Class Action

For our 45th episode and the final episode of Season 3, we speak with Adria Kimbrough, Laura Rose, and A.J. Bellido de Luna, three of the mock trial coaches who appeared on the Class Action with Katie Phang podcast. We thought it would be great to hear from Adria, Laura, and AJ to learn more about their career journeys, why they have dedicated their time to coaching mock trial teams, and the advice they have for aspiring lawyers. Adria, Laura, and A.J. help us to end Season 3 with a bang! Don't miss this special conversation with our friends from Class Action.

Show Notes for Episode 45:

Class Action with Katie Pfang is an immersive 12 part documentary podcast series about the next generation of lawyers, heard through the voices of law students competing in mock trial tournaments around the country.​ You can listen to Class Action on iHeart, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen! 

Adria Kimbrough is the Student Recruiting Manager in the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Previously, Adria was a Pre-Law Advisor at Dillard University in New Orleans and served as one of the University’s Mock Trial Team coaches. Professor Kimbrough is a graduate of Talledega College and the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Laura Rose is an Associate Professor of Law and the Heidepriem Trial Advocacy Fellow at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law. Professor Rose is a graduate of Stetson University and Stetson University College of Law. 

A.J. Bellido de Luna is the Assistant Dean for Advocacy Programs and Hardy Service Professor of Law at St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. He teaches Trial Advocacy and Arbitration and directs the law school’s Advocacy Program National Team. A.J. is a graduate of University of Maryland School of Law and Johns Hopkins University.

Learn more about and listen to Class Action with Katie Pfang by visiting the Class Action website. You can also follow Class Action on Instagram.

Class Action with Katie Pfang is a production of Sound Argument and iHeartMedia. Thank you to producers Lisa Gray and Kevin Huffman for pitching this collaboration to us! 

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About Personal Jurisdiction:

Join co-hosts Allison Freedman and Hallie Ritzu as we talk to a variety of people within the first 10ish years of practice to hear about their journeys to fulfilling careers and the advice they have for getting there. From government to start-ups; politics to academia; in-house to legal aid—we’ll get the scoop on what it’s really like to work in different areas of the law, so you can chart your own course for success.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Producers Kevin Huffman and Lisa Gray check in with former Dillard students Amaya Ronczyk and Lajeanne Shelton. Amaya is currently a 1L at Harvard Law, and Lajeanne is a 1L at UC Hastings Law. They talk about their personal experiences as a first-year law student, along with giving some helpful advice for future students, going from an HBCU to a PWI, skills carried over from the Dillard Mock Trial team into their current courses, and some exciting news about this year’s Dillard case law. 

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

Harvard Law School

UC Hastings Law

Dillard University Pre-Law Program

American Mock Trial Association 

National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) 

National Bar Association

Follow us on Instagram @ClassActionPod

Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Producers Kevin Huffman and Lisa Gray check in with St. Mary’s Law coach AJ Bellido de Luna and former student Andy Vizcarra. You’ll hear some of their personal experiences about being followed by the podcast production team, reflections on upsetting moments during last season’s tournaments, and exciting current news about the team. 

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

St. Mary's University Law School 

Texas Young Lawyers Association 

National Trial League

Follow us on Twitter @ClassActionPod and Instagram @ClassActionPod

Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Genesis Salinas, a Saint Mary's 2L, travels 3 and a half hours south of San Antonio to her hometown in the Rio Grande Valley. There, along the Texas-Mexico border, her family celebrates Christmas as she re-adjusts to what life was like before law school. The holidays, though a short time together, reminds her of the importance of family, culture and tradition

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

St. Mary's University Law School 

Texas Young Lawyers Association 

Follow us on Twitter @ClassActionPod and Instagram @ClassActionPod

Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time in its history, Dillard sends a team to the National Tournament! Dozens of teams from around the country descend on Lancaster, PA, to not only admire the trophies, but to battle each other in the old courthouse. Adria has brought her team to the Promised Land in what will be her last tournament with the team. History will be made.

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

Dillard University Pre-Law Program American Mock Trial Association National Black Law Students Association National Bar Association

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Legal Defense Fund
Equal Justice Initiative Harvard Law School

UC Hastings Law School
Southern University Law Center
National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
Follow us on Twitter @ClassActionPod and Instagram @ClassActionPod
Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com
Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

This episode had additional field production by Jason Foster

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mock trial is supposed to prepare you for real trial.  Andy and Jasmin are about to see if that’s true.  They are going to face off in Bexar County Court for an actual case in front of a judge and jury. 

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

St. Mary's University Law School 

Texas Young Lawyers Association 

Follow us on Twitter @ClassActionPod and Instagram @ClassActionPod

Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a grueling season for AJ’s St. Mary’s squad.  Spirits are low.  Exhaustion has creeped in.  The Regional Competition is around the corner – and the case packet has just dropped. If they win in Houston, they advance to Nationals.  Lose, and they go home. And standing in their way is perennial nemesis, Baylor University.  The odds are low, but when the finals are held on a Sunday, anything can happen. 

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

St. Mary's University Law School 

Texas Young Lawyers Association 

University of Houston Law Center

American Board of Trial Advocates

Baylor Law School

South Texas College of Law

University of Texas, Austin, School of Law 

Follow us on Twitter @ClassActionPod and Instagram @ClassActionPod

Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adria is a fan of the philosopher Nick Saban, the decorated coach of the Alabama football team.  She and Judge Kern Reese want their team to stay focused, be clear and concise. Tight.  She sends her team to an invitational in Houston to see who is ready for the big time in the spring.  The results are mixed.  Back home in New Orleans, the team rallies and punches their ticket to the Regional Championship.

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

Dillard University Pre-Law Program

American Mock Trial Association 

Follow us on Twitter @ClassActionPod and Instagram @ClassActionPod

Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Skinner and Tyler Volesky are sons of prominent defense attorneys in South Dakota who honor their Native American heritage by fighting for justice. Matt takes us inside the Minnehaha County Public Defender’s office, where he argues in real court on behalf of a Native client. Tyler is following in his father's footsteps in both law and politics.  But first, he must overcome some obstacles in the world of mock trial.

University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law

Hofstra University School of Law

American University Washington School of Law

Howard University School of Law

Minnehaha County Public Defender's Office

ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act) information

Tribal Justice: 25 Years as a Tribal Appellate Justice by Frank Pommersheim

Tribal Law Journal

National Native American Bar Association

The Legal Construction of Discriminatory Mass Surveilance by Gregrory Brazeal

Follow us on Twitter @ClassActionPod and Instagram @ClassActionPod

Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a disappointing showing in the Battle of the Experts, the St. Mary's team is back together, determined to make a comeback.  Mariela joins Andy, Jasmin and Cole, this time as an advocate.  They pledge allegiance to Justice Sotomayor and Bad Bunny.   The team is on the precipice of winning, only to face discrimination during a controversial semi-final round.  Andy and her family celebrate El Grito.

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:
St. Mary's University Law School 
Texas chapters of ABOTA
American Board of Trial Advocates 
Follow us on Twitter @ClassActionPod and Instagram @ClassActionPod
Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com
Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.