ABA Law Student Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Richard Freer: Insights on Bar Review and Civil Procedure May 07, 2020

Show notes

In this edition of the ABA Law Student Podcast, host Jake Villarreal interviews Professor Rich Freer about his long career in legal education, his expertise in civil procedure, and his passion for helping law students realize their potential. They discuss his early and decisive path to becoming an educator, and Professor Freer offers tips for law students on building confidence, bar review, and much more.

Richard D. Freer is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law at Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia.

Law School Innovators: Taking Legal Ed Online Apr 09, 2020

Show notes

Even before the pandemic forced law schools to close their doors, forward-thinking educators were working hard to increase the accessibility of legal education through online learning. In this ABA Law Student Podcast, host Meghan Steenburgh talks with Dean Craig Boise and faculty director of online education Nina Kohn about Syracuse University College of Law's JDinteractive (JDi). They discuss their drive to reach a greater diversity of students and outline the JDi program's ability to offer learners a fully interactive experience.

In an additional segment, Meghan is joined by Mandy Mobley Li, Ernie Sawyer, and Katy Morris, all 2Ls in the JDi program. They offer fellow law students tips and tricks for adjusting to online learning.

Craig Boise is dean and professor of law at Syracuse University College of Law

Nina Kohn is the David M. Levy Professor of Law and faculty director of online education at Syracuse University College of Law.

Mandy Mobley Li is a 2L in Syracuse University College of Law's JDinteractive program.

Ernie Sawyer is a 2L in Syracuse University College of Law's JDinteractive program.

Katy Morris is a 2L in Syracuse University College of Law's JDinteractive program.

Dean Rodney Smolla: How Experiential Learning Makes Better Future Lawyers Mar 12, 2020

Show notes

In this edition of the ABA Law Student Podcast, host Jake Villarreal welcomes Rodney Smolla, dean of the Delaware Law School of Widener University, to hear insights from his prolific career as a legal educator and litigator. Dean Smolla discusses his longtime efforts to provide enriching experiential learning opportunities for law students and shares thoughtful advice on how students should approach practical education.

Rodney Smolla is dean of the Delaware Law School of Widener University.

Erwin Chemerinsky: Litigator, Educator, Scholar Feb 06, 2020

Show notes

New ABA Law Student Podcast host Jake Villarreal sits down with Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California Berkeley School of Law, constitutional law scholar, and prolific appellate litigator, to discuss his career and passion for training future generations of lawyers. They discuss how he came to write a large number of widely used treatises and casebooks and how various opportunities impacted his path in the legal profession. Dean Chemerinsky also offers invaluable career guidance for students as they enter the profession.

Erwin Chemerinsky is dean at the University of California Berkeley School of Law.

Lawyer, Marine, & Senator: Career Highlights with US Senator Dan Sullivan Jan 09, 2020

Show notes

In this edition of the ABA Law Student Podcast, new co-host Meg Steenburgh welcomes US Senator Dan Sullivan for an in-depth discussion of his career. He shares highlights from his time in law school, his legal practice, and his service as a US Marine, and discusses the impacts his legal and military backgrounds have had on his experience in the Senate. Senator Sullivan also offers law students valuable insights on the many ways they can use their degrees after law school.

Dan Sullivan is the United States Senator for the state of Alaska.

Career in Focus: Colorado's U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn Nov 15, 2019

Show notes

Learning from seasoned lawyers truly helps law students gain perspective on where they want to take their legal career in the future. In this edition of the Law Student Podcast, New ABA Law Student Division Chair Johnnie Nguyen talks with Colorado's U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn about his career experiences and how he came into his current role. He offers valuable insights on how to pursue what you love, the importance of finding good mentors, and how to handle inevitable professional missteps with integrity.

The Law Student Roundtable: Examining Stress–Offering Hope Oct 31, 2019

Show notes

Why do law students experience such high levels of stress compared to students in other areas of graduate study? Following on from a recent episode where host Ashley Baker and new Law Student Division chair Johnnie Nguyen discussed the division's upcoming mental health initiatives, Ashley now convenes a roundtable discussion to highlight the factors driving student mental health issues. This diverse group of guests offers perspectives geared toward helping fellow students manage stress and finding assistance when needed.

Rachel Gentry is a 3L at Southern University Law Center.

Kennedy LeJeune is a 3L at Southern University Law Center.

KyMara Guidry is a 3L at the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Dealing With the Pressures of Law School Oct 10, 2019

Show notes

The pressures of law school are intense, leading to inordinate amounts of stress and mental health issues for law students. So how can students remain productive without losing themselves in the heavy workload? Podcast host Ashley Baker welcomes licensed professional counselor Dionne Smith to discuss strategies for law students to manage their mental health and well-being through the rigors of law school

Dionne Smith is a licensed professional counselor and the owner of Made Whole Counseling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The 2019-2020 Goals of the ABA's Law Student Division Council Sep 12, 2019

Show notes

Ashley Baker is joined by the ABA Law Student Division's newly elected national chair Johnnie Nguyen and delegate of communications Julie Merow to discuss the council's goals for the coming year. They talk about the issues the council hopes to address including student debt, mental health awareness, and sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. They also highlight the council's plans to connect more law students to the Law Student Division through social media campaigns and the rollout of new opportunities to get students more personally involved.

Johnnie Nguyen is national chair of the ABA's Law Student Division and a 2L at the University of Colorado Law School.

Julie Merow is delegate of communications for the ABA's Law Student Division and a 3L at West Virginia University College of Law.

What Can You Do with Your Law Degree? Aug 13, 2019

Show notes

Many law students are motivated by the desire to make a difference, but how can they hone in on opportunities that align with their personal and professional goals? Host Ashley Baker talks to Gaylynn Burroughs about her work at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and ways law students can get involved in similar areas of the law. Gaylynn encourages students to seek out experiences early and often through student organizations, advocacy groups, political groups, and internships.

Gaylynn Burroughs is senior policy counsel at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.