On this week’s episode, Lenny speaks with Matt McHenry and Thalia Sady on the drug decriminalization measures recently passed in the Oregon general election. Both Matt and Thalia share a passion for the Portland community where Thalia serves as an attorney with the Metropolitan Public Defender dealing in state matters, while Matt is a partner at the law firm of Levine & McHenry where he focuses on federal issues.

Blazing a Trail to Drug Decriminalization

Following their discussion of historical litigation addressing affirmative action in education, Johannes and Andy continue the Greatest Hits series by discussing the landmark Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. They discuss the facts of the case and the Court’s majority opinion, while briefly addressing the separately filed concurring and dissenting opinions. Finally, they discuss the impact this will have on the education sector as well as in a larger employment context, specifically, on how this ruling will affect corporate hiring and diversity programs.

Fair Admissions v. Harvard part 2: A Future Law School Greatest Hit

In this week's episode, Maris and Karan sit down with fellow Loyola student and friend, Audrey La, to reflect on their experiences at the annual National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Convention. At the conference, the three attended a variety of workshops, including panels discussing the legal histories of AAPI folks that are often invisible in the legal curriculum and the importance of cross-cultural solidarity. Savoring the empowerment that comes with building community with thousands of AAPI attorneys at the convention, Maris, Karan, and Audrey discuss the importance of affinity spaces in the legal industry and the need to tell diverse stories in the legal classroom.

Reflections on Affinity Spaces in the Legal Industry

Ben sits down with Loyola Distinguished Professor in Residence, Dean Strang to discuss his role in the seminal U.S. Supreme Court Case United States v. Booker in 2005. In Part 1 of this two-episode series, Ben and Professor Strang focus on the specifics and do a deep dive into the facts, legal rules, holdings, and outcomes associated with U.S. v. Booker. In doing so, they discuss what led Professor Strang to this case in the first place as well as the implications of federal sentencing enhancements and district courts’ adherence to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines before and after the ruling.

Supreme Courting Pt. 1

Ben sits down with Loyola Distinguished Professor in Residence, Dean Strang to discuss his role in the seminal U.S. Supreme Court Case United States v. Booker in 2005. In Part 2 of this two-episode series, Ben and Professor Strang move away from the legal facts of the case and begin to discuss the experience of litigating in the Supreme Court. In doing so, they explore the preparation process, specific tips for appellate litigation, and lessons learned while litigating in the highest Court in the land.

Supreme Courting Part 2

Associate Editor Karan Kaushal and Co-Editor-in-Chief Nneka Ugwu invited Professor Neil Williams for a very unique and special episode of the Pod. In this storytelling forward format, Professor Williams leads listeners on a journey from Jim Crow South to Chicago big law. Listen and learn about how his upbringing informs his views on lawyering for racial justice (inspired by his legal idols Norman Amaker and Charles Hamilton Houston), the importance of mentorship, and advice he has for law students and young professionals.

The Arc Still Bends Toward Justice: A Career Retrospective with Professor Neil Williams

In this solo episode, Casey dives into the web of collateral consequences of a criminal conviction, and how both attorneys and judges can better inform people charged with crimes of the consequences beyond a sentence.

Collateral Consequences

In this episode, Maris chats with Jamie Cernek, a Legislative Aide at the Chicago City Council Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight. Jamie is an attorney and organizer with years of experience in policy and advocacy, coalition-building, and campaign management. Even before law school, Jamie knew that policy was the path for her. In this episode, she reflects on this vision and how it carried her through her time at Georgetown Law. She also imparts wisdom for students exploring non-traditional legal paths and the role of policy experts in crafting tangible solutions for their communities.

Policy, Law, and Community Building

Ben sits down with Chief Defender of the Orleans Public Defenders Office (OPD), Danny Engelberg, to discuss the founding of the office as it is today as well as the events that led to the office’s remodeling after the destruction brought on by Hurricane Katrina. In doing so, they discuss OPD’s commitment to a community-centered defense model and the offices’ wholistic approach to advocacy and representation in New Orleans.

Rebuilding

Podvocate Associate Editor, Johannes Alvarez-Rivero, sits down to give the listeners a primer on the field of antitrust within the United States of America. First, Johannes discusses what antitrust laws are and what they are meant to protect. Johannes briefly discusses the governmental regulatory bodies that enforce antitrust laws, then turns to discussing the history of antitrust laws in the nation, taking time to discuss some of the most seminal case rulings in this field's history. Finally, Johannes touches on the state of antitrust law today and some of the hot topic areas of interest being discussed by legal scholars pertaining to antitrust laws.

Antitrust For Dummies - Episode 1 - A Primer In American Antitrust

Law students at Loyola University Chicago School of Law explore legal topics and engage in the intentional infliction of emotional discourse.

Blazing a Trail to Drug Decriminalization

The Podvocate

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