What does it mean to show up when no one else will? In this episode of The Unscripted Order Podcast, The Law School Series, we give the mic away entirely — turning it over to the students of the Mid-Atlantic Black Law Student Association (MABLSA) at their 58th Annual Regional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Led by 3L William & Mary Law Student and MABLSA Regional Chair Mecca Vance, you'll hear from several student voices who are doing the work — building community, leading organizations, fighting imposter syndrome, and pushing toward a future where the legal profession looks different than it does today. Only 5% of attorneys in the United States are Black. These students are doing something about it. In this episode:

— What MABLSA is and why it exists

— The reality of leading a 23-person volunteer nonprofit while in law school

— How to survive 1L without losing yourself to the curve

— Why solidarity has to exist beyond your own institution

— What it felt like when the Philadelphia City Council honored MABLSA with a formal resolution

— The power of mentorship for first-generation law students— What it means to pass the torch

— and build something bigger than yourself

Featuring:

🎙️ Mecca Vance — 3L, William & Mary School of Law | MABLSA Regional Chair

🎙️ Makayla "MK" Graham — 2L, Howard University School of Law

🎙️ Zach St. Hubert — 3L, Howard University School of Law

🎙️ Frantzy Luzincurt — 2L, Howard University School of Law | VP, Student Bar Association

🎙️ Ron Thompson — 2L, Howard University School of Law | NBLSA National Board Member

🎙️ Samantha Ewiah — 2L, Howard University School of Law | MABLSA Financial Secretary

🎙️ Emmanuel Olanrewaju — 2L, Howard University School of Law | MABLSA Regional Treasurer

🎙️ Max Toppin— Law Student, Penn State Dickinson Law

The Unscripted Order Podcast is hosted by Judge Smalls and Judge Bugg — two sitting judges on a mission to humanize the judiciary and make the legal system more accessible to everyone. New episodes drop regularly on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

🎧 Listen on Spotify

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📸 Follow on Instagram: @UnscriptedOrder

We pulled up to the nation's first law school — William & Mary School of Law — and sat down with two of its finest for Episode 14 of the Unscripted Order Podcast.

Meet Mecca Vance and Jason Whitted. Two third-year law students. Two incredible journeys. And one unscripted conversation about what law school actually looks like when you're smart, driven, and almost done.

Mecca grew up in Detroit, attended Howard University, and came to William & Mary with a business background and a fire in her belly rooted in foster care, family, and community. After graduation, she's heading to Boleman Law — the largest consumer bankruptcy firm in Virginia — where she plans to give every client the dignity they deserve.

Jason comes from a family of lawyers. His great-grandfather was the first Black judge in the 10th Judicial District of Virginia. His father was a prosecutor and now is a judge. After graduating from JMU and serving in student leadership at W&M Law, Jason is heading to Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen to fight for plaintiffs who can't navigate the system alone.

In this episode, we get into all of it:

→ Growing up around the criminal justice system — and letting it fuel you instead of break you→ Imposter syndrome: what it really sounds like when someone questions whether you earned your grade→ ADHD, anxiety, and the mental health cost of law school nobody talks about→ What lawyers actually do all day (hint: it's not jury trials every day)→ The weight of being someone's last line of defense→ Why bankruptcy is a tool, not a failure→ What judges wish more young lawyers understood before walking into the courtroom→ How two judges ended up on the bench when neither of them planned on it→ And the one word every 1L needs to hear right now

Plus — Mecca and Jason flip the script and ask US the hard questions. And we answer.

This is Episode 14. The Law School Series continues. And these two are Almost Esquire.

🎙️ SUBSCRIBE to The Unscripted Order Podcast so you never miss an episode.📲 Follow us on Instagram: @unscriptedorder🎵 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — search "Unscripted Order"📩 Slide into our DMs — we read them (as long as you're not talking too crazy)

⚖️ DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this podcast is intended to create an attorney-client relationship or constitute legal advice. All content is presented for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. If you have a legal question, please consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

Some people are shaped by greatness. Dean A. Benjamin Spencer was raised by it.

The first Black Dean of William & Mary School of Law — and the first Black Dean of any school or department in the College's entire history — Dean Spencer sits down with us for a conversation that is equal parts inspiring, real, and unforgettable.

In this episode, we go beyond the title. Dean Spencer takes us through his full journey — from his upbringing in a family of trailblazers, to his career as a practicing attorney, to finding his true calling in the classroom. We talk about his deep passion for civil procedure and why he believes it is one of the most misunderstood and undervalued subjects in legal education. We talk about what it means to lead an institution, the weight of the challenges that come with the dean's chair, and why he shows up every single day with purpose.

And then there's the part of his story that reminds you what it's all about — his family. Dean Spencer and his wife are raising nine children. College students. High schoolers. Middle schoolers. Elementary schoolers. A full house, a full life, and a full heart.

This episode is about excellence without arrogance. Confidence without ego. Legacy without pressure. If you've ever doubted yourself — your ability, your worth, your place in the room — Dean Spencer's story is the reminder you didn't know you needed.

Don't doubt yourself. Know yourself.

🎙️ Episode 13 | The Law School Series — William & Mary School of Law

In this powerful episode of The Unscripted Order Podcast, Judges Bugg and Smalls sit down with the Honorable Chief Justice Bernard Goodwyn — retired Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court — for a conversation about life, legacy, faith, and the long road to greatness.Chief Justice Goodwyn takes us all the way back to his humble beginnings, walking us through the journey that shaped him into the man and the jurist he became. From his early days finding his footing as a young lawyer, to navigating the challenges and triumphs that came with climbing the legal ladder, Chief Justice Goodwyn holds nothing back. He shares the life lessons, the sacrifices, the faith, and the determination it truly took to rise all the way to the highest court in the Commonwealth of Virginia.This is more than a legal story. This is a blueprint for anyone who has ever had a big dream and wondered if they had what it takes to see it through.Whether you're a law student, a young professional, someone who comes from humble beginnings, or simply someone who needs to be reminded that greatness is possible — this episode is for YOU. 🙏🏾📺 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you never miss a new episode!❤️ Follow & Like us on Instagram🎧 Stream on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — and please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review! It helps us grow and reach more people who need to hear these stories.

Some cases don’t just pass through the courtroom.
They pass through you.

In Season 2, Episode 3 of The Unscripted Order Podcast, Judges Dontae' Bugg and Brian Smalls reflect on the cases that changed them forever. From moments that tested integrity to trials that reshaped perspective, this episode pulls back the curtain on the human side of the bench and the bar.

These aren’t just legal stories.
They’re turning points.
Moments where preparation met pressure.
Moments where truth collided with trust.
Moments that left a permanent imprint.

This is the side of judging and advocacy you don’t see in textbooks.

🎙️ Watch. Reflect. Share.
Because sometimes the case that changes everything… changes you first.

In Season 2, Episode 2 of The Unscripted Order Podcast, the judges take you behind the bench and into the preparation process that happens long before the gavel sounds.How does a judge prepare for a full docket? What role does legal research play? Do judges really know every area of the law? In this episode, we break down the importance of ongoing education, reviewing case law, relying on attorneys’ arguments, signing orders, responding to emails, and seeking wisdom before stepping into the courtroom.Judging is more than what happens in open court. It’s study, structure, discernment, and discipline.If you’ve ever wondered what goes into judicial decision-making before a ruling is announced, this episode pulls back the curtain.Subscribe to the channel, follow us on Instagram, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you enjoy the conversation, leave a five-star review and share it with someone who wants to better understand the courtroom from the inside.

Season 2 of The Unscripted Order Podcast begins by going Beyond the Robe.In this premiere episode, Judges Smalls and Bugg return to the bench to reflect on what Season 1 revealed, how the podcast changed them, and what people still don’t see about life as a judge. This conversation isn’t about statutes or procedure. It’s about responsibility, pressure, growth, and the human side of holding authority.This season, we’re widening the conversation. You’ll hear from judges, lawyers, law students, and the women who raised judges, all through one lens: who we are when the robe comes off.Every episode still ends Off the Record, because titles matter, but people matter more.📅 New episodes drop every other Thursday at 5 PM📍 Watch on YouTube | Watch/Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss an episode

Every journey has people who helped pave the way — mentors, teachers, coaches, and colleagues who saw something in us before we saw it in ourselves.

In Episode 7 of The Unscripted Order Podcast, Judge Smalls and Judge Bugg reflect on the influencers who shaped their paths — in the classroom, on the field, and ultimately, in the courtroom.

Judge Smalls opens up about his early academic challenges — being misunderstood by some teachers and uplifted by others who recognized his potential. He shares how those experiences taught him the power of perspective and purpose.

Judge Bugg highlights the profound impact of his first-grade teacher, Dr. Carlton Ashby, the first Black male educator he ever had — a lifelong mentor who helped him stay focused and grounded.

Together, they discuss how positive influences in academics, athletics, and the legal profession helped mold their character, leadership, and integrity on their journey to the bench.

🎧 Tune in for authentic stories, real lessons, and powerful reflections on how influence — both positive and negative — can shape destiny.

📅 Premieres Thursday, November 13 at 5 PM (EST)

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#TheUnscriptedOrderPodcast #JudgeSmalls #JudgeBugg #InfluencersEpisode #Mentorship #RepresentationMatters #Leadership #Purpose #Athletics #Academics #LegalProfession #PositiveInfluence #FromTheClassroomToTheCourtroom #FaithAndFocus #GrowthMindset #UnscriptedAndInOrder #PodcastMotivation #LifeLessons #JudicialJourney

In Episode 6 of The Unscripted Order Podcast, Judges Smalls and Bugg dive into their Top 5 movies and TV shows of all time — and also focusing on soundtracks and theme songs that defined an era. 🎶From The Color Purple and Boyz N the Hood to The Last Dragon and Hustle & Flow, the judges share stories, laughs, and a few surprises along the way — including a shocking revelation that Judge Bugg has NEVER seen The Last Dragon! 😳Expect nostalgia, hilarious debates, movie quotes, and heartfelt memories from two judges who grew up loving film, music, and culture just like you.🎥 Watch Episode 6 now!📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: The Unscripted Order Podcast🎧 Also available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts⭐️ Leave us a 5-star review on those platforms📲 Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes moments and upcoming clips

**🎙️ Episode 5 – The Great Debate | The Unscripted Order Podcast**The bench gets *heated* in this one! 🔥 Judges Bugg and Smalls go head-to-head in a series of lively debates — from who’s the greatest rapper of all time to the best R&B groups ever to bless a mic. 🎤 In their Off the Record segment, the Judges discuss their guilty pleasures. They close out with a sneak peek regarding upcoming announcements.But it’s not all arguing — there’s laughter, nostalgia, and even a few vocals when Judge Smalls breaks into song (with Judge Bugg ready to DJ the set). 🎶Join us for a fun, unfiltered look into the minds of two judges who aren’t afraid to keep it *real* and *unscripted*.📅 **Episode 5: The Great Debate** out now!🎥 Watch the full episode right here on Spotify on YouTube🎧 Also available on **YouTube** and **Apple Podcasts**👇🏾If you’re rocking with us:✅ Subscribe to the channel💬 Drop your favorite debate in the comments⭐️ Leave us a 5-star review on Spotify & Apple #TheUnscriptedOrderPodcast #TheGreatDebate #JudgeBugg #JudgeSmalls #757 #RNB #HipHop #Podcast #RealTalk #Biggie #Tupac