The Portia Project

Camilla Lopez, co-founder of access to justice legal tech company People Clerk, joins host MC Sungaila to share her journey to becoming a lawyer-entrepreneur who helps individuals navigate small claims court. She discusses what's involved in running a successful start-up, from funding the company's growth (People Clerk is a Techstars alum backed by Google's Latino Founders Fund) to finding the right mentors and listening to customer feedback in expanding and growing their services. 

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Skjerven Gildea discusses the important role played by state courts and the surprising turns her own career has taken. She explains how the Court pivoted in order to continue to provide access to justice during the pandemic, the role of the Chief Justice and Supreme Court in administering the state's court system, and important tips on briefwriting and oral argument. Listen in as an accomplished member of the judiciary offers valuable career advice and an important civics lesson. 

Host MC Sungaila talks with Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Justice Elspeth Cypher who shares her journey to the bench, from civil practice to chief of the appellate division in the district attorney's office. Listen in as she shares both valuable tips you can use in court and inspiring wisdom for aspiring women lawyers and law students. 

Joining MC Sungaila today is Jessica Aronoff, CEO of Cayton Children's Museum. Jessica entered law school with no intention of becoming a lawyer. Her goal? Doing impactful work in a nonprofit. As it turns out, having a law degree was indeed a valuable tool and asset for her work in the field. In this episode, Jessica shares her evolution in the nonprofit space, from Executive Director of teen dating violence organization Break the Cycle to Vice President of Philanthropy for The Wonderful Company. Jessica's career path demonstrates the different ways you can apply your law degree. Tune in to hear from an inspiring and visionary leader. 

Justice Melissa Hart of the Colorado Supreme Court shares her journey from U.S. Supreme Court clerk to U.S. Department of Justice trial attorney, law professor, and now member of her state's highest court. With host MC Sungaila, she explains her intuitive approach to career decisions, the long-term impact of mentoring on her career trajectory, and best practices in appellate advocacy. 

What exactly are no crime wrongful convictions? In this episode, Jessica S. Henry shares thought-provoking insights from her new book, Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes that Never Happened. Jessica is a professor, legal commentator, social justice advocate, and blogger. Her award-winning book highlights a prevailing yet underlooked issue in the legal justice system that impacts the victims of such phenomena and society at large. Along with host MC Sungaila, the two discuss the various downstream effects of wrongful convictions and how we can remedy the system to help the community instead of punishing already disadvantaged individuals who are innocent. Today’s episode is filled with eye-opening insights that encourage us to ask more questions as to how the legal system works and doesn’t work. Listen in to hear all about it.

Yolanda V. Torres of the Orange County Superior Court shares her journey from being the first in her family to graduate from college to serving on the bench. With host MC Sungaila, she shares how her diverse experience as both a law professor and family law attorney, and as a past president of the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association serves her well as a judge. Listen in to hear her inspiring journey.

U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Margaret McKeown, the first woman partner at Perkins Coie and a White House Fellow, shares her career journey from lawyer to judge, and provides insights into the crafting of a judicial opinion and good legal writing. With host MC Sungaila, she also discusses her book Citizen Justice: The Environmental Legacy of William O. Douglas―Public Advocate and Conservation Champion. Judge McKeown tells the inspiration behind writing it and which skills in writing judicial opinions translated into her work as a book author. There's a lot to learn from this episode. Be inspired by her journey by tuning in.

Noella A. Sudbury is the Founder and CEO of Rasa Public Benefit Corporation, a new legal tech company on a mission to make the process of clearing a record simple and affordable for everyone. In this episode, she talks with MC Sungaila about her career journey—from attending law school, going to the public defender's office, working in Utah's leading appellate law boutique, transitioning to Goldman Sachs to gain management and team building experience, then moving to government policy work which led her to found Rasa. Noella's journey is an unconventional one. Tune in to hear insights from a singular intellect on the rise.

Dean Nancy Staudt, The Frank and Marcia Carlucci Dean of the Pardee RAND Graduate School and Vice President of Innovation at the RAND Corporation, discusses her career journey from law to public policy. Dean Staudt, a nationally recognized scholar in tax, tax policy, and empirical legal studies, discusses her path from a judicial clerkship to her roles as law professor, law school dean, and now dean of the only public policy graduate school housed in the original "think tank." She offers some great advice on taking on a leadership role and the importance of being willing to figure things out as you lead and serve.