Ron Bamieh’s life hit a crossroads in 2001, when his audacious political campaign for the office of District Attorney of Ventura County hit an unexpected bump: anti-Arab racism in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, cynically weaponized by his opponent. In the aftermath of that loss, Ron regrouped, left the DA’s office, and started his own law firm.

In this conversation, he tells the story of how he grew a successful firm from the ground up, even as personal and professional tragedies took their toll on the business and his emotional health. This story has some incredible ups and downs, with many chapters still yet to be written, and there are lessons here about running a small business, dealing with the wider community, and persevering in the face of adversity.

Check out our Instagram thread and leave a question for us to answer on a future episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFJCYuVybuP/

Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ 

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It was a wild weekend for Tik Tok users, with the app shutting down on Saturday night, only to reappear on Sunday morning with a cryptic thank you note to “President Trump” for magically restoring access to America’s number one brain-rotting video platform. This week Danielle joins us for a conversation all about the legal angles at play here, from the U.S. government’s argument that Tik Tok represents a national security threat to the larger free speech issues attached to social media in general. Where is this all headed? We’re not sure, but like and subscribe!

Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ 

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This week I’m joined by family law attorney Jennifer Yates, who helps answer the question: What legal rights, if any, do grandparents have over child custody and visitation when parents divorce? She offers some surprising takes on how this works in reality, and explains how grandparents and other stakeholders can navigate the challenging legal landscape of a rearranged family unit.

In this episode we briefly discuss the 2008 true crime documentary Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, but be warned: it’s an immensely disturbing story.

Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ 

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On Part Three of our Trial Diary, attorney Danielle De Smeth provides some shocking updates in the trial of Christopher Rodriguez. Rodriguez was a teacher who worked at the UCLA Early Care and Education Center for more than 25 years. He stands accused of a number of charges of sexual abuse of children at the school, and Danielle is representing several of the victims’ families in potential civil litigation regarding UCLA’s negligence and liability for Rodriguez’s alleged crimes. In this trial diary, Danielle tells us about the verdict in this trial, and how it changes the future legal landscape for Mr. Rodriguez, UCLA, and the victims’ families.

Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ 

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It’s a whole new year for Lawyers in the Attic, and we’re starting off 2025 by diving into our sick obsession with history’s nastiest serial killers. In this conversation, attorneys Jennifer Yates and Meghan Sherry come to the attic to discuss the recent Netflix documentary This is the Zodiac Speaking, as we explore how the Zodiac murders sparked our collective interest in weird killings and the strange, often disturbingly normal people who commit them. 

Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ 

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On Part Two of our Trial Diary, attorney Danielle De Smeth catches us up on developments in the trial of Christopher Rodriguez. Rodriguez was a teacher who worked at the UCLA Early Care and Education Center for more than 25 years. He stands accused of a number of charges of sexual abuse of children at the school, and Danielle is representing several of the victims’ families in potential civil litigation regarding UCLA’s negligence and liability for Rodriguez’s alleged crimes. In this trial diary, Danielle explains the relationship between criminal and civil trials, and offers details on how abusers can hide in plain sight by manipulating their institutional position. This is a disturbing and eye-opening conversation about kids, parents, teachers, and the legal system’s role in challenging powerful people and organizations.

Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyersintheattic/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lawyersintheattic 

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawyersintheattic

Christopher Rodriguez was a teacher who worked at the UCLA Early Care and Education Center for nearly 25 years. He stands accused of a number of charges of sexual abuse of children at the school, and attorney Danielle De Smeth is representing several of the victims’ families in potential civil litigation regarding UCLA’s negligence and liability for Rodriguez’s alleged crimes. In this trial diary, Danielle explains the relationship between criminal and civil trials, and offers details on how abusers can hide in plain sight by manipulating their institutional position. This is a disturbing and eye-opening conversation about kids, parents teachers, and the legal system’s role in challenging powerful people and organizations.

Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyersintheattic/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lawyersintheattic 

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Manuel Rodriguez was 19 years old when he was charged with a gang-related murder in Santa Paula, California in 2007. The resulting trial, in which founding partner Ron Bamieh served as his defense attorney, contained shocking twists and revelations that resulted in a surprising (and historic) outcome. In this conversation, Ron joins us to share the story of Manuel’s case, and offers his thoughts on the challenges of handling criminal defense when the prosecution is playing with a loaded deck.

Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ 

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It’s holiday time, so you know what that means: bitter divorces and custody disputes! This week we talk with family law attorney and senior partner Jennifer Yates about the special family pressure that holidays can bring, particularly for families dealing with kids and custody issues. Jennifer shares some brutal stories along with tips on how everyone can navigate this time of year with minimum drama and maximum cheer.

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

Handling Holiday Hassles with a Co-Parent Who Hates You

BIFF for Co-parent Communication

Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyersintheattic/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lawyersintheattic 

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In the wake of conservative electoral victories this month, there is renewed discussion about the end of “no fault divorce,” a key victory from the feminist political moment in the 1970s. Perhaps unsurprisingly, family law attorney and senior partner Jennifer Yates has lots to say about that, and joins us in the attic this week for a conversation all about the rapidly evolving legal landscape of marriage and divorce in the Trump era.

Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyersintheattic/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lawyersintheattic 

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawyersintheattic