Criminal Law

Jon Holscher, a graduate of Drake Law School, prosecutes crime for a county in Iowa. While the facts differ among cases, they must all add up to the elements of a crime to get a conviction.

Alan Fowler, a graduate of Mercer University School of Law, primarily represents tourists who got into trouble while on vacation. He talks about finding clients, their urgency in resolving their legal trouble, and how he learns about what they really want.

Alisha Backus, a graduate of Barry University School of Law, has an inspiring passion for her work representing people accused of crimes. When she was younger, she experienced the ugly side of our justice system as a victim of domestic violence. While this understandably causes others to choose a different path, it helps her suss out reliable information from not only victims, but her clients as well.

Candace Hom, a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, explains her role in the criminal justice system. She also talks about how she builds trust with her clients, the various legal roles within the federal public defender office, and the challenges of dealing with prosecutors—even the good ones.

Matt Swain, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law, started his own criminal defense practice in a college town 20 miles outside of Oklahoma City immediately after graduation. In this episode, Matt describes the importance of understanding your business inside and out and the techniques he uses that ultimately make him more efficient and more likely to notice opportunities that help his clients move forward with their lives.

Mike Hunter, a graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, is an Assistant U.S. Attorney. In this episode, he details his role in the criminal justice system. From Fourth Amendment advice for federal agents making a bust to deciding which cases to take, when to seek indictments, and who to make plea agreements with, Mike tells us how he makes choices in pursuit of justice.

Jessica Burke, a graduate of Washington & Lee College of Law, details her role in the criminal justice system as a criminal defense lawyer. From her approach to plea bargaining to her philosophy on fee arrangements, her choices underscore the importance of letting clients make informed choices about their future. Jessica also shares how expanding the geography she covers, rather than the scope of practice, allowed her firm to grow in a saturated legal market.

Laurie Landsittel, a graduate of the University of Georgia Law, gives us valuable insight into the day-to-day duties of public defenders. Laurie shares some of her personal experiences, such as her biggest challenges representing defendants who committed serious crimes, as well as the time when she helped a teenage girl get out of jail and back on her feet.