4 Podcasts for future lawyers & True Crime lovers: Part 1

I am a podcast lover. Every time I get in my car, I have a podcast playing. My love for learning paired with my lack of TV news consumption creates the perfect opportunity to gain the knowledge I desire by listening to podcasts. Not only do I stay up-to-date on current events and politics, I am also able to delve into topics that I wouldn’t normally encounter in a typical news cycle or television show. As a lawyer, it is probably very predictable that I enjoy law-related podcasts. Below are a list of 4 that I have personally listened to from beginning to end and highly recommend for those becoming familiar with the legal profession. I plan on listening to new podcasts and reviewing them in future blog posts. I hope you enjoy!

Podcast Description: How does an elite group of nine people shape everything from marriage and money, to safety and sex for an entire nation? Radiolab's first ever spin-off series, More Perfect, dives into the rarefied world of the Supreme Court to explain how cases deliberated inside hallowed halls affect lives far away from the bench.

My take: This podcast takes on different cases decided by the Supreme Court and does extensive reporting on the background of the judges, gives context of the current events at the time of the case, and follows those who were the actual people behind the cases. What I liked most about this podcast was that it gave a fresh perspective and insight into cases I had read during law school. 

Podcast Description: Serial Season 1: It's Baltimore, 1999. Hae Min Lee, a popular high-school senior, disappears after school one day. Six weeks later detectives arrest her classmate and ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, for her murder. He says he's innocent - though he can't exactly remember what he was doing on that January afternoon. But someone can. A classmate at Woodlawn High School says she knows where Adnan was. The trouble is, she’s nowhere to be found.

Podcast Description: Undisclosed The State vs. Adnan Syed: We started the podcast in April 2015 with a detailed examination of the State of Maryland's case against Adnan Syed. We intended to revisit the case from the beginning, looking at all available evidence. Not only what was presented in Serial, but new evidence that we uncovered in our investigation. As attorneys, we pride ourselves on looking dispassionately at facts, analyzing those facts, and applying the appropriate law in our analysis. Our goal is to get to the truth of what happened on January 13, 1999.

My take: These two podcasts go hand in hand because Serial takes a look at the case from a journalistic perspective while Undisclosed looks at the case from an lawyer perspective. Both are expertly presented, leaving it up to listener to decide whether Adnan is actually guilty.

Podcast Description: “A true­ crime podcast that understands crime as something sociological, historical, even anthropological — that crime is a function of people, time, and place. With incredible sound design, marvelous writing, and a boldness in the way it makes its choices, there are few shows that feel more alive.” -Vulture

My take: If you’re not into hours long podcast episodes but want to get your True Crime fix, Criminal is the podcast for you. Each episode explores different unique situations. They range from deeply tragic to comical to mysterious, all expertly presented and executed.  

Podcast Description: Dos Latinas from working class, immigrant families navigating law school while bringing y’all raw, critical analysis of law, current events, and personal politics. Cerebronas and unapologetic. We started this podcast because we need more Latinx voices and perspectives. Ademas, we really hope our podcast will serve increase access to the law – how it works, what it is (currently and historically), and how it impacts our lives.

My take: Get real perspective from two current Standford law students. I enjoy this podcast because they explore current events and politics in addition to reviewing fundamental case law that has shaped the way minority and underrepresented people live. As a Latina lawyer, I relate to them on many levels as they discuss their experiences in law school and life in general.