The Slippery Slope

Episode 18: A Conversation with Kia Franklin of the Drum Major Institute

Meredith R Miller — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:09:00 GMT

This podcast features a conversation with Kia Franklin of the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy ("DMI"). Kia is a Senior Fellow in Civil Justice at DMI. She has published opinion pieces in, among other newspapers, Newsday, The Houston Chronicle and The Washington Post. She has a recent article on health care and "civil Gideon" in the Touro Law Review, and also blogs on civil justice at Tort Deform.

Topics include: the work of DMI, DMI's civil justice platform, "mandatory" arbitration, arguments for a civil right to counsel ("civil Gideon") and the effects of the current economic crisis on these issues.

Kia is a rising star - so have a listen to the podcast on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Episode 17: A Conversation with Jennifer A. Klear about the Legal Pitfalls of Blogging

Meredith R Miller — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:36:00 GMT

This podcast features a conversation with Jennifer Klear, an attorney in the New York office of Gibbons PC. Jennifer's practice includes First Amendment counseling and litigation. She has advised clients on issues relating to the Internet, and has developed an expertise in the legal risks of blogging.
The discussion topics include: the troubles that bloggers may run into with intellectual property, risks for employees who blog, potential liability for defamation, and how a victim of defamation might unveil an anonymous blog poster or commenter.

Listen to the podcast on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Episode 16: A Conversation with Ari Kaplan, Author and Principal of Ari Kaplan Advisors

Meredith R Miller — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:51:00 GMT

This podcast features Ari Kaplan of Ari Kaplan Advisors. Ari provides consulting services to law firms, speaks at law schools and ghostwrites. Our conversation focuses on his book, The Opportunity Maker: Strategies for Inspiring Your Legal Career Through Creative Networking and Business Development.

Ari's book is well-written, thoroughly researched, encouraging, and dense with helpful hints on building business. It might be summarized (at least in part) as letting the reader in on a little secret they never quite tell you in law school: be a mensch, it will come back to you. And, in my conversation with Ari, I learn that he is the consummate mensch, sincere and undoubtedly practicing what he preaches in the book.

Topics include: "organic self-promotion," what law school career services never told you, making friends not contacts, the importance of publishing, and commonalities among rainmakers.

Listen to the podcast on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Episode 15: A Conversation with Rebekah Cook-Mack of the Foreclosure Prevention Project at South Brooklyn Legal Services

Meredith R Miller — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:55:00 GMT

This podcast features a conversation with Rebekah Cook-Mack, a Skadden Fellow in the Foreclosure Prevention Project at South Brooklyn Legal Services. The Foreclosure Prevention Project represents lower-income homeowners facing foreclosure due to predatory lending.

Topics include: causes of the subprime lending crisis, abusive lending practices, modifying mortgages to keep people in their homes, and why it is good policy to use government bailout money to guaranty mortgage modifications.

Listen to the podcast on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Podcast Downloads Pass the 2000 Mark

Meredith R Miller — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:05:00 GMT

The Slippery Slope passed the 2000 download mark with 2098 podcast downloads as of the end of yesterday! We have been averaging over 50 downloads per day. Modest but steadily increasing numbers; and, here at The Slippery Slope, we judge our success by the quality of our listeners, not the quantity.

Don't hesitate to leave some feedback in the comments section of the site, or send us suggestions to theslipperyslopepodcast (at) gmail (dot) com.

To those of you out there in the podcastosphere, thanks for joining us.

Episode 14: A Conversation with Dr. Jillian Weiss about Transgender Workplace Diversity

Meredith R Miller — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:01:00 GMT

The upcoming December 2008 issue of the Harvard Business Review will feature a fictional case study "When Steve Becomes Stephanie." The study looks at how companies accommodate an employee who is changing gender. (Teaser discussion on HBR site here). In anticipation, we have the privilege of presenting a podcast with an expert on these issues.
This podcast features a conversation with Dr. Jillian T. Weiss, Assistant Professor of Law and Society at Ramapo college. Jillian is an expert in gender identity and transgender diversity in the workplace. She blogs about these issues at Transgender Workplace Diversity. Jillian also works as a consultant to numerous companies and organizations on transgender workplace issues.

Topics include: what "transgender" means, the status of workplace anti-discrimination laws, why companies voluntarily adopt non-discrimination policies, why society gets anxious about gender nonconformity, and the differences in Jillian's own experiences as an attorney before and after she began living and practicing law as a woman.

Listen to the podcast on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Episode 13: A Conversation with Douglas Chermak of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society

Meredith R Miller — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:14:00 GMT

Lately, the podcasts here at the Slippery Slope have focused on technology and, with that, cramming more into less time and cutting through information overload. With our economy in a downward spiral and the election five weeks away, it seemed a good time to step back and say: look at yourself.

That is why today's podcast features a conversation with Douglas Chermak, an environmental lawyer in Alameda, California. Doug serves as Law Program Director for the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society. The organization hosts meditation retreats for law professionals and law students. At the retreats, participants spend days in silence, with hopes of coming back to themselves and, with that, becoming better counselors.

Topics include: the benefits of meditation for law professionals, what it is like to keep silent, contemplative practices, the difference between a retreat and a vacation, and incorporating contemplative practices into a hectic schedule.

Listen to the podcast on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Episode 12: A Conversation with Larry Zerner about Lifehacking for Lawyers

Meredith R Miller — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:37:00 GMT

Today's podcast features a conversation with attorney Larry Zerner. Larry has an entertainment law practice in Los Angeles. (A practice area for which he is well-suited, given his frightening filmography).

The discussion is about Larry's "life hacks."

The term "life hack" was originally coined by a British journalist, Danny O'Brien. He polled a group of programmers (or, "overproductive alpha geeks") on their work processes and discovered that the most productive "geeks" had developed scripts or shortcuts to get their work done. Originally, the term referred to these programmers' tricks to weed through the information overload and organize data. Now, the term has expanded to describe any method of simplifying life, cutting through information overload or getting work done more efficiently -- and not only to produce more work, but to create more recreation time.

Noticeably absent in the blogosphere has been any discussion of life hacks for lawyers, and that's where Larry comes in. In this podcast, he talks about some of his favorite life hacks. Some of the techie tools he mentions: IWantSandy, Sugarsync, Grand Central, and Jott.

Topics include: cutting through the e-mails, eliminating phone tag, protecting and storing data, dueling computer monitors, a virtual personal assistant, and other life hacks that lawyers may come to find that they can no longer live without.

Listen to the podcast on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Episode 11: A Conversation with Stephanie Kimbro about the Virtual Law Office

Meredith R Miller — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Today's podcast features a conversation with attorney Stephanie Kimbro. Stephanie is a solo practitioner with a virtual law practice ("VLO") based in the physical world in Wilmington, North Carolina. Stephanie operates her law practice completely virtual - offering 'unbundled legal services' and, for the most part, publishing fixed prices for those services.

Stephanie has authored an ebook titled Practicing Law Online: Creating a Web-Based Virtual Law Office. She also blogs about the ethical and technological considerations of operating a VLO at Virtual Law Practice.

The podcast focuses on her VLO and the software (VLOtech) that Stephanie and her husband developed to make a VLO possible.

Topics include: the difference between a VLO and a 'brick and mortar' practice, how a VLO benefits clients, the security of information exchanged through in a VLO, licensing limitations and ethical issues.

Listen to the podcast on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Episode 10: A Conversation with Phoebe Eng of 1000voicesarchive.org

Meredith R Miller — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:26:00 GMT

Today's podcast features a conversation with Phoebe Eng. Phoebe was a corporate attorney before becoming the publisher of A Magazine, which covered Asian American issues. She is also the author of a memoir titled Warrior Lessons: An Asian American Woman's Journey into Power.

Among many other philanthropic and civic minded pursuits, Phoebe currently serves as Director of Creative Counsel. Creative Counsel is an organization that showcases art that promotes "dignity, compassion and opportunity for all." It does this "through large-scale collaborative projects featuring the top arts, media and technology talent to connect and inspire audiences to action."

Creative Counsel has partnered with the Fledgling Fund to compile the 1000 Voices Archive. The archive features professionally produced videos of people telling stories related to social justice causes. The short vignettes are composed by talented filmmakers, and tell compelling stories. The website is visually stunning and powerful tool for spreading information about social justice issues, and has links to organizing tools by the videos as the play on the site. The series currently in the archive feature stories that provide an intimate human face to many social justice issues.

This podcast focuses on the 1000 Voices Archive. Topics include: the inspiration for the project, the power of storytelling, some of the causes addressed in the videos, early achievements of the project, how educators (including law professors) and activists can use the archive to encourage discussion of issues, and the connections Phoebe sees between this project and her own memoir writing.

Check out the 1000 Voices Archive and listen to the podcast on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Episode 9: A Conversation with Aviva Cuyler, Founder of JDSupra.com

Meredith R Miller — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:00:00 GMT

This podcast features a conversation with Aviva Cuyler, founder of JDSupra. While working late one night on a brief, the idea for JDSupra found Aviva: create a free online repository where attorneys can share documents they've prepared.

JDSupra is intended as a resource for lawyers, clients and the media. The premise is simple and reflected by its slogan: "Give content. Get noticed." Attorneys can share documents on the site and, once they do so, they can create a profile - all for free. Every time an attorney contributes a document, her profile is featured as a "recent contributor." The idea is that attorneys can market their services, and potential clients can review an attorney's work before retaining that attorney. Likewise, the documents are searchable and, thus, an invaluable legal research tool for lawyers and the media.

Topics discussed include why attorneys should upload their documents to the site, how potential clients might use the site, how attorneys can score a "featured profile," how documents get labeled "newsworthy," and JDSupra's business model.

Listen on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Episode 8: A Conversation with Mark Britton, CEO of Avvo

Meredith R Miller — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:42:00 GMT

This podcast features a conversation with Mark Britton, CEO and co-founder of Avvo. As a lawyer, Mark noticed a theme: he was constantly being asked by friends, family and acquaintances to recommend a lawyer or to provide advice for how to choose a lawyer. Seeing an unfulfilled need, Mark partnered with a team of experts to create Avvo.com.

Avvo is a site that rates and profiles attorneys, with the stated mission of helping people "choose the right attorney." It is a consumer-driven model that provides potential clients with the basic information they will likely want to know in finding an attorney -- essentially providing a better starting point than the yellow pages. At the same time, it serves as a free tool for attorneys to market their services.

The site seems to take direction in part from the social-networking sites and in part from online consumer reviews. For each attorney, it features

(1) an Avvo rating, (2) client reviews and (3) peer reviews. Most attorneys' names are already pre-loaded into the site based on information Avvo obtained from state bar registries -- so, if you are an attorney, and you have not already, go claim your profile.

Topics include the mathematical formula behind the Avvo rating, what an attorney can do to improve her Avvo rating, responding to client reviews, criticisms of the site, some of the steps taken to ensure the quality of the ratings, and Avvo's business model.

Listen on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Upcoming Episodes

Meredith R Miller — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:30:00 GMT

Among other stimulating conversations, the coming weeks will bring two exciting new episodes.

In the works is a conversation with Mark Britton, President and C.E.O. of Avvo.com.

Also upcoming is a conversation with Phoebe Eng, Director of Creative Counsel. Creative Counsel has partnered with the Fledgling Fund to present the 1000 Voices Archive, which is the focus of the podcast.

Of course, we are working on other topics and conversations, and we always welcome your suggestions. So, bookmark The Slippery Slope, or subscribe through iTunes or right here on the website.

And, as always, thanks for joining us!

Episode 7: A Conversation with Heather Jarvis of Equal Justice Works

Meredith R Miller — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:01:00 GMT

This podcast features a conversation with Heather Jarvis, Senior Program Manager for Law School Advocacy at Equal Justice Works. Heather is a national expert on educational debt and financial barriers facing law school graduates.

Student debt isn't quite a fun topic, but it is an important one. In the coming weeks, many students will begin their legal education, taking on a burdensome pile of debt and the attendant anxiety about paying it back. Thanks to Heather's efforts, law students and graduates can be a little less anxious.

Heather has been a tireless advocate for the new federal loan forgiveness law, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act ("CCRAA"), which was signed into law in September 2007. She is fluent in this complex rubric, and the interview is overflowing with indispensable information for anyone with student loan debt, anyone about to incur student loan debt, and anyone advising or mentoring someone with student loan debt.

Because income based repayment is not limited to public service work, it is worth listening even if you are in the private sector. And, it is especially important to listen if you work in public service, which is broadly defined by the statute. If you follow all of the rules outlined, you could be eligible for loan forgiveness in 10 years.

Our conversation focuses on navigating the complicated waters of the CCRAA. Topics include: eligibility for income based repayment, the statute's definition of "financial hardship," eligibility for loan forgiveness, what constitutes "public service work" under the CCRAA, career public interest work and ramen noodles. Here's a link that contains more information about the CCRAA and the worksheets and calculators mentioned in the podcast.

Listen on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Episode 6: A Conversation with Eric Blinderman about His Work in Iraq

Meredith R Miller — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:11:00 GMT

Today's podcast features a conversation with attorney Eric Blinderman, International Litigation Counsel at Proskauer Rose. From March 2004 until December 2006, Eric took a leave of absence from Proskauer to serve in Iraq, first as Associate General Counsel for the Coalition Provisional Authority, and later as Chief Litigation Counsel and Associate Deputy to the Regime Crimes Liason's Office.

While he was in Iraq, Eric advised the Iraqi High Tribunal as it prosecuted members of the former regime, including Saddam Hussein. At just around the time he left for Iraq, one of Eric's side projects finally came to fruition -- the restaurant he had been planning for some time, Mas, opened to critical acclaim. Eric was on a plane to the Middle East on the night Mas opened.

Topics include, among other things: his quick jump from biglaw litigation associate to Iraq, leaving behind his restaurant, the role of the Regime Crimes Liason's Office, gathering evidence in a war torn country, some significant differences between U.S. criminal process and the Iraqi High Tribunal, and the courage of the Iraqis who participated in the trial of Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants.

Listen on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

"New and Notable" in iTunes

Meredith R Miller — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:00:00 GMT

The Slippery Slope is featured as "New and Notable" in the Higher Education section of audio podcasts on iTunes. Of course, this might simply be because the podcasts are more new than notable. And, how much competition is there really in the Higher Education podcasts section? (Apple should add a law category).

Nevertheless, thanks for the downloads and thanks for joining us!

Episode 5: A Conversation with Adam Karp, Animal Lawyer

Meredith R Miller — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:18:00 GMT

With apologies to Judge Frank Easterbrook, this podcast is (literally) about the law of the horse, pet. It features a conversation with animal lawyer Adam Karp. Adam exclusively practices animal law in Washington state. He founded and served as first chair of the Washington State Bar Association's Animal Law Section in 2002. He is also vice-chair of the American Bar Association's Animal Law Committee. Adam teaches animal law as an adjunct professor at both University of Washington and Seattle University. Animal Law, an emerging field, is now offered at over 70 law schools.

This conversation focuses on Adam's animal law practice, which is dedicated to "companion animals." Topics include: pet custody and the best interests of the dog standard, how the law places a value on an injured or deceased pet, the extension of rights to primates, speciesism, and Adam's "binine personality" (he fancies both cats and dogs).

Listen on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts on iTunes.

Episode 4: A Conversation with Victoria Neilson of Immigration Equality

Meredith R Miller — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:38:00 GMT

This podcast features a timely conversation with attorney Victoria Neilson, Legal Director of Immigration Equality. Immigration Equality is a national organization advocating for immigration rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV+ individuals.

Our conversation begins by focusing on recent developments to lift the immigration ban that bars HIV+ individuals from entering the U.S. Both Houses of U.S. Congress have passed the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief ("PEPFAR"), which includes a provision that lifts the immigration ban. The President is poised to sign the bill into law soon (probably this week, maybe even later today). [Update: President Bush signed PEPFAR.] As Victoria points out, this is a significant and hopeful first step in a two-step process to lift the ban. The next step is to have HIV/AIDS removed from the Department of Health and Human Services list of "communicable diseases of public health significance." You can follow the developments at Immigration Equality's blog.

Topics include: the historical and political context of the HIV/AIDS immigration ban, the practical and immediate effects of lifting the ban, advocating for the Uniting American Families Act, and some of the other, significant achievements of Immigration Equality.

Have a listen on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts through our feed on iTunes.

Upcoming Episodes

Meredith R Miller — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:56:00 GMT

We are working on future episodes that cover a wide range of topics, likely to include: animal law, lifting the U.S. HIV+ immigration ban, prosecuting Saddam Hussein, Bowie bonds, transgender law, student loan repayment, and much more. So, there is a lot to look forward to.

If you have any suggestions for a podcast, please e-mail us or leave your ideas in the comments.

Thanks for joining us!

Episode 3: A Conversation with Sean Basinski of the Street Vendor Project

Meredith R Miller — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:26:00 GMT

This podcast features a conversation with attorney Sean Basinski, described by New York Magazine as the "César Chávez of Hot-Dog Stands." Sean is the founder and Director of the Street Vendor Project (which is affiliated with the Urban Justice Center). Upon graduating from law school, Sean received a Yale Initiative for Public Interest Law Fellowship to start the project. His inspiration came from his own

9-month stint selling Mexican food from a pushcart on Park Avenue and 52nd Street in Manhattan.

Topics include: street vendor demographics, permit and licensing requirements, common misconceptions about New York City street vendors, where the carts go at the end of the day, and the amount of street food Sean consumes.

Have a listen on your computer by clicking on the play button below. Or, listen to the podcast on your mp3 player by subscribing to the podcasts through our feed on iTunes.