Episodes

Lindsay Dubin developed the courage early on to push back against other people's expectations. Join us for Episode 21 and hear from Lindsay about her experience as an environmental law litigator, what made her say "No Thanks" to OCI, and her essential tips for students interested in public interest careers. We also talk about some fascinating environmental protection cases, including the story behind a current case involving horseshoe crabs (and their blue blood!) and red knots (a type of bird). Don't miss our conversation with Lindsay Dubin!

Leaning into Liens? Join us for Episode 20(!) and our conversation with Emily Thomas, Senior Counsel at Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Emily shares how she decided that a transactional practice focused on real estate was the path for her, tells us about some of the interesting (and sometimes wonky) issues that come up in real estate deals, and offers insight into the importance of learning the hospitality industry once she went in-house at Hyatt. Join us for this discussion about another area of transactional law (and a few great property-related law jokes).

Delegate Suhas Subramanyam's first call to public service came when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans while he was in college at Tulane. Since that time, Delegate Subramanyam has dedicated himself to public service in a number of ways, including as a campaign volunteer, a legislative assistant, a White House advisor, and now, as an elected official in Virginia. Join us for Episode 19 to hear more about Delegate Subramanyam's journey and how law school impacted his career.

On Episode 18, we chat with Jonathan Jacobson, a Trial Attorney in the Public Integrity Section at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Jonathan shares the story of how he charted his own course to law school, provides his candid take about government service through the DOJ Honors Program, and discusses his transition from civil to criminal practice, including a year as an AUSA in Puerto Rico. Stay tuned for the entire episode to hear about Jonathan's advice for a balanced life and legal practice (hint: it relates to a beagle named Teddy).

On Episode 17, we are joined by Chloe Rossen, Senior Counsel at Longroad Energy in the San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to her job at Longroad, Chloe was an associate at Mayer Brown in Chicago. On this episode, we chat with Chloe about how she decided to go into transactional work, why she decided to make the move from a large law firm to in-house counsel, why she is passionate about being a renewable energy lawyer, and more. Chloe is one of the first transactional lawyers we have had on the podcast, so we’re particularly excited to welcome her to the show!

On Episode 16 we chat with Leah Litman (@LeahLitman). Leah is a Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School. She is the Co-Host of the Strict Scrutiny Podcast (@StrictScrutiny_) and Co-Founder of Women Also Know Law (@WomenKnowLaw). We chat with Leah about her path to legal academia, including her SCOTUS clerkship, her time in private practice, her commitment to gender equity, how she deals with criticism, and her adorable dog, Stevie Nicks.

If you're interested in clerking, this episode is for you! During Episode 15, we chat with Donya Khadem, a University of Michigan Law School graduate who embarked on two clerkships right after graduation. She first clerked on the Eastern District of Michigan and is currently a judicial law clerk on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Donya shares her perspective on clerking for two different federal courts, including what she learned from each clerkship, the differences between a district court and an appellate court clerkship, and how the stereotypes about different types of clerkships may not tell the whole story. Enjoy the show!

In Episode 14, we welcome Todd Belcore to Personal Jurisdiction. Todd is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Social Change, a national nonprofit organization committed to liberation and amplifying community voices through storytelling, organizing, and direct action. We talk to Todd about how and why he started Social Change, his views on abolition and liberation work, how the nonprofit responds to community needs in real time, and his team's work in policy advocacy, direct services, storytelling, and so much more. Enjoy!

In the first episode of Season 2 (!), we speak with labor lawyer Katherine Leung. Katherine is a graduate of Wellesley College and Harvard Law School, and currently works as a Field Attorney at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Washington, D.C. Katherine chats with us about her path to law school, including her experience as a transfer student, her view of employment issues as feminist issues, and the many facets of her job at the NLRB. Celebrate Personal Jurisdiction's Season 2 and listen now!

Happy New Year! In this Bonus Episode, co-hosts Allison and Hallie talk about the themes that came up throughout Season 1 of Personal Jurisdiction. They reflect on what went well, what could be improved, and what their plans are for Season 2. Don't miss this special episode!

Welcome to Episode 12 - the last episode of Season 1! We end Season 1 with an amazing guest: John Mack, Director of Athletics at Princeton University. John's job as Athletic Director at Princeton University is a dream come true for him - and John does something really cool during this episode - he talks about what worked for him and what didn't work for him in his legal career. In fact, John says it's okay to go to law school and to not be a lawyer. Learn more about John's path in this episode of Personal Jurisdiction. This may be the end of Season 1 but it's not the end of Personal Jurisdiction. We'll be back with a few bonus episodes and with Season 2 coming in 2022. Thank you for your support!

What is it like to move from one firm to another early in your career? Dan Sharpe is a Patent Attorney at the law firm of Bookoff McAndrews in Washington D.C. and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Professional. On Episode 11, Dan shares his path from mechanical engineer to patent examiner and, eventually, to patent attorney. He shares advice on choosing the law firm that is the right fit for you and what it is like to lateral from one firm to another. Dan also shares his thoughts on involvement in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts and why open-mindedness is one of the keys to a fulfilling career.

Have you ever dreamed about what it would be like to start your own law firm? In Episode 10 of Personal Jurisdiction, we chat with solo practitioner and civil rights litigator Tom Kayes. Tom shares his path to solo practice and reminds us that law degrees travel! Tom's helpful insights in this episode remind us that there is no one path to success. You know what goes great with turkey? Podcasts! We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! We're taking a break the week of 11/22 but we will be back in your feed on 11/30.

On Episode 9 of Personal Jurisdiction, we speak with Jordan Matthews about her career as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois. Jordan's career path is so exciting that it may remind you of some of your favorite legal dramas! Tune in this week as Jordan shares what inspired her to go to law school, what she has focused on to develop her skills as an excellent litigator, and how she built authentic connections to help her along the way.

On Episode 8 of Personal Jurisdiction, we speak with Courtney Francik who discusses her career as a public defender at both the state and federal levels. Courtney shares her path from the state legislature to law school, the experiences in law school that helped her decide to pursue a career in public defense, and the triumphs and challenges she has experienced throughout her career.

Leslie Kuhn-Thayer developed her leadership skills, team-focused mindset, and discipline during her career as a Division I college athlete and coach. Now, she is Pro Bono Counsel at Sidley Austin in Chicago, IL where she coordinates Sidley's constitutional rights and civil liberties practice, which focuses on prisoners' rights litigation. Leslie had a number of amazing stops along the way, including as an associate in Sidley's litigation practice group, and as a judicial law clerk (twice!). Don't miss our conversation with Leslie Kuhn-Thayer.

On Episode 6 of Personal Jurisdiction, we speak to Amy Chapple, U.S. Commercial Brand Counsel at AbbVie. Amy demystifies the path from litigation associate to in-house counsel, shares the benefits of authentic networking, and describes her role in Diversity and Inclusion efforts at her former firm and in her current role. Don't miss this episode!

Alissa Lietzow is the Executive Director of Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services in South Carolina. Charleston Pro Bono provides civil legal assistance for low-income Charleston County residents at no cost to the client. In this insightful episode, Alissa shares why she decided to go to the local law school in Charleston, the importance of networking and connections, how becoming a mother gave her new insight into what success means, and what legal services work means to her and her community. She also talks coping strategies for when the work gets tough, including creating a "you've got this folder." Tune in to learn more!

My Khanh Ngo is a Staff Attorney at the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project (IRP) in San Francisco, California. In this excellent episode, My Khanh shares how a variety of experiences before and during law school shaped her current legal career, what she does on the day-to-day at IRP, her views on direct services vs. impact litigation work, and so much more. Don't miss her insights and advice for law students and new lawyers too!

On Episode 3 of Personal Jurisdiction, we speak with Anna Fodor about finding purpose in law school and beyond. Anna shares the three pieces of advice she and her colleagues at Marquette gave law students during orientation, and reminds us that it is okay to go your own way!

Sumbul Siddiqui is the Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts and our first guest on Personal Jurisdiction! Mayor Siddiqui chats with us about her early love for constituent services, her drive to serve the community where she grew up, and her path to the Mayor's Office, including the triumphs and challenges along the way. Don't miss this insightful episode with the delightful, driven Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui. Stay tuned after the interview with Mayor Siddiqui for "Due Diligence" - the portion of the show where Hallie and Allison reflect on the guest interview and share a few thoughts that stuck with them from the interview.

Hello! Allison Freedman and Hallie Ritzu here. We are the creators, producers, and co-hosts of Personal Jurisdiction. We're also practicing attorneys and law school professors. In the first episode of Personal Jurisdiction, we interview each other to learn about the paths to our current legal careers - including the ups, the downs, and how we felt about our journeys along the way!

When you look up “Personal Jurisdiction” in Black’s Law Dictionary, it directs you to the entry for “Jurisdiction.” We won’t do that to you. We’re here because there’s not enough good information available for law students and new attorneys to make informed choices about their careers. We’re passionate about candid, informative, and fun discussions with professionals about their post-law school paths. Get a preview of what’s in store for the first season of Personal Jurisdiction. Coming September 2021!