Lawvely

Today on the Lawvely Podcast we welcome Jess Miers, a law student and national expert to talk about her expertise and opinions on the subject of internet laws and Section 230. More specifically, this relates to content moderation and free expression across spaces on the internet, and Jess really gives us an inside look at this important and burgeoning discourse. We get into the idea of technological methods for better content moderation, what online communities could possibly look like in the near future, and how, despite the policy and technology components, internet law relates mostly to human problems. Jess shares some of her history in the space and fills in the gaps about her journey to her current position at Google. She also shares some of the major challenges that are posed by this area of the legal world, citing the scaling of policies across different sized companies as a major puzzle to solve. We discuss the cultural shifts that need to still happen around trust and safety and our guest shares some great perspectives on how the implementation of the laws could be improved. So for all that and more, listen in with us today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Jess' early interests in law and the internet and the array of subjects she studied. 
• The jobs that Jess has held since she started her degree at law school. 
• Some of the interesting and surprising aspects of Section 230!  
• Jess' thoughts on the future of Section 230 and where things might go from here. 
• Challenges facing the policy-makers for these internet laws: the issue of scale. 
• Jess' personal hope for developments in this space; positive amendments for solving problems.
• The necessary cultural shifts around the importance of trust and safety.
• Operational practices that go along with effective implementation of Section 230.

Tweetables:

“Throughout law school I have spoken and written extensively about Section 230.” — Jess [0:02:52]

“I would say that Section 230 is a really boring law, and that surprises people!” — Jess [0:04:40]

“When you are writing policies that is also super difficult because when you think about it, the internet and society is constantly evolving on a day-to-day basis.” — Jess [0:13:54]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

Jess

TechFreedom

Omegle

OnlyFans

Parler

On today’s episode, we are going to talk about change. In our world today, we are on the brink of immense change. The season of tradition is slowly changing, like leaves falling in the fall season. So too, our experience of life is also very seasonal; sometimes we simply do not know what to expect. But nevertheless, we prepare for the many possibilities and roads that life might take us on. When it comes to seasonal changes, if we get too rigid, this change becomes painful! It is certainly a human instinct to try and dominate nature and its rules, no matter how much it keeps us on our toes. We often seem to choose to break the pattern, every chance we get. Other times we simply flow and build with it. In the end, we need to accept that change is constant and that we have to make choices to keep growing. After all, success will be determined by your personal emotions and happiness. So where do you stand? Stay tuned as we discuss all things change and what it means for our own evolution.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why nature is such a good reminder of preparing for change.
• The importance of flowing with change as opposed to being too rigid.
• Building a personal culture with pieces of your own traditions you’ve collected. 
• Understanding that who you choose to be is in your control.
• Two rules for change: accept that change is constant, and use your personal emotions and happiness as a measure of success.
• Learning to take time to rest and reflect on what is truly important.
• How to dream your life into reality: doing something to get you closer to your goal each day.

Tweetables:

“If we get too rigid in life, seasonal changes become painful, rigid, and predictably boring.” — @baharansarilaw [0:01:52]

“I’m a highly adaptable Iranian Canadian American immigrant whose broken a few glass ceilings.” — @baharansarilaw [0:02:22]

“Life throws us different circumstances to overcome. But who choose to be is entirely in our hands.” — @baharansarilaw [0:02:59]

“Small ideas sometimes turn into big dreams that turn into life-changing realities.” — @baharansarilaw [0:04:00]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

It is most definitely an interesting point in the history of US immigration law and to shed some light on this subject, we are joined on the show by Jacob. Our guest has managed to turn his own journey with immigration into a career in the field, and after studying and interning, he turned the experience and the lessons he learned into the expertise that he now shares with his clients. We chat about this particular moment, why it might be a good time to think about a move to the United States, and also what it is like working in immigration law right now. Jacob explains his thoughts on the systems in the country, the opportunities it affords new immigrants and the ways that cases can be approached for the most success and efficiency. Jacob is a big proponent of technology and has built his business almost solely around his online presence. He tells us about his first blog and the development of this onto other platforms, namely Facebook, Instagram, and now TikTok! He makes a strong argument for why this is an indispensable part of a law firm's work in 2020, and the way that this dynamic has been compounded by the pandemic. So for all this and more, from an energetic voice coming out of such an interesting sector of the legal world, be sure to listen in with us!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Some background from Jacob, his move to the US, and his work in immigration law. 
• How Jacob uses his own story to help set an example for clients. 
• Jacob's business and how he built it around sharing the information he learned himself.
• The importance of personality and empathy in dealing with clients. 
• Blogs, Facebook, and Instagram; the evolution of Jacob's online presence. 
• Cultural shocks and horror stories from Jacob's clients!
• The sheer amount of paperwork and time that go into immigration cases. 
• The ability to be discovered online — how important this is in today's climate. 
• Advice and tips from Jacob for those considering a move to the US. 
• Thoughts on the short term future of immigration law after the election. 
• Jacob weighs in with some reasons to choose the US over other countries. 

Tweetables:

“The one thing that I learned in my first year in the US is that in this country if you don't take control of the situation, nothing is going to happen.” — Jacob [0:05:32]

“Every time I would go somewhere I would post a picture, I would write a caption, that's how I was building my brand and within a few years I had more business than some lawyers who were doing this for 20 or 30 years. ” — Jacob [0:10:35]

“TikTok for me is one of my biggest platforms right now, I'm getting so many leads from there it's unbelievable. I do videos on TikTok every single day, at least one video.” — Jacob [0:18:20]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

Fox News

Elon Musk

Jeff Bezos

Welcome to Part 2 of our interview with Mika Newton, Bahar’s first-ever client when she became a lawyer. In the last episode, we learned a bit about Mika, who has been a professional singer in the Ukraine since she was 15. After learning what brought her and Bahar together, and hearing about her experience of the law in the US, we found out about Mika’s cancer diagnosis just last year. In this episode, we talk a bit more about her journey with ovarian cancer, and Mika shares her experience of immigrating to the US and her advice for young creatives hoping to break into the music industry. Tune in to hear how Mika tried to prove her masculine energy instead of owning her feminine energy and why she is grateful for her diagnosis, as well as her belief in the power of a positive mindset and her advice for being kinder to yourself. Listeners also receive some practical legal advice from Bahar, about balancing her logical and creative energy in a male-dominated environment and using the power of negotiation, as well as understanding the value of your intellectual property. It’s never too late to stop, reassess your life, and make a change, and Mika hopes to inspire others with her story, so make sure to tune in today to find out more about loving yourself, knowing yourself, and valuing yourself!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why choosing between family and work was easy for Mika when she was younger.
• Proving her masculine energy through hard work instead of owning her femininity.
• Mika tells the story of how she met her husband and giving him her email address.
• How Mika’s husband lets her be her authentic self without trying to diminish her.
• How their journey of wanting children together was interrupted by Mika’s ovarian cancer.
• Why Mika is grateful for her cancer diagnosis – it’s a teacher, not a punishment.
• Mika explains why she believes that our energy and feeling the way we feel is vital.
• Learn how Mika worked to transform the negative into positive results.
• The importance of mindset, self-care, and taking charge of your own happiness.
• To love yourself, you have to know yourself – the pursuit of happiness is self-fulfillment.
• Mika shares some practical advice and activities for being kinder to yourself.
• Immigrating to the States and how Mika overcame the initial challenges she faced by connecting more deeply with herself.
• Mika asks Bahar how she balances her logical and creative energy as a lawyer.
• The value of being honest with yourself by taking inventory of your needs.
• Mika asserts that it’s never too late to stop and reassess your life and make a change.
• Some legal advice from Bahar for artists reviewing a contract in the music industry.
• One of the challenges Mika faced as a young artist – she was scared to negotiate.
• Bahar explains why you always have the power to negotiate: the worst that can happen is that they will say no.
• Understanding your intellectual property and being compensated fairly for it.
• The importance of gaining knowledge and accepting yourself – and doing it on your own.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mika Newton on Twitter

Mika Newton on Instagram

Mika Newton on Facebook

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

On the podcast today we are joined by Mika Newton, Bahar’s first-ever client when she became a lawyer. Mika has been a professional singer since she was 15 in the Ukraine and was a very popular artist in her home country. She then competed at the 2011 Eurovision Contest, in which 43 countries participated, and came in fourth out of 25 finalists. After her win and at the height of her career in Europe, she decided that she wanted to pursue her dream in the United States. While many advised against it, she followed her intuition to California and, since moving here, she has been acting, modeling, and working with some of the world’s biggest brands, such as McDonald’s and Apple. In this episode, Mika tells the story that brought her and Bahar together – and it’s stranger than you think! She also shares her experience of learning about the law, and the vast differences between the perceptions of the legal system in Ukraine versus the US. Mika and Bahar discuss their experiences of being women in the music and legal industries, and Mika laments her attitude early on in her career and describes how it felt when she was diagnosed with cancer, including how she overcame it. Her story illustrates the importance of standing up for yourself, doing your research, owning your femininity, finding a work-life balance, and listening to your body, as well as the power of positivity! Tune in today to find out more.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Mika explains how it was actually her dog, Mozart, that was Bahar’s first client.
• Why it was difficult for Mika to understand the law when she first moved to the US.
• Being sued, getting served, and being part of a lawsuit that lasted over a year.
• We hear a sample of Mika’s music, which made her so popular in her home country.
• How Mika discovered acting when she arrived in the US.
• Mika asks Bahar when she knew that she wanted to be a lawyer.
• Wanting to be a singer when everyone else wanted to be lawyers and doctors.
• Mika’s first experience with the law was her first contract with a producer when she was 15.
• Moving to Kiev on her own at 15, learning Russian, and recording her first album.
• Mika and Bahar share their experiences of being women and owning their femininity in the music industry and the legal system.
• Rethinking her previous attitudes towards money and the space she took up.
• The moment Mika discovered she had stage 4 ovarian cancer and how she managed it.
• Working through her pain and then learning work-life balance and prioritizing both her mental and physical health.
• The importance of listening to your body and paying attention to how you feel.
• The hardest part of Mika’s journey was being present instead of obsessively planning.
• Mika’s seemingly cheesy advice is to live your life with love and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mika Newton on Twitter

Mika Newton on Instagram

Mika Newton on Facebook

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

Is there a law of happiness that we might all be able to agree with? When we investigate the arc of human life, the one constant that we see is love, from the day we are born to the major events throughout our lives, and as we leave the world. So how do we maintain a focus on love and find ways to bring more and more of it into our everyday lives? In today's episode, Bahar offers plenty of food for thought and some very simple directives for pursuing happiness and choosing love whenever we have the chance. This means doing something we love every day and gaining an understanding of love as the essence of humanity. With this present in our minds, we cannot help but move towards happier lives and more fulfillment. Bahar lists out the central elements to this idea of a law of happiness and reminds listeners that your happiness is your own, and may be very different from someone else's! Listen in to this episode to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Considering possibilities for an agreeable 'law of happiness'.
• Human nature, everyday happiness, and finding a realistic balance.
• Defining the important terms for a law of happiness.
• Locating the individual pursuit of happiness within a collective's set of ethics.
• The universal law of love — the only constant and absolute throughout our lives.
• How laws connect to love; the legal sides of milestones in human lives.
• The important components of the journey to happiness! 
• Directives for finding happiness in your life — living fearlessly, falling in love, and more!
• Taking note of your interests and hobbies to tailor your life to your specific needs. 

Tweetables:

“It's interesting to think about what could actually be a law of happiness that we can all agree with.” — @baharansarilaw [0:00:15]

“If you choose love, then happiness will always come.” — @baharansarilaw [0:00:29]

“What would make me happy, might not be the same dream that you have. Some people dream of living in a mansion on the beach, and some in a cabin in the woods.” — @baharansarilaw [0:01:37]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

Steve Jobs

Welcome to the #Lawvely podcast! This is the show where we bring you into the conversation about the synergy of love and law, with an emphasis on your happiness! To kick things off, Bahar shares her story; her roots and early years in Iran, her relocation to the US, and her path to her legal career. We are all surrounded by rules which govern our relationship to ourselves and others, they are vital to how we live our lives and achieve our dreams. Thus you have to have a grip on at least some laws in order to be happy! Studies show that only 14% of Americans are actually happy, so what contributes to this lack of satisfaction in the country? Unpacking this question, Bahar looks at how love moves us, the constant change we are all exposed to, and the negotiability of everything in our lives. The topic of creativity is central to this discussion and its development and facilitation can improve many aspects of our lives. This first episode is a rallying call to choose love and stay open-minded, attacking challenges head-on with enough patience for a solution, be sure to tune in to hear it all and subscribe for future episodes!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The relationship between happiness and the law. 
• Effects that happiness has on all parts of an individual's life.
• Happiness and the economy; hard work, productivity, creativity, and enjoyment.
• A quick recap of Bahar's story — her birth in Iran, move to the US, studies, and career.
• The lack of diversity in the law field and paths towards progress.
• The ethos behind the 2nd Law and the lessons that Bahar carried forward from her prior work. 
• Definitions of success and what this means to Bahar currently.
• The 'lawve' method and how Bahar uses it in her personal and professional life. 
• Finding a calling and its roots in childhood — defining what love means to us.
• The helpful role of rules, and how creativity bridges the gap between love and laws.
• The opportunity of problems — sparking the creative spirit.
• Innovation and negotiation; developing creativity and an inquisitive demeanor.  
• How to 'lawve'; defining happiness, dreaming big, asking and answering the right questions, and more!
• Daily steps for making progress and finding happiness.
• Life as a unicorn in law — Bahar's vision for her career in her chosen field!

Tweetables:

“On average happy people are more successful than unhappy people, at both work and love.” — @baharansarilaw [0:01:42]

“Positive emotions help both our bodies and our minds cope with stress, challenges, and negative feelings.” — @baharansarilaw [0:02:27]

“It's a brand new world, a world that did not exist when I pursued my first dream. Justice meant something different now.” — @baharansarilaw [0:07:16]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter

Gallup

Mark Zuckerberg

We are so excited to announce this brand new show, presented by Bahar Ansari! After spending time contemplating the next direction for her life, Bahar has taken the time to reinvent herself and her business in accordance with her values and purpose. This has meant really striving to live and work in the most authentic way possible. It is so important for us all to define and pursue our happiness, and one of the central parts of this comes with an understanding of the law! In a time of so much change, with an unknown future, we are the ones who get to choose the direction we take as individuals and as a community, and the #Lawvely Podcast is all about helping you do this by making the law, and your life, simpler! There is so much power in the law, and rather than being a restrictive force, we will see how empowering and freeing it can be for you and your creative business. Make sure to stay tuned for our first full episode!

Key Points From This Episode:

• What to expect in this brand new podcast about the law and your life!

Tweetables:

“Now, more than ever, it's important to define your happiness.” — @baharansarilaw [0:00:22]

“Be brave, dream big and be happy. I am already proud of you.” — @baharansarilaw [0:01:39]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

2nd.Law

Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn

Bahar Ansari on Instagram

Bahar Ansari on Twitter