The Advocate Next Door®

We interview Julian Iozano, a Colombian lawyer living in Washington, DC. Julian shares his experience living in various US cities and his interest in politics from a young age. He discusses his passion for public administration and his desire to change the world for the better, even from less visible positions such as advisor. This passion has led him to become deeply involved in inclusion projects, especially those affecting people with disabilities. Additionally, Julian recounts how the experience of helping his deaf brother fueled his interest in founding an inclusive bakery in Colombia. The conversation also addresses the challenges and satisfactions of working with underserved communities and the importance of being on the ground to understand and solve their problems. Finally, they discuss their future ambitions in the field of public administration and public policy.

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Entrevistamos a Julián Iozano, un abogado colombiano viviendo en Washington, DC. Julián comparte su experiencia de vivir en varias ciudades de EE.UU. y su interés en la política desde una edad temprana. Habla sobre su pasión por la administración pública y su deseo de cambiar el mundo para mejor, incluso desde posiciones menos visibles como asesor. Esta pasión lo ha llevado a involucrarse profundamente en proyectos de inclusión, especialmente aquellos que afectan a personas con discapacidades. Además, Julián relata cómo la experiencia de ayudar a su hermano sordo alimentó su interés en fundar una panadería inclusiva en Colombia. La conversación también aborda los desafíos y satisfacciones de trabajar con comunidades rezagadas y la importancia de estar en el terreno para entender y solucionar sus problemas. Finalmente, discuten sus ambiciones futuras en el campo de la administración pública y las políticas públicas.

STORY:

Introducción

Conociendo a Julián Lozano

Vida en Washington y Baltimore

Intereses Políticos y Carrera de Derecho

Futuro y Aspiraciones

Fundación Pan de Amor

Desafíos y Logros en la Administración Pública

Reflexiones Finales y Despedida

LINKS:

Julian Iozano, Colombian attorney

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianlzn

Mateo Escueta, a Filipino lawyer pursuing further studies in international law sits down with us. The discussion explores the Spanish influence on names in the Philippines, Mateo's family history, and the complexities of international law. Beyond his legal aspirations, Mateo shares his deep love for music, recounting his family's artistic background and his experiences performing. The trio delves into the cultural significance of family and happiness, drawing parallels between their respective countries. The conversation weaves through various topics, including the influence of American films, the philosophical underpinnings of their professional choices, and the lasting impact of their diverse cultural experiences.

STORY:

Introduction

Cultural Identity and Language

Legal Career and Education

Musical Background and Family

Passion for Music and Teaching

Inspiration to Pursue Law

Supportive Family and Education

Journey to American University

Star Wars Fandom

The Politics of Star Wars

Fantasy Worlds and Pop Culture

The Marvel Universe

Legal Perspectives on Disney Movies

Cultural Reflections on Liberty and Happiness

Challenges of International Community and Diversity

Passion for Justice and Legal Ethics

Final Thoughts and Gratitude

BIOGRAPHY:

Mateo Escueta is an international law attorney at Olivas Law Office (Manila, The Philippines) and he is a Filipino lawyer whose practice spans litigation, corporate advisory work, and advocacy for independent artists in the Philippine music industry. With a passion for justice, lifelong learning, and international arbitration, Mateo aims to strengthen the Philippine arbitration landscape through practice, research, and policy while also pursuing creative endeavors as a published musician and avid basketball and Star Wars fan.

LINKS:

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mateoescueta-4b829895/⁠

Ayana Johnson from Johnson Legal discusses her background, inspired by her family's legal profession and her initial interest in criminal justice reform. She shares her journey from growing up in Delaware to attending Howard University for law school. Ayana describes her career transition from being an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn to focusing on estate planning and elder law. She highlights the importance of estate planning in building generational wealth, especially in underserved communities. Ayana also explains various aspects of estate planning, the emotional challenges involved, and how she helps clients prevent family disputes over inheritances. Additionally, the conversation covers the nuances of probate court, the role of attorneys in estate planning, and Ayana's personal interests outside of her profession.

STORY:

00:00 Welcome

03:57 Growing Up in Delaware

06:35 Law School Journey

13:11 Meeting Her Husband

19:08 Transition to Estate Planning

27:47 Exploring Racism in Legal History

29:28 Switching Career Paths: From Criminal Law to Estate Planning

31:17 Challenges and Realizations in Family Law

33:00 Starting a Private Practice: The Journey and Challenges

36:45 The Emotional Impact of Estate Planning

38:08 Balancing Personal Life and Professional Responsibilities

44:19 The Complexities of Estate Planning and Legal Documents

51:17 Pet Trusts and Unusual Estate Planning Cases

54:45 Concluding Thoughts

BIOGRAPHY:

Ayana Johnson spent the first few years of her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, New York, where she prosecuted and indicted hundreds of cases. She later moved on to an estate planning law firm in Maryland, where she had the privilege of learning about asset and family protection through the use of estate planning documents. Further, Attorney Johnson has interned at the United States House of Representatives, at the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, for the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Delaware, and for the Delaware Department of Justice.

LINKS

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayana-johnson-esq-173b22126/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Johnson-Legal/61555284787382/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnson.legal

Website: ⁠https://johnson-legal.co⁠

The second part of the behind-the-scenes recording --- Co-hosts Kelby and Margarita share personal stories of their journeys and unknown truths of each other's background.

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Co-host, Kelby Ballena, is an international specialist and legal operations professional (non-lawyer) at the "Big Law" firm, Hughes Hubbard and Reed LLP. He's been in the legal industry for over 25-years in various practice areas. His experience ranges from complex international legal cases, to teaching and simplifying best practices for those joining the legal field, to motivating efficiency and collaborations among professionals to serve our community. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelbyballena/

Co, host, Margarita Rosa Arango, is a Colombian attorney and recent LL.M 2024 graduate from American University's Washington College of Law. She practiced international public and human rights law for Colombia before arriving to the U.S. https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaritaarangor/

Sound test! We hit the "record button" as we get to know each other, testing out the equipment and brainstorming ideas about the podcast. Get a behind the scenes "look" as to how it all got started.

Co-host, Kelby Ballena, is an international specialist and legal operations professional (non-lawyer) at the "Big Law" firm, Hughes Hubbard and Reed LLP. He's been in the legal industry for over 25-years in various practice areas. His experience ranges from complex international legal cases, to teaching and simplifying best practices for those joining the legal field, to motivating efficiency and collaborations among professionals to serve our community. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelbyballena/

Co, host, Margarita Rosa Arango, is a Colombian attorney and recent LL.M 2024 graduate from American University's Washington College of Law. She practiced international public and human rights law for Colombia before arriving to the U.S. https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaritaarangor/

This is a short excerpt of the show where we unbox the podcast equipment and get to know each other.