The Portia Project

Newport Beach, California City Council Member and now Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Kleiman talks with host M.C. Sungaila about her path to practicing law and the unexpected road to elected office. She also draws the ugly and amazing side of elections and politics in general. Council Member Lauren Kleiman encourages people in Newport Beach to get involved in different areas of what their community is doing to shape and support the place they live in. In this episode, we learn that politics remains an avenue for positive change, and by working together, finding common ground, and putting the community's needs first, we can overcome the negative aspects and create a more inclusive and vibrant society. Tune in to learn more!

Joining M.C. Sungaila is Elizabeth D. Walker, Chief Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court and Co-Host of the podcast Lady Justice: Women of the Court. In this classic episode of the podcast, she shares the ups and downs in her life as a judge, her path to the bench by running for elected office, changes in her state's court system, and weathering an impeachment trial to come out on top in her first stint as Chief Justice (she now holds that role for the second time). She also provides practical tips on becoming an effective lawyer who can leave a lasting impact.

Ashley Herd has had a deep and wide legal career, including in-house counsel at leading companies like Yum! Brands (including Taco Bell) around the world to founding her own company Manager Method, which provides efficient training and scalable tools to build healthy workplaces (along the way becoming a breakout TikTok and Linkedin star). Ashley joins host MC Sungaila to share how she uses her background in employment law and experience in corporate sales to help grow relationships, how she uses her strong online presence to provide practical insights, and the importance of empathy in law and business. Ashley has carved a unique career path for herself, one that embraces many facets of her personality and skills, and her authenticity is inspiring.

Harmeet Dhillon, the founder of Dhillon Law Group and the Center for American Liberty, is a nationally recognized lawyer, trusted boardroom advisor, and passionate advocate for individual, corporate and institutional clients across numerous industries and walks of life.   

Harmeet describes her family's journey to the United States, her time at UVA Law School, a stint at the Department of Justice, a federal appeals court clerkship, a decade of practice at prestigious international law firms, and how she came to found her own litigation boutique and then a nonprofit legal center. She provides tips on navigating BigLaw and founding a law firm. This is a dynamic and independent-minded guest you do not want to miss. 

Judge Julia Smith Gibbons of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit shares how the relationships she formed throughout her career paved the way for her to become the first woman trial judge of a court of record in Tennessee, followed by distinguished service on both the U.S. District Court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is the recipient of the Devitt Award, the highest honor awarded to an Article III judge, for significant contributions to the administration of justice, the advancement of the rule of law, and improvement of society as a whole. Listen in as Judge Gibbons shares insights gained throughout her trailblazing career.

Ann K. Covington shares her trailblazing journey as the first woman on the Missouri Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, and ultimately as the first female Chief Justice in the state. She shares her journey to the bench and work in private practice both before and after her service on the bench, and her role as mentor to many women lawyers. Listen in to hear the wisdom this gracious and humble woman has to share.

Washington Supreme Court Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis shares her trailblazing journey to the highest court of her state. In conversation with host MC Sungaila, she shares her experience serving as a tribal court judge for three different tribes (the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, and the Lummi Nation), as well as on the Washington Superior Court bench. Her time as a tribal judge taught her to stand up for the rule of law (even if it cost her personally, in the form of expulsion from her own tribal home) and how cultural understanding and empathy play an important role in judicial systems and decision-making. This is an extraordinary and inspiring episode. One you do not want to miss. 

As part of our continuing series on Space, Aarti Holla-Maini, the Director of the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) joins the podcast to share her journey from solicitor training to attending business school and entering the aerospace industry, growing and leading the Global Satellite Industry Association, and now leading UNOOSA. Along the way, she discusses the importance of meditation and knowing your own strengths and purpose, as well as the importance of authenticity in leading others.

Get ready for our annual episode of The Portia Project Podcast compiling and highlighting the personal mottos of many of our guests - extraordinary women in the legal field - sharing the wisdom that shaped their careers. From judges to law professors, hear their guiding principles, life lessons, and how they’ve overcome challenges. Whether you’re aspiring to the bench, the bar, or beyond, this episode offers powerful insights to motivate and inspire your own journey. Tune in and discover what it takes to become a change agent in the world of law!

Welcome to our highly anticipated annual compilation episode! Today, we’re excited to bring you insights from several of our esteemed 2024 judicial guests, each sharing their top tips for mastering two critical skills: effective brief writing and compelling oral argument. From structuring your arguments with clarity to answering tough questions with confidence, these judges provide invaluable advice on how to strengthen your advocacy. Tune in, take notes, and get inspired to elevate your legal writing and oral presentations to new heights in your practice.