Newport Beach, California City Council Member Lauren Kleiman talks with host M.C. Sungaila about her path to practicing law and the unexpected road to elected office. She also draws the ugly and amazing side of elections and politics in general. Council Member Lauren Kleiman encourages people in Newport Beach to get involved in different areas of what their community is doing to shape and support the place they live in. In this episode, we learn that politics remains an avenue for positive change, and by working together, finding common ground, and putting the community's needs first, we can overcome the negative aspects and create a more inclusive and vibrant society. Tune in to learn more!

Cheri T. Pham, Assistant Presiding Judge of the Orange County Superior Court in California, shares her family's immigrant journey to the United States, her experience as a trial lawyer in both the public defender's office and the district attorney's office, her election to and service in the bench, the challenges and the potential for wide-ranging impact from leading and managing the courts. She also provides advice and inspiration for those considering joining the bench.

Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen sits down with M.C. Sungaila to share her career journey from clerking for a federal judge to serving in the appellate division of the U.S. Attorney's Office and now on the appellate bench. She shares how her acting training helped her gain confidence early in her career, the importance of mentors, and the role a flexible work arrangement played in her remaining in, and rising in, the legal profession.

Bankruptcy Judge Elaine Hammond sits down with host M.C. Sungaila to demystify both bankruptcy law and the path to becoming a bankruptcy judge. Bankruptcy is a very specialized area of the law. Judge Hammond shares how she decided to be a bankruptcy judge, her journey to becoming one, and what her responsibilities are. She also gives some advice for those thinking about applying for the position and the process that goes along with it.

Maria Hernandez is the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of Orange County, California. She shares her journey to the bench from a career as a public defender, and her new role as presiding judge of one of the country's largest trial courts. She describes the challenges her court met during COVID-19, which led to virtual and hybrid court hearings which continue to improve people’s access to the justice system, and the broader role that presiding judges play in administering justice.

Washington Supreme Court Justice Barbara Madsen is a trailblazer. The first woman to be popularly elected to the Court in Washington state history, and the third woman to serve on the Court, she is committed to public service and equal justice. While on Seattle's Municipal Court bench, she helped develop a Domestic Violence Coordinating Committee to comprehensively address violence in the family and as Presiding Judge of the Municipal Court, she increased opportunities for women and attorneys of color to receive appointments as pro tem judges. She shares her remarkable journey from public defender and city attorney to her state's highest court with host M.C. Sungaila.

Judge Samantha P. Jessner is the Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, the largest trial court in the United States. Judge Jessner discusses the role that mentors, including powerhouse women lawyers like her mother Patricia Phillips and former U.S. Attorney, now Court of Appeal Justice Nora Manella, played in moving her career forward. She also shares what goes into leading the nation's largest trial court, and how she pays it forward to the next generation of women lawyers.

Legendary family law attorney Stacy D. Phillips talks with host M.C. Sungaila about being intentional in your career choices but also being open to new opportunities, giving back, moving from her own highly successful law firm to the executive committee of BigLaw firm Blank Rome, and what she learned from her lawyer father.

Renowned Supreme Court and appellate advocate Patricia Millett, now Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, joins MC Sungaila to share her journey to the bench and how her experience in appellate advocacy impacts her work on the court. She provides valuable insights on brief writing and oral argument, highlighting the perspective of a member of the bench and the importance of taking the court's perspective in crafting oral argument. Judge Millet offers refreshing insights for aspiring lawyers and judges.

Women lawyers can learn from high-achieving women in a range of industries. Today, Jeanniey Walden, former CMO of DailyPay, and now CEO of LiftOff Enterprises and host of the national daytime TV show “LiftOff with Jeanniey Walden," provides some insights into branding. With host MC Sungaila, Jeanniey shares tips on building an authentic brand for yourself, public speaking, and the role of risk-taking in your career.

Massachusetts Appeals Court Justice Amy Lyn Blake shares her journey from law practice to the trial and appellate bench. With host MC Sungaila, Justice Blake has a lively discussion about what it takes to become a judge, the difference between law practice and serving on the bench, and the oral argument and brief writing process.

Ashley Herd believes conducting in-depth performance conversations is the best way to nurture and improve manager-employee relationships. Therefore, she made it her mission to provide efficient training and scalable tools to build healthy workplaces through her company, Manager Method. Ashley joins MC Sungaila to share how she uses her background in employment law and experience in corporate sales to help grow relationships within a business. She also talks about utilizing her strong online presence in TikTok to provide practical legal advice to her followers, guiding others on upholding the law while doing all things with empathy.

You can never have too much experience in this field, especially as you transition to the bench. In fact, the more places you’ve been and positions you’ve had, the more knowledge you bring to the court. Justice Laurie McKinnon is no stranger to this in her professional journey. Justice Laurie McKinnon is a graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law and began practicing in 1987 as a prosecutor in the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. She later moved to Montana as a Deputy Glacier and Teton County Attorney and, in 2012, was elected to the Montana Supreme Court. Join her in this episode as she shares with MC Sungaila her inspiring story—from clerkship to the bench to the Supreme Court—where she provides great wisdom and advice on being elected, writing opinions and briefs, doing oral arguments, and more!

Former Associate Justice on the California Court of Appeal, now private judge at Judicate West, Laurie D. Zelon shares her journey in the law, including the significant role that mentorship played in her development. She shares how she became a leader in advocating for access to justice and pro bono work long before joining the bench, and the important role that both play in our justice system. This is a tremendous opportunity to hear from a longtime bar and community leader who embodies public service.

Trailblazing Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bernice B. Donald has had a multifaceted judicial career. She sits down with host MC Sungaila to discuss her time on the federal appellate bench, and, before that, as a federal district judge and bankruptcy judge. She shares her work in the area of implicit bias, mentoring and encouraging women of color to consider the bench, and provides some insights into effective brief-writing and oral argument.

Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Martha Lee Walters shares her path to the bench with host MC Sungaila, including founding her own women-owned law firm that was involved with some of the most high profile and pathbreaking civil rights cases of the time. Chief Justice Walters discusses the importance of continuing to make sure that the justice system is accessible to, and a helpful forum for, members of the public and their disputes.

Washington Supreme Court Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis shares her trailblazing journey to the highest court of her state. In conversation with host MC Sungaila, she shares her experience serving as a tribal court judge for three different tribes (the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, and the Lummi Nation), as well as on the Washington Superior Court bench. Her time as a tribal judge taught her to stand up for the rule of law (even if it cost her personally, in the form of expulsion from her own tribal home) and how cultural understanding and empathy play an important role in judicial systems and decision-making. This is an extraordinary and inspiring episode. One you do not want to miss.

With host MC Sungaila, Washington Supreme Court Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud discusses campaigning for judicial election, and how her experience as a public defender and appellate lawyer prepared her for a career on the bench. Justice McCloud also shares appellate brief-writing and oral argument tips.

Alison R. Nelson is the Director of DEI Strategies & Inclusion for Ford Motor Company. She fearlessly advocates for DEI in law and in corporate America. Listen to her journey and what she had to experience going into law as a woman of color. The opportunities just weren't the same. Black lawyers had to create their own law firms while white lawyers had the old boy network or legacy work. Times are definitely changing for the better and law firms are starting to see the importance of DEI. Join MC Sungaila as she talks to Alison R. Nelson about why representation matters and why people shouldn't stop fighting for diversity. Also, learn more about the Ford Law Career Academy and how Alison is fighting for a broader approach to law school. Listen to her story today!

Melody Stewart was elected in November 2018 to a full term as the 161st Justice, and the first African-American woman, to serve on the Ohio Supreme Court. Justice Melody Stewart had a different path which led her to the Supreme Court. She believes that in electing judges, there shouldn't be any political affiliations with it because the more we politicize it, the weaker the judiciary is. Furthermore, Justice Stewart urges young people to explore their paths, get on the bench and get other work experience. Learn the profound reason she implores these young ones to explore by tuning in to this episode now.