You Are A Lawyer: Take Risks and Change Careers in Law

Irnise Williams is a registered nurse, travel nurse, and practicing attorney. Originally from Connecticut, Irnise attended Howard University for her undergraduate degree and nursing school, then worked as a trauma nurse. Irnise was inspired to become a nurse after multiple positive interactions between the nurses who cared for her grandparents nurses and seeing what an impact those nurses made.

After living in Washington D.C. while the Affordable Care Act was being drafted and discussed, D.C. was abuzz with all things healthcare policy and Irnise could not look the other way.

With her background in nursing, Irnise wanted to explore the intersection of law and healthcare. After weighing the options of an advanced degree in policy or a law degree, Irnise was certain that she would have more opportunities with a J.D.

Irnise is passionate about maternal health care rights, reproductive rights, and making sure people understand what health care is and what it can be. Irnise believes that when people understand what healthcare can be, they will be able to advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. Irnise Williams is the managing attorney of her own practice and continues to work as a travel nurse.

Irnise Williams is licensed in Maryland. Connect with Irnise Williams on Instagram @yournurselawyer and through her website, IWilliamsLaw.com.

Follow the You Are A Lawyer podcast on Twitter @YouAreA_Lawyer, Instagram @youarealawyer and on LinkedIn. Follow the podcast host, Kyla Denanyoh, on Instagram @mrsdenanyoh. Kyla Denanyoh is a 2015 graduate of Southern University Law Center (SULC) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

You Are A Lawyer is hosted by Kyla Denanyoh. Follow the podcast:

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/YouAreA_Lawyer

Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com

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To celebrate one year of consistency, pre-recording questionnaires, and editing audio files, I want to share five things that surprised me about podcasting. In this episode, I briefly discuss these topics:

1. I have cried about this podcast.
2. I miss the ignorance of being a law student.
3. "Niches make Riches."
4. I can hear a smile.
5. This podcast is not only for law school graduates.

Thank you for listening and supporting the podcast.

Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and tell a friend about this podcast.

Reza Yassi wants you to change the way you think about hiring and legal internships. His company, Attornneed, connects law firms and law students with assignment-based, virtual internships.

As a 2L, Reza was contacted by a friend from law school and asked to complete a research assignment. Reza took the idea and used it in the Hofstra Venture Capitalist Challenge and found that Attornneed was a viable idea.

In his 3L year, Reza had friends and classmates join Attornneed and get connected with virtual internships of at least eight hours. Small and mid-sized law firms loved the concept and law students enjoy the chance to experience different practice areas without a semester-long commitment.

Attornneed is unlike many other virtual internships because the company is established; having the experience of providing virtual internships before this was trendy and Attornneed looks for reasons to say 'Yes' to an intern.

Reza Yassi is licensed in New York. Connect with Attornneed on Instagram @attornneed and visit their website, www.attornneed.com.

You Are A Lawyer is hosted by Kyla Denanyoh. Follow the podcast:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YouAreA_Lawyer

Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com

Join the FREE mailing list and get behind-the-scenes content from Kyla.

1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com

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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Grab Kyla's favorite books here: https://amzn.to/3FpCo2K

Susan Guthrie was a freshman in college when she was involved in an accident that caused her to think differently about the legal process. The lawsuit that was filed from the accident, was filed because of the accident, and Susan's experiences with a lawyer caused Susan to find out the behind the curtain information about the law and why certain actions are taken, questions are asked, and why lawsuits have so much ceremony and procedure.

After law school, Susan began working with a law office and shadowing a lot of different lawyers. Susan found out that family law was a great fit for her skillset. Susan is nationally recognized as a prominent family law lawyer, even though Susan was not interested in family law (or the way it was presented) while in law school.

While Susan enjoyed practicing family law for 28 years, Susan moved to California and created How to Mediate Online to teach people to create a mediation practice. Susan is an advocate of making sure that the parties get to an agreement that is best for them and her courses are not only available to law school graduates, but to anyone with an interest in learning to mediate online.

Not only is Susan the subject matter expert in mediation, but because Susan is sought out for her expertise in virtual training because she has been teaching and training in this manner for a number of years. Susan is also the host of the How to Mediate Online podcast and the Divorce and Beyond podcast.

Susan credits law school with teaching her to think critically, appreciate the relationship of facts and logic, and how to think like a lawyer; skills she uses in the four businesses that she owns. Susan Guthrie is the owner of Divorce A Better Way, the Mosten Guthrie Academy, and Learn to Mediate Online.

Susan Guthrie is licensed in Connecticut, New York, and California. Connect with Susan on Twitter @guthrielaw and @divorcebeyond. Connect with Susan on Instagram @susanguthrieesq, @learntomediateonline, and @divroceandbeyond.

You Are A Lawyer is hosted by Kyla Denanyoh. Follow the podcast:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YouAreA_Lawyer

Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com

Join the FREE mailing list and get behind-the-scenes content from Kyla.

1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com

2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR

3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen

4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Grab a book mentioned in this episode: https://amzn.to/3FpCo2K

After being asked repeatedly if she knew a lawyer who did this, that or the other thing, Kisha Brown created Justis Connection to make it easier for Black lawyers to find clients and share their services with the community. Finding that Black lawyers had to work twice as hard to build a book of business, whether the lawyer was in an established firm or private practice, Kisha solved the problem of how to refer lawyers to the community. Justis Connection is a digital greenbook of lawyers.

After Kisha Brown worked at Cravath, Swain and Moore as a paralegal and practiced in Baltimore working with non-custodial parents and advocating for fair child support, Kisha saw the great need for a legal network in the "DMV" (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia). Kisha saw the law as an avenue to pursue her passions and know what the law says, use it, yield the law and craft the law to assist others.

Although Justis Connection was initially created to spotlight Black lawyers, this company is a networking and referral service for all clients. Kisha hires interns to work with Justis Connection, where she can mentor them and teach them soft skills about timeliness, communications and how to become a better writer. In the future, Kisha Brown expects Justis Connection to be the premier referral resource in the country.

Kisha Brown is licensed in Maryland. Connect with Kisha Brown on Instagram @JustisConnection, Facebook "JustisConnection", LinkedIn and Twitter @JustisConnect.

You Are A Lawyer is hosted by Kyla Denanyoh. Follow the podcast:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YouAreA_Lawyer

Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com

Join the FREE mailing list and get behind-the-scenes content from Kyla.

1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com

2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR

3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen

4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Grab Kyla's favorite books here: https://amzn.to/3FpCo2K

Robert Uy is a immigration and family law, domestic violence and human trafficking law. This Filipino descendant grew up with intentions to become a lawyer, doctor, accountant or engineer; these were the only career options that his parents and grandparents allowed him to entertain.

So it was rebellious when Robert decided to change from his pre-med college major into a history major who took an Asian-american studies course. After participating with the Asian American Legal Center and Asian Pacific American Legal Development Program, Robert knew that he needed to advocate for others and believes that immigration law is the modern day civil rights law.

While no two work days are the same for Robert, Robert found himself drawing and doodling when he was anxious. When the interest arose for Robert to sell his creations, Robert decided to take his art work and share it with the world through pop art and street art motif designs.

In 2020, Robert Uy created Pandamic Clothing Company to display his artwork and bring awareness to various social justice issues. Hoodies, mugs, shirts and bags display the street art and graphic motifs and a portion of the proceeds often go back to the social justice organizations.

Robert Uy is licensed in California. Connect with Robert Uy on LinkedIn, Instagram @pandamicclothing, and their website, www.pandamic.net. Visit Robert Uy's law firm website www.uylawgroup.com.

You Are A Lawyer is hosted by Kyla Denanyoh. Follow the podcast:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YouAreA_Lawyer

Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com

Join the FREE mailing list and get behind-the-scenes content from Kyla.

1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com

2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR

3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen

4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Grab Kyla's favorite books here: https://amzn.to/3FpCo2K

Originally from Houston, Texas, Brianna Herman moved around to Tennessee and Austin for school, but found her way back to Houston to serve her community. While at Fisk University, Brianna worked in various public service roles which ultimately caused her to pursue law instead her original interest in business.

Brianna has spent her life chasing a spark. A spark to do more with her life, a spark to advocate for justice, a spark to do more. That spark led Brianna to study abroad in China before which led her to learn more about herself. The spark also led Brianna to the University of Texas to study law, where a Critical Race Theory course changed her life.

Brianna is an advocate for passing the mic to the undervalued and under-resourced people in our communities. Currently, Brianna is an Assistant District Attorney in Harris Country and is tasked with delivering justice to victims.

Brianna Herman is licensed in Texas. Connect with Brianna on Instagram @ms.briannamarie.

You Are A Lawyer is hosted by Kyla Denanyoh. Follow the podcast:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YouAreA_Lawyer

Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com

Join the FREE mailing list and get behind-the-scenes content from Kyla.

1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com

2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR

3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen

4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Grab Kyla's favorite books here: https://amzn.to/3FpCo2K

After being exposed to live theater at the age of five, Gordon Firemark continued to be impressed by theater, but he wasn't an actor. Gordon worked on various theater productions while in high school and later was a television producer for a sports media network, before becoming a theater producer.

Gordon credits law school for the business acumen and better understanding about financing and contracts. Gordon Firemark is the author of the book, Podcast, Blog and New Media Producers Legal Survivor's Guide.

Gordon Firemark is licensed in California. Connect with Gordon Firemark on Facebook at "podcastlaw," on Twitter @gfiremark, and on LinkedIn at "gfiremark."

You Are A Lawyer is hosted by Kyla Denanyoh. Follow the podcast:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YouAreA_Lawyer

Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com

Join the FREE mailing list and get behind-the-scenes content from Kyla.

1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com

2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR

3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen

4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Grab Kyla's favorite books here: https://amzn.to/3FpCo2K

In this episode, Kyla Denanyoh thanks the audience for listening to the podcast and taking a chance with a niche subject matter.

Kyla builds anticipation for Season Two of the You Are A Lawyer podcast which begins on February 4, 2021.

Get alerts when new episodes are released by visiting the podcast website, youarealawyer.com, and joining the mailing list.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @youarealawyer, on Twitter @YouAreA_Lawyer, and follow the LinkedIn business page called "You Are A Lawyer."

Kyle Sherman attended law school because he enjoyed undergraduate school and wasn't ready to leave academia. However, Kyle quickly realized that he hated law school. After a conversation with his mother, Kyle understood that he did not have to formally practice law with his law degree. This pivotal moment propelled Kyle through law school and into his own firm.

Tired of being a good lawyer and motivated to become a great lawyer, Kyle enrolled in the Gerry Spence Trial College… when he applied for the second time. Attending the trial college inspired Kyle to become a trainer with Trojan Horse, a program that teaches presentation skills.

Between litigating and jujitsu, Kyle also owns Trial Structure. Trial Structure is a comprehensive plan that includes webinars, courses and content geared to assist plaintiff's lawyers with presenting, taking depositions, and preparing witnesses.

Kyle believes that being a more empathetic person will make one a better lawyer, because you must feel how someone else feels to be able to understand their perspective and persuade them.

Kyle Sherman is licensed in Louisiana. Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn and visit TrialStructure.com for additional details. Visit BrandtSherman.com for more details about Kyle's law firm.

You Are A Lawyer is hosted by Kyla Denanyoh. Follow the podcast:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YouAreA_Lawyer

Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com

Join the FREE mailing list and get behind-the-scenes content from Kyla.

1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com

2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR

3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen

4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Grab Kyla's favorite books here: https://amzn.to/3FpCo2K