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Seasoned Lawyer

Episode #53
May 22nd, 2023

Mediation and Arbitration as Alternatives to Litigation

After a long career in litigation, Diane Sorenson, a graduate of the University of Kansas, is transitioning to arbitration and mediation, also known as alternative dispute resolution or ADR. She discusses the differences and similarities between litigation, arbitration, and mediation. For ADR, experience is paramount not only for getting cases to resolve but also figuring out how to actually resolve them.

This episode is hosted by Kimber Russell.

Civil Litigation Trial Lawyers Alternative Dispute Resolution Kansas Labor and Employment Leaving The Law Mid-Size Firm
Episode #52
August 24th, 2020
27:30

Litigating Brain Injuries Against Huge Insurance Companies as a Solo

Ilya Lerma, a 1999 graduate of the University of Arizona, runs a small solo practice where she takes on insurance companies in complicated brain injury cases. She discusses the difficulty of running a contingency-fee practice, litigating as a woman of color, and how she manages the stress of being a lawyer.

Civil Litigation Law As A Business Trial Lawyers Alternative Dispute Resolution Arizona Law Firm LSAC Proprietor
Episode #51
August 17th, 2020
33:07

Real Estate Litigation and Transactions: Times Are Changing

Dan Drake, a 1995 graduate of Stetson College of Law, went to law school after a decade of law enforcement to become a prosecutor, but couldn't make the money work with his student debt. Today, he does real estate transactions and litigation at a small firm in Florida.

Civil Litigation Transactional Practice Florida Housing Law Law Firm LSAC Real Estate Small Firm
Episode #48
July 27th, 2020
24:04

In-House Counsel at a Software Company

Zoe Sharp, a 2003 graduate of Stanford Law School, is assistant general counsel at Optoro, a software company that keeps her busy in many areas of law. She talks about how she plans for the worst, which has been especially helpful after a tornado destroyed one of the company's warehouses and during a pandemic.

In-House Counsel Regulatory Practice Business Corporate Internal Policies & Procedures Labor and Employment LSAC Privacy Washington, D.C.
Episode #41
June 6th, 2016
19:32

Plaintiff's Personal Injury: A Radically Changed Business

In this episode, Dan Minc, a graduate of Seton Hall School of Law, discusses how he managed to rise up to his firm's managing partner after starting there as a first-year lawyer. He also talks about how he builds his book of business and what he assesses when determining whether to take a client. After all, as a personal injury attorney he's only paid if his client wins.

Civil Litigation Law As A Business Law Firm New York Personal Injury Proprietor Small Firm
Episode #37
April 3rd, 2016
26:33

Appellate Lawyer: Telling A Court They Got It Wrong

Virginia Whitner Hoptman, alum of the University of Virginia School of Law, changed course several times throughout her career before settling back where she started with a highly-specialized appellate process. She discusses elitism in the world of appeals, how difficult it is to become a full-time appellate lawyer, and fundamental differences between appellate and trial lawyers.

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Episode #35
March 1st, 2016
16:35

Helping Schools Work With Families, Regulations, And More

Seamus Boyce is a 2006 graduate of the University of New Hampshire School of Law and an education attorney at a 38-person firm with offices throughout Indiana. In this episode, he tells us about routine work advising clients with one-off questions, as well as more complex work involving student services, discrimination, and legislation.

Policy & Advocacy Regulatory Practice Corporate Education Law Indiana Internal Policies & Procedures Law Firm Mid-Size Firm
Episode #32
February 7th, 2016
21:07

Helping Injured Workers Fight Insurance Companies on Workers Comp

In this episode we meet workers compensation attorney Royce Bicklein, a 1998 graduate of St. Mary University's School of Law. Royce discusses his firm's practice and what's involved in proving where an injury occurred and what's to blame for the extent of an injury.

Civil Litigation Trial Lawyers Administrative Law & Process Labor and Employment Law Firm Personal Injury Proprietor Small Firm Texas
Episode #23
August 1st, 2015
33:30

Helping Families Plan Their Legacy with Trusts and Estates

How do you plan for your death? In this episode, Deacon Haymond, a 2004 graduate of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, discusses his small and growing law firm that specializes in trusts and estates. Deacon talks us through his fees, how he finds clients, and what happened when he's too nice to his clients.

Law As A Business Transactional Practice Law Firm Mid-Size Firm Proprietor Trusts and Estates Utah Wills and Probates
Episode #13
May 11th, 2015
24:09

Suing Debt Collectors: Consumer Protection Federal Litigation

Minnesota consumer rights lawyer and William Mitchell College of Law Alumnus Pete Barry sues debt collectors who harass or discriminate against consumers. Pete explains the federal law that drives his law in clear terms which helps him market to those who don’t realize they’ve been legally harmed.

Civil Litigation Consumer Rights Law Firm Minnesota Proprietor Small Firm
Episode #10
March 9th, 2015
15:31

Representing Medical Malpractice Plaintiffs

Medical malpractice lawyers specialize in the tangle of medical responsibilities, norms, and facts. In this episode, Washington University School of Law alumnus Greg Aycock tells us how he transitioned from representing defendants to representing plaintiffs. He left his insurance defense practice on a leap of faith, and discusses the struggles of being your own boss and getting a firm off the ground.

Civil Litigation Law As A Business Solo Practice Family Law Law Firm Lousiana Personal Injury Proprietor
Episode #9
March 2nd, 2015
21:51

e-Discovery: Reviewing Electronic Documents for Litigation Support at a Large Firm

Biglaw is changing—America's largest firms are testing new attorney tracks and different expectations. Pioneer WilmerHale’s DiscoverySolutions (DS) provides litigation support for the firm's attorneys. Nat Croumer, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, is the Discovery Attorney Administrative Manager for DS. Nat discusses how electronic document discovery is essential to modern civil litigation.

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Episode #8
February 23rd, 2015
16:31

Running a Transactional Legal Services NGO for 501(c)(3) Non-Profits

Small and mid-size nonprofits have legal needs dependent on the donation of time and resources by lawyers. The Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta (PBP-ATL) organizes volunteer lawyers to serve non-litigation needs of nonprofit clients. Rachel Spears, executive director of PBP-ATL, discusses how rare organizations like PBP-ATL keep nonprofits within the law by leveraging generosity of members of the legal profession.

Regulatory Practice Transactional Practice Corporate Georgia Legal Services Organization Non-Profit Proprietor
Episode #6
February 9th, 2015
24:49

Obtaining Writs of Mandamus to Assist Aggrieved Government Employees Through Administrative Appeals

The famous Marbury v. Madison case involved a writ of mandamus—an order to a government agency or official to behave in accordance with the law. In this episode, Michael Morguess discusses seeking writs of mandamus for clients fired by government agencies. Michael faces immense pressure with jobs and livelihoods on the line, but the intellectual challenge and thrill of victory buoy his non-traditional litigation practice.

Civil Litigation Solo Practice Trial Lawyers Administrative Law & Process Appellate California Labor and Employment Law Firm Proprietor
Episode #5
February 2nd, 2015
23:18

Residential Home Transactions

University of Texas School of Law alum Barbara Stewart started her career as in-house counsel for a large communications company before venturing into real estate. Today, she spends her time drafting real estate transaction documents to help clients purchase and sell residential homes. If her sky-high malpractice insurance is any measure, its among the riskier practice areas around.

Solo Practice Transactional Practice Law Firm North Carolina Proprietor Real Estate