I Am The Law

Learn more about Oklahoma City University School of Law

Learn more about Oklahoma City University School of Law

Staying Afloat to Pursue a Passion in Environmental Advocacy Oct 19, 2015

Show notes

Justin Bloom went to law school to right environmental wrongs via the law. In this episode, he talks about his range of experiences. While his first job was defending environmental takings cases, his career took a winding path from tort litigation to immigration. He even quit a job after a boss asked him to coach clients to lie. He also worked directly for a model environmental advocacy organization that utilized citizen action to help government agencies remedy legal violations of the Clean Water Act. Today, Justin runs a nonprofit that uses a variety of strategies to protect coastal areas. While he and other volunteers work to make the organization financially stable, he's practicing law on the side to ensure that he is too. Justin is a graduate of Tulane University School of Law.

This episode is hosted by Kimber Russell.

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Defending Management in Employment Litigation Oct 13, 2015

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Matt Parker represents management in employment disputes. While he rarely finds himself in court, he often participates in adversarial proceedings like arbitration and administration hearings. In this episode, we'll hear about how he prepares for proceedings. We'll also learn about the finer details of employment litigation, such as burden shifting, different fee models, and venue shopping. Matt is a graduate of Boston College Law School.

This episode is hosted by Aaron Taylor.

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Learn more about Oklahoma City University School of Law

Federal Pro Se Clerk: Helping Judges Dispose of Cases Oct 05, 2015

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Vail Gardner served the Middle District of North Carolina for six years as a law clerk. In this episode, she describes the various types of federal law clerks, including each position's pros and cons. Vail was a pro se clerk, which means she worked directly for the district court as opposed to an individual judge. We'll hear about her role in drafting the court's opinions, as well as her current challenge: reentering law practice after taking time off for her family. Vail is a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

This episode is hosted by Kimber Russell.

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Relieving Drowning Individuals with a Fresh Start Through Bankruptcy Aug 17, 2015

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Cristina Perez Hesano helps individuals struggling with debt to file for bankruptcy. In this episode, she he takes us through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy from prep to discharge, and why she decided to leave her first bankruptcy firm job to go out on her own. Cristina is a graduate of Arizona State University.

This episode is hosted by Derek Tokaz.

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Helping Families Plan Their Legacy with Trusts and Estates Aug 03, 2015

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Deacon Haymond 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 happens when he's too nice to his clients. While advances in legal services technology pose challenges to his practice long term, he's emphatic that so far, they're helping him. Deacon is a graduate of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law.

This episode is hosted by Debby Merritt.

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Leaving the Law: What Drove One Lawyer to a High School Classroom Jul 27, 2015

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Jaye Lindsay decided after 3.5 years that he’d had enough. His first job out of law school wasn't glamorous, but the steady pay and hands-on litigation experience made up for a lack of health insurance and low hourly wages. But over time, he wanted a better standard of living and work-life balance. After going solo and finding it impossible to manage his average-size debt load, he decided to become a high school special education teacher and practice law on the side. This episode also offers a window into the economics of small law firms, the trade-offs that clients face when they cannot afford a lawyer, and how people juggle and evaluate life priorities. Jaye is a graduate of Southern Illinois University School of Law.

This episode is hosted by Kimber Russell.

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Video Game Law: Starting a Solo Practice with Niche Clients Jul 19, 2015

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Ryan Morrison created a firm centered on helping video game developers. His work greatly varies depending on what his clients need, but often involves intellectual property and contracts. In this episode, Ryan shares his biggest challenges and how he built a rare practice from a pro bono matter. Ryan is a 2013 graduate of New York Law School.

This episode is hosted by Derek Tokaz.

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Learn more about Oklahoma City University School of Law

Emerging Law Around LGBTQA+ Issues Jul 13, 2015

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Meaghan Hearne is involved in a variety of general practice areas, from civil litigation and criminal defense to divorces and child custody. However, much of her work revolves around LGBTQA+ clients and issues. Before the Supreme Court’s decision to extend the right to marry to same-sex couples, Meaghan protected same-sex couples who wanted the protections marriage afforded. Meaghan is a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law.

This episode is hosted by Debby Merritt.

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