Linda Fairstein chats about her Alex Cooper series—and reveals an exciting new project (podcast)

In the hands of author Linda Fairstein, fictional sex-crimes prosecutor Alex Cooper has enjoyed a career spanning 17 books and almost two decades. Cooper's 16th adventure, Terminal City, was selected as one of the three finalists for the 2015 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction. Fairstein spoke with the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles and shared some exciting news about a brand new project in the works.

Aug 26, 2015 4:23 PM CDT

Man accused of posing as lawyer is NY’s first immigration services fraud defendant

A nonlawyer is facing criminal charges after pretending to be an attorney with an office in the Brooklyn Bar Association law library, authorities say. Howard Seidler, 69, was arrested after an undercover investigator met with him there in April and allegedly paid over $3,000 for a green card and a…

Jun 4, 2015 2:30 PM CDT

Grammar nerds, meet your ‘Comma Queen’ (podcast)

Related links: The New Yorker: “Mary Norris: Comma Queen” (video series) Slate: “The Corrections: A delightful memoir by a New Yorker copy editor” New York Times: “‘Between You & Me,’ by Mary Norris” NPR: “The Comma Queen Will See You, Now”

Apr 30, 2015 4:20 PM CDT

Author tells tangled tale of the $19B verdict against Chevron in ‘Law of the Jungle’ (podcast)

In 2011, an Ecuadoran court found the Chevron Corporation liable for environmental damage caused by oil drilling in the 1970s-80s. Chevron was ordered to pay $19 billion to the plaintiffs who brought the suit, a collection of small farmers and indigenous peoples. Although it is tempting to fit this into a simple narrative-either "victory for oppressed people against an evil corporation" or "responsible corporation preyed upon by voracious plaintiffs attorneys"--the truth just isn't that simple.

Jan 28, 2015 9:15 AM CST

All is not as it seems for 9th Circuit clerk in ATL founder’s new novel (podcast)

Dec 17, 2014 8:30 AM CST

Boies and Olson reveal the backstory of the case against California’s Proposition 8 (podcast)

Aug 28, 2014 5:55 PM CDT

Growing up during BTK serial-killing spree informed author’s new crime novel (podcast)

Alafair Burke's fascination with crime stories came far before her career as first a prosecutor and then a law professor. In this podcast, she discusses how the BTK serial killings affected her childhood, and shares details on her novels and career.

Jul 28, 2014 9:00 PM CDT

Why should 9/11 terrorism trials be held at ‘Mother Court’ in New York? Author explains (podcast)

Jun 30, 2014 4:20 PM CDT

How 50 children were saved from Nazi Germany by a Philadelphia lawyer and his wife (podcast)

May 29, 2014 5:00 PM CDT

This 18th-century British judge helped SCOTUS decide the fate of Guantanamo detainees (podcast)

ABA Journal Podcast Editor Lee Rawles speaks with Prof. Norman S. Poser about his recent biography, "Lord Mansfield: Justice in the Age of Reason," and how this particular British judge managed to have such a continuing influence on Anglo-American laws. We also discuss Mansfield's Somerset decision, which eventually led to the abolition of slavery in Great Britain.

Apr 30, 2014 10:00 PM CDT

‘Emergency Sasquatch Ordinance’ author shares weird-but-true laws from around the globe (podcast)

Author and attorney Kevin Underhill is fascinated by weird laws, and in his new book "The Emergency Sasquatch Ordinance: And Other Real Laws that Human Beings Have Actually Dreamed Up, Enacted and Sometimes Even Enforced," he has compiled more than 200 examples of some truly peculiar laws going back more than 4,000 years. He discusses some of his findings with ABA Journal podcast editor Lee Rawles.

Mar 27, 2014 7:00 PM CDT

What makes lawyers great romance novelists? (gallery and podcast)

In honor of Valentine's Day, ABA Journal podcast editor Lee Rawles spoke with four lawyer romance novelists about their careers; how their legal training helped them as writers; and misconceptions people hold about both the law and about the romance genre.

Feb 13, 2014 5:15 PM CST

What martial arts training can do for lawyers (podcast)

In the spirit of New Year's resolutions, many attorneys have vowed to become more physically active. Attorneys and authors Ryan Danz and Keith Robert Lee both say that martial arts training is particularly beneficial to lawyers, and they explain to the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles exactly why.

Jan 23, 2014 9:10 PM CST

What were the best legal novels of 2013? (podcast)

Dec 19, 2013 6:45 PM CST

Unconventional childhood helps ‘Free Spirit’ author to advocate for domestic-abuse victims (podcast)

In this episode of the Modern Law Library, the ABA Journal's Molly McDonough interviews Safran about the memoir he wrote of his experiences, Free Spirit: Growing Up on the Road and Off the Grid. He shares the breakthrough moment he had with a pro bono client, in which he found himself bonding with her by sharing stories of the domestic abuse he and his mother suffered during his childhood.

Nov 25, 2013 2:30 PM CST