Prescription drug abuse is a prevalent problem across the country. What started as a health care issue has slowly become a problem facing our criminal justice system. As our society grapples with the issues, many are left behind with little to no help. In this episode we are joined by Professor Liz Chiarello. Professor Chiarello is a sociologist with SLU’s department of sociology and anthropology. She holds a secondary appointment at the School of Law with the Center for Health Law Studies.

The gig economy - a term you may have heard a time or two in the past few years - is defined as an environment in which temporary positions are common and organizations contract with independent workers for short-term engagements. The gig economy has become popular through companies like Uber and Lyft, but as these companies grow so do the issues with labor law regulations. In this episode we are joined by Professor Miriam Cherry. Professor Cherry is currently the director of the Wefel Center for Employment Law and is an expert in the gig economy.

Every year petitions for clemency collect on the Governor's desk. Recently the case of Timothy Prosser has gained attention. The Riverfront Times chronicled the story of this Missouri man who was sentenced to life in prison for non violent crime. In this episode we are joined by John Ammann, McDonnell Professor of Justice in American Society, supervisor in SLU's Civil Advocacy clinic and one of the founders of the Community Coalition for Clemency. Every year Professor Ammann and his students petition the Governor for clemency on behalf of their clients.

This year the healthcare industry has been abuzz with the news that Aetna will move to merge with Humana and Anthem with Cigna. The U.S. Department of Justice does not agree and is taking the companies to court over consumer rights. In this episode we are joined by Tim Greaney, co-director of the Center for Health Law Studies and Chester A. Myers Professor of Law. Professor Greaney began his career in the DOJ's antitrust division and has testified numerous times before Congress, most recently before the House Judiciary Subcommittee.

St. Louis has a long history of being home to entrepreneurs. The city has served as a launching ground for many of America’s biggest and best companies and the region continues to thrive in a variety of new directions. But most of our large companies once started as small businesses. In this episode we are joined by Professor Dana Malkus of the SLU LAW’s Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic. Professor Malkus works with local small businesses and nonprofits to get their ideas and companies off the ground.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently put out a ruling on a critical patent case in Cuozzo Speed Technologies v Lee. The case addressed two important questions associated with how the United States Patent Office reviews granted patents. In this episode, Professor Yvette Liebesman discusses the case and implications of the ruling on patent law.

There is currently a $42 million dollar fight over education in the city of St. Louis. Charter schools are staking claim on their funding while St. Louis Public Schools are insisting they are owed funds for desegregation. It is a battle that has become commonplace across the country. In this episode we are joined by Michael Wolff, dean of SLU LAW, to take a closer look at what is really at stake.

Missouri legislature has recently passed two bills that change the way health insurance is managed in our state. These changes have been a long time coming and finally put Missouri on par with many other states. For this episode, we are joined by Sidney Watson, the Jane and Bruce Robert Professor in the SLU LAW Center for Health Law Studies. Professor Watson teaches Health Law Policy and Advocacy where she empowers her students to enable change in Missouri legislation.

The City of Ferguson, Missouri recently voted to approve the consent decree put forth by the US Department of Justice. The document included provisions that were meant to ensure protection of the constitutional and other legal rights of all members of the community. This is not the first time a consent decree has been used by the DOJ. In this episode, Professor Justin Hansford takes us through the process and how it has been used in the recent past.

From Indiana to Georgia and North Carolina, to right here in Missouri, religious freedom has been at the center of legislation presented amidst much state and nationwide controversy and discussion around issues of LGBT discrimination. Despite having recently been shut down in Missouri, this type of legislation will likely resurface and goes beyond the present. Professor Chad Flanders joins us for this episode to explain religious freedom, the Constitution and the relationship to LGBT issues. Professor Flanders is a constitutional law professor and a scholar of religion and the First Amendment.