Episodes

Cynthia Chandler boasts an impressive legal career spanning over 20 years, during which she has co-founded multiple social justice organizations, including the Oakland Eviction Defense Center, Critical Resistance, and Justice Now. In addition, she served as the director of the Alameda County Bar Association’s Bay Area Legal Incubator, where she helped aspiring lawyers launch their practices. Her tireless efforts have played a vital role in advancing the rights of HIV-positive women in prison and putting an end to the illegal sterilization of women in California prisons. Cynthia's unwavering commitment to the advancement of women's rights and access to social justice has earned her several prestigious awards. In this episode, she shares some key milestones and accomplishments from her career, as well as insights on how to address social issues in both the community and the legal system. Don't miss the opportunity to learn about Cynthia's admiration for Fay Stender and her experience at…

In collaboration with the Alameda County Bar Association, Love Thy Lawyer presents an interview with: Shay Gilmore Shay Gilmore is a highly accomplished attorney who runs a successful solo practice focused on corporate, commercial, and regulatory matters in the cannabis industry. He previously worked as in-house counsel on mergers and acquisitions and other business transactional matters. As a Member of the Board of Directors of the International Cannabis Bar Association, Shay is deeply committed to promoting the legal and regulatory frameworks surrounding cannabis. He believes that lawyers have a vital role to play in engaging with lawmakers and regulators to shape policy and create a more just and equitable system. In addition to his professional interests, Shay is also passionate about the scientific and medicinal aspects of cannabis. However, it is his unwavering commitment to social justice that truly sets him apart. Tune in to Shay's interview to learn more about the unique ch…

Meet Pam Ortiz, a skilled criminal defense lawyer and a Bay Area native with a wealth of experience in the legal field. After years of working in employment issues as a civil litigator, she found her true calling in criminal defense. Her impressive legal career includes serving as a prosecutor for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, as well as working for the United States Attorney, the Marin County Public Defender’s Office, and the San Francisco District Attorney. In this interview, Pam discusses how practicing law in various fields can complicate matters with civil clients and affect their expectations of your work. She also highlights why it’s crucial to avoid dismissing client questions because for the client information is everything. Tune in to this episode where Pam shares her valuable insights on proper calendar management and explains why it's an essential tool for running a successful practice and avoiding missing court dates. Pamela Ortiz Law https://pa…

Practicing law in different counties can be a fascinating experience, as each county has its own unique nuances. Join the roundtable conversation as we compare and contrast court practices in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. Participating this week are Nafiz Ahmed, a certified criminal specialist who practices criminal law in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, and his identical twin brother Nabiel Ahmed, a returning guest on the podcast roundtable who represents the criminally accused throughout the Bay Area. Get inspired by their experiences and the lessons they have learned working in different counties simultaneously to level up your work, empower individuals, and positively impact their lives. Nafiz Ahmed www.650attorneys.com Nabiel Ahmed https://www.eastbaylawpractice.com/

As an attorney, practicing law overseas can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also come with its own set of challenges. Jamie Bowman, a Bay Area lawyer with legal roots in San Jose, chronicles her professional and personal adventures as an international legal consultant working in Ukraine, Russia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Rwanda, Bangladesh, and South Sudan. Jamie gives us a new perspective on what it's like to live and work in these places as a legal officer. She also expounds on the state of credit regulation and laws in these countries, the corruption that she had to deal with, including bribery, and the modern legal system she helped to put in place to bring their economies into the 21st century. Discover what Jamie found attractive and lucrative about practicing law in foreign countries, especially in places that are hot and dusty, cold and muddy, and in second and third-world countries, and how this impacted her personal and family life. Get inspired by Jamie's real-…

Pamela Ross is the founder and CEO of the All for The Family Legal Clinic, a nonprofit that offers services to low income and modest means litigants, charging on a sliding scale from as low as $50 an hour. They help clients mostly with family law matters such as divorces, custody, support and restraining orders, but can also help with estate planning, guardianships, conservatorships, and more. The clinic has been operating for over 11 years, and it’s been Pamela’s vision to have a legal clinic to help lower income people since she was 16 and worked at the San Mateo Center for Domestic Violence Prevention. Pamela was the 2022 president of the Alameda County Bar Association, where she has been a board member since 2016. In this interview she explains some of the nuances and challenges of managing a nonprofit legal clinic and answers audience questions about key aspects of her work. Tune in to learn about Pamela’s passion for helping people and how it can be demanding yet fulfilling. …

Hans Sperling is the founder of the Sperling Law Corporation. Known as the Deal Lawyer, he is a renowned corporate transactional lawyer with extensive experience in protecting businesses' legal interests through contracts and international transactions. As a son of a diplomat, he lived in diverse cities such as Manila, Munich, Paris, Tokyo, and Mexico City. His unique background has given him a global perspective that has been invaluable in his legal practice. In this interview Hans shares his fascinating tales from around the world and provides insights into the nuances of growing up among multiple cultures. He also reveals his passion for maritime law, a lesser-known area of legal practice that he finds particularly interesting. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the world of corporate law and international transactions, and to learn why marketing is essential for today's legal professionals and should be taught in the first year of law school. Sperling Law Corporation http:…

Renee Ross is one of the happiest family lawyers you’ll ever meet. She runs a successful boutique family law firm with 12 employees in Pleasanton. Her journey to family law was preceded by her involvement in civil litigation and personal injury law, but it was in family law that she discovered her true calling, and she has since honed her expertise in this field for over 17 years. Renee’s outstanding reputation in the legal profession is reflected in her consecutive recognition as a Super Lawyer for nine years running. She is also a respected fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. In this interview she explains what she loves about family law and discusses the challenges she faced in establishing her own law firm. Tune in to understand some of the nuances of family law and why it requires IQ as well as EQ to guide people through one of the most trying times of their lives. Ross Family Law https://www.rossfamilylaw.…

Benny Gold, a licensed attorney in Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts, has established himself as the esteemed host of the Lawyer Stories podcast, which boasts a significant following of over 54,000 on Instagram and over 8,000 on Facebook. The Lawyer Stories podcast is more than just a project for Benny; it is his passion. The podcast has featured renowned guests such as Gloria Allred, Ben Crump, and Alan Dershowitz, and in this episode, Benny shares how he conceived the idea for the podcast, his journey, and experiences thus far. Tune in to the interview to discover the similarities between Lawyer Stories and Love Thy Lawyer, and why Benny believes that passion is an indispensable ingredient for a successful podcast. Lawyer Stories website https://thelawyerstories.com/ Lawyer Stories on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lawyer_stories Lawyer Stories on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LawyerStories Lawyer Stories on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lawyerstories…

Kim Kupferer built a remarkable career as an Alameda County Public Defender for over 15 years before going into private practice. She was renowned for her exceptional preparation and unwavering commitment to fighting for her clients and was recognized for her fair and ethical approach and her deep respect for the court and opposition even when tasked with some of the heaviest criminal cases in the criminal justice system. Currently, Kim juggles between handling court-appointed death penalty and juvenile cases in her private practice, and managing Imagine Equus Farm, a peaceful sanctuary in the tranquil Blue Ridge Mountains that offers Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning and is a haven where horses and people can find healing and personal growth in a serene environment. For those with a busy law practice, this interview will reveal the therapeutic and stress-relieving effect of interacting with horses in nature. Imagine Equus https://www.imagineequus.org/

Judge Glenn Kim had over twenty years of experience as a prosecutor before taking the bench at the Contra Costa County Superior Court in January of 2022. He decided to pursue a career in law to fight back after 3 members of his family died on 9/11. Judge Kim started as an intern at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and was later hired by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office where he worked for several years. He later joined the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and worked on several different units including the Child Sex Assault Unit, the Felony Domestic Violence Unit, as well as in the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit. In this interview he answers questions about implicit bias and being neutral as a judge after decades as a prosecutor and explains why it’s important to be honest and introspective to avoid bias in decisions and rulings. He also talks about how dialog, transparency, and willingness to listen can go a long way in helping with restorative justi…

Megan Wachspress’ impressive academic endeavors include earning a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago, a master’s degree from Cambridge, a Ph.D. in Jurisprudence and Social Policy from UC Berkeley as well as JD from Yale. She originally wanted to be a professor but decided to be a lawyer instead halfway through her Ph.D. after doing volunteer legal work in San Leandro and Berkeley. Her passion for trivia and her pursuit of knowledge led her to become a multi-day Jeopardy! champion, while her concern about climate change and the realization that it’s a problem for the next decade led her to work as a staff attorney at the Sierra Club promoting renewable energy and grid decarbonization. Megan summarizes key points from her article on criminal law and piracy in the 16th and 17th centuries, and she also explains why Pauli Murray is one of the most influential legal thinkers in American history. Listen to the interview to get a glimpse into her journey…

Judge Michelle Tong was a trial attorney for the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office for over 15 years before taking the bench at the San Francisco Superior Court. She was born in Toronto and moved to Sacramento with her parents when she was 8. While in college in Santa Cruz, she studied abroad in China for six months, and speaks Cantonese and Mandarin. Prior to attending law school, she worked at the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco for two years doing nonprofit work as a community advocate paralegal. Judge Tong also did an externship at the Asian Law Alliance in San Jose and decided to be a Public Defender and do crimmigration work after working with immigrant populations and meeting lawyers who help those communities. In this interview she talks about the process of running for judge and how difficult it is to raise money for the campaign and explains how being a judge requires so much more mediation and problem-solving than she originally anticipated. Listen to the interview t…

Gary Miles is an attorney, entrepreneur, podcaster and life coach with a career that spans over 43 years. He is a managing partner at boutique litigation law firm Huesman, Jones & Miles. Nowadays he mostly handles family law but has also tried countless personal injury and insurance defense cases over the years. Gary also hosts The Free Lawyer Podcast, which helps lawyers become free from the things that hold them back, such as lack of confidence, fear, anxiety, and stress. His podcast episodes are inspired by his life experiences and his recovery. Having been sober and in recovery for 31 years, Gary reveals that many lawyers and judges often struggle with mental health issues, depression, anxiety, addiction and substance abuse. Lawyers often keep these problems hidden from everyone, but should know that it’s okay to reach out and ask for help before it’s too late. In this interview Gary explains why it’s so important to have gratitude in life, and why lawyers should try to listen mor…

Vicki Jensen went from serving up drinks as a bartender to defending clients from DUIs as a criminal defense attorney. She has clerked for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, the Santa Cruz Public Defender’s Office as well as the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office, and after trying out both sides, has found her calling in defending the criminally accused. Vicki is a specialist in DUIs and even speaks at seminars teaching other attorneys about the nuances of DUI defense. Listen to this interview to learn why amazing things happen when you take cases to trial and why it’s so important for attorneys to question police reports more often. Vicki Jensen http://www.vickijensenlawoffice.com/ (510) 785-5700 vjlawdui@att.net

After spending five years as a criminal defense attorney and receiving a bar complaint for not calling back a client on time, Matt Spiegel developed a legal case management software so that law firms could keep better track of cases and communicate with their clients more effectively, and thus MyCase was born. A few years after selling MyCase, Matt noticed a shift in the legal market and returned to the law firm tech space by founding Lawmatics, legal software for client intake, CRM, marketing automation, billing and much more, which goes beyond just managing cases by helping turn old business into new. In this interview Matt talks about how the case is the most important thing in the life of the client, while for the attorney, it’s usually just another case. He explains that treating that relationship accordingly will result in a better experience for the client and better business for the firm. Lawmatics https://www.lawmatics.com/ MyCase https://www.mycase.com/ Matt Spieg…

In collaboration with the Alameda County Bar Association, Love Thy Lawyer presents an interview with: Alice Cheng Alice Cheng was born in Hong Kong and moved to San Francisco when she was a kid and speaks Cantonese and Mandarin. As the managing attorney at the Candelaria Law Firm, she handles all sorts of family law matters, and is really becoming the go-to lawyer for minor’s counsel work. Alice is a Super Lawyer, is on the executive board of the Earl Warren American Inn of Court and is a member of the Asian American Bar Association, Women Lawyers of Alameda County, and was also Chair of the ACBA Barristers Section. It’s not surprising that she was elected President of the Alameda County Bar Association for 2023, since she’s so engaged in the community. During her time as a Deputy District Attorney at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office Alice completed eight criminal jury trials and countless bench trials. In this interview she answers questions about plans for her term…