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

Kyla Denanyoh
  • 5.0 (26)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Are you an ambitious lawyer who feels limited in life? A law student who daydreams about impacting the world? Did you struggle with the bar exam? Are you bored working as a lawyer? You Are A Lawyer is an interview-based podcast that promotes lawyers with fearless career changes, ambitious side hustles, and extraordinary lives. On this top-rated podcast, Kyla talks to law school graduates, attorneys, and lawyers about the risks they've taken, the joys (and challenges) of law school, and their transitions out of legal careers. You Are A Lawyer will motivate you to start that business, unpack some drama from law school, consider a nontraditional career, and push you to embrace the hobby you’ve been hiding. There are so many ways to use your law degree. Whether you’re working as an artist, tech investor, coach, or blogger, if you’ve graduated from law school, YOU ARE A LAWYER, and your law degree is valuable. Find more episodes and resources at www.youarealawyer.com. Contact Kyla with any questions: hello@youarealawyer.com.

  1. Finding the Creative Side of Law feat. Victoria Inoyo

    2D AGO

    Finding the Creative Side of Law feat. Victoria Inoyo

    Victoria Inoyo is the Director of Advising at Juris Education, an edtech platform advising students toward careers in law, and a lawyer working in business affairs and creative marketing at Apple. In this episode, Victoria shares how she navigated law school as a first generation American, why she chose the creative side of the legal industry, and how she now helps aspiring lawyers “take the elevator” instead of the stairs through the admissions process. Lawyer Side Hustles In addition to her work in business affairs, Victoria serves as the Director of Advising at Juris Education, an edtech platform advising students toward careers in law. The platform supports applicants nationwide and internationally through every stage of the admissions process. “This is what I wish I had,” Victoria Inoyo expresses in Episode 238 of You Are a Lawyer.She sees mentorship as a way to close information gaps and reduce unnecessary stress. By helping students identify their goals early and understand the full spectrum of legal career options, she is building access and confidence for the next generation of lawyers. This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

    24 min
  2. 6 Lessons in 6 Years of Podcasting with Kyla Denanyoh

    MAR 26

    6 Lessons in 6 Years of Podcasting with Kyla Denanyoh

    Kyla Denanyoh shares six key aspects of being a podcast host, emphasizing the power and control that comes with managing a show, the importance of streamlining processes, the freedom to choose guests, the potential for monetization, and the transformative impact podcasting can have on one's life and career. The discussion highlights the tools (Honeybook) and strategies that can make podcasting easier and more effective, ultimately encouraging others to embrace the medium. Celebrate six years of podcasting with Kyla Denanyoh! This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

    9 min
  3. Fear, Confidence, and Jury Trials feat. Kyle Sherman (November 2020)

    MAR 19

    Fear, Confidence, and Jury Trials feat. Kyle Sherman (November 2020)

    Kyle Sherman is a trial specialist, civil plaintiff’s attorney, and founder of Trial Structure. In this episode, Kyle shares why law school was the hardest season of his life, how Jerry Spence Trial College reshaped his confidence, and why he believes jury work is about persuasion, not convincing. What Can You Do with a Law Degree Kyle’s career demonstrates that legal education is less about memorizing doctrine and more about learning how to relate to people. He explains that jury trial work is not primarily about statutes or case law. It is about understanding human behavior, credibility, and persuasion. “Jury trial work is not law. Jury trial work is relating to people," explains Kyle Sherman, on this episode of You Are a Lawyer.Through his own growth, especially after attending Jerry Spence Trial College, Kyle reframed trial advocacy as structured storytelling. Legal training gave him analytical tools, but his success in the courtroom comes from listening, adapting, and presenting cases in a way jurors can understand and internalize. This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

    27 min
  4. How valuable is a law degree? feat Kyla Denanyoh

    MAR 12

    How valuable is a law degree? feat Kyla Denanyoh

    In this episode, Kyla Denanyoh shares her journey from law firm volunteer to law school graduate and beyond. Kyla is interviewed by a fellow Southern University Law Center (SULC) alum, Vernon W. Thomas and she discusses her experiences at SULC, the challenges of the bar exam, and her unexpected career path that led her to work in a call center before finding her footing in the legal profession. Kyla also delves into her motivation for starting the podcast, the importance of mindset in content creation, and the value of sharing diverse stories within the legal community. Kyla Denanyoh explores themes of risk-taking, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. Kyla shares her journey from law school to podcasting, emphasizing the importance of embracing risks and creating opportunities. They discuss the evolution of her podcast, the challenges of monetizing content, and the significance of self-care and leisure in a busy life. The conversation culminates in reflections on the value of a law degree and the importance of taking risks in both personal and professional realms. This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

    1h 8m
  5. Making Legal Services Easier to Access feat. Lawrence Blackmon

    MAR 5

    Making Legal Services Easier to Access feat. Lawrence Blackmon

    Lawrence Blackmon is a trial attorney, Mississippi House Representative, and the CEO of Legal Ease, a consumer facing legal tech company using artificial intelligence to help people handle certain non complex legal matters without hiring an attorney. In this episode, Lawrence shares how mock trial shaped his confidence, how he stepped into public service, and why he believes lawyers can use their training far beyond traditional practice. Lawyer Side Hustles Lawrence co-founded Legal Ease in 2023 with the goal of making legal easier and more accessible for consumers. Legal Ease is built to help people handle what he calls non complex legal matters without going through the full traditional attorney process, especially when the work is largely checklist driven and expensive simply because it requires a lawyer’s time to ask questions and process information. “I like getting up every day and working towards building something,” Lawrence Blackmon expresses in Episode 234 of You Are a Lawyer. He describes Legal Ease as consumer facing legal technology powered by artificial intelligence, designed for matters like expungements, no fault divorce, and certain personal injury situations. The platform is meant to guide users through the same questions a lawyer would ask and help them move through the process without paying what he calls exorbitant fees. He even names the AI component of the platform. This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

    18 min
  6. Suing the Government for Student Loan Relief feat. Francesca Chang

    FEB 26

    Suing the Government for Student Loan Relief feat. Francesca Chang

    Francesca Chang is a lawyer, former travel blogger, and entrepreneur who sued the U.S. Department of Education to discharge nearly $260,000 in student loan debt. In this episode, Francesca shares what it was like to declare bankruptcy, represent herself pro se, and fight for relief in a system with a historic 0.1 percent success rate. Lawyer Side Hustles Before pursuing bankruptcy relief, Francesca built multiple careers outside traditional practice. From legal marketing to entrepreneurship to travel blogging in Taiwan, she consistently followed alignment over expectation. “Don’t let the debt keep you strapped to something you don’t want to do,” Francesca Chang expresses in Episode 233 of You Are a Lawyer.Her journey reflects the broader YAAL theme that a law degree is a tool, not a cage. Whether building businesses abroad or litigating pro se against the Department of Education, Francesca’s path demonstrates that lawyers can redefine success on their own terms. This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

    23 min
  7. Finding Your Niche in Legal Operations with SeNita McRae (October 2022)

    FEB 19

    Finding Your Niche in Legal Operations with SeNita McRae (October 2022)

    SeNita McRae is a legal operations professional with a background in broadcast journalism, public administration, and law. In this episode, SeNita shares how she built a thriving career in eDiscovery and legal operations, why passing the bar was not required for her success, and how every degree she earned eventually fit together. What Can You Do with a Law Degree After law school, SeNita’s career took an unexpected turn into eDiscovery and legal operations. Starting as a project attorney in document review, she gradually moved into litigation support, preservation coordination, and eventually legal operations roles embedded within large corporate environments. “This is an industry that I would stay in," explains SeNita McRae, on this episode of You Are a Lawyer.Her legal training allowed her to translate complex technical concepts for attorneys while also working directly with vendors and internal teams. SeNita’s experience shows how a JD can be a powerful credential even without bar licensure, particularly in operational, technology driven legal roles. This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

    37 min
  8. Building a Values Aligned Legal Career with John Lopez

    FEB 12

    Building a Values Aligned Legal Career with John Lopez

    John Lopez is the Legal Director of the Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project, where he supports children charged as adults across Pennsylvania. In this episode, John shares how combining law and social work allowed him to practice in alignment with his values, and why treating people as people is central to meaningful legal advocacy. Lawyer Side Hustles Outside of his legal role, John co-founded a nonprofit called Toolshed Boxing with his sister, providing trauma-informed boxing and yoga programs for kids in the Lehigh Valley. While the programs involve physical movement, the real focus is connection, mindfulness, and helping young people feel safe in their bodies. “The real transformative thing is the relationship,” John Lopez expresses in Episode 231 of You Are a Lawyer.Through both his legal and community work, John demonstrates that advocacy can take many forms. Whether in courtrooms, classrooms, or parks, his work centers on presence, care, and helping people reconnect with themselves. This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

    23 min
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5
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About

Are you an ambitious lawyer who feels limited in life? A law student who daydreams about impacting the world? Did you struggle with the bar exam? Are you bored working as a lawyer? You Are A Lawyer is an interview-based podcast that promotes lawyers with fearless career changes, ambitious side hustles, and extraordinary lives. On this top-rated podcast, Kyla talks to law school graduates, attorneys, and lawyers about the risks they've taken, the joys (and challenges) of law school, and their transitions out of legal careers. You Are A Lawyer will motivate you to start that business, unpack some drama from law school, consider a nontraditional career, and push you to embrace the hobby you’ve been hiding. There are so many ways to use your law degree. Whether you’re working as an artist, tech investor, coach, or blogger, if you’ve graduated from law school, YOU ARE A LAWYER, and your law degree is valuable. Find more episodes and resources at www.youarealawyer.com. Contact Kyla with any questions: hello@youarealawyer.com.

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