Entering the Bar, with Liz Lash Liz Lash

“Just because you’re not wearing a suit, doesn’t mean you’re not working.” 

Aaron and I chat about how you don’t have to “look like a lawyer” to be one, and about his fascinating career path, which landed him at tech company Datadog, where he gets to work at a place that’s like “going to work in a spaceship.” Aaron began working as a DJ in his teens (kinda like the Beastie Boys!), later became a nightclub manager, and, during law school, interned at Atlantic Records—but later ended up in the tech world, courtesy of his background in intellectual property law. (Although, note, for you musicians out there, he does still provide legal advice to artists through his firm, ASF Legal Services.)

We talk about risk, and why it’s important to take it both in your life and in your career, and how understanding it as a concept can help you better advise your clients; why you should learn to “speak the language” of your industry; and finally how—no matter the industry—relationships are everything. Plus—how entertainment companies are not always the bad guy, and why creative people need support so they can continue to do the important work — of creating.

We also discuss how, to figure out the area of law in which you want to specialize, “be purposeful” in finding those people who are doing the work you want to do, in the industries in which you want to work. According to Aaron, even if it's cool to work with music artists, that shouldn’t be your only motivation…. Aaron also reminds us of some universal legal advice, a.k.a. what your parents likely told you growing up: everyone needs an attorney!

And, of course, where would we be without a drinking story? I’ll give you a hint: it involves a 90 year-old’s birthday party, chance encounters on an airplane’s first class cabin, and Cash Cash, a popular EDM band best known for their hit Take Me Home.

The music featured on this week's episode is “Entering the Bar Theme Music,” composed by Sam Carden for Entering the Bar®.

On this episode, I chat with Marc Minor, who is a busy man—he is founder and president of CJM Consulting; serves as Marstone, Inc.’s Chief Compliance Officer; and is also an adjunct professor at Seton Hall’s law school! Marc is currently teaching a course that covers everything FinTech: robo-advisors, big data, AI, digital currency, cybersecurity, and more.

We discuss Marc’s pivot from investigative journalism to law (thanks to a helpful journalism advisor) and his discovery that the law is “maybe the best tool ever” to “cast light” and “root out injustice.” To some degree, almost every role Marc has chosen has served to protect the individual and “root out injustice”—as well as develop his experience in “business shenanigan” lawyering, as he calls it (!).

Marc first discovered his love of "business shenanigans" when he served as an associate in private practice at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP. From that point, Marc has worked to protect the investing public in a variety of roles: from bureau chief for the New York and New Jersey Attorney General’s offices, to enforcement director with the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, to senior counsel with FINRA, to Assistant Attorney General for the New York Attorney General. And before that, Marc specialized in criminal law at both the Ohio Attorney General’s office and the Ohio Public Defender’s office—whew!

Marc and I chat about the transition from advising a client, to becoming the client (Marc likens it to “being shot out of a cannon”!). Marc also explains the process he used as a regulator to weigh enforcement actions, and the delicate balance involved between protecting the investing public—while ensuring continued market innovation.

And what about when Marc is not wearing his “law hat”? Well, he turns on WBGO and get some creative writing in during the late night hours. (In fact, Marc wrote a children’s book in law school—between classes! Color me impressed.) We talk about how writing can be an “act of catharsis” and how, as writers, we decide what might “make the cut”; the slow road to improvement; and the necessity of developing humility (and a thick skin!) in the editing process.

And since you’re listening to Entering the Bar, of course, Marc answers the most dangerous question of all—with diplomacy. Apparently after the bar, you should always “take your revelry to Dayton!” (Evidently, what happens in Dayton, stays in Dayton—at least during post-bar celebrations.)

Marc also imparts some sage advice for would-be lawyers: don’t wake up your study partners in the middle of the night to talk about exams! And finally—and even more importantly: don’t be afraid to take opportunities that might initially appear to be “outside of your lane.”

The music featured on this week's episode is “Entering the Bar Theme Music,” composed by Sam Carden for Entering the Bar®.

On this week’s episode, I welcome listeners to join me as we enter the New Year, with some legal poetry from yours truly, as well as my own updated spin on a poem entitled “Law and Poetry” by James Williams, a fellow lawyer-poet who practiced law and wrote poetry back in the 1880’s. (Hint: my own version contains a few references to “current” celebrities with legal training!)

To read more poetry by Mr. Williams, you can find republication of his two works, “Briefless Ballads and Legal Lyrics” on Amazon and Project Gutenberg, and “Ventures in Verse,” also on Amazon and Project Gutenberg.

To all of my listeners: may you have a happy, healthy, and productive 2020!

The music featured on this week's episode is “Entering the Bar Theme Music,” composed by Sam Carden for Entering the Bar®.

On this episode, I interview Katie Lara, travel and beauty writer and senior attorney at the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU), a part of the Better Business Bureau.

As part of her day job, Katie helps to provide valuable guidance to companies by, for instance, keeping marketing newbies from committing grievous errors...like locking children in a freezer (“so not ok!”), and testing out mobile app games (sounds like something I’d like to try!). And then there’s Katie’s ever-evolving “side hustle,” which started with her first blog, Smarty Panties (now katielara.com). While continuing her blog, Katie also got into the freelance game: writing for Fodor’s, the Huffington Post, and Forbes Travel (among others)—all while working full-time.

Katie and I chat about the interrelatedness of advertising and privacy, as well as the challenge to remaining authentic and relevant in today’s world of Instagram influencers. And, as always, we have a few good “bar” stories—Katie tells how a lost ID almost resulted in her having to take the bar again (oh, horrors!) to convincing law firm partners to dance on stage at a dueling piano bar.

Finally, Katie has advice which applies equally to being a lawyer and a writer: be consistent, be professional, and don’t be afraid to network—especially when it involves free booze!

If you’d like to peruse (or better yet, subscribe to) Katie’s blog, check out katielara.com, or if you want to read her pieces published elsewhere on the web, you can find them here, at katielara.com/press/. For those interested specifically in travel writing, Katie references Travel Massive as a useful networking site (travelmassive.com).

The music featured on this week's episode is “Entering the Bar Theme Music,” composed by Sam Carden for Entering the Bar®.

This week’s episode of Entering the Bar® is with Alex Pergament, a career law clerk at the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Alex, who is New Jersey-based, also moonlights on the side as a musician, photographer, and artist.

On this episode, we chat about improvisation as an “affirmation of faith,” and collaboration in law and in art, as well as how, at its base, both art and law seek to help people “see” better—just in different ways.

We also talk about NaNoWrimo (and the Artist’s Way!), the act of channeling energy through “acts of restriction” (i.e., rules and laws), allowing yourself the freedom to “follow your own muse,” and, in a nod to listening law students, how social norms play into the legal concept of the “reasonable person.”

We also chat about some of Alex’s past and current projects, such as Helga + Carl, a collaborative project exploring the intersection of law and art, as well as his ongoing musical improvisational groups After School Orchestra and Yuuge, and why you should always “trust your own value system” when it comes to creating your own career path in the law.

And of course, since you’re listening to “Entering the Bar,” we talk about the Thirsty Thursday kegs in law school (which is maybe why he enjoyed it so much—just kidding, Alex!).

You can find out more about National Novel Writing Month (“NaNoWrimo”) here; and about Yuuge, here. You can find out more about After School Orchestra, here; watch a video recording of the Orchestra at work in the studio, here (or just listen, here); and listen to the Orchestra’s sister group, After School Activities, here.

The music featured on this week's episode (and all future episodes) is called “Entering the Bar Theme Music,” composed by Sam Carden for Entering the Bar®.

On this episode, I speak with Cara Parmigiani, solo practitioner and multi-talented comic book artist, writer, producer, martial arts practitioner—and new mother. (From now on, I’ll simply call call her my “hero lawyer,” clearly!)

We discuss Cara’s ongoing creative venture, called “Pony and Pony: Ponies-at-Law,” about the adventures of Tristan and Pascal, sibling puppet ponies (and proud Seton Hall Law graduates) intent on opening a law practice. Originally a comic, Cara first turned this concept into a short film, then into a webisode called “Pony Radio.” She’s now in the process of transforming it into a musical. (Get your tickets before they’re hot, folks!) Cara and I also chat about how a slow Saturday night inspired the film, how her ponies graduated from law school even before she did (natch!) and how she managed to film 24 webisodes in one day. (Hint: it took a lot of organization, some professorial expertise, and a few puppeteers’ patience—and their forearm strength….)

Cara and I also discuss her decision to open a solo practice—on Labor Day, no less—and its many benefits: from managing a variety of legal matters, to helping triage issues at the outset, to the potential to become close with clients. And, of course, the ultimate benefit: never having a boring day!

As for those interested in opening a solo practice, Cara advises that you shouldn’t “not do something because you’re afraid,” but on the other hand, “don’t commit malpractice!” We discuss the resources out there for those want to follow in her footsteps; the many advantages of a clerkship; and the simple value of attending cases in open court to learn from attorney appearances—both good and bad.

Finally, we chat about the really important stuff: how Cara’s mother was right (hope you’re listening, Cara’s mom!); how Legally Blonde is way more realistic than the Paper Chase (that is, if you want to truly be prepared for law school); and how Seton Hall Law will open a lot of doors—just not any hotel room doors! Plus, the all-important no-drinking-for-24-hours-before-anything-meaningful rule that Cara now has, thanks to Johnny Depp, a hangover, and an infamous hockey game…

You can learn more information about Cara and her practice, here; and about Puppet Ponies, here.