The Colorado Bar Association's Podcast: Recent Episodes
Colorado Bar Association
The Colorado Bar Association brings you timely and entertaining insight on trends in the Colorado legal community and beyond. Perfect for modern attorneys looking to stay ahead of the curve.
Join Kevin Cheney and Mallory Hasbrook for a discussion about Mallory's career in oil and gas law along with estate planning and probate. They also discuss Mallory's term as chairwoman of the CBA YLD Executive Council. Finally, they discuss Mallory's advice for law students and young lawyers.
Christine Hernandez is a partner at Hernandez and Associates, the largest immigration law firm in Colorado. She is an active leader in the legal community and was recently appointed as Co-Chair of the CBA/CJI Diversity on the Bench Joint Initiative. In this podcast, she shares with us her life growing up in Virginia, navigating her way to and through law school, and why diversity and inclusion is important to her.
Join host Kevin Cheney with guest Siddhartha Rathod as they discuss criminal justice reform, civil rights law, and running your own law firm. Siddhartha is the co-owner and co-founder of Rathod Mohamedbhai, LLC, one of the preeminent civil rights law firms in region.
What lessons from Colorado Access to Justice history do we need to remember? Our interview with Jon Asher, Director of Colorado Legal Services, Kath Schoen, Former Director of CBA Local Bar Relations and Access to Justice, and Penny Wagner, Statewide Sherlock Program Coordinator, explores where Colorado has been, some of the current access to justice challenges, and where Colorado is going. They discuss the history of legal aid, access to justice policy, and the history of Colorado’s nationally recognized Sherlock Program. They share what gives them hope for the future of access to justice in Colorado and share some success stories that stand out from each of their outstanding careers as access to justice champions.
This episode also features Kathleen McCrohan, Associate Director of the Colorado Lawyers Committee on our pro bono corner.
If you have a topic you would like to hear about or have a program or issue you want to discuss on Stairway to ATJ please email us at ATJPodcast@cobar.org
Sarah Parady is a partner at Lowrey Parady Lebsack and former president of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association. In this podcast, she discusses her upbringing and thirst for knowledge, and starting an early college at the age of 16. Sarah also candid with Courtney Holm and Nicoal Sperrazza about her decision to shift her focus away from litigation, as well as the importance of building a strong community around you, both in work and in life.
David Hersh is a senior shareholder at Burg Simpson and well-renowned in the legal community for his litigation skills and expertise. He has also spent countless hours and time on impressing upon the importance of attorney wellbeing through his work on the Colorado Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being. In this podcast, he discusses his own personal struggles, re-prioritizing his life, and finding a healthy balance for himself and his family.
Hosts:
Courtney Holm
Nicoal Sperrazza
Guest:
David Hersh
Continuing the Story:
· David Hersh
· Colorado Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being
· Video: Focusing on Wellness
Kyle Robinson is in-house counsel for CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest healthcare non-profits in the world. On this week's episode of Gettin' Legal With it, join Kyle and your host Kevin Cheney as they discuss Kyle's career path into health law. They discuss what skills and education can be useful when considering going into health law and what Kyle's most valuable extracurricular activities were in law school. Additionally, they discuss the difference between being "in-house" and working for a traditional law firm. Finally, they discuss how COVID has impacted health care from the changing nature of where practicing medicine takes place to vaccine mandates.
Sumi Lee is the Head of Judicial Diversity Outreach for the Colorado Judicial Branch. In this podcast, Sumi discusses immigrating to the United States, learning the English language by pocket dictionary in school, and her fearlessness in trying new things. She also discusses the importance of family, authenticity, and why she decided to dedicate her career to increasing diversity on the bench. Sumi is a past president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado, 2014 COBALT graduate, and is a tireless volunteer and leader in many other organizations.
Hosts:
Nicoal Sperrazza
Courtney Holm
Continuing the Story:
- Article: Sumi Lee Tackles Diversity on the Bench
- Law School…Yes We Can!
After a long and illustrious legal career, Velveta Golightly-Howell is now the CEO of Sister-to-Sister: International Network of Professional African American Women, Inc. Listen in as Velveta sits down with Nicoal Sperrazza and Sumi Lee to discuss growing up in a tight-knit community in Alabama, her deep love of learning and education, and her personal experiences including being amongst the first students to integrate into formerly all-white public schools.
Velveta was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2020, and received the Colorado Women’s Bar Association’s Mary Lathrop Award the same year.
Why does representation matter and is it enough? These questions are at the heart of this conversation with Alexi Freeman, Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Denver Law, and Laura Maggio, an immigration attorney with Muhaisen & Muhaisen. They tackle this important issues touching on indemnity, intersectionality, and the need to treat people as individuals. They discuss pipeline work and other efforts to diversify Colorado’s legal community, and share stories of how they identity helped them achieve success.
This episode also feature Emily Brock, Senior Staff Attorney, with the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) in the Pro Bono Corner discussing their programs supporting immigrant children and adults in detention. She highlighted their urgent need for volunteers to help families seeking asylum on the expedited docket.
If you have a topic you would like to hear about or have a program or issue you want to discuss on Stairway to ATJ please email us at ATJPodcast@cobar.org
Established by former CBA President, Kathleen Hearn Croshal, the CBA’s Greater Colorado Task Force works to eliminate the barriers to participation in programs, leadership, and communications for CBA members who practice outside the Denver metro area, thereby improving the CBA’s value and relevance to its membership. In this episode, Kevin speaks with a member of the GCTF, Daniel St. John. Dan discusses the work of the GCTF, the ongoing lawyer shortage outside of the Denver metro area, and the legal needs of greater Colorado.
Community involvement is important to Dan. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Fort Collins Breakfast and on the Executive Council of the Colorado Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Dan was the president of the Larimer County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and a member of the executive committee of the Larimer County Bar Association from 2016 to 2018. He is an active volunteer with all of these organizations. Dan is also a member of the Law Club of Denver, an organization dedicated to teaching legal ethics. Finally, Dan serves as a Commissioner on the Eighth Judicial District Judicial Performance Commission and, in that capacity, reviews local judges and makes retention recommendations when they stand for retention.
Dan’s practice focuses on general civil litigation, common interest community law, landlord-tenant law, real estate law, general business law, and civil appeals. Dan is licensed to practice law in Colorado and Wyoming.
Halleh Omidi is a partner at Hogan Omidi and practices family law. Raised by her Iranian parents and fully bilingual in Farsi and English, she discusses growing up as a Persian in Colorado and shares what it’s like to be judged for not being “diverse enough.” Halleh is a member of the Executive Council for the CBA Family Law Section and is a 2020 Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training program graduate.
Hosts:
Linda Moss
Bonnie Schriner
Guest:
Halleh Omidi
Continuing the Story:
- Hogan Omidi, PC
- CBA Family Law Section
- Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training program
Pro se parties in family law cases are unfortunately not uncommon. Securing full representation, or even legal assistance can be unattainable for many families. However, on this episode of Stairway to ATJ, we discuss how attorneys can help without providing full representation and walk us through the resources available at the Court Resource Center. We welcome guests James Garts of Garts Law and Melissa Walter, 1st JD Self Representative Litigant Coordinator, as they give us some insight into what families go through when representing themselves and what attorneys can do to help.
Also, October is host to Pro Bono Week! In this episode’s Pro Bono Corner, we highlight three of our favorite programs taking place this month to celebrate: 4th JD/Pikes Peak region, Arapahoe/Douglas (email 18SelfHelp@judicial.state.co.us), and Denver (email Virginia Virginia@denbar.org).
If you have a topic you would like to hear about or have a program or issue you want to discuss on Stairway to ATJ please email us at ATJpodcast@cobar.org.
In this episode, Bonnie Schriner and Nicoal Sperrazza sit down with current CBA President, Joi Kush, and former CBA President, Dave Johnson. Joi and Dave discuss significant moments in each of their lives and how they manifested their individual passions for service and calls to leadership. They also discuss how a chance encounter at a Bar Association function unfolded into an eventual professional partnership and the opening of their own law firm, Johnson Kush.
Hosts:
Bonnie Schriner
Nicoal Sperrazza
Guest:
Joi Kush
Dave Johnson
Continuing the Story:
- Colorado Lawyer, President’s Message by Joi Kush
- Peace Corps
Over the past few weeks, this podcast has looked at what Hispanic Heritage is, the dearth of Hispanic changemakers in the form of attorneys and politicians in this state, as well as topics that are of particular importance to the Colorado Latino community. In our final episode of ¡Bienvenidos! our discussion takes a forward-looking lens as we focus on what is happening in the community to change the status quo. Hispanic Latinos make up over 20% of the population in Colorado, but only 6% of the state’s attorneys. Therefore, it is obvious that the Colorado Latino community faces unique barriers to getting into college, getting into law school, and making a career in the law. Working to change that is Law School…Yes We Can. Today we are honored to have in the studio the founder of Law School…Yes We Can, Judge Christine Arguello and the organization’s Executive Director, Maria Arias.
Vikrama (Vika) Chandrashekar is the President of the South Asian Bar Association of Colorado (SABA) and a member of the Trial Section of Moye|White. He handles matters across a wide range of industries concerning general commercial litigation, with an increasing focus on bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and restructuring. Vika has significant experience in property, real estate, and landlord/tenant disputes, complex business disputes, construction matters, and with municipal/governmental issues. On the bankruptcy side, Vika has successfully litigated adversary proceedings and counseled clients through complex bankruptcy issues under both Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. He enjoys the intricacies of trial work and relishes the opportunity to appear in the courtroom.
Before joining Moye White, Vika worked at a local firm where he represented cities, municipalities, school districts, and other public entities involving civil rights and tort claims. In this role, Vika defended government entities and employees against a variety of claims in federal and state court. He worked to identify and execute strategies that benefit his clients at all phases from pre-litigation through case resolution by dispositive motion, trial, settlement, or appeal. He has also worked for the Denver City Attorney’s Office and the 20th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
In his conversation with Kevin, he discusses his day-to-day as a member of the trail section for a large firm, the South Asian Bar Association, the Supreme Court’s new rules on EDI and other professional responsibilities training for attorneys, and his advice on law students considering commercial litigation.
In today’s episode, host Annie Martínez leads a discussion on what it means to be an agent of change in the Hispanic community in greater Colorado. From recent census data, we know that almost 22% of Coloradoans identify as Hispanic, which is up from past years. We also know that there is a large contingency of the Hispanic community living in the Aurora area.
It is our honor to bring into the conversation two Hispanic members of the Aurora City Council: Crystal Murillo, Diversity Program Coordinator, Undergraduate Admission for the University of Denver who represents Ward I and Juan Marcano, BIM Manager and architectural designer who represents Ward IV.
Jon Olafson is a partner at Lewis Brisbois in the Denver office and as part of his role on the CBA’s Executive Council, he chairs the Racial Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Committee. He also serves as co-chair of the newly formed Colorado Diverse Attorney Community Circle (CODACC). He sits down with Courtney Holm and Nicoal Sperrazza to discuss his small-town upbringing, why inclusivity is important to him, and how he developed his own call to action.
Hosts:
Nicoal Sperrazza
Courtney Holm
Guest:
Jon Olafson
Continuing the Story:
- Colorado Diverse Attorney Community Circle
- Denver Philharmonic Orchestra
- Opera Colorado
In the second installment of our limited series podcast honoring Hispanic Heritage Month, we discuss Hispanic women in the law, particularly in Colorado. As of a report issued in 2020 by the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, 6.42% of the attorney population in Colorado identify as Hispanic. Per the census, we know that the Hispanic population in Colorado is 21.8%. While we don't know the number of Hispanic attorneys that identify as women, we do know that nationally the statistics are not great. Per a report by the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), women make up about 2% of US Hispanic lawyers. We also saw in these reports that women attorneys tend to leave the practice earlier — at around the 10-year mark.
With these sobering statistics in mind, host Annie Martínez speaks with two Hispanic women attorneys practicing in Colorado to hear their insights and their experiences, what led them to the law, and what they've had to overcome.
Both of our guests today own their own practices. Yuridia Bazan of Yuri Bazan focuses on family relations and personal injury and Cristina Uribe Reyes of Uribe Reyes Law works on family-based immigration, deportation defense, and citizenship applications.
What is Hispanic Heritage Month? Who exactly is considered Hispanic? And is it Hispanic or Latin? What about latinx or latine? Is one more correct than the others? Introducing ¡Bienvenidos! A limited podcast series celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month brought to you by the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations.
Host, Annie Martínez, calls her legal practice a “defense-minded practice.” Her solo firm, Bridge Legal Solutions, handles family, criminal and juvenile defense law, and often her cases are at the intersection of those areas. Annie is the current 2nd Vice President of the Denver Bar Association and Past President of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association. Each week, Annie will explore the backgrounds and careers of some of Colorado’s leading Hispanic and Latin lawyers while discussing a wide variety of topics relevant to the month’s celebrations.
On today’s inaugural episode, Annie speaks with Carlos Romo, President-Elect of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and a nationally recognized environmental and natural resources attorney with Williams Weese Pepple & Ferguson. Carlos discusses his professional journey as an attorney and his personal journey as the son of both Hispanic and Creole heritage. Annie and Carlos explore the history of Hispanic Heritage Month, the importance of community, and what being “Hispanic” means to them.
What is the Access to Justice Commission and what do they do? Take a listen as their new Executive Director, Elisa Marie Overall — also known as Emo — shares her experience and helps us understand what the Access to Justice Commission is all about. Emo describes the important work of local committees across the state and sheds light on the many barriers to access to justice that too many Coloradoans are still facing.
This episode also features Gail Rodosevich, the Pro Bono Coordinator for Colorado Legal Services in Pueblo and the Chair of the Access to Justice Committee for the 10th JD.
Is there a topic you would like to hear us explore? Have a program or issue you want to discuss on Stairway to ATJ? Please email us at ATJPodcast@cobar.org.
Judge Diana Terry recently retired from the Colorado Court of Appeals. In this podcast, she discusses growing up in New Jersey with Nebraskan parents, being the youngest of five children, and deciding that she wanted to be a lawyer as a child. She also shares her love for music and singing, becoming a self-starter, and her talent for training and leading others.
Hosts:
Nicoal Sperrazza
Courtney Holm
Guest:
Judge Diana Terry (Ret.)
Continuing the Story:
- The Law Club
- Metro Caring
- Thompson G. Marsh Inn of Court
- Colorado Women’s Bar Association
How do we properly accommodate different disabilities? Take a listen as disability rights attorneys Spencer Kontnik of KONTNIK | COHEN and Kevin Williams of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition encourage us to take an individualized, person first approach to accommodating disabilities. In this funny, honest, and raw conversation we hear about what it’s like to be underestimated and excluded due to a disability and the perseverance and passion that animates the important work Spencer and Kevin are doing. Learn about how some of Spencer’s and Kevin's recent wins are creating positive changes for individuals with disabilities and the areas where those with disabilities are still being excluded.
This episode also features Tom Snyder, founder and board president of Colorado Poverty Law Project, in the Pro Bono Corner discussing all the support they provide to those in need.
If you have a topic you would like to hear about or have a program or issue you want to discuss on Stairway to ATJ please email us at ATJPodcast@cobar.org.
Non-monogamy is an umbrella term for every practice or philosophy of non-dyadic intimate relationship that does not strictly hew to the standards of monogamy. An openly non-monogamous relationship is one where partners agree that they want to be together and are open and honest about the fact that they have other partners. Although polygamy is illegal in Colorado, there are many other types of relationships where more than two people enter into a domestic relationship or arrangement.
Parenting, for example, can only include two individuals under Title 19. However, there are often three or more people actively parenting any one child. Through instruments such as trusts, contracts, cohabitation agreements, and pre or post-marital agreements, non-monogamous relationships can have protections under the law. Ultimately, non-monogamous relationships are complex to protect especially considering current Colorado law is averse to addressing them.
Enter Laurence Gendelman. Trained in a large family law firm, Laurence gained experience working with high-asset, high-conflict, and complex divorces and child custody issues. He also advocated for and advised clients regarding the division of complex financial assets including executive compensation packages and retirement benefits.
In 2016, Laurence transitioned his practice to probate, trust, estate law, working with a team of four other attorneys representing clients with estate planning, estate and trust administration, uncontested and contested guardianships and conservatorships, and probate litigation matters.
After gaining extensive experience in these practice areas and learning law firm management and operations, Laurence established Gendelman Law Group, LLC in 2017, where he represented clients in trust, estate, probate, and family law matters. In 2020, Gendelman Law Group, LLC and Klimas Law Firm, LLC, joined forces to create Gendelman Klimas, Ltd., the firm Where Family is Everything.
Laurence is also the Immediate Past President of the Colorado LGBT Bar Association.
Host: Kevin Cheney
Justice Monica Márquez currently serves on the Colorado Supreme Court. In this podcast, she discusses growing up in the San Luis Valley, how she found her own voice and took risks early on, and how her trumpet-playing in a mariachi band bridged multicultural communities. Justice Márquez also talks about her time with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC), and the importance of collegiality and professionalism in the legal profession.
Hosts:
Mallory Revel
Linda Moss
Guest:
Justice Monica Márquez
Continuing the Story:
- Jesuit Volunteer Corp
- Colorado Hispanic Bar Association
- Colorado Women’s Bar Association
Chris Brock is Managing Attorney of Probate Power, at Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition’s probate and estate planning legal program. CCDC is Colorado’s leader in disability rights. Prior to joining CCDC, Chris worked as a law clerk for the Honorable A. Bruce Jones in Denver District Court and as a Dean’s Fellow at the University of Colorado Law School. He is admitted to the Colorado Bar and is a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations, where he belongs to the Trust and Estate and Elder Law Sections. Chris focuses his practice in the areas of special needs planning, estate planning, and probate administration.
How do pro bono programs really work? This episode of Stairway to ATJ examines several of the Colorado Bar Association’s and Denver Bar Association’s pro bono programs to see how they work from the inside out. Co-hosts Mia Kontnik and Anthony Pereira turn the tables in this episode and interview each other. Mia and Anthony describe the impact their programs have on access to justice and explore themes like empowering litigants and helping volunteer attorneys find meaningful ways to give back.
In lieu of the traditional Pro Bono Corner, Mia and Anthony describe the programs they help run. If you would like to learn more about Family Law Unbundled (Volunteer (denbar.org)) or have any questions about the program, you can reach out to Anthony at apereira@cobar.org.
If you would like to learn more about the Appellate Pro Bono Program or Clinic (Appellate Pro Bono (cobar.org)) or the Legal Fee Arbitration Committee (Legal Fee Arbitration (cobar.org)), please reach out to Mia at mkontnik@cobar.org.
Finally, if you are interested in learning more about the Federal Pro Se Clinic (Colorado Federal Pro Se Assistance Program (cobar.org)) or the Bankruptcy Clinic (Home (cobar.org)), you can send an e-mail to FPSC@cobar.org.
As always, if you have a topic you would like to hear about or know of a program you would like to see featured on Stairway to ATJ, please email us at ATJPodcast@cobar.org.
Growing up in a family focused on service impacted Adam Hepp’s life tremendously. His dedication and empathy have served him well in his service roles as a Jefferson County Senior Deputy District Attorney and as an Air Force Veteran. Adam has received the Arapahoe County Bar Association (ACBA) 2020 Tommy D. Drinkwine Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year award. Listen as Adam shares his perspectives on the importance of mentorship, the necessity of court systems that value rehabilitation, cultivating positive professional relationships, and the important connection between lawns and family
One of the (many) things they don’t teach us in law school is how to be a businessperson. And after all, to build a successful practice, don’t lawyers have to be entrepreneurs? Enter Legal Entrepreneurs for Justice. LEJ is a small business incubator for socially conscious lawyers building sustainable practices to provide affordable quality legal solutions to low- and middle-income Colorado. But beyond that, LEJ is a public interest solution to improving access to legal services and helping bridge the justice gap in Colorado by offering 18 months of training, mentoring, resources, and support to attorneys who are launching practices to serve this hugely underserved population. This means that they produce modern lawyers!
Today we dive into this amazing program with our accomplished guests Justice Melissa Hart of the Colorado Supreme Court and Laurie Gilbertson, executive director of Legal Entrepreneurs for Justice, and learn how doing pro bono and cost-effective work can be beneficial not only to the profession and to your community, but also to your mental and professional health.
Denver County Court Judge Olympia Fay knew she wanted to be a judge while in law school and intentionally worked in both civil and criminal law to assist a balanced and well-rounded perspective. Judge Fay discusses her influences, family, leadership, mentorship, her love of the courtroom and her philosophies. Her cognizance of the powerful impact of words and actions drives her delivery of dignity, respect, and hopefulness to those in her court. Listen as her story weaves through her gratefulness, her own self-awareness, preparation, and the vital importance of authenticity.
Hosts:
Mallory Revel
Linda Moss
Guest:
Judge Olympia Fay
Continuing the Story:
- Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training (COBALT)
- Denver County Court
Judge Alfred C. Harrell, although known by many less formal and endearing names and nicknames, has been an icon on the Denver bench and a meaningful mentor to many people along the way. His dedication to service runs deep and he has been instrumental in founding Inns of Court in Colorado as well as the Symposium on Race Denver. Judge Harrell shares his many life lessons with a genuine sense of gratitude and a relatability that shines through as big as his heart. He shares his very personal story including his childhood, family, and path to law school and later the bench. His rippling effect throughout the legal community is illustrated by those he has mentored and his many awards and accolades. Join us for this candid and welcoming conversation from his roots to the building of his values.
Hosts:
Mallory Revel
Linda Moss
Guest:
Judge Alfred C. Harrell
Continuing the Story:
- 2018_10th_Judge Alfred C Harrell (innsofcourt.org) (bio)
- Sam Cary – Bar Association (samcarybar.net)
- Home (symposiumonracedenver.com)
- NITA - Home
- Animal Shelter | Pet Adoption Denver | Dumb Friends League : Dumb Friends League (ddfl.org)
How do people deal with consumer debt? Listen up as CBA’s new Bankruptcy Attorney gives an overview of the bankruptcy system, describes CBA’s new Bankruptcy Clinic, and explores how debt can impact many aspects of people’s lives. This episode of Stairway to ATJ explores the financial and emotional forces that can impact a person’s decision to file for bankruptcy. Co-hosts Mia Kontnik and Anthony Pereira sit down with Matt Skeen – Bankruptcy Attorney for the Bankruptcy Clinic and a shareholder at Skeen and Skeen – to discuss the access to justice issues that arise in the bankruptcy context.
This episode also features Ivonne Esparza of Metro Volunteer Lawyers in the Pro Bono Corner as she discusses the full-referral program.
If you have a topic you would like to hear about or have a program or issue you want to discuss on Stairway to ATJ please email us at ATJPodcast@cobar.org.
Anjali Nanda is a practicing immigration attorney at AQMN Law. Prior to joining AQMN, she worked for USCIS at the Department of Homeland Security as a Refugee Officer and Asylum Officer. In this podcast, she discusses bridging the gap between her roots in India and growing up as a Denver native; how her esteemed father, Ved Nanda, primed her for her love of law; and how she cultivated her passion for human rights.
Hosts:
Nicoal Sperrazza
Courtney Holm
Guest:
Anjali Nanda
Continuing the Story:
- Anjali Nanda, AQMN Law
- University of Denver Sturm College of Law Alumni Council
- Chelsey Russell [1981-2016]
We have established the How to Start a Revolution Helpline. This is just one of many tools from MLPI to help people become productive and happy modern lawyers. In today’s grab bag episode, we bring in some of our past guests and experts to answer some of the questions we have received on the helpline. And it is a veritable smorgasbord of valuable information! We welcome back one of our favorite guests, Karen Safran of Goodspeed & Merrill, to help field these great calls and keep us on track. So, tune in to hear your questions answered by these amazing experts. And if you have a question of your own, please leave a message on the How to Start a Revolution Helpline at 303 824-5399
Ryann Peyton
Jessica Bednarz
Kristen Belolan
Martha Knudson
Sara Scott
Jonathan White
Jessica Brown
Kathleen Hearn Croshal is a retired judge from the Pueblo County Court and a former president of the Colorado Bar Association. Kathleen discusses her life story and overcoming barriers that to most, would be daunting. She also discusses her love for musical theater, overcoming gender stereotypes, balancing education and life as a single mother, and charging the path less traveled.
Miko Brown is Associate General Counsel at Airbnb who has made a lasting impact throughout the Colorado Legal system. Miko discusses her very personal and unique family history, how she makes the most of her time with the most impact, her fearless approach to life and obstacles, and the importance of support and mentorship.
In his week's episode, we are proud to feature Elie Zwiebel, founder of Zwiebel Law. Elie specializes in Education Law and Juvenile Justice, and the intersection between the two. He works to end the School to Prison pipeline and devotes much of his time to working for various non-profits doing work in that arena.
As the finale to this limited series podcast, Nicoal Sperrazza talks with Maha Kamal, a solo practitioner who provides sliding scale services in the Denver metro area. Maha discusses her AAPI experience as a first-generation Pakistani-American who was disowned by her parents, living as a minority within a minority, cultivating her creativity through various artforms, and finding her way to humanism throughout it all.
Mario Trimble, is so much more than a commanding voice. A man who leans into his vulnerability and loves people, a partner at Kutak Rock LLP focusing on public finance, he devotes time to the Colorado Bar Association, Denver Bar Association, and Sam Cary Bar Associations to feed his soul. Originally from Alabama, his educational path was marked with unique opportunities, racial tension, and a truly deep an appreciation for all the people that had an impact on him. Once dreaming of an Olympic berth in fencing, Mario shares with Courtney Holm and Nicoal Sperraza how his daily activities from public finance and the Bar associations impact people on a larger scale and how his love of the “The City” opened his mind to new opportunities and led him to Colorado.
For the third installment of this limited series podcast, Nicoal Sperrazza talks with trailblazer and powerhouse Kenzo Kawanabe, a partner with Davis Graham & Stubbs and a well-known leader in the legal community. In this episode, Kenzo discusses his love for Colorado, his own family history and the Japanese internment camps, the importance of mentorship, and his passion for pro bono work, including his contribution to the hallmark pro bono case regarding a constitutional challenge to the state's funding for education, Lobato v. State of Colorado.
Raised speaking Navajo to age 5, Keith's determination and innovative planning to overcome early school ridicule and labeling were signs of things to come in his remarkable life. His three rules for success continue to serve him well. Keith now represents Native clients and Navajo employers. He specializes in federal Indian Law. From reading shampoo labels so he could pronounce English syllables in 2nd grade, to making check-off lists for his path to law school, Keith's story is a voice of unassuming inspiration.
How does a parents race affect his or her experience in the child welfare system? This episode of Stairway to ATJ explores the child welfare system from the perspective of parent advocates. Co-hosts Mia Kontnik and Anthony Pereira speak with MJ (Director of MJ Consulting Firm), and Mike Boyce (Law Office of Michael Boyce) about ATJ issues in and surrounding the child welfare process. MJ and Mike discuss their experience working in the system and projects they are working on to address inequities in the system.
This episode also features Jennifer Eyl from Project Safeguard in the Pro Bono Corner discussing all the work they provide to those in need.
If you have a topic you would like to hear about or have a program or issue you want to discuss on Stairway to ATJ please email us at ATJPodcast@cobar.org.
As a follow up to the first installment featuring founders of APABA Colorado and SABA-CO, Nicoal Sperrazza speaks with Anne Lee, Immediate Past President of APABA Colorado, to discuss APABA Colorado today and what it has looked like this past year during the pandemic and amidst a racial justice crisis. Nicoal also gets to learn a little more about Anne personally: what led her into law as a second career, how she managed law school with two littles and husband who travels for work, and her legal experience in big law, in-house, and at the Attorney General’s Office.
Nicoal Sperrazza is a solo practitioner and is an active leader in the legal community. In this interview, Nicoal shares what led her to the legal profession through personal stories of growing up as a first-generation Korean American and the struggles with bridging the gap between two different cultures. Her interview also highlights the power of inclusivity and the importance of community.
Nicoal Sperrazza sits down with a few AAPI pioneers in our legal community, Paul Chan, Fay Matsukage, and The Honorable Neeti Pawar, to talk about founding and forming the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado (APABA Colorado) and the South Asian Bar Association of Colorado (SABA-CO). In this podcast, they also discuss the importance of diversity, fellowship, mentorship, leadership, and what you can do to help support the AAPI community.
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado
South Asian Bar Association of Colorado
John Gleason’s practice emphasizes legal and medical ethics, regulatory and administrative matters, as well as standard of care in legal matters, and ethics issues in business or government. He is also an adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Mr. Gleason served as Regulation Counsel for the Colorado Supreme Court from 1999 until his retirement in 2013. As Regulation Counsel he managed an office of the Supreme Court responsible for the regulation of Colorado attorneys and magistrates.
In 2013 the American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility selected Mr. Gleason for the Michael Franck Award. The Franck Award is the highest honor bestowed annually to one recipient whose career commitments in legal ethics and lawyer professionalism demonstrate the best accomplishments of lawyers.
In 2013 the Arizona Supreme Court selected Mr. Gleason for the court’s Award of Merit for his work as Independent Bar Counsel in the prosecution and disbarment of former Maricopa County District Attorney, Andrew Thomas. The widely publicized case is regarded as one of the most significant lawyer discipline cases in history.
In August 2015 the ABA Center appointed Mr. Gleason as Chair of the ABA/CPR Policy Implementation Committee. The Policy Implementation Committee focuses on the implementation of recent revisions to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the Model Code of Judicial Conduct, the policies of the Multi-jurisdictional Practice Commission, and other models and policies developed by the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility.
Mr. Gleason is a member of the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Inn of Court.
Growing up, Tariq Sheikh was one of those kids who never stopped asking questions – you know, the kind who asked his babysitter to show him where in the Bill of Rights the text says it doesn't apply to children. As Tariq found his way to law school and settled into professional life, he developed a passion for the justice system. Today, Tariq works as a Senior Chief Deputy District Attorney in Jefferson County. In Tariq’s journey through life, he has found that his most rewarding role is serving and engaging from a place of authenticity. Join us on this episode of Our Voices to learn about how this curious kid grew into an advocate for taking a holistic, humanizing approach to the prosecution of justice and encouraging those around him to do the same.
In our last episode, we explained the power that a positive mindset can have on your law practice and on your life in general. Today, we dive even deeper into how a positive mindset can build psychological capital (PsyCap). Psychological capital refers to a set of resources a person can use to help improve their performance on the job and their success. It includes four different resources – self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resilience.
We’re excited to welcome back guest Martha Knudson, Executive Director of the Utah State Bar Well-Being Committee for the Legal Profession, who shares insights and technics on how we can build up our mental strength, handle stress, and become more flexible and, hopefully, happy.
Bryon's leadership path in the LGBT Bar Association and the CBA began with his early volunteer work for Metro Volunteer Lawyers and Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network. In law school and beyond he realized the value of mentors and maintains those valuable relationships today. His grandfather succeeded at always being the fun old guy in the room, remains his greatest influence. Bryon's dedication to service and helping the legal profession and the people affected by our justice system is a constant in his life.
Sheldon Spotted Elk is a proud member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and a judge in the Ute Indian Tribal Court of Appeals. Sheldon was always "coded" by his last name. His stories of loss and the importance of being a friend and being of service to others while retaining your identity and integrity are rich. His Indian heritage permeates his story.
Is Colorado facing an impending evictions tsunami? Listen up as three attorneys from across the state explain that providing access to justice to clients facing evictions requires a more holistic, client-centered approach to lawyering. This episode of Stairway to ATJ explores the forces causing many Coloradans to experience housing instability both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-hosts Mia Kontnik and Anthony Pereira sit down with Jenny Wherry, the executive director of Alpine Legal Services, Megan O’Byrne, a housing attorney with Colorado Legal Services, and Amanda Pearson, the Development Director of La Puente. Jenny, Megan, and Amanda identify statewide problems causing housing insecurity, while also highlighting issues unique to each of regions of the state that they live and work in. Stay tuned as Andy White, the CBA’s Director of Legislative Relations, provides some background about how the Colorado Legislature has addressed these pressing housing needs. Finally, the guests wrap up by sharing some programs and connections that give them hope for the future.
If you or someone you know needs legal assistance, they can contact Colorado Legal Services by calling the intake number: (303) 837-1321 or visiting their website: coloradolegalservices.org.
This episode also features Liz Jones of Metro Volunteer Lawyers in the Pro Bono Corner as she discusses the Family Law Court Program clinic.
If you have a topic you would like to hear about or have a program or issue you want to discuss on Stairway to ATJ please email us at ATJPodcast@cobar.org.
Karen Hen is an associate attorney working on a variety of civil cases including personal injury, sexual assault, premises liability, wrongful death and medical malpractice. Prior to joining the firm, Karen clerked at the Second Judicial District Court for the Honorable Edward Bronfin. During her time at the court she had the opportunity to clerk in the civil, criminal, and domestic rotations. While in the civil rotation, Karen witnessed numerous jury trials where she gained insight and knowledge on how jurors view facts, parties, attorneys, and, most importantly, how they reach their verdicts.
Karen was recently appointed to the Executive Council of the Colorado Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. Karen is a member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice. She is also a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Denver Bar Association and the Intellectual Property Inn of Court. She is licensed to practice law in Arizona and in Colorado.
Scott LaBarre's stunning voice (give a listen) matches his extraordinary career. Blind from age 10, literacy and independence were his goals and those he shares for other blind people. Scott's professional life of advocacy and leadership is his gift to us.
What if we told you that success doesn’t make you happy, being happy makes you successful? Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the actual work that we're doing that we forget to focus on ourselves and the mindset that is the basis of Modern Lawyering.
The mission statement of the Modern Law Practice Initiative is “To revolutionize the legal profession by enhancing access to innovative client-driven and cost-effective legal services that empower lawyers to build thriving law practices.”
In today’s episode, we focus on the word empowerment. How exactly do we empower lawyers to become modern lawyers practicing modern law? The answer is mindset. There is growing evidence from the fields of positive organizational behavior and positive psychology that the resources of hope, optimism, self-efficacy, and resilience shape the underlying attitudes and behaviors associated with increased performance.
Our special guest is Martha Knudson, Executive Director of the Utah State Bar Well-Being Committee for the Legal Profession. Martha discusses how policies that promote lawyer’s strength and well-being are good for lawyers, law firms, and ultimately, good for business.
Terry Fox sits on the Colorado Court of Appeals (COA), where she has served since January of 2011. In 2017, the Denver Bar Association awarded Judge Fox its Judicial Excellence Award. In 2018, she received the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ, Region IX) Lady Justice Award and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA) honored her as the 2019 Outstanding Judicial Officer. Judge Fox was the People’s Choice for Best Court of Appeals Judge on Law Week Colorado’s “Barrister’s Best 2019.” Judge Fox has served as the Colorado Director and as District Director for the NAWJ and remains a NAWJ member. In collaboration with the Center for Legal Inclusiveness, she is a member of the Judicial Dream Team’s efforts to diversify the bench. She is a member of the Executive Committee of Our Courts Colorado and contributes to the Colorado Judicial Conference Planning Committee, the Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Language Access, and the Supreme Court’s Character and Fitness Committee. Beginning in 2020, she will train new COA judges. Her community service includes membership and board service in the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and the CWBA and mentoring young lawyers and aspiring jurists. She previously served on Colorado Supreme Court’s Attorney Regulation Committee and the Board of Law Examiner’s Law Committee. Before her appointment to the Colorado Court of Appeals, from 2004-2010, Judge Fox served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in Colorado, working as trial counsel to federal agencies and specializing in environmental law, constitutional law, and other civil matters.
As Presiding Judge on the Denver County Court bench, Judge Theresa Spahn has been a passionate defender of the Court and a champion of access to justice efforts in the city and beyond. From her time as a magistrate in Colorado’s 17th Judicial District to her tireless efforts to help create the Office of the Child’s Representative or leading the O’Connor Judicial Selection Initiative at the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System to her current role, Judge Spahn has always recognized the role of judges as leaders and models of fairness, impartiality and integrity. Her judicial philosophy is deeply rooted in her character and experiences as a Denver native from a large and loving family that instilled in her the value of hard work and community.
David Beller is not only a sharp-dressed man but also a top Colorado criminal defense lawyer and skilled advocate whose attention to detail is unparalleled. Growing up, David developed his all-important compassion and drive through his obvious path to law school: veterinary science. Listen as he shares his unique path to leadership and the moving experiences that shaped his character, dedication to trust, integrity, and vulnerability in his relationships with clients and opposing counsel.
Honorable Neeti V. Pawar was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in March, 2019. Judge Pawar's practice over the 25 years prior to her appointment included litigation, mediation, and appellate work in the areas of family law, employment law, and criminal defense. She was a solo practitioner immediately preceding her appointment and prior to that a partner with a boutique law firm. Judge Pawar is the founding president of the South Asian Bar Association of Colorado, Past-President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado, and recipient of APABA-Colorado's Minoru Yasui Community Service Award. Judge Pawar is the first South Asian American to be appointed as a Judge in the State of Colorado and the first Asian American to be appointed to the Court of Appeals or higher in Colorado. In her free time, Judge Pawar spends her time dancing and teaching with an Indian Dance Studio and skiing in the Rockies.
Host:
Ruchi Kapoor
Bruce Smith is the 20th dean of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, having served in that role since July 2016. Previously, he was professor of law and Guy Raymond Jones Faculty Scholar at the University of Illinois College of Law, where he was dean from 2009-14. From 1996-2001, he practiced in the litigation group at Covington & Burling LLP in Washington, D.C., where he focused on intellectual property litigation and sports law, representing the NFL, NHL, and NBA, among other clients. Dean Smith currently serves on a number of educational, civic, and corporate boards, including the board of advisors of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS), the board of directors of the Center for Legal Inclusiveness (CLI).
Host:
Kevin Cheney
Appointed by Governor Jared Polis in February 2020, Judge Pax Moultrie serves on the Denver Juvenile Court. Before becoming a judge, she served as a Magistrate in the 1st Judicial District (Jefferson County) and assistant county attorney in Jefferson and Arapahoe counties. Judge Moultrie focused her studies on anthropology, setting her sites on working with primates and becoming the next Jane Goodall. But life seldom happens as we planned it. When asked how she found her path to the bench, Judge Moultrie says the path actually found her. Hear how it happened and how she employs empathy and compassion to inform her work on the bench.
About the Host:
As former appellate director and legislative liaison for the Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel, Ruchi Kapoor helped establish and oversee Colorado’s first appellate program for respondent parents in child welfare cases. A Colorado native, Ruchi has been an extremely active member of the legal community, holding leadership positions in both the Denver and Colorado Bar Associations as well as the South Asian Bar Association of Colorado and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association. She currently serves as First Vice President of the Denver Bar Association.
Hannah Proff is a criminal defense attorney with over ten years of practical and policy experience. She has received numerous awards and other recognition over her career for her excellence in criminal defense and juvenile rights advocacy in particular, including LYRIC—Learn Your Rights in the Community—the groundbreaking nonprofit she co-founded to educate young people about their rights in interactions with law enforcement. Spend five minutes with her, though, and you will realize that Hannah Proff is so much more than that. A neurodiverse learner who proudly embraces her own dyslexia, Hannah’s passion for criminal defense sprang from an early school trip to an under-construction prison in her native Seward, Alaska. On this episode of Our Voices, our own Mallory Revel and Bonnie Schriner sit down with Hannah Proff to hear the story of her path so far in her own words.
Rachel Catt has built a thriving legal practice as a family law attorney, representing clients in a variety of matters, including high-conflict divorce, child custody, and LGBTQ family law disputes. She is well known for her reputation as a counselor, advocate and thought leader on family law and in particular LGBTQ family law issues. Active in many legal organizations, listen to her very personal journey to the legal profession, her practice, insight and advocacy work, and what she would advise younger lawyers.
Hosts:
Mallory Revel and Linda Moss
Guest:
Rachel Catt
Continuing the Story:
Colorado LGBT Bar Association
Colorado Women's Bar Association
CBA Family Law Section
Law Office of Rachel Catt, LLC
In this episode, we take a deep dive into cutting-edge legal technology that is transforming the practice of law. With a special guest co-host and tech thought leader, Karen Safran, we explore the incredible opportunities and efficiencies that avail themselves to today's tech-savvy modern lawyers. In our interview with special guests, Yev Muchnik and Justie Nicol, we hear directly from two modern lawyers who have embraced technological innovation to boost their practices. And, as an added benefit, today's guests can speak "technology" in plain and accessible language that even the most tech-averse practitioner can understand!
Director of Criminal Law at Denver firm Hernandez & Associates and 2021 President of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, Jonathan Booker is giving back to his Colorado with a commitment to defending others in his profession and serving the LatinX community through his leadership. Jonathan talks to us about his experiences, his vision for CHBA, his passion for the outdoors, and much more.
Today we are thrilled to have our first member of the Colorado Supreme Court, Justice Carlos Samour. Before being appointed by Governor Hickenlooper in 2018, Justice Samour was a judge in the 18th Judicial District. For eleven and a half years during his tenure as District Court Judge, Justice Samore presided over criminal, civil, domestic relations, juvenile delinquency, and dependency and neglect cases. Before his appointment to the District Court bench, Justice Samour worked as a prosecutor in the Denver District Attorney's Office for approximately ten years. Prior to becoming a prosecutor he worked in a civil practice for about five years at Holland & Hart LLP and his first job out of law school was a one year clerkship with the Honorable Robert McWilliams in the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th circuit.
Samantha Jones-Rogers is a staff attorney with the Colorado Association of School Boards. Sam grew up in a military family and experienced the phenomenon of being a “Third Culture Kid.” In her podcast, Sam discusses the rich experience of growing up abroad, learning about what it is to be American from afar, and the unique experience of moving back to the United States and seeing issues of race firsthand. Listen as Mallory and Linda discuss with Sam the nuances of the Third Culture Kid and the importance of school law as a tool for advocacy.
As former appellate director and legislative liaison for the Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel, Ruchi Kapoor helped establish and oversee Colorado’s first appellate program for respondent parents in child welfare cases. A Colorado native, Ruchi has been an extremely active member of the legal community, holding leadership positions in both the Denver and Colorado Bar Associations as well as the South Asian Bar Association of Colorado and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association. Ruchi Kapoor sat down to talk about her path to the legal profession, law school, her experiences with child welfare cases, as well as the launch of her new firm Kapoor Law and Policy.
In this episode we welcome back the amazing JP Box, co-host of this podcast and today’s special guest. JP is a lawyer, entrepreneur, business owner, author, and consultant. That’s a lot of things to be. So how does JP stay sane? Work-life blend.
Work-life balance is just that – a balancing act. Invariably pitting one against the other in the pursuit of having it all. Traditionally, employers and employees have been preoccupied with the well-intentioned but misguided attempt to separate life from work. But what if work and life were all blended together into one harmonious ball of twine? This is precisely what JP proposes in his book The Millennial Lawyer: How Your Firm Can Motivate and Retain Young Associates. Work-life blend has become a watchword for millennial workers. It’s about working smarter and, as a result, more productively. And guess what, the pandemic has been a great crash course on how to accomplish this.
To explain what work-life blend looks like, JP and co-host Erika Holmes, break the concept down into five freedoms:
- Freedom to decide when and where work happens
- Freedom to bring your life into work. (Dog friendly office anybody?)
- Freedom to think of a workspace as a living space and vice versa (think about the Google-fication of workspaces.)
- Freedome to work, think, and connect digitally.
- The freedom to unplug. Figuratively and literally.
Judge Gary Jackson is a pillar of the Colorado legal community and the state at large. Judge Jackson recently retired from the Denver County Court but has been shaping the Colorado legal landscape for 50 years as a former Deputy District Attorney in Denver, former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the 10th Circuit, and through his own law firm. Judge Jackson was an original founder of the Sam Cary Bar Association in 1971 for the support of and exchange of ideas by African American lawyers in the State of Colorado. Judge Jackson continues to be a force that is changing the face of the Colorado judiciary as founder and co-chair of the Diversity on the Bench Coalition. Listen to this Colorado icon speak about his life, his influences, historic Lincoln Hills, and his perspectives on maintaining grace and civility while taking principled stands throughout his career.
Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Ted C. Tow, III has led a life of advocacy, guided by a keen intellect coupled with a disarming humanity. In this far-reaching interview with Linda Moss and Mallory Revel, Judge Tow talks about his experiences, how his judicial philosophy is tempered by an appreciation for diversity, and how seemingly little things like the use of pronouns can be an act of allyship.
Colorado native, but child of the military who has lived all over the world, CBA President-Elect Joi Kush always knew that she wanted to be an attorney and represent those who need a voice. In 2014 she joined the CBA YLD Executive Council with the goal of bringing a greater Colorado perspective to the group. Law school may teach students how to think like a lawyer, but often stops short of teaching students how to practice law. That’s where Joi says the CBA continued her education and helped her become a better attorney. Hear about her journey from study abroad to JAG training to finding her path to family law and how the “big bar” (CBA) helped her get to where she is today. Joi also describes the ins and outs of how the CBA works and the value in being a member.
Brothers Danny and David Foster are fierce leaders in the Denver legal community who have built their practice on the philosophy of genuine camaraderie and respect. The sons of a former Colorado state senator and the senior rabbi of the largest and oldest synagogue in the Rocky Mountain region, the Fosters credit the values their parents instilled in them for their shared sense of community, diversity justice, and compassion. Listen to the witty repartee of these brothers as they recount growing up and hear their refreshing advice for others thinking of growing their own legal practice.
Maybe you’ve heard the myth that in order to ethically represent your client, you must be responsible for their entire case from start to finish. Untrue, says our guest, Jonathan White, Professional Development Counsel and Inventory Counsel at the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. Not only is modern law representation entirely permitted, it is encouraged by the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct. The reality is that not all clients can afford full scope services. Therefore, many argue that, from an access to justice standpoint, traditional representation is actually the service model that flirts with an ethical gray area. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the Rules of Professional Conduct and explore the many ways Modern Law represents the best of the legal profession.
Jonathan White
Lauren Lester
Erika Holmes
Judge Melina Hernández was a magistrate, a family court facilitator, and is now a judge on the Arapahoe County Court. Judge Hernández has served in many roles in the community, and in this energetic interview, Judge Hernández shares her path to the bench and her perspectives on everything from how the light rail can be a forum for forging friendships, to the power of mentorship, the importance of ensuring that our courts meet those they serve exactly as they are, and the importance of language. Her refreshing and open discussion of self-awareness, combined with her insight and appreciation of the differences in all of us, highlights her view of justice, empathy, kindness, respect, and continued improvements to our court system.
Hosts:
Mallory Revel
Linda Moss
Guest:
Judge Melina Hernández
Continuing the Story:
- ¡Si Se Puede! Webinar Series (CO-CABE)
- Arguello Dream Catchers. Law School…Yes We Can!
- Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training (COBALT)
- Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA)
The Our Voices inaugural episode takes a closer look at Jason St. Julien, an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s office in Denver, Colorado. This renaissance man is a former schoolteacher, minor league baseball player, pianist, and federal court clerk with a long-standing commitment to public service. Jason authored a pivotal June 2020 Denver Post article that serves as a testament of his experience as a Black man in today’s society. Jason sat down with hosts Mallory Revel and Linda Moss to talk about the important people and events that have shaped his path and informed his philosophy.
Continuing the story:
Denver Post: Jason St. Julien: The unrelenting, frustratingly delicate balancing act of being black
Landmark worldwide for self-growth
Why Broncos Asst. Strength Coach Anthony Lomando is representing asst. US attorney Jason St. Julien in 2020
Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training [COBALT]
Just like everything else in Modern Law, networking isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Modern networking isn’t just about getting clients, it’s about revolutionizing the way we think about making connections and how those connection-making skills can help us become better lawyers and improve the legal profession.
In this episode, we speak to networker extraordinaire, Karen Masciulli, Director of Legal Talent at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Karen realized early that she wanted to use her legal abilities to help people. From the time she graduated law school she has worked in academia, big law, and the government helping connect lawyers with opportunities. Now she gives us a peek into all the many ways to network outside of those awkward happy hours. Listen for tech tips, advice both practical and inventive, and some tricks of the trade for Modern Lawyers.
Karen Masciulli
Lauren Lester
Erika Holmes
There are a lot of misconceptions, particularly among young lawyers and law students, around what mentorship is and isn’t. Mentorship doesn’t have to be formal or exclusive or just a status symbol for sycophants. Mentorship is a means to help build a better you both professionally and personally.
In smaller communities where there are fewer lawyers and fewer opportunities to network, finding mentors is especially important. Today we speak with two all-stars from Grand Junction, Judge Lance Timbreza and attorney Lauren O’Dell, who offer practical advice on the how, why, and when of mentorship.
A mentor doesn’t have to be older and wiser or have every answer. Seek out a variety of mentors with specific strengths. Even a peer or colleague who you can trust to tell you the truth could be considered a mentor. And finding a mentor can be as simple as “Hey, I saw you in court today. You were great. Can we grab a coffee sometime?”
Both Lauren and Judge Timbreza share their career journeys, the benefits of having diversity in your experiences, and emphasize the wealth of knowledge, connections, and assistance that can come from being involved in the Young Lawyers Division.
How can a person achieve access to justice when there is no attorney to be found? This episode of Stairway to ATJ focuses on the phenomenon of “Legal Deserts,” which exist when there are only a few attorneys to serve a great geographic expanse. Co-hosts Mia Kontnik and Anthony Pereira sit down with Jennifer (Jen) Cuesta from Colorado Legal Services and Julie Katz from Katz Law LLC in Salida to discuss the impact legal deserts have on access to justice. Julie and Jen describe the difficulties of practicing in greater and rural Colorado, as well as how they are working to overcome them.
If you or someone you know needs legal assistance, they can contact Colorado Legal Services by calling the intake number: (303) 837-1321 or visiting their website coloradolegalservices.org.
This episode also features Ashley Staab of the CBA in the Pro Bono Corner to discuss the Colorado Lawyers for Colorado Veterans clinic.
The episode wraps up with Eyes on ATJ, where Mia and Anthony discuss important and enduring access to justice issues. These include legal bots, justice busses, and more. It’s Our Turn asks attorneys to give back and an easy way to get involved is by completing a profile on Succession to Service.
If you have a topic you would like to hear about or have a program or issue you want to discuss on Stairway to ATJ please email us at ATJPodcast@cobar.org.
Linda Chalat began her career with a degree in chemical engineering. Handling hazardous materials during her first job piqued her interest in RCRA law (the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Ultimately, she was inspired to go to law school to better understand RCRA laws and “why they were written so badly.” A self-described math and science nerd, she was delighted to discover the union between the technical and the legal aspects of what she was doing in the realm of chemical engineering.
So what does any of this have to do with Personal Injury Law? Well, it’s all part of the journey to discovering what really makes you tick. When asked how she went from RCRA law to personal injury, Linda says it was “a clear-cut case of love at first sight.”
Linda’s advice to young lawyers: Personal injury practice is rewarding emotionally, but not necessarily financially. At least not in the beginning. But the diversity of cases keeps it engaging.
Linda also has valuable words of wisdom on how technology is now and will continue to impact the practice of law, how to find case management software that is the best fit for you, being a woman in male-dominated industries, and why volunteering is so important and what you can do to help organizations such as Metro Volunteer Lawyers and the Legal Aid Foundation.
In this episode, Erika Holmes and special guest co-host, Lauren Lester, welcome Meranda Vieyra, CEO and Founder of Denver Legal Marketing LLC. With 25 years of experience in the Denver legal market, Meranda specializes in bringing high impact legal marketing to solo and small firms.
As with everything in modern law, marketing is customizable. But that doesn’t mean it should stay exclusively in your wheelhouse. Erika’s philosophy on marketing is go with what feels most natural, but not necessarily what’s most comfortable.
From branding and advertising to building the perfect website and optimizing SEO to identifying your target audience to turning leads into clients, Miranda helps to demystify what marketing looks like for modern lawyers and passes along a few simple ideas to get you started.
How does race impact access to justice? In our second installment of Stairway to ATJ, we explore how race affects a person’s access to and experience with the legal system. Carey Degenaro kicks this episode off by introducing us to the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project, an organization tackling the eviction crisis and in need of volunteers. Co-hosts, Mia Kontnik and Anthony Pereira, have a compelling conversation with Jes Jones, criminal defense attorney and core organizer for the Colorado chapter of the National Lawyers Guild and Allison Neswood, Deputy Director of Strategic Priorities for the Colorado Center on Law and Policy. Together, we break down how access to justice is connected with diversity, equity, and inclusivity, digging into the structural barriers facing communities in the realms of criminal justice, health care, and public benefits. Jes and Allison share heart-felt stories of perseverance and success.
In this week’s wrap, Eyes on ATJ, wediscuss efforts to enhance diversity on the bench, the disproportionate impact of COVID on communities of color, and the ABA’s 21-day racial equity challenge.
If you have a topic you would like to hear about or a program we should highlight, please email us at ATJPodcast@cobar.org.
In the final installment of our three-part series on billing, Erika Holmes and guest host, Lauren Lester, take a deep dive into unbundling. Special guests, Amy Skogerson and Andrea McGinn of Iowa, walk us through the inspiration for their 100% unbundled practice, The Law Shop, and the freedom that unbundled legal services has brought to their clients and the freedom and work-life balance it has brought to them.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you first started out? Denver civil litigation attorney, Tanya Sevy, gives practical advice on how keeping an open mind can get you to your dream job a lot faster than tunnel vision. From her clerkship with Judge Ross B.H. Buchanan to her current position as a member of the Trial Section at Moye White, Tanya details her career path, highlights her clerkship, and walks us through the day to day of a civil litigation attorney.
Sometimes law schools have a difficult time helping students find their career path. Laura Wolf knew that she wanted to work in civil rights but wasn’t quite sure how to get there. After extensive research in the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary, she landed a federal clerkship with Judge R. Brooke Jackson. From there she worked for prominent Denver civil rights firm Rathod Mohamedbhai where she became Partner. Now she has co-founded Wolf Guevara LLC where she is “committed to ensuring that each and every person in our community is afforded the right to dignity, equity, and opportunity.” Laura has also founded Spark Justice Careers where she helps individuals on their path to careers in civil rights. Laura Wolf is the 2020 recipient of the prestigious Gary McPherson Outstanding Young Lawyer award which recognizes a young Colorado lawyer for his or her outstanding contributions to the legal profession and the community.
How has access to justice been affected by COVID-19 and the virtual world we find ourselves in? The inaugural episode of Stairway to ATJ focuses on virtual Access to Justice. Jenny Wherry is featured in the Pro Bono Corner and describes Alpine Legal Services’ success with their new ask-a-lawyer hotline. She also puts out the call for Spanish-speaking lawyers! Co-hosts Mia and Anthony sit down with Jennifer Levin from Disability Law Colorado and Sara Price with Frazer-Abel Law. Jennifer tells us about the confusion and difficulty families are facing in trying to obtain appropriate accommodations in this virtual world we are all trying to navigate. Jennifer also shares how Colorado is ahead of the curve in many ways when it comes to ensuring equity in voting. Sara walks us through the day to day realities of lawyering in a virtual world, and provides some perspective on new remote notarization laws. The episode wraps up with Eyes on ATJ, where Mia and Anthony discuss important and enduring access to justice issues. They discuss the effect interest rates have on legal aid, the brewing evictions storm, and legal deserts across the country and right here in Colorado.
Please click here for the ABA Profile of the Legal Profession including a new chapter on legal deserts discussed in Eyes on ATJ. If you have a topic you would like to hear about or have a program or issue you want to discuss on Stairway to ATJ please email us at ATJPodcast@cobar.org.
Please Note: This episode contains a detailed description of one person’s journey to coming out as LGBTQ. Part of that story depicts an episode of bullying which includes offensive language. The CBA does not condone the use of this language; however, we have not edited it out in an effort to remain true to this personal story.
What role does a lawyer have in social justice? A significant one. Not only are attorneys able to effectuate change, but they can also help educate and empower non-lawyers to speak for themselves. As a family law attorney, Raquel Hernandez has been on the front lines in the battle for LGBTQ rights and marriage equality. In honor of National Coming Out Day (October 11), we are proud to bring you Raquel’s personal parallel journeys to becoming an attorney and to understanding her identity as bisexual.
If you are interested in connecting with other out attorneys, contact the Colorado LGBT Bar Association. If are questioning your sexuality and are looking for assistance, please contact the Colorado Lawyer Assistance Program (COLAP) at 303-986-3345 or the LGBT National Helpline at 888-843-4564
60% of civil litigants in Colorado appear without representation. By using alternative billing practices, you can tap into this huge market. But does alternative billing work? Is it a profitable model? In a word, yes. Alternative billing may be a lawyer-driven change, but it addresses a client-driven necessity. In this second installment on our three-part series Revolutionizing Your Billing, our friend Bob Glaves from the Chicago Bar Association returns to add to our discussion this week as we tackle new and emerging trends in billing such as unbundled, flat fee, fixed fee, sliding scale, subscription billing, and hybrid models. Get off the billable hour treadmill and discover a better way to run your practice!
It’s amazing the things you can discover at a lunch and learn. Philip Nickerson had his sights set on B2B sports marketing, but while studying the business of sports at Baylor, he became interested in negotiating principles which led to his aha moment – what about law school? Now Philip has recently concluded his two-year federal clerkship for Judge S. Kato Crews where he was the only black clerk. Discover what brought him to this amazing experience and hear his advice for other attorneys of color who may be seeking clerkships or even just looking for mentors. For more information about federal clerkships and open positions, check out oscar.uscourts.gov
This week the MLR focuses on revolutionizing your billing practices. In this first installment of a three-part series, we tackle the evils of the billable hour. Feel like you're on a treadmill working against your own efficiency instead of having it rewarded? Tired of living your life in six-minute increments? Tired of focusing on the business of law instead of the practice of law? Don’t let the billable hour drive you away from your profession. The billable hour, by its nature, puts attorneys at conflict with their clients. Clients want problems to be solved as quickly as possible, but the billable hour removes a lawyer’s motivation for an expeditious resolution. Well, we are here to tell you that there’s a better way. As Executive Director of The Chicago Bar Foundation, Bob Glaves is responsible for leading and overseeing the CBF’s work that brings Chicago’s legal community together to improve access to justice for people in need and to make the legal system more fair and efficient for everyone. Hear him discuss the pitfalls of the billable hour and the ways out of its trap with hosts Erika Holmes and JP Box.
And look out for our next two installments where we will examine alternate billing models and take a deep dive into unbundling.
Much of the stress that law students feel comes from the notion that they must have every step of their journey figured out. A theme of our show is hearing from successful attorneys who all seem to say a variation on the same thing: let that go. As a mentor once told our guest Nicholas Troxel, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” (One of host Kevin Cheney’s new favorite quotes btw) Being open to course-changing opportunities is key to finding your niche. Nick had made up his mind that he was going to law school in Los Angeles, but then he came over the hill and saw Boulder for the first time and decided CU was where he belonged. But one decision made early on has stuck – Nick is a born entrepreneur. He knew he wanted to found his own firm. Today he is co-founder of Troxel Fitch, LLC. In this episode, Nick gets down into the details of what’s entailed when striking out on your own in the legal world.
Denver native Meranda Vieyra has been working in law firms since she was eighteen. When she noticed that most of the law school graduates heading to solo and small firms needed help promoting themselves, she took a chance and decided to fill this hole in the market. In 2016, she opened Denver Legal Marketing, the only legal marketing agency in Colorado that focuses on solo and small firms. A true entrepreneur, today Meranda is innovating the field of legal marketing, making sure that lawyers doing good work get the right type of promotion they need to sell their services.
Family law can be a challenging practice area with a high emotional toll, but also much emotional reward. Danaé Woody didn’t set out to become a practicing lawyer. She was fascinated by the academics of law and recognized how much a person can do with a law degree. But she figured out what worked for her. Now she owns her own practice, Woody Law Firm, LLC, where she focuses on family law. She was recently the past Chair of CBA’s Young Lawyer’s Division. Find out how she got where she is and her advice for young lawyers.
We’re back from our short hiatus with a real truth teller. Jay Kamlet is part of a new breed of real estate lawyers. Throughout his career, he has engineered $15 billion worth of property negotiation in Colorado and nationwide. But it wasn’t easy to get there. A common theme of our show is that careers are rarely a straight line. Jay Kamlet describes how he got established, navigating multiple economic downturns including the Great Recession, and weathering the many fluctuations the Denver real estate market has experienced in the last 30 years. And he reminds us that it's never too late to "re-market your passion."
The Tech Show
One of the pillars of Modern Law is technology. Join our tech savvy guests attorneys Lauren Lester and Marty Champagne, Jr as they take us through some technology trends and must haves for the modern lawyer.
And introducing our question and answer line! Got questions? Call 303-824-5399 and leave us a voicemail. We'll play your question on the air!
A career is rarely a straight line. It’s okay to not have a master plan. Be flexible and don’t fear making changes. Honorable S. Kato Crews is a Magistrate Judge with the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, appointed by the District Judges in August 2018. Tune in to find out how he got there and some of the lessons he learned along the way. Throughout his career, Judge Crews has sought-out meaningful ways to impact the community. He has served on the board of directors of numerous non-profit organizations and regularly makes himself an available resource to students for mentoring and guidance.
The fourth installment of the vision series focuses on the post-pandemic legal community, with inspiring perspectives and calls to action by special guests Justice Monica Márquez of the Colorado Supreme Court, Eric Bono (Assistant Dean for Career Opportunities at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law), Jessica Brown (CBA President-Elect), and Sara Scott (CEO of The Center for Legal Inclusiveness). The panelists offer insight and wisdom as we work towards a more vibrant, diverse, and inclusive legal community.
Why is reaching out to potential mentors so intimidating? J. Ryann Peyton is the Executive Director of the Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program (CAMP). CAMP helps Colorado’s lawyers find their people, their place, and their purpose in the Colorado legal community by connecting folks with mentors, coaches, and other professional development opportunities so that they can find who they are and where they want to be in their profession. Law students are eligible as are attorneys currently practicing in other states with the intention of relocating to Colorado.
Ryann discusses her path through the legal profession, her work with CBA’s YLD, and CBA’s efforts to bolster Diversity & Inclusion in leadership roles.
Find out more about J. Ryann Peyton
Find out more about the Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program
Modern Law is an all-encompassing way of practicing law that provides lawyers and clients empowerment, focus, technology, and value. This series on vision was inspired in part by the pandemic and the need to figure out new ways to connect and be productive. Join guest Jessica Bednarz as she describes what it means to be client-centric, how to make your practice more customer service oriented, and how to meet your client where they are – perhaps both figuratively and literally.
Find out more about Jessica Bednarz
There are so many constructs of law school that weigh on students’ mental health. That is why Johnnie Nguyen and his fellow council members at the ABA voted unanimously to make mental health their primary policy issue for the 2019-20 year. Johnnie is the first Coloradan elected chair of the American Bar Association’s Law Student Council where he represents the interests of more than 120,000 law students from the nation’s 204 ABA-accredited law schools. Johnnie and Kevin discuss the value of the ABA’s Young Lawyer Division, how to navigate law school while connecting with mentors and juggling responsibilities, and what it is like to be a first-generation law student at the University of Colorado Law School (’21).
Part two of our four-part series on Creating a Vision focuses on the professional journeys of four modern lawyers who have answered the question: what is my professional identity? From Alamosa to Denver, from business law to family law, from building a thriving practice to mentoring fellow attorneys, the lawyers featured in this episode just may inspire you on your own journey as well.
Guest panelists:
Lauren Lester, Kristen Belolan, J. Ryann Peyton, James Marshall
Host Kevin Cheney speaks with Denver personal injury attorney, Jennifer Chamberlain of Bowman & Chamberlain, LLC.
Christina Brown discovered in law school that she wanted to work in the removal defense field of immigration law. Specifically, she wanted to concentrate on the humanitarian work within immigration. Helping asylum seekers and victims of violence and persecution. Problem was, many firms do not want to take on this type of work. So, Christina founded The Law Office of Christina Brown LLC.