Young Lawyer Rising

American Bar Association Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division

(00:00) - Intro
(00:23) - Meet Tristian Shannon
(02:02) - Decision To Pursue Law
(06:24) - Bringing Authentic Personality to the Law
(07:00) - Opening A Firm Right Out of Law School
(10:50) - Taking Risk in the Face of Judgment
(14:47) - Cultivating the Right Team To Find Success
(17:41) - Challenges and Surprises When Starting A Firm
(22:11) - Why Social Media Is a Must For Success
(28:12) - Advice For The Social Media Averse
(29:10) - The Power of a JD
(32:50) - How to Deal With The Stress of Getting Started

How New Lawyers Can Use the ABA to Further Their Career Goals

Why the ABA Matters for Lawyers and Everyone

American Bar Association — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Bill Bay, President of the American Bar Association, joins Montana to discuss the role the ABA plays in supporting lawyers, promoting justice, and advocating for the rule of law. Regardless of where you are in your career, the ABA offers not only a wealth of material for you to improve your practice and serve your clients better, but also an opportunity to get involved, get inspired, and effectuate a broader impact as part of something bigger than yourself. Discover the ways the ABA can help you advance your career, serve your community, and take a leading role in making a meaningful difference.

Additional Resources:

How to Make Your Law Firm See the Benefits of Bar Involvement

How to Be Admitted to the Supreme Court Bar and Why You Should

Today’s Law Students Are the Future Guardians of Justice

ABA Student Loans Resources

ABA Career Center

ABA Law Student Division

Disaster Legal Services

About the Rule of Law Initiative

americanbarsocial Linktree

Bill Bay on LinkedIn

Associate Producer: Montana Funk

(00:00) - Introduction: Bill Bay
(01:29) - Bill Bay’s Career
(03:24) - Bill’s Path to the ABA Presidency
(04:45) - Defining the American Bar Association
(11:07) - How Best to Get Involved in the ABA
(13:31) - How Young Lawyers Can Get Their Ideas Heard
(18:47) - Addressing Declining Confidence in the Judiciary
(21:05) - Resources for Young Lawyers from the ABA
(27:13) - Bill’s Advice to Young Lawyers

Expert Witnesses: Demystifying Science in and out of the Courtroom, By Chris Spaeth
Pretrial Gatekeeping: How to Handle Junk Science and Unqualified Experts

How a Toxicology Expert Witness Can Make or Break a Case with Dr. Chris Spaeth

American Bar Association — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0500

As young lawyers, you’re motivated to impress, to seem like the smartest person on the team. But no one person can know enough to succeed entirely on their own. We rely on the assistance and expertise of those around us, building a community of trusted allies who can help ensure we’re capable of fully serving our clients’ interests. Expert witnesses are one such invaluable resource in many avenues of legal practice.

In this episode, host Montana Funk sits down with Dr. Chris Spaeth, an expert focusing on neuroscience, toxicology, and pharmacology. Together, they discuss the role of an expert witness and how lawyers can foster better working relationships with experts and be more effective lawyers in the process.

Additional Resources:

Best Practices for Working with Expert Witnesses

Qualifying an Expert Witness

American Bar Association Litigation Section

Associate Producer: Montana Funk

(00:00) - Opening
(00:25) - Introducing our guest, Dr. Chris Spaeth
(01:13) - Becoming a toxicologist
(03:21) - What is toxicology?
(03:56) - Applying the science of toxicology to the law
(05:21) - Toxicology in the civil litigation arena
(07:53) - When to consult a toxicologist
(09:38) - How lawyers can work well with experts
(12:22) - The value of objectivity vs the desired answer
(14:10) - The lesser known ways experts can help lawyers
(18:20) - Warning signs when hiring an expert
(20:41) - The process of retaining an expert
(26:35) - Closing thoughts

Mastering Your Money Mindset: Financial Strategies For Young Lawyers

American Bar Association — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0600

Financial expert Melissa Cecchine joins host Montana Funk to discuss the essentials of conscious financial management. Melissa shares insights into overcoming financial fears and building smart wealth strategies. Whether you're a young lawyer just starting your financial journey or you’re just looking to improve your approach to your finances, Melissa's practical advice on managing money, understanding your financial personality, and creating a conscious spending plan will help you achieve lasting financial stability and freedom. Tune in to learn how to take control of your finances and make informed, conscious choices that align with your goals.

Visit Melissa's website where you'll find the Money Mindset Quiz.
Follow Melissa on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Associate Producer: Kimberly Russell

Creators & Guests

Montana Funk - Host
Melissa Cecchine - Guest

(00:00) - Our guest: Melissa Cecchine
(01:17) - Melissa’s background
(05:27) - Getting over the fear of managing your money
(11:21) - Overcoming stereotypes in managing your money
(13:30) - Top tips to help you improve your financial situation
(20:25) - Getting out of a personal financial crisis
(24:46) - The most common money mistakes
(29:20) - The best resources to manage your money

How Lawyers Can Implement a High-Quality Diet for Optimal Health

Avoiding Burnout: Understanding Adrenal Fatigue with Dr. Lauren Skattum

American Bar Association — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0600

Being a lawyer is a tough job. We’ve all heard the term “burnout”, maybe we even see it as just “something that happens occasionally” given our jobs, but most of us aren’t familiar with what all this stress is really doing to our bodies. Montana is joined by Dr. Skattum to discuss the impacts of adrenal fatigue, burnout, and stress on the body, particularly for high-performing individuals like attorneys. They discuss practical strategies for managing stress, recognizing the signs of burnout, and making health a priority, whether you're a busy professional or managing a demanding home life. Tune in to learn how small changes can make a big difference in your overall well-being and productivity.

Additional Resources:
A Physician’s Guide for How Attorneys Can Avoid Burnout and Optimize Their Lifestyles

Directory of Lawyer Assistance Programs

Associate Producer: Julie Merow

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:04) - How high stress jobs affect your body
(02:59) - How to identify hidden stress signals
(07:00) - What is Adrenal Fatigue
(10:13) - Early warning signs of adrenal fatigue
(14:03) - Practical Tips to manage your stress
(17:15) - Little changes we can implement to help ourselves
(23:53) - How our employers can work to help us be healthy
(27:01) - Clearing up misconceptions and finding a long-term solution
(30:47) - How to recover from burnout
(34:05) - Finding your balance and managing your stress
(37:53) - Resources available to help you

Fantastic Legal Mentors and Where You Can Find Them

How to Be the Best Mentee and Mentor

American Bar Association — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 06:00:00 -0600

Stacey Scrivani discusses the concept of mentorship in the legal profession, exploring what it means to be a mentor or mentee, and how these relationships can be mutually beneficial with Montana Funk. Stacey shares her insights on the various forms mentorship can take, from formal programs to informal peer support, and emphasizes the importance of a give-and-take dynamic. Whether you're seeking a mentor, aspiring to be one, or just eager to make the most of your mentor-mentee relationships, Stacey shares invaluable practical advice and personal anecdotes.

Additional Resources:

How to Make the Most of Partner Mentors Within Your Law Firm

Learning from Other Lawyers

How to Be a Good Mentee in the Legal Profession

We Were All Young Lawyers Once: Here Are Some Survivor Tips

Earning a Sponsor Can Pave the Way to Career Success

Lift as You Climb: Accepting the Call to Mentorship

5 Tips for Mentoring and Managing Legal Interns

Associate Producer: Trevor Cooper

(00:00) - Introducing Stacey Scrivani
(01:30) - What is mentorship?
(02:51) - How mentorship is mutually beneficial
(04:27) - Overcoming your anxieties
(08:24) - How to find the right mentor
(09:48) - Appropriate subjects to discuss with a mentor
(12:32) - Dealing with problematic mentors
(15:46) - Informal relationships vs formal ones
(18:00) - Making the most of the mentorship relationship
(20:57) - Becoming a mentor
(23:46) - Building trust as a mentor

Authentic Networking Is the Key to a Successful Legal Career

How to Create Opportunities and Master Networking

American Bar Association — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0600

Stefania Lessen joins host Montana Funk to share her journey from law school to a successful legal career, emphasizing the importance of networking at every stage. From leveraging local bar associations to utilizing social media platforms like LinkedIn, Stefania offers practical advice and personal anecdotes to help law students and new attorneys build and maintain a strong professional network.

Additional Resources:

How New Lawyers Can Use the ABA to Further Their Career Goals

The Geometry of Networking

Networking for State and Local Government Legal Jobs

Associate Producer: Carneil Wilson

(00:00) - Introduction
(00:57) - Networking in Law School During the Pandemic
(03:57) - Networking Strategies for Remote and Hybrid Environments
(06:18) - How Early Networking Can Pay Off
(10:00) - Networking As A Young Professional
(14:09) - Make Use of Your Local Bar Association
(22:08) - Don’t Stop Networking Once You Have That Job
(24:29) - Networking Etiquette and Common Mistakes
(28:11) - Balancing of Professional and Personal Life
(31:12) - Final Thoughts

What New Lawyers Must Know on Their First Day on the Job

How New Lawyers Can Fit In and Exceed Expectations at Their Firms | Special Release from Litigation Radio

American Bar Association — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Learn how to exceed expectations and thrive as a new lawyer from a panel of seasoned attorneys who are open and honest about what it takes to make partner, navigate your career, and excel in the legal field. Special thanks to our friends over at Litigation Radio, ABA's Section of Litigation and Podcast Host Dave Scriven-Young for sharing this special episode with us. For more conversations with top litigators, judges, and experts, subscribe to Litigation Radio on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Newly admitted lawyers can feel overwhelmed and intimidated. Law schools can’t teach everything, and there’s a lot of on-the-job learning. Some of the work is difficult and complicated. Some of what’s required is as simple as showing up on time and doing work that looks perfect and is free of typos (yes, that matters, even for internal communications).

With each task, the best new lawyers progress from competence to excellence. Start with the goal of being a “superstar associate” by being the best lawyer you can be. When new lawyers take on tasks and do good work, others will notice and will mentor you. What any new lawyer makes of their earliest experience in any firm will drive them to the next level, no matter their career path.

This episode shares tips for standing out and learning how to be a lawyer from two attorneys who have excelled in their careers and have made partner at their respective firms.

Resources:

Early Career Success for Attorneys Can Come from Developing Your "Ownership Mindset"

Great Lawyers Don't Only Point Out Problems—They Offer Solutions

Success in the Legal Profession Is Not Achieved Through Participation Trophies

Building a Career you Love as a Young Lawyer

Some Advice to the New or Soon-to-be Lawyer

Top Tips for Young Lawyers: How to Survive and Thrive in Your Legal Career

American Bar Association Litigation Section

Microsoft Outlook email encryption

A Rising Attorney's Career in Data Protection

American Bar Association — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Everybody wants your data, from companies to hackers to governments. Guest Lexi Lutz is senior corporate counsel, and privacy watchdog, at Nordstrom. She advises the company on the legal implications of AI, cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection. As computers get smarter and capabilities expand, it’s more important than ever to maintain legal guardrails and understand potential pitfalls.

Lutz starts with keeping up with the slew of developing state privacy laws and international regulations. Corporations handle massive amounts of data, much of it confidential. Privacy disclosures, terms of service, customer service, data breaches, and transparency are all factors. It’s a lot for any legal team to manage, and the field is only getting bigger.

Hear how Lutz got her start in corporate data and privacy law, how she approaches her duties, and how she helps the rest of the corporation understand where the vulnerabilities and minefields lie.

As a lawyer, you understand your duty to maintain confidentiality. But as computing capabilities surge, and in the murky and evolving world of AI, there’s a growing need for attorneys who understand and stay on top of lurking challenges to privacy and data security. Everything from massive customer database hacks to simply sending an email using a coffee shop’s WiFi can create data security issues. (And Lutz reminds us, change your passwords frequently).

Resources:

Google Gmail encryption

“Twenty Years Ago, AIM Chatbot SmarterChild Out-Snarked ChatGPT,” TechCrunch

ChatGPT

“’She Hooked Me’: How an Online Scam Cost a Senior Citizen His Life’s Savings,” Wall Street Journal

Justin S. Daniels at Baker Donelson, videos

Legal Careers of Parents and Child Caregivers: Results and Best Practices from a National Study of the Legal Profession

How Lawyers Can Have a Legal Career and a Family

American Bar Association — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:30:00 -0500

One challenge young lawyers encounter—especially in demanding corporate roles—is starting a family while advancing in their careers. Managing and balancing work and family isn’t something they teach in school.

Guest Kimberly “Kim” Maney is a busy, successful in-house corporate attorney for a global corporation. She’s also a mom and a spouse who taught herself how to balance 10-hour days and constant demands from her job while carving out time for family. Raising a family is hard work, everything from coordinating childcare to spending meaningful time with children. And then, later, as kids grow up, there are soccer games, ballet recitals, and vacations.

In today’s world of connectivity, it can be too easy to just “take a call” during the family trip to Disney World. You’ll need to develop and communicate boundaries with your coworkers and your organization.

Maney shares how she leaned on coworkers who were already parents and even Facebook parent support groups as she learned to create space for family while excelling at her job.

Stephen C. Dinkel served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

Resources:

Parenthood Positivity: How to Use Parenthood in the Trajectory of Your Legal Career

Parental Leave in the Legal Field: Managing Employee and Employer Expectations

Attorneys Make the Case for Equal Parental Leave

Balancing Fatherhood and a Legal Career as a Young Lawyer

Juggling a Firm and a Family

Tips for Balancing a Legal Career and First-Time Motherhood

“Things Left Unsaid: Implicit Obligations Under Louisiana Law in Star Financial Services, Inc. V. Cardtronics USA, Inc.,” by Nancy Maurice American Bar Association

One Lawyer's Journey from France to an Associate in New York City

American Bar Association — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Guest Nancy Maurice shares her unique background as she followed her curiosity and leaned on her courage to explore several countries throughout her education—ultimately landing a position as an associate with a New York-area law firm.

Maurice is a native of France, where she learned English while growing up. She crossed the English Channel and earned her first law degree in England, a LL.B. Next, Maurice returned to Paris to obtain more degrees in law. Afterward, she moved to Louisiana, where she enrolled at Louisiana State University to obtain her LL.M. Maurice takes all her knowledge, skills, and legal expertise to assist clients in New York City.

Maurice learned law in a second language, crossed an ocean, and settled in the United States as a foreign resident. She navigated a foreign culture, including the legal culture, found her fit, and proved she could get the job done.

Maurice learned that nothing is out of reach if you pursue your goals and take chances. Hear how she accepted every challenge, gave presentations and webinars, learned to speak confidently in public, and proved herself, even when others told her something was impossible.

RESOURCES:

How Foreign-Trained Attorneys Can Become Attorneys in the United States

First Native American Woman President of the ABA: Mary Smith's Incredible Career

American Bar Association — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 12:20:00 -0500

Guest Mary Smith is an accomplished attorney and the first Native American woman to become president of the American Bar Association. In addition to a distinguished career in legal leadership for billion-dollar organizations, including CEO of the national organization Indian Health Services, she is also active in many civic organizations, including the Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation, dedicated to helping young Native American women forge careers in STEM fields.

Smith’s career took a long and winding path, including a stop serving in the White House and the Department of Justice, along with billion-dollar publicly traded companies. Smith said the key has been to remain curious and open to new opportunities throughout her career.

Being willing to take risks and face various challenges has driven her career to amazing heights. Smith explains how she never limited herself to any presupposed direction. Sometimes, you think you’ve selected a singular path, but if you remain open to new opportunities, that path can lead you to places you’ve never imagined and take you higher than you thought possible.

As Smith says in this inspiring episode: “Be true to yourself. Believe in yourself. And seek help, mentors, and others who can help along the way.”

Resources:

“Asked & Answered: Mary Smith, ’91, President, American Bar Association,” University of Chicago School of Law

Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation

Native Americans: A Crisis in Health Equity

ABA President to Students: You Will Change the Practice of Law

Working to Ensure an Enduring American Democracy

ABA Task Force for American Democracy

Making A Difference Through The Offices of the Inspector General

American Bar Association — Thu, 23 May 2024 06:00:00 -0500

As a new lawyer, have you ever considered a career in government oversight? It’s a broad, important field that ensures a wide range of agencies work as designed while protecting public funds and interests.

Guest Lucy Lang is a former prosecutor now serving as the New York Inspector General. She is charged with overseeing investigations into corruption, fraud, and abuse in the New York State government (more than 100 agencies) and has been a steady advocate of criminal justice reform. Lang shares her path and passion in this inspiring episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

The complex nature of Lang’s work depends heavily on her ability to lead, a skill she had to learn on her own and is now pressing the legal education field to include in law school curriculum. Seeking out mentors, learning on the job, and taking on new challenges were all part of her career growth. “If not you, then who,” she asks. “Be brave; take the bull by the horns.”

Get an inside look at the workings of government oversight, the value of public service, untangling difficult ethical decisions, and making a positive difference through leadership. It could be just what you need to help you take your next, bold step.

Resources:

New York Offices of the Inspector General

New York State Offices of the Inspector General, Job Postings

Lucy Lang, Wikipedia

“Lucy Lang ’06: An Advocate for Criminal Justice Reform and Government Integrity,” Columbia University News

Lucy Lang, Selected Publications

“New York State Inspector General Report Finds Persistent Racial Disparities in Discipline Within New York State Prisons”

“NYS Parks Employee Pleads Guilty to Official Misconduct”

New York State government oversight hotline: 1-800-DO RIGHT

New York Offices of the Inspector General on Twitter/X

ABA Section of State and Local Government Law

“SEC Adopts Rules to Enhance and Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors,” SEC.gov

Environmental Law: An Exciting, Dynamic Field For Newer Lawyers

American Bar Association — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Environmental law is a dynamic field that evolves rapidly with new challenges as they emerge but also against the backdrop of the politics of state and federal administrations. Regulatory focus shifts from administration to administration and crisis to crisis, creating a challenging area of law for those who practice it.

Our guest, David Mandelbaum, is a shareholder with the firm of Greenberg Traurig and has practiced environmental law since 1984. He’s seen a lot, from focusing on solid waste landfills decades ago to today’s challenges created by a changing climate.

Legal procedures vary from state to state in addition to how the federal government oversees environmental issues, challenging practitioners to understand the law and the issues and the procedural process. Laws and statutes are in constant flux.

For newer lawyers, Mandelbaum says the constant changes in the field of environmental law level the playing field between experienced attorneys and those getting out of law school. Changes come so fast that a new lawyer who has studied the latest regulations and cases can be on equal footing with someone who has practiced in the field for decades. In this field, it’s never “the way we’ve always done it.”

If you’ve ever considered a career in environmental law, this discussion may open your eyes to new opportunities.

Resources:

Superfunds and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

“EPA Imposes First National Limits On 'Forever Chemicals' In Drinking Water,” NBC news

Pennsylvania Environmental Law Forum 2024

Different Career Paths in Environmental Law

Nurturing the Future of Animal Law

American Bar Association on Environment, Energy, and Resources

U.S. Department of Labor Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

This Lawyer Embraces Her Disability. Now She Fights For Others.

American Bar Association — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Guest Evita Nwosu-Sylvester focuses on the civil rights and fair lending needs of middle- to low-income earners in their quest for affordable housing. She works in multifamily fair lending operations at Freddie Mac (the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.).

But Nwosu-Sylvester is also a fighter for rights, fair hiring needs, and workplace accommodation for those embracing disabilities.

Nwosu-Sylvester followed a nontraditional path to her legal career. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology with the goal of pursuing that field, focusing on helping people with disabilities. Then, the idea of putting a law degree to work in the field of disability and civil rights attracted her. Throughout her education, she worked to embrace her own disability – cerebral palsy – and learn how to live independently while making a difference.

In her legal career, Nwosu-Sylvester shows organizations that people with disabilities are capable, valuable contributors. Accommodation doesn’t have to be insurmountable or expensive, and Nwosu-Sylvester and her team regularly make themselves available to help organizations understand and develop neurodiversity policies and programs.

RESOURCES:

ABA Commission on Disability Rights

The American Association of People With Disabilities

Why I Became a Civil Rights Attorney

Making a Difference Through a Career in Civil Rights Law

American Bar Association — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0600

Guest Michael Kippins is a Boston-based civil rights attorney with Lawyers For Civil Rights. Driven by a desire to advocate for those too often left without robust representation, Kippins made the courageous jump from a big law setting to his civil rights practice and hasn’t looked back.

In one of his high-profile cases, Kippins is challenging what the suit describes as Harvard University’s system of admission bias toward “legacy” students and the harm that practice poses to communities, including first-generation students and students of color.

During the episode, Kippins discusses the differences between civil rights law and his previous role in big law. From working with community groups to prioritizing public awareness of his cases, the range of skills required as a civil rights attorney is diverse and unique to the practice.

A career in civil rights litigation can be a labor of love and fulfill a passion. Hear how the work civil rights attorneys does make a difference in people’s lives. If you’ve been interested in pro bono work, if you’ve found something missing in another area of law, or if you’re simply curious about civil rights law, this is an episode you can’t miss.

Christina Gregg served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

Resources:

ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice Section

Lawyers For Civil Rights

Lawyers For Civil Rights, Facebook

Lawyers For Civil Rights, Email: office@lawyersforcivilrights.org

Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association

Boys & Girls Club of Boston

Newsweek, “Harvard Faces Another Legal Fight Over Its Admissions”

Reuters, “Harvard 'Legacy' Policy Challenged On Heels Of Affirmative Action Ruling”

SXSW Educational Seminar Week

Thinking Like a Lawyer to Navigate the Challenges of Long COVID

2023’s Lessons Learned: Your Inspiring Stories

American Bar Association — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0600

Happy New Year, and what a year that was. Host Montana Funk sits down with Tamara Nash, chair of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, to review 2023 and share stories from listeners about the past year.

For listeners, it was a year of lessons learned. Learning how to separate work and life is difficult, but in one case, a young lawyer reported that an unexpected health issue forced her to learn what life’s about and that it’s OK to ask for help. Hear how she learned that being a good lawyer means being a healthy lawyer. Take care of yourself.

In another letter, a listener shares how, like our host, they moved to the United States and took on a career in law. Leaning on the resources of the American Bar Association and the state bar has proven crucial to success in a challenging field.

And it was a year of “back to normal” after those crazy COVID years. For young lawyers who worked through the pandemic, 2023 was a time to catch up on the training and mentoring they missed. Hear how a senior lawyer recognized that gap and redoubled efforts to help younger attorneys. Rebuild connections, professional and personal.

Young Lawyer Rising is more than a podcast; it’s a community. Draw inspiration from how others overcame life’s bumps during the past year. Embrace your professional colleagues and know that you’re never alone. Support is all around you.

Blair Hlinka served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

Resources:

Pushing Yourself Too Hard? Your Health and Wellness Matters

How to Make Your Law Firm See the Benefits of Bar Involvement

5 Tips for Mentoring and Managing Legal Interns

The Importance of Mentorship and Sponsorship in the Legal Profession

University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law

United States Tax Court circuit schedule

Insights from a Transactional Tax Attorney on a Career In Tax Law

American Bar Association — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0600

It’s been said there are only two things in life that are certain: death and taxes. Guest Anthony DeRiso can help with one of them. He’s a tax attorney.

It may sound like a daunting career path, but it really isn’t, DeRiso says. It’s about helping people chart a course to a desired outcome. Being a transactional tax attorney makes you the “coach,” drawing up plans as teams of attorneys deal with contractual issues. Then, there are opportunities to help clients untangle IRS-related civil and criminal matters. And there are even opportunities to serve charitable, tax-exempt organizations.

From individual clients to corporations to charities, it’s about solving puzzles and finding solutions.

If you’ve never considered tax law as a specialty, what you hear from DeRiso might surprise you. Get some tips on how to get started, whether you’re in law school now or are already practicing.

Carneil Wilson served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

RESOURCES:

Have You Considered a Career in Tax Law?

Do You Need Specialized Training to Practice Tax Law?

The Advanced Degrees and Certifications That Help New Lawyers Move Their Careers Forward

Tax Dispute Survival Guide

American Bar Association Section of Taxation

Why Should You Become a JAG Officer?

Going from Law School to the Air Force JAG Corps

American Bar Association — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 09:45:00 -0600

Professor Tony Ghiotto went from the battlefield to the classroom. He started his legal career in the Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps, and he explains how his career took him from Afghanistan to a law school classroom.

Saddled with student debt, and after an unexpected meeting with a JAG representative, Ghiotto found himself in the Air Force. Within his first two weeks as a full member of the JAG, he was in the courtroom trying a case.

There were pros and cons. Struggles included feeling overwhelmed and making mistakes early on, but the pros were getting a lot of courtroom experience in a hurry and learning on the job. From practicing law in a tent in Afghanistan to a boardroom in Washington, DC, “It made me grow up and gave me some direction,” Ghiotto says.

Thanks to the JAG, he practiced in multiple fields. One of his oddest cases involved a low-flying jet causing a cow to give birth prematurely. His criminal cases ranged from traffic tickets to reviewing wartime procedures and civilian casualties.

If you’ve ever considered starting a legal career in the military, this is a don’t-miss episode. (And, bonus, Ghiotto is open to mentoring any young lawyer considering a JAG career. Drop him a note).

Stephen C. Dinkel served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

Resources:

Army JAG Careers Provide Financial Incentives for Those Interested in Foregoing the Traditional Path

The Army Judge Advocate General’s Funded Legal Education Program

Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps

JAG School

University of Illinois College of Law

Latina Lawyer Charts Her Own Path: A Conversation about Cannabis Law and Self Advocacy

American Bar Association — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0500

Is practicing law all dusting off established precedents and applying old case law? No way. Guest Jessica Gonzalez shares how she broke free, followed her passions, and found herself a pioneer in the wildly evolving arena of cannabis law.

Gonzalez started in the usual practice of law for a firm after graduating. Contracts, paperwork, and a less-than-satisfying experience. Then, she started looking at the emerging field of cannabis law. Trademark protections, navigating vague state regulations, labeling, packaging, and CBD guidelines all need a lawyer’s touch. And few lawyers were serving the industry, one of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide.

Hear how Gonzalez followed her dreams, cultivated her personal brand, and forged ahead into an exciting and unknown world. She shares tips for getting established as a thought leader and building a recognizable brand as she created a consultancy business and educational programs and began teaching cannabis issues at the graduate level.

Looking for a career in an emerging area of the law and “building the airplane as you fly?” Be part of legal history and set the precedents instead of following them. This is a fast-paced, creative part of the legal world that’s just getting started.

Christina Gregg served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

Resources:

Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission

New Jersey Business Action Center

“New Jersey Cannabis Advocate Named As Consultant To Build No-Cost Cannabis Technical Assistance Program,” New Jersey state news release

The ABA Law Student Podcast: A Career in Cannabis Law with Jerome Crawford

ABA Career Center Career Choice Webinar on Cannabis Law

Immigration Law: From Corporate Visas to Pro Bono

American Bar Association — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Host Montana Funk (herself a Canadian living and working in the United States) talks with immigration lawyer Stephanie Baez about the many facets of immigration law—a field that has been in the public eye a lot recently.

Immigration law covers an array of niches, including employment and business immigration, student visas, and removal defense—fighting for desperate clients against deportation. Cases range from emotional courtroom litigation to overcoming mountains of paperwork. The field can be rewarding and plays an enormous role in the country’s history and the lives of families today. It is advocacy in the truest sense of the word.

The field offers opportunities to serve private, public, and nonprofit interests. Young lawyers could find themselves helping large corporations to attract workers from other countries or working for a nonprofit helping immigrants apply for asylum as protection against dangers in their home countries.

Baez describes how she found her way from law school to the fascinating and vital field of immigration law.

Guest References:

American Bar Association Commission On Immigration, Website

American Bar Association Commission On Immigration, LinkedIn

American Bar Association Immigration Justice Project

San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program

Additional Resources

Balancing Ethics and Zealous Advocacy for Undocumented Clients

In the Trenches: Representing Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers

ABA Young Lawyers Division

When Life Gets In The Way, Press On. Fail The Bar? Regroup.

American Bar Association — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Guest Alexandra Graves tells her story, and it’s unreal. Bad things happen to good people. She was experiencing headaches and vision issues as a 2L and discovered she had a brain tumor. She needed neurosurgery and had to withdraw from classes. Then she started over.

If you hit obstacles, and you will, you can overcome them. Life can throw you for a loop. You can fight back. You are not alone.

Graves’ story is an inspiring tale of pursuing dreams, no matter what. She took a step back and went back to law school. But while studying for the bar, her brain tumor came back, and she failed the exam. Anyone can fail because of medical issues or other distractions. Failing the bar, for whatever reason, hurts. But it’s not the end of the world, and you can regroup and pass if you don’t give up.

Through it all, Graves learned what’s important to her. She set her priorities (she loves spending life with her animals, especially her new baby donkey, and being close to her family). Do what you love and love what you do. Don’t sweat the small stuff (or even some of the big stuff). You got this.

Plus, an update on some big legal rulings: Andy Warhol, Prince, Fair Use, NIL rules (College athletes), and more.

Tips From The Master For Criminal Trial Attorneys

American Bar Association — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0500

If you’re getting started, or thinking about getting started, trying criminal trials, this episode is a gold mine. Learn from one of the most noted and experienced trial attorneys out there, guest Paul Mark Sandler, a longtime attorney, author, and lecturer.

This is an opportunity to hear from one of the best. Lessons on ethics and insider courtroom tips. Learn about your relationship with the jury, the judge, and opposing counsel. How to question witnesses. How to prepare. You didn’t learn this in law school, but Sandler can cut the learning curve in just a half hour podcast. Hear what a criminal trial actually looks like, both in the courtroom and behind the scenes. You can learn this the hard way, or you can learn here from Sandler.

If you want to be a great trial lawyer, you have to try cases. There’s no way around that. But you can avoid some basic mistakes. A trial is structured simply. But at each step, it’s all about the details.

Hear three key tips for new trial attorneys. And what about hiring a jury consultant? (spoiler, yes, do. Sandler learned this from Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. You’ll want to hear this story.)

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