Conversate with Akeem D. Earle: Recent Episodes
Akeem D. Earle
Dope conversations with lawyers. Each interview explores the nuance of different attorneys at law, diving into who they are as a person in and outside of the courtroom and how they find the balance between lay person and legal person.
Welcome to another captivating episode of Conversate with Akeem D. Earle! In this installment, I am thrilled to introduce the delightful Tonee Earle as the official co-host of the podcast. Together, we delve into our professional lives, offering insights into the intricacies of courtroom dynamics and sharing anecdotes from our mock trial experiences during law school. Join us as we uncover invaluable gems to empower you in navigating the world of trial law and exceeding expectations in the courtroom. Tune in now for an engaging discussion that promises to enlighten and inspire!00:00 Conversate News01:05 What We Do for a Living03:26 What Is A Trial?06:08 Tonee First In Court Experience11:40 Tonee’s First Trial Experience22:24 A Conversate Gem24:38 Akeem’s First Trial Experience25:07 Trial Process and Roles35:00 Do You Enjoy Litigation? 51:00 Final AdviceSUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@conversate25...
Join us for a compelling episode as we sit down with defense attorney Camille Wagner for an in-depth exploration of her journey in the legal profession. Camille, a native of France fluent in three languages – French, Spanish, and English, brings a unique perspective to her practice.With a background that spans continents, Camille's career trajectory is fascinating. Graduating from the University of D.C. David A. Clarke School of Law, she initially served as an Assistant Attorney General in the District before transitioning to private practice. Drawing from her experience as a former prosecutor, Camille sheds light on the nuances of both sides of the legal spectrum.In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of Camille's work as a defense attorney, discussing her transition from prosecution, her hardest cases, and the ethical complexities of defending the guilty. From sharing her law school experiences to navigating the challenges of starting her own firm, Camille offers invaluable insights into the legal profession.Throughout the conversation, Camille provides invaluable nuggets of wisdom, from networking gems to handling failures and mistakes. We also hear about her coaching experiences in mock trial and her transition from France to the U.S., offering a glimpse into the global nature of legal practice.Whether you're a legal enthusiast or simply curious about the world of criminal defense, this episode promises to be both enlightening and thought-provoking. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the legal field through the eyes of an experienced practitioner.00:00 If I Was Not a Lawyer…00:57 Camille’s tennis Career Cut Short03:46 Camille’s Work as An Defense Attorney05:23 Going from a Prosecutor to a Defense Attorney07:10 What It Takes to Start Your Own Firm09:23 Camille’s Hardest Case11:18 How Can You Defend A Guilty Person?14:06 The Difficulty of Trial17:57 Work-Life Balance As a Defense Attorney19:23 Camille’s Law School Experience21:53 Networking Gems24:05 Bar Exam Horror Story19:23 Camille’s Law School Experience26:53 Transitioning from France to the U.S.31:39 Coaching Mock Trial36:56 Handling Mistakes and Failures43:00 Legal Field Hot Takes45:25 Closing Argument
Tonée Earle serves as a bar exam tutor and coach, specializing in helping retakers conquer their exams. Her own success story speaks volumes; passing the D.C. bar on her first attempt with an exceptional score and subsequently acing the Virginia bar exam illustrate her mastery of legal concepts and exam strategies.
When she is not coaching students, Tonée, an accomplished lawyer with a passion for family law and estate planning, brings a fresh perspective to the legal landscape. With a Juris Doctorate from the University of D.C. David A Clarke School of Law and an LL.M. in advocacy from Georgetown Law, Tonée has solidified her reputation as a dedicated advocate for those in need.
With her extensive knowledge and empathetic approach, Tonée is committed to assisting individuals and families navigate complex legal matters. Her expertise in family law and estate planning, coupled with her exceptional communication skills, ensures that clients receive personalized attention and effective solutions tailored to their needs.
Throughout this episode, Tonée shares invaluable insights, including her top five strategies for bar exam success and her experiences in practicing law. Additionally, she provides a unique perspective on the dynamics of being married to both an outstanding lawyer and podcast host.
Join us for a compelling discussion as Tonée Earle shares her wisdom, strategies, and personal anecdotes, offering invaluable guidance for aspiring lawyers and legal professionals alike. Tune in now to gain exclusive access to Tonée's expertise and embark on a journey towards legal excellence!
Keith Morgan, a seasoned attorney with a diverse backgroundthat spans both the courtroom and the classroom, was born in Newark, NJ, and raised in Lynchburg, VA. Keith's legal odyssey began at Earlham College in Richmond, IN where he earned is bachelor’s degree and then went on to the University of Virginia School of Law. Keith embarked on a career that would lead him from a Staff Attorney at the Federal Elections Commission to a Deputy Chief in the Federal Communications Commission.
As an Assistant United States Attorney in D.C., Keith Morganhoned his trial skills and navigated the complexities of the legal system. Join us as he shares anecdotes from his time as a Trial Attorney in the Tax Division of the Department of Justice, offering a glimpse into the high-stakes world of federal law.
Currently serving as the Deputy Bureau Chief in theEnforcement Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission, Keith sheds light on his role in enforcing regulations in the ever-evolving realm of communications law. But that's not all—Keith wears multiple hats as an adjunct Property professor at the University of D.C. David A Clarke School of Law, where he imparts his legal wisdom to the next generation.
Join us for a captivating conversation that spans KeithMorgan's early roots, his impactful roles in federal law, and his current multifaceted position at the FCC. Whether you're a legal enthusiast or someone aspiring to make a mark in the legal profession, this episode promises valuable lessons and a glimpse into the dynamic world of law. Let’s Conversate!
Join us for a captivating live interview with the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, hosted at my very own Alma Mater, the University of D.C. David A. Clarke School of Law. In this special episode, we delve into the remarkable work and responsibilities of the District's top legal officer, gaining insights into the impact his office has on our nation's capital.
Discover the legal origin story of our esteemed guest, the Attorney General, as he shares his journey from law school to becoming the chief legal advocate for the District. Gain valuable perspective on the challenges and triumphs that shaped his remarkable career.
During our conversation, we explore the Attorney General's vision for the future of Washington, D.C. Uncover the ambitious plans, policies, and initiatives that he envisions to make our city a better place for all its residents.
This is a unique opportunity to get an inside look at the legal world of the District of Columbia and to understand the dedication and passion behind the office of the Attorney General. Don't miss this enlightening discussion that brings the law and our city to life. Tune in and be inspired!
Hailing from the Bronx, New York, Robert Newman is a testament to the idea that it's never too late to chase your dreams. From Administrative Parks and Recreation Manager at the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation to COO of AmeriDream, Newman had a successful professional career. However, the dream of becoming a lawyer had always lingered in the background.
At the age of 50, with a lifetime of experiences under his belt, Robert decided to take the plunge and enroll in law school. What sparked this transformational decision? A heartfelt conversation with his daughter reignited his passion for the legal profession.
Today, Robert is the Founder & Managing Director of the Law Office of Robert P. Newman, P.C., specializing in estate planning. In this episode, we delve into his upbringing in the vibrant Bronx, his diverse professional journey, and the pivotal moment that led him to pursue law later in life.
Join us as we explore Robert's unwavering dedication to estate planning and how his unique background enriches his approach to this vital field of law. Discover the invaluable insights he's gathered along the way, and most importantly, learn why it's never too late to chase your dreams.
Let's Conversate!
Isaro Carter, Esq is an entertainment lawyer who has carved her own path in the industry. As the founding attorney of The Carter Firm, she empowers her clients by ensuring they understand the purpose of the legal processes surrounding their work, ultimately protecting their interests.
Based in the heart of New York City, her practice focuses on the intersection of intellectual property law and entertainment law, with a special emphasis on creative entrepreneurs. She provides a range of services, including trademarks, copyrights, music, and television, guiding her clients through the intricacies of these fields.
Her journey began in 2014 as an intern with the independent music company VP Records, where she gained invaluable experience in drafting, revising, and negotiating contracts and agreements for creatives. Throughout her career, she has provided tactical legal solutions to entertainers and worked diligently with business owners on intellectual property registration and rights enforcement matters.
Beyond her practice, she actively contributes to the legal community. She serves as a member of the New York State Bar Association's Entertainment & Sports Law Section's Executive Committee, sharing her expertise and insights with fellow professionals. Additionally, she is a frequent guest speaker for Summer on the Hill, organized by the Horace Mann School, and a proud member of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network's (WEEN) Alumni Network.
Today, we have the privilege of diving into her experiences, learning from her expertise, and gaining valuable insights into the world of entertainment law. Let's Conversate!
In this episode, join us as we delve into the remarkable story of an ambitious lawyer who embarked on the path of entrepreneurship right after law school. Our guest, Delali Dagadu, Esq, shares her inspiring journey of starting her own law firm, DAGADU LAW PLLC, specializing in immigration law. Born in Monrovia, Liberia, and raised in multiple countries, including the United States, Delali brings a unique perspective to her legal practice.
During our conversation, we explore Delali's motivations behind choosing immigration law as her focus. She passionately discusses the intricate dynamics of the field, shedding light on the challenges and rewards of advocating for immigrants. Drawing from her own immigration story and multicultural background, she provides invaluable insights into the lives and struggles of those seeking a better life in a new country.
With a cum laude graduation from the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law in 2022, Delali has honed her legal expertise to empower her clients and navigate the complex immigration landscape. As the founder and principal immigration attorney at DAGADU LAW PLLC, based in Washington, DC, she has dedicated herself to providing comprehensive immigration services.
Tune in to this episode to discover the inspiring journey of Delali, an attorney who is not only building her own success but also transforming the lives of individuals and families through her unwavering dedication to immigration law.
Gary Williams graduated with honors from Southern University and A&M College in 2014, where he earned a degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Computer Science. In 2018, Gary earned his Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center in Baton Rogue, Louisiana. While attending Southern University Law Center, Mr. Williams was a member of the Moot Court, where he was the Historian. In addition, he served in the Student Bar Association, Journal of Race, Gender, and Poverty, Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, American Inns of Court, and a Thurgood Marshall Law Student nominee. After law school, Gary became a Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice. Upon leaving the DOJ, Gary transitioned to private practice working for firms in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Lastly, he is a proud member of the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, and a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. On this episode we discuss, Gary's legal origin story, his passion for mentoring, his background in traveling and more!
What better way to end Season 1 than the have the special guest be the best podcast host in the game, Akeem D. Earle! Akeem Earle is originally from New York hailing from Brooklyn and Long Island. He received his undergraduate degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and earned his juris doctor from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. Akeem worked his way through law school as a paralegal for the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. In law school, Akeem's passion for criminal justice reform was cultivated and it is where he chose his path to become a prosecutor. He tapped into his creative side and wrote an article on the importance of black prosecutors for the D.C. Bar's award winning magazine, The Washington Lawyer, titled "The Role of the Black Prosecutor." He also learned of his love for podcasting in law school and decided to merge his two passions together to create "Conversate with Akeem D. Earle," where he interviews attorneys from a variety of different practice areas to learn about their legal journey and how it has impacted them in and outside of the law. On this episode we discuss, why Akeem chose to become a lawyer, his law school experience, his thoughts on the bar exam and more! Let's Conversate!
Quiana Harris is a native of a small town in eastern North Carolina named Rich Square, and Summa Cum Laude graduate of Winston-Salem State University. Thereafter, Quiana attended Howard University School of Law where she represented clients through the Criminal Justice Clinic and was the Executive Notes and Comments Editor for the Howard Law Journal. Upon graduation from Howard Law, the first-generation Esquire joined the faculty of Georgetown Law School as an E. Barrett Prettyman Fellow, where supervised third year law students in Georgetown’s Juvenile Justice Clinic while also representing children and adults in the DC Superior Court. Upon completion of the Prettyman Fellowship, Quiana was awarded a LL.M. in Advocacy. Quiana has now joined the D.C. Public Defender Service as a general felony trial attorney. On this episode, we discussed why Quiana chose defense work over big law, speaking at her old highschool, the Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez trial and more!
Amber Ivey is a prominent thinker, voice, and leader of cultural change, an expert in data utilization and management, while also being an equitable leader. Ivey was born in Bethesda, Maryland. She earned an undergraduate degree from Old Dominion University, a graduate degree from the University of Maryland College Park, and a law degree from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. In 2020, Amber Ivey ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Maryland's 7th Congressional District. While in law school Amber realized she wanted to support people in a different way and decided to serve in the intersection of data, tech, law, and public policy. She now serves as a Vice President for a non profit organization focused on social impact. She is also the founder of Ivey Collective which is a consulting agency that provides action plans to businesses and government agencies through data audits and is the host of AI: Decodes the System podcast @aidecodes, which breaks down topics related to data, tech, law, and public policy in plain language. On this episode, we discuss why Ivey chose not to practice law anymore, the future of AI in the courtroom, the importance of rest in between positions and more!
Tyla A. Swinton is originally from Queens, New York. After graduating from (thee illustrious) Howard University, she attended Penn State Law for her JD. Currently, Tyla works at Jackson Lewis P.C. in the Long Island office and practices Affirmative Action, OFCCP and Government Contract Compliance. Recently, she was recognized by The National Black Lawyers as a top 40 Under 40 Black attorney in the state of New York and top 100 in the country. On this episode of Conversate, we discuss, how it is being a lawyer fresh out of law school, Tyla's love for poetry, how she became top 40 Under 40 and more!
Etienne C. Toussaint, a South Bronx native, is an interdisciplinary legal scholar with expertise in legal history, contract law, business/corporate law, community economic development, and philosophical legal ethics/professional responsibility. He is currently a law professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Professor Toussaint is a graduate of The Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At MIT, he earned an S.B. in Mechanical Engineering, and was designated a Ronald McNair Scholar and Alpha Phi Alpha Distinguished Collegiate. He completed an M.S.E. in Environmental Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University, where he served as Graduate Student Adviser for Engineers Without Borders. Toussaint earned his J.D. at Harvard Law School. Importantly, he is a husband and a father of three sons. On this episode of Conversate, we discuss his love for writing, food oppression, his bar exam horror story and more! Let's Conversate!
Claudia Ahiabor was born and raised in New Jersey, spent part of her childhood in Ghana, and currently lives in the Washington DC metro area. She graduated from American University Washington College of Law, where she focused her degree on health law. She currently works at the US Food and Drug Administration as an Associate Chief Counsel in the Office of Chief Counsel. On this episode, we discuss how Claudia found the law, her experience living in Ghana as a child, Kim Kardashian taking the baby bar, and more! Let's Conversate!
DISCLAIMER Due to technical difficulties portions of the audio for this episode are not of the standard and quality for which Conversate with Akeem D. Earle usually provides. However, this conversation was far too beneficial to not provide to the audience. It is the hope of the Conversate with Akeem D. Earle podcast team that you will still enjoy this episode as the clarity of the content is pure and timely.
Jerome Crawford, a Detroit native, is the Chief Legal Officer for Pleasantrees, Michigan’s premier cultivator and seller of high-quality Midwest cannabis. This position made him the first Black in-house counsel of a major cannabis manufacturer in the state of Michigan. As a native Detroiter and “Super Spartan,” Crawford graduated Magna Cum Laude as a pre-law student at Michigan State University before earning his Juris Doctor at the MSU College of Law. On a national level, he most recently served as Co-Chair of the “Men of Color Project,” an initiative of the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division that aims to address the lack of diversity and advancement of men of color in the legal profession. In this episode we discuss the nuances of lawyering in the cannabis industry, having locs in the legal field, legal hot takes and more! Let's Conversate!
Kyndall Rodriguez, Esq. was born and raised in Orange County, California. She graduated from UDC-David A. Clarke School of Law and is currently barred to practice in The District of Columbia and the state of Maryland. Presently, Kyndall is a third year associate attorney for an in-house litigation firm that represents a Fortune 50 company. Kyndall’s practice areas include: civil defense litigation, personal injury, and civil negotiation. Kyndall enjoys coaching the mock trial team at her alma mater UDC Law, mentioning, bartending, and making others laugh.
Jovena is an experienced civil litigator. After graduating from Spelman College and UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, Jovena worked with a non profit organization in DC advocating for low income tenants in Washington DC in highly contested housing cases. Subsequently, Jovena served as an attorney advisor for the DC government advising high level management on relevant legal issues. Currently, Jovena serves as in house litigation counsel for a Fortune 50 company. Jovena enjoys coaching mock trial, cooking and planning events in her free time.
In this episode, we discuss how their friendship started in law school, why they decided to become lawyers, whether they prefer Biggie or 2Pac and more! Let’s Conversate!
Krystal Durham is a partner at Williams & Connolly and focuses her practice on commercial and complex civil litigation, white collar defense and investigations, criminal defense, and employment matters. Krystal has represented corporations, professional firms, and individuals in a variety of business disputes. Krystal has experience in a range of substantive areas, including professional malpractice, antitrust matters, and securities litigation and has been a member of several trial teams.
Born and raised in northern Virginia, Krystal earned a B.A. in History, with high distinction, from the University of Virginia in 2009. In 2012, Krystal received her J.D. from Columbia Law School where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar all three years. While in law school, Krystal served as a Staff Editor on the Columbia Journal of Race and Law and as a judicial extern for Judge Robert P. Patterson Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Krystal worked at a major New York law firm before joining Williams & Connolly in 2015. Krystal serves as a member of the firm’s Hiring Committee and the Women’s Initiative.
In this episode, we discussed how to move in the legal space as a black woman, her love for family and culture, work ethic and more! Let's Conversate!
Safie is a multilingual attorney from Benin, West Africa. After obtaining her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, Safie began her career at the Office of the Attorney General in DC and completed a clerkship at the DC Superior Court before moving to Miami in the quest for everlasting summers. She currently practices at a boutique law firm focusing on commercial litigation and real estate matters. Safie is also an entrepreneur and the founder of Gentleman AF, a beard care brand using all natural ingredients @gentlemanafofficial. Out of all the hats she wears, her favorite is being a mom. On this episode we discussed, motherhood, what it means to advocate for yourself, the importance of being in the moment and more! Let's Conversate!
James King is a licensed attorney with years of litigation and trial experience. His inspirational story is one that will continue to change the world and uplift those who are fortunate enough to hear it! Before he practiced law, Mr. King briefly played professional football. After being falsely accused and convicted of a crime, his passion transferred from athletics to the law. Today he serves as an attorney for indigent individuals, a consultant for practicing attorneys, works on the board of directors for a non profit and travels the country speaking at public events. On this episode, we discussed his story of being falsely accused, his "welcome to law school" moment, his legal hot takes and more! Let's Conversate!
Sellano Simmons is originally from North Dakota but graduated from Howard University School of Law. He started in Big Law doing mergers and acquisitions and now runs his own firm doing criminal defense work in the District of Columbia. Listen in to hear his journey in the legal field, his life outside of the law, networking gems and more! Let's Conversate!