Global and Graduate Programs at the University of Houston Law Center—about the law school application resume:…

1
David Sklansky on Judge Cannon's Controversial Case Dismissal and Trump's Legal Battles 34:32

10M ago34:32

34:32

Will the three remaining cases against former president Donald Trump ever get to trial? After Judge Cannon's controversial dismissal of charges in the classified documents case—and the Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision—the question is not so obvious. In this episode, criminal law expert David Sklansky joins Pam and Rich to discuss thes…

1
Law School Personal Statement Deep Dive: Advice from Former Admissions Officers 1:10:00

10M ago1:10:00

1:10:00

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Anna Hicks-Jaco has a conversation with three Spivey consultants—Anne Dutia, Paula Gluzman, and Derek Meeker, former law school admissions officers at Michigan, UCLA, Penn, and more—diving deep into the law school personal statement. They discuss the brainstorming and topic selection process, how to stru…

1
Jennifer Chacón Discusses the Failures of U.S. Immigration Policy and How the Law is Developing 28:20

10M ago28:20

28:20

Control of the border and illegal immigration are again in the headlines and the centerpiece of a divisive presidential campaign. Here to help make sense of recent legal successes and failures is immigration law expert Jennifer Chacón, the Bruce Tyson Mitchell Professor of Law at Stanford. The author of the new book, Legal Phantoms: Executive Actio…

1
The Supreme Court's Netchoice Ruling 52:37

10M ago52:37

52:37

Evelyn sat down with Professor Genevieve Lakier, of the University of Chicago Law School, to discuss the Supreme Court's decision regarding the Texas and Florida social media laws. Not the worst opinion the Supreme Court issued on July 1, but predictably there's a lot to complain about anyway.By Evelyn Douek, Genevieve Lakier

1
The Supreme Court's Jawboning Decision 39:44

11M ago39:44

39:44

The Supreme Court's decision in Murthy v. Missouri is finally here! Evelyn sat down with Professor Genevieve Lakier, of the University of Chicago Law School, to discuss the good, bad and ugly of the opinions.By Evelyn Douek, Genevieve Lakier

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