ABA Law Student Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Mental Health in the Legal Profession Jun 21, 2021

Show notes

Mental health problems have long been a prevalent issue amongst both law students and practicing lawyers, but have things gotten better as the profession has sought to increase awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding these concerns? Meg Steenburgh welcomes Patrick Krill for a broad discussion on legal field mental health and his extensive research and work in this area. Patrick offers invaluable perspectives on how to be in tune with your own mental health and how to seek help when you need it.

Patrick Krill is an attorney, licensed and board-certified alcohol and drug counselor, author, researcher, and advocate who has spearheaded numerous groundbreaking efforts to improve mental health in the legal profession.

Thank you to our sponsor NBI.

Career Preparedness: Navigating Career Choices in Law School and Beyond Jun 02, 2021

Show notes

Thankfully, career opportunities for law students and new lawyers seem to be increasing as COVID concerns abate. But, how can you best prepare yourself for actually getting the job you want? Meg Steenburgh welcomes Howard University School of Law's Lauren Jackson to discuss tips and tactics for pursuing a fulfilling legal career. She emphasizes the importance of networking from day one of law school and advises students to keep an open mind about the opportunities that come their way.

Lauren R. Jackson is assistant director of career services at Howard University School of Law and a legacy-focused attorney with a passion for helping entrepreneurs, small businesses and everyday dreamers through her consulting agency, The L. Renee Group.

Critical Issues in National Security Law Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

In the daily onslaught of news from all corners of the globe, it is sometimes difficult to decipher the implications of current events within our own country. From the pandemic, to cybersecurity, to international relationships, linking current events and national security interests to law helps us understand our country's responses to the things we see in the media. ABA Law Student Podcast host Meg Steenburgh talks with Professor William Banks of Syracuse University about the most critical national security issues facing our nation both at home and abroad, including China tensions, nuclear weapons concerns worldwide, the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, and more.

William C. Banks is a Syracuse University College of Law Board of Advisors Distinguished Professor and Emeritus Professor at the College of Law and the Maxwell School as Professor of Public Administration and International Affairs.

Thank you to our sponsor NBI.

The Pursuit of a Civil Right to Counsel Mar 31, 2021

Show notes

In the United States, the right to counsel in civil cases is currently a very complex issue. Some states provide counsel in certain types of civil cases, but not others; while other states may have little or no access to civil counsel in any matters. With this complicated picture in mind, what should be done to attain more equality throughout our nation's civil courts? ABA Law Student Podcast host Meg Steenburgh talks with John Pollock about the many implications of a lack of legal counsel across a variety of civil matters (with a particular focus on guardianship) and his ongoing efforts to establish the right to counsel for low-income individuals.

John Pollock is a staff attorney for the Public Justice Center and has served as the coordinator of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel since 2009.

Thank you to our sponsor NBI.

Housing and Eviction Law: Helping Tenants in the Midst of COVID-19 Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

At the start of the pandemic, Colorado lawyer Zach Neumann posted on social media that he would gladly assist those facing evictions, but quickly saw that the need was far too great for him to handle alone. To address this pressing problem, he founded the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project in Colorado. ABA Law Student Podcast host Meg Steenburgh talks with Zach about how the Project does its work and how law students anywhere in the country can get involved and help with housing and eviction crises in their own communities.

Zach Neumann is a lawyer whose practice focuses on landlord-tenant, debt collection, and wage dispute cases and is the founder of the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project in Colorado.

Thank you to our sponsor NBI.

Helping Litigants Help Themselves: The Ins and Outs of a Legal Help Program Jan 29, 2021

Show notes

Not everyone can afford a lawyer, and not everyone needs one. But, when a regular person has a pressing legal question, where can they find answers? Promoting access to justice should include helping those with legal problems obtain the information they need to successfully navigate their matter, even if they don't need representation. ABA Law Student Podcast host Meg Steenburgh talks with Angela Tripp, the director of the Michigan Legal Help Program, about how legal help works, the types of information they can provide for self-represented litigants, and how this type of service is helping to close the justice gap.

Angela Tripp is the director of the Michigan Legal Help Program, which is responsible for the statewide website for self-represented litigants and twenty-one affiliated Self-Help Centers around the state.

Thank you to our sponsor NBI.

Against All Odds: Jim St. Germain's Journey From Juvenile Delinquency to Community Leader Dec 14, 2020

Show notes

After immigrating to the United States with his family at the age of ten, Jim St. Germain was met with the harsh reality that his hoped-for better life seemed nowhere to be found. But, after ending up in the juvenile justice system at fifteen, his life took a positive turn, defying the statistics of many children in similar circumstances. ABA Law Student Podcast host Meg Steenburgh talks with Jim about his book, A Stone of Hope: A Memoir, learning how mentors played a critical role in helping him forge a new path and eventually co-found Preparing Leaders of Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization that provides mentoring to at-risk youth in Brooklyn, NY.

Jim St. Germain is an author, speaker, and cofounder of Preparing Leaders of Tomorrow (PLOT). Recently, Jim was a co-author of The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America.

Thank you to our sponsor NBI.

Examining Racial Inequality in Juvenile Justice Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

The disproportionate number of minority children navigating juvenile justice systems continues to be a point of great concern in our country. Where does this problem start? Is it in schools, in over-policed minority neighborhoods, or even in homes? What other factors are at play? Putting an end to the injustices suffered by children of color means understanding how present circumstances have put them at risk. ABA Law Student Podcast host Meg Steenburgh talks through these issues with Natasha Fortune, assistant attorney in charge at the Legal Aid Society of New York in the Juvenile Rights Practice. Ms. Fortune discusses her work and clientele in the Juvenile Rights Practice and offers insights on the steps, both large and small, that can be taken to disrupt unjust cycles and create lasting positive change.

Natasha M. Fortune is assistant attorney in charge at the Legal Aid Society of New York in the Juvenile Rights Practice.

Thank you to our sponsor NBI.

Representing Power: A Conversation with Attorney Robert Barnett Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

Not every law student has a clear vision of where they want to end up in their career, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it's more about seizing the opportunities that present themselves than strictly sticking to a plan. In this ABA Law Student Podcast, host Meghan Steenburgh sits down with attorney Robert Barnett to discuss his incredibly storied career. Together they review his career, focusing particularly on his work as practice debate opponent for numerous Democratic Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, his representation of some of the most notable names on both sides of the aisle for book deals (even convincing James Patterson and President Bill Clinton to write a book together), and his experiences working with Hollywood. While we can't all achieve such an exceptional career, find out what it takes to blaze your own path from one of the most unique individuals in the legal profession.

Robert Barnett is a partner at Williams & Connolly LLP.

Thank you to our sponsor NBI.

A Career in Legal Aid — Perspectives from Sally Fisher Curran Jun 11, 2020

Show notes

Legal aid is crucial to those unable to afford legal services, and a career serving the underserved can be hugely rewarding. ABA Law Student Podcast host Meghan Steenburgh talks with Sally Fisher Curran about her passion for increasing access to justice and her career experiences working in legal aid.

Sally Fisher Curran is the executive director of The Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County, Inc.