ABA Journal: Modern Law Library

Latest Episodes:

The Supreme Court's colorful history with alcohol gets a look in 'Glass and Gavel' Jan 23, 2019

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From the earliest days of the U.S. Supreme Court, alcohol has been part of the work lives and social lives of the justices. In the book "Glass and Gavel: The U.S. Supreme Court and Alcohol," Nancy Maveety takes readers on a tour through the ways that SCOTUS and spirits have overlapped. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, she speaks with the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles about how she came to write this in-depth history. While the Prohibition Era would immediately spring to mind, the court faced a number of cases involving alcohol that impacted commerce, advertising, criminal justice and even gender discrimination laws. Maveety, who in addition to being a scholar of constitutional law also studies mixology, shares how she selected a signature cocktail for each chief justice's tenure. She also has a drink suggestion for readers which encorporates an ingredient that's known to be one of Justice Ginsburg's favorites–and a cautionary tale about a normally teetotaling chief justice who dropped dead after sipping a sherry.

How introverted lawyers can harness their traits for success Jan 09, 2019

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"Fake it 'till you make it." For Heidi K. Brown, trying to mimic her extroverted peers in litigation always felt forced. She pushed through law school and nearly two decades of practice acting the outgoing attorney before accepting her quiet, thoughtful self. Brown wrote her book—The Introverted Lawyer: A Seven-Step Journey Toward Authentically Empowered Advocacy—with introverted, shy and socially anxious lawyers and law students in mind. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, ABA Publishing's Ashley Alfirevic speaks to Brown about honoring yourself, affirming what's true and embracing the blush.

How to avoid burnout and be "The Best Lawyer You Can Be" Dec 19, 2018

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A new year, a new you? Stewart Levine has spent over three decades speaking to legal professionals after suffering from burnout as a lawyer himself. His new book—The Best Lawyer You Can Be: A Guide to Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellness—combines personal experiences and impactful essays from industry leaders, meant to inspire far beyond January's best intentions. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, ABA Publishing's Ashley Alfirevic speaks to Levine about how to engage in self-reflection, and how to implement more positive habits, self-care and collaboration into the often-stressful lawyer lifestyle.

3 trial court judges share the tough cases that stuck with them Dec 05, 2018

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All judges have cases that stick with them and linger in their memories. Sometimes it was because of the high profile of the case, and sometimes an obscure case had personal resonance because of the people or issues involved. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles speaks with Judges Russell F. Canan, Gregory E. Mize and Frederick H. Weisberg, who all sit on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The three judges were contributors to and the editors of "Tough Cases: Judges Tell the Stories of Some of the Hardest Decisions They've Ever Made." Canan, Mize and Weisberg share their own stories, including why Canan's well-meant gesture to avert an injustice in a gun case still troubles him. Mize explains why a child-custody case haunted him for decades, and what happened when he tracked down the now-grown child as he was deciding whether to write about it for "Tough Cases." Weisberg talks about dealing with the emotional fallout from overseeing a case where a mother had murdered her four children.

How this lawyer turned a love for sports into his career Nov 20, 2018

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After navigating the ups and downs of being an agent, Darren Heitner pursued another avenue that combined his love of negotiation and athletics: sports law. With his wealth of expertise and his deep knowledge of this niche practice area, Heitner packed his book—How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know—full of real-life case studies and insights into the inner working of the games people love to watch. In this episode of the ABA Journal's Modern Law Library, ABA Publishing's Bryan Kay speaks to Heitner about the latest edition of his book, how to pursue a career in sports law and some of today's hot topics in college and professional athletics.

Ken Starr shares his side of the Clinton investigation in 'Contempt' Nov 07, 2018

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Ken Starr has been a D.C. Circuit Court judge, a law school dean and the U.S. solicitor general. But he is best known for his work in the Office of the Independent Counsel and the report that came to colloquially bear his name: the Starr Report, which unveiled the salacious details of President Bill Clinton's affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Twenty years after President Clinton's impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives, Starr has written "Contempt: A Memoir of the Clinton Investigation." Starr spoke with the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles in late October about how he came to run the OIC; what the Whitewater scandal was really about; how he thinks we should evaluate conspiracy theories; and what impact being the focus of massive media coverage has had on his ideas about the importance of a free press. He also shares his thoughts on Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who served under him in the OIC, and why he advocated for an end to the Office of the Independent Counsel.

How to stop worrying and learn to love data-driven law Oct 24, 2018

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Data informs, and in some cases controls, every aspect of modern life. Well, almost every aspect. "If you look at finance or medicine or sports, almost every other thing in the world is using data to make better decisions," says Ed Walters. "Everything except law." In this episode of the Modern Law Library, the ABA Journal's Jason Tashea speaks with Walters, editor of "Data-Driven Law: Data Analytics and the New Legal Services." The book is a collection of articles by data scientists, lawyers and technologists on a breadth of topics, including data mining, the accuracy of technology-assisted review in e-discovery and quantifying the quality of legal services.

We need to talk about abortion, says author of 'Scarlet A' Oct 10, 2018

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Three in 10 American women who are 45 or older have had an abortion, Katie Watson, author of "Scarlet A: The Ethics, Law & Politics of Ordinary Abortion," tells the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles. For women 44 and younger, one in four are projected to have an abortion in their lifetime. Yet for all the fiery rhetoric about the legality of abortion, Watson–who teaches bioethics, medical humanities and constitutional law at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine–has found a reluctance by people to discuss their own personal experiences with abortion, or even the nuances of their views on its ethics. While the overwhelming majority of people feel comfortable claiming the labels of either "pro-life" or "pro-choice," when she polls people about the legality and the morality of abortion at different stages of development, there's a lot more nuance than those binary labels suggest. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Watson talks about ways to have productive discussions about abortion; the emerging areas of contention which could be coming before the Supreme Court; and why she thinks that doctors have been shouldering a disproportionate burden in advocating for reproductive rights and abortion access.

How to be (sort of) happy in law school Sep 19, 2018

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Law school can be a lonely, stressful time, and it's easy to feel like you're failing to fit the model of the perfect law student. But there's no one right way to go to law school, says Professor Kathryne M. Young, author of How to Be Sort of Happy in Law School; you can craft your own experience. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Young talks with the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles about tackling imposter syndrome; advice that alumni wish they could give their younger selves; and techniques for getting along with your fellow students. Young uses lessons from her own law school experience and a sociological study she conducted to give practical tips for keeping a mental balance; choosing which courses and activities to pursue; managing the practical aspects of your household and budget; forming relationships with mentors and peers–and even deciding when if it's time to leave law school altogether. Young's book offers a holistic approach to surviving–and thriving–under the social, academic and economic pressures of law school.

Can you become a better lawyer in 5 minutes a day? This author thinks so Aug 22, 2018

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Many people promote a daily practice of meditation, spiritual contemplation and mindfulness as a way to improve your personal life and wellbeing. Attorney Jeremy Richter argues that creating a similar daily ritual to focus on developing your professional skills can be just as helpful to your clients, career and your law practice. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles speaks with Richter, author of the new book "Building a Better Law Practice: Become a Better Lawyer in Five Minutes a Day." The book is structured to provide a daily reading on personal and professional development over a seven-week time period. Richter discusses why he decided to channel energy into blogging during the early years of his practice as an insurance litigator, and shares some lessons from that time that became inspirations for the book.