Young Lawyer Rising

In this special episode of Young Lawyer Rising, host Montana Funk is joined by law firm owner and adjunct professor, Karen Lapekas, to discuss the ins and outs of pro bono work. The two cover a wide range of topics, including: What is Pro Bono? Why Does it Matter? When to Take a Case? How to Get Involved? Pro Bono Burnout, Benefits of Pro Bono Work, and Common Misconceptions. Don't miss this great episode!

By Karen Lapekas

• 5 (Good) Reasons Not to Do Pro Bono Work

Additional Resources

• Stepping Up to Your 50 Hours
• Get Out There and Provide Pro Bono
• Develop Your Legal Skills by Supporting Disaster Survivors
• Participate in Meaningful Pro Bono from Your Home: ABA Free Legal Answers
• ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service
• ABA Young Lawyers Division

You want to help people, and you want to use the law to do it. More and more, public interest law has become a popular career path for young lawyers. But how do you become a public interest lawyer? And what steps can you take to stand out in pursuing a public service legal career? 

To help answer these questions, Civil Rights Attorney, Public Policy Expert and Author, Portia Allen-Kyle joins the podcast to share tips and advice for young lawyers interested in public interest lawyering. In this episode, learn how to use your resumé and cover letter to build your brand and launch a dynamic public interest career; as well as steps you can take to stand out in the application process. 

• What is public interest law?
• What do public interest lawyers do?
• Why public interest lawyers are among the happiest in the legal profession.
• What makes someone stand out in a resumé and cover letter?
• Steps young lawyers can take to get involved in public interest.

By Portia Allen-Kyle

• Advice to Thrive By: How to Use Your Resume and Cover Letter to Build Your Brand and Launch a Dynamic Public Interest Career

Additional Resources

• Can You Create a Financially Viable Future in Public Interest Law?
• ABA Center for Public Interest Law
• ABA Young Lawyers Division

The demanding hours and stressful work environments of the legal industry can often have detrimental effects on lawyers and legal professionals. Mental health issues among lawyers are notoriously prevalent, as are suicide, substance abuse and addiction. 

So, what exactly attributes to the severe stress, high burnout rates and mental health concerns among lawyers? And, why does mental health matter for the legal profession? To talk about all of this , attorney and mental health expert, Joe Ankus joins the show to discuss the importance of addressing mental health concerns in the legal industry; as well as share some constructive tips on how to improve lawyer well-being to become a better (more happy) practitioner. 

Joe Ankus is the President of Attorney Mental Health Education, Inc. and President of Ankus Consulting, Inc. - one of South Florida’s longest established and respected legal recruiting firms.

By Joe Ankus

• How to Talk about Mental Health with Your Employer

Additional Resources

• How Sleep Affects Your Health
• How Lawyers Can Manage Stress and Cortisol Levels
• ABA Young Lawyers Division
• ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs

Launching your legal career after law school is exciting, energizing, and—let’s face it—discombobulating. And no matter how long you’ve been practicing, there's always something new to learn. In this episode of the 'Young Lawyers Rising' podcast, host Montana Funk is joined by litigation attorney, Erin Rhinehart to discuss:

• Ways to standout in the workplace as a junior associate
• How to successfully jump start your legal career
• How to balance expectations after coming out of law school and entering the legal profession
• Tips to achieving your personal and professional goals as a new lawyer

Erin Rhinehart is the Co-Managing Partner of Faruki PLL, and has been repeatedly recognized as one of America’s Top 100 Bet the Company Litigators. Her litigation practice focuses on class action defense, media and communications law, breach of contract, non-compete, tortious interference, and healthcare and environmental litigation matters.

By Erin Rhinehart

• Pulling Back the Curtain on Partnership
• Your Ability to Lead Is Vital to a Successful Legal Career

Additional Resources

• How to Think Like a Lawyer
• Incorporating Interpersonal Skills in Everyday Law Practice
• The Client in the Next Office
• The Importance of Asking "Why?"
• Get Into the Big Client Meetings and Important Hearings
• Building a Career You Love as a Young Lawyer
• ABA Young Lawyers Division
• ABA Career Center

Women in the criminal justice system continue to face a number of different challenges and career barriers; especially as it relates to hiring, retention, and promotion. So, why are women lawyers underrepresented in criminal justice? Why do so many women leave the practice of criminal law? And, what can we do about it? Joining the podcast to discuss these issues is law professor and author, Maryam Ahranjani.

Maryam Ahranjani is an experienced law professor at the University of New Mexico (UNM), where she teaches in the areas of constitutional, criminal and education law. She is also a textbook author, rule of law and human rights consultant, program manager and evaluator, and curriculum designer.

By Maryam Ahranjani

• Why Are Women Lawyers Underrepresented in Criminal Justice?

Additional Resources

• ABA Task Force: Women in Criminal Justice
• ABA Criminal Justice Section
• ABA Young Lawyers Division

Are you a fresh grad about to start working as a lawyer, or a relatively junior lawyer still figuring things out? The road to becoming a lawyer certainly isn’t an easy one; and the shift from studying law to actually practicing law can seem a bit intimidating. 

In this episode of Young Lawyer Rising, guest and litigation attorney Dave Scriven-Young shares top tips for starting your legal career off on the right foot, as well as some common mistakes young lawyers make early on. Get professional insights and practical advice on:

• How to Pick the Right Law Firm and Law Practice Area for You
• How to Get Involved in Your Practice Areas of Interest
• The Benefits of Having a Good Mentor and How to Develop a Legal Mentorship Team
• Goals Young Lawyers Should Set and Try to Accomplish Early on in Their Legal Career
• How to Build Confidence as a New Lawyer
• What Young Lawyers Need to Know About Career Planning
• Tips to Make You Stand Out as a Junior Lawyer
• Steps to Take to Ensure Your Success as a New Lawyer

We also welcome our new host of Young Lawyer Rising, Montana Funk! Montana is a criminal defense attorney in Billings, Montana.

Additional Resources:

• How to Think Like a Lawyer
• Incorporating Interpersonal Skills in Everyday Law Practice
• The Client in the Next Office
• The Importance of Asking "Why?"
• Get Into the Big Client Meetings and Important Hearings
• Some Advice for the New or Soon-to-Be New Lawyer
• Building a Career You Love as a Young Lawyer
• ABA Young Lawyers Division
• ABA Career Center

How can the legal profession be more supportive of law students and lawyers with disabilities? In a profession already marked by the hypercompetitive pursuit of performance and achievement, young lawyers often face pressure to downplay their disabilities. In addition, access to accommodations for law students and lawyers with disabilities can be difficult, adding a lot of stress to an already stressful process. 

In this special episode, host Sonia Russo sits down with three different lawyers to hear their stories, struggles and triumphs of dealing with disability in law school and the legal profession. Hear how these three inspiring young lawyers overcame the unique challenges of law school, navigated the LSAT and bar exam, their process of finding a job after law school, and their continued work and perseverance in the legal industry today. 

• How the Legal Industry Often Lets Down Lawyers With Disabilities
• What is the definition of 'Disability'?
• How to Support Law Students and Lawyers with Disabilities
• Improving Disability Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession

Guests on this Episode:

Elizabeth Hardcastle – Partner with Sidley Austin, LLP

John Broadbent – Corporate Attorney and Disability Advocate with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP

Spencer Hill – Environmental and White Collar Litigation Lawyer at MANKO | GOLD | KATCHER | FOX LLP

Episode Resources:

The Time is Now | A Conversation on Disabilities and Change

John Broadbent at TEDxDuke

On average, everything you are buying today costs 7% more than it did a year ago. In this show of the Young Lawyer Rising Podcast, financial speaker-writer-consultant Eric Rosenberg joins host Mathew Kerbis to discuss the effects of rising inflation and how best to beat these effects through good investment decisions and mitigated risk. Learn how to fine tune your portfolio to offset inflation and weather whatever the markets throw at you!

Special thanks to our sponsor, The Velvet Hammer.

Sonia Russo is joined by Shawn Hoover (a first chair trial attorney with the Georgia Capital Public Defenders), Anthony Santos (a deputy district attorney in Jefferson County, Colorado), and U.S. Army Major Earl Wilson (the chief of military justice at the first cavalry division at Fort Hood, Texas). Together, they deep dive into the criminal justice system from the perspective of lawyers of color.

Special thanks to our sponsor, The Velvet Hammer.