Higher Callings

Climate change is an existential crisis. It can't be solved by one country or a few countries, but only through worldwide cooperation and commitment. Outside of the glare of the political spotlight, American diplomats work tirelessly to negotiate international agreements to reduce carbon emissions and avoid the worst-case scenarios. One such diplomat is Jennifer Haverkamp. Working for the State Department in 2016, she led two U.S. negotiating teams that successfully arrived at international agreements designed to reduce global warming and the risks of climate change.  I recently spoke with Jennifer about her experience representing the United States in environmental trade talks and climate change negotiations, about the United States’ international standing on environmental issues, and about why she is optimistic about the future of the planet. 

If you have enjoyed the Higher Callings podcast, you might also enjoy Don's Substack Newsletter, Reflections of a Boston Lawyer, which you can find here: https://donaldfrederico.substack.com/

The trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd featured a team of prosecutors who exemplified professionalism. Phil Mueller, knows something about the professionalism of prosecutors. As a state prosecutor for 26 years, not only did he try dozens of felony cases, but he played an important role in training prosecutors across the state, and literally wrote the book on the ethical principles that apply to criminal prosecutions. In this second part of his interview, we talk about his experiences in the DA’s office, the prosecutor’s role as public servant, and the proposals of the George Floyd Fairness in Policing Act that is working its way through Congress. 

If you have enjoyed the Higher Callings podcast, you might also enjoy Don's Substack Newsletter, Reflections of a Boston Lawyer, which you can find here: https://donaldfrederico.substack.com/

Phil Mueller, a highly successful graduate of an ivy league law school, followed a long and meandering path until he finally found his calling. A decade after his law school graduation,  he left a promising career as a civil litigator in a prominent Boston law firm to join his college friend who had just been elected District Attorney for Schenectady County, New York. Phil worked in the D.A.'s office until he retired 26 years later. During that time, he tried dozens of felony cases, including 25 murder trials, and received state-wide recognition for the fair and ethical approach he brought to his work and taught to other prosecutors. In this episode, Phil describes his early years searching for the career that fit his personality and interests, and finally finding it by following his instincts.  In our next episode, we'll  hear about Phil's experiences as a prosecutor and his views about the role of the prosecutor as a public servant.

If you have enjoyed the Higher Callings podcast, you might also enjoy Don's Substack Newsletter, Reflections of a Boston Lawyer, which you can find here: https://donaldfrederico.substack.com/

David Hoffman is the founder of the Boston Law Collaborative and teaches mediation and dispute resolution at Harvard Law School. Influenced by the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s and the anti-war movement of the 1960s and 1970s, David entered Harvard Law School with the goal of advancing social change. After a clerkship with then-Judge and later-Justice Stephen Breyer, David joined a public-spirited private law firm where he represented prisoners on death row and developed an interest in mediation. He left the law firm in 2002 to form the Boston Law Collaborative, where he serves as a mediator and collaborative lawyer.  In this interview, David describes his career path, his vision of the lawyer as peacemaker, and his quest to use his talents to make the world a better place.

If you have enjoyed the Higher Callings podcast, you might also enjoy Don's Substack Newsletter, Reflections of a Boston Lawyer, which you can find here: https://donaldfrederico.substack.com/