A high school girl's Snap got her suspended from cheerleading for one year. That Snap and suspension will now come before the Supreme Court. Join The Podvocate for a series of discussions on where students' free speech rights end and schools' disciplinary authority begins. In this episode, Francisco Negron, chief legal counsel of the National School Board Association and chief author of an amicus brief arguing in favor of the school district’s right to discipline B.L. for her conduct, shares why it’s critical for schools to be empowered to discipline student speech that affects students and the campus community. Francisco directs the NSBA’s nationally-recognized Legal Advocacy Program, which files more amicus briefs in the Supreme Court and in federal and state appellate courts across the country each year than all national education associations combined.

A high school girl's Snap got her suspended from cheerleading for one year. That Snap and suspension will now come before the Supreme Court. Join Podvocate editor-in-chief Matt Doran for a series of discussions on where students' free speech rights end and schools' disciplinary authority begins. This first discussion is with Prof. Kathleen Hirsman, who has spent over two decades in education law and has represented and advised school districts in these cases. She shares the history of how courts have dealt with this issue and how technology has complicated the analysis.

Join LUC Law 2L Lenny Reinart in his continued exploration of Rural Access to Justice with Judge Brian Rahilly from Michigan’s 11th Judicial Circuit. The 11th Judicial Circuit covers four counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and spans approximately 11,000 square miles. They explore the issues this rural area's attorney shortage has caused in both Judge Rahilly’s former private practice as well as the impact this crisis has on hearing cases from the bench of such a large geographic area.

Join Lenny Reinart as he explores Rural Access to Justice with Sam Larrabee from Upper Michigan Law. Mr. Larrabee is a graduate from DePaul University College of Law and spent six years as a prosecutor with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He then returned to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where he now serves clients in a variety of practice areas. In this discussion, they dissect the rural attorney shortage crisis and discuss the unique challenges associated with a rural practice. Finally, they consider how to entice young lawyers to leave larger metro areas like Chicago to join practices in small towns across rural America.

Join Leanne Jossund as she talks with Chipo Nyambuya, Loyola Law School’s Director of Experiential Programming and Professional Development, about legal education. They explore common tropes like the Socratic dialogue, the ABA standardization of the curriculum, and the role of externships and experience in law school. Listen and subscribe to The Podvocate wherever you get your podcasts!

Joe Roddy practices civil defense work as a partner at Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella. He also provides commentary on high-profile trials as an on-air correspondent for WGN. He has a background working as a prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney office, where he tried 35 jury trials and argued eleven cases before the Illinois Appellate Court. Joe and Emmett Harrington talk about the dynamics of this on-air job, the importance of the current Derek Chauvin trial, and the value of learning trial advocacy in law school.

It's easy to fall into patterns and live in bubbles that reinforce our views, especially with so many professional and personal demands. It's also easy to point the finger and demand institutions hire and promote diversity. But if we value diversity as ardently as we may say, how do we pursue and cultivate diversity—of people, cultures and ideas—in our personal lives? That's the question the entire Podvocate board explores in this second part of our conversation on diversity.

LUC Law grad Sheena Patel shares her story from tax law certificate to the Big 4 and now as in-house counsel at the world's electric car leader, Tesla. She details navigating a career as an attorney outside a firm and government and offers candid advice on humility and what other traits to cultivate that lead to success and fulfillment.

Leanne talks to Diana Chen (LUC Law ‘14) about her path through law school and beyond. After working as an attorney at Karbal, Cohen, Economou, Silk and Dunne, Diana expanded her skills as a digital content creator, freelance writer, marketer and podcaster. They discuss the boundaries of a JD and how law students should rethink their postgraduate possibilities.

The entire Podvocate team sits down to share what "diversity" means to each of us. What does it look like in the workplace, at school and in one's social circle? And, how do we pursue diversity when everyone around us is digging in our heels? Join us for a very personal, honest and thoughtful discussion on how we connect and learn from each other.