Judge Kimberly "Kate" Anne Knill of the Orange County Superior Court came to the trial court with experience both as an appellate advocate and a research attorney for the Court of Appeal. In this episode, host M.C. Sungaila and Judge Knill take a look back at her path to the bench and her love affair with the law. Judge Knill describes her experience as an advocate and a judge and discusses what inspired her to seek a position on the bench. Tune in for some great insights from an inspiring woman in the law.

M.C. Sungaila sits down with Justice Rhonda K. Wood, an Associate Justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court and co-host of the Lady Justice podcast, to hear her path to the bench in a state where judges are elected, and her legal career in the then-nascent specialty of privacy law in the medical context (HIPPA). She also provides some solid tips on appellate advocacy. For example, Justice Wood suggests that lawyers ask for exactly what kind of relief they want, and provide an alternative outcome in the event the Court cannot reach consensus to grant the primary form of relief you request.

Justice Sarah Beth Landau is the first public defender elected to the First Court of Appeals in Texas. With host M.C. Sungaila she shares insights from her journey, including becoming a judge through an elected process, appellate brief writing, and mentorship.

Jennifer L. Keller is one of America’s most successful trial attorneys. Ranked among the top commercial litigators in the nation, people describe Jennifer as “one of the best trial lawyers in California,” “has uncanny instincts, a wonderful courtroom demeanor, and an extremely clear and effective communicator,” and “absolutely unflappable in court and builds a strong rapport and credibility with judges and decision-makers.” Today, she joins MC Sungaila to talk about some of her work and what attracted her to the profession. She also shares tips on finding opportunities to have a wonderful trial experience.

M.C. Sungaila sits down with Cyndie M. Chang, the Los Angeles Office Managing Partner at Duane Morris. Cyndie discusses the importance of cultural fit in choosing a law firm -- and how that can lead to leadership opportunities-- as well as her national bar leadership positions. She describes the importance of mentors in her career, and how she pays it forward by supporting and inspiring the next generation.

In this episode, host MC Sungaila chats with Chief Deputy Clerk Dawn Du Verney of the Western District of Tennessee to uncover how her current role combines her degree in law and her skills on the administrative side, gained from various executive leadership and legal positions within corporate, academic, nonprofit, and government sectors. She touches on the importance of developing soft skills and having the right team of mentors to guide you in your career. She also talks about her experience as a woman working in the legal field and how we can further support each other in the space.

In her role as Chief Program Officer for the nonprofit Girls, Inc. in Orange County, California, Jessica Hubbard combines her experience as an educator with her legal training to help girls become strong, smart, and bold. With host M.C. Sungaila, Jessica discusses her pursuit of a law degree and how she decided to apply those skills on behalf of an organization dedicated to mentoring girls and young women.

MC Sungaila sits down with Hillary H. Holmes, co-chair of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Capital Markets practice. She emphasizes the importance of clear and candid communication when dealing with clients, making the process smoother and more meaningful. Hillary also talks about how well-managed relationships can turn into potential referrals years later and the power of chasing after opportunities instead of simply waiting around.

The path to success is rarely a straight one. Paula Hinton shares her journey from watching her trial lawyer father in court to trying cases herself. Paula is a Complex Commercial Litigator and Partner at Winston & Strawn LLP, and previously served as a member of its Executive Committee. She offers incredible advice on litigating, leading, and carving your own path. Tune in to hear her chat with host M.C. Sungaila for valuable lessons in law and life.

Diane P. Wood is a Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Chicago Law School. She joins MC Sungaila to share how she went from wanting to be a comparative literature scholar to sitting on the bench. Judge Wood also shares the importance and the value of pro bono work not only for those in need but for lawyers who want to learn while serving and giving back to the community. Tune in to their discussion as Judge Wood offers advice for aspiring law students and lawyers on mentorship, legal writing, and finding the right area of law to pursue.

In this episode, host M.C. Sungaila is joined by General Counsel and Vice-Chair for the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, L. Rachel Lerman. She shares her journey from art to the law, and from a career in appellate law to one focused on civil rights protections for Jewish students and tackling anti-Semitism.

Justice Joan K. Irion of the California Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One, shares how her seemingly unconventional background and experience in tax law led to her appointment to the bench. Justice Irion emphasizes the value of having mentors and sponsors to ask for guidance from as you figure out your niche in the profession. Tune in as she shares practical tips you can use in court and more advice on building a career in law.

Hillary Grosberg has been a litigator and trial attorney for more than 40 years, almost 30 of them as a sole practitioner. Inspired by the show Perry Mason, she wanted to be a lawyer at a young age. She attended law school at night, while working as a paralegal, law clerk and legal secretary. Both fearless and practical, Hillary is a warrior for her clients. Hear her tips for zealously representing clients, and for starting and running your own law practice.

M.C. Sungaila sits with Larisa Dinsmoor, a Public Defender for the Orange County Public Defender’s Office and Past President of the Orange County Bar Association, one of California's largest bar organizations. Larisa shares her path to bar leadership, her role as a public defender, and her experience with international human rights work.

Joanne Caruso, EVP and Chief Legal and Administrative Officer of Jacobs Engineering, describes her journey from BigLaw to in-house leadership. She explains how she leads and builds teams and fosters collaboration. Tune in to gain valuable insights from a high-profile litigator and trusted legal and business advisor.

Skirball Cultural Center CEO Jessie Kornberg - who set the leadership framework for Ms. J.D. and led public interest organization Bet Tzedek in Los Angeles- brings two decades of civil rights work to Skirball’s leadership team. In this episode, she sits down with M.C. Sungaila to reflect on that journey and share how she navigated these leadership paths and transferred her legal skills to the cultural space.

Immigration law is an important yet often overlooked area of law, but it is one that affects a significant population in the country. Here to discuss the ins and outs of practicing immigration law in the nonprofit sector is Camila Maturana. Camila is a supervising attorney with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) Tacoma and South Unit. In this episode, she opens up to MC Sungaila on how her family history and experience led her to study law and ultimately pursue work helping undocumented citizens. Learn more about the field and get helpful tips by tuning in.

M.C. Sungaila sits down with Kalpana Srinivasan, co-managing partner of one of the U.S.'s leading boutique litigation firms, Susman Godfrey. She discusses her path from journalism to the law, from a federal clerkship to high profile litigation and becoming one of the few women of color to lead a major law firm. She provides powerful insights into navigating a law firm and gaining valuable skills and experience along the way. Tune in for in-depth insights on law and leadership!

Justice Debra H. Lehrmann is a senior Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas and the Court’s longest-serving woman justice in Texas history. She joins MC Sungaila to share her journey to the Supreme Court, and to provide some appellate advocacy tips and insights for those appearing before Texas' highest court.

As part of a Girls Inc. Of Orange County "Girls Meet the Workforce" job readiness and Externship program, 100 11th grade girls from Orange County gathered at Santa Ana College for a live recording of the Portia Project® podcast, which featured prominent female lawyers and judges from Southern California.

This live event featured previous podcast guests and was tailored for Girls Inc. of Orange County attendees. In addition to podcast host M.C. Sungaila, panelists included Justices Eileen Moore and Joanne Motoike of the California Court of Appeal; Judge Kimberly Knill of the Orange County Superior Court; Orange County Senior Assistant Public Defender Tracy LeSage; and Loyola Law School professor, Rebecca Delfino.

Girls Inc. of Orange County has been a respected member of the non-profit community since 1954. The mission of Girls Inc. is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. We put our mission into practice through the Girls Inc. experience that equips girls to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers and grow into healthy, educated, and independent adults. Health, education, and independence are the three main areas that surround its program curricula.