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Episode 157: Best Of The Portia Project: Judges’ Top Tips On Briefwriting

Many of the judicial guests on the podcast have shared their top tips for briefwriting. This episode compiles many of these tips for those who want to learn. Whether you are preparing for your first appellate argument or seeking to refine your existing skills, this episode offers a treasure trove of practical advice to elevate your brief-writing prowess and become a more effective advocate in the courtroom. Tune in to explore the collective wisdom shared by esteemed judicial experts and bolster your abilities in the realm of appellate advocacy.

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Episode 156: Kimberly Merrifield

Presiding Judge Kimberly Merrifield of the Butte County Superior Court in California, and a former member of the California Judicial Council and leader of the Trial Court Presiding Judges Association for presiding judges throughout the state, shares how her eclectic, well-rounded career (from a court clerk to a varied private law practice after night law school) led her to the bench. She shares some important lessons: be persistent in seeking what you want (she applied several times under different governors before being appointed to the bench), be open to opportunities you had not previously considered, and be aware of the power of bar and community service (including pro bono work) to open doors to new opportunities. This is a must-listen episode.

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Episode 155: Lauren Kleiman

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!

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Episode 154: Cheri Pham

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.

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Episode 153: Lisa Sarnoff Gochman

Lisa Sarnoff Gochman, a criminal appellate lawyer and author of At the Altar of the Appellate Gods: Arguing before the US Supreme Court, reflects on her career, the parallels between good writing in legal briefs and creative nonfiction, and writing the first book to provide an inside account of preparing for and arguing a landmark criminal case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Episode 152: Stacy Bratcher

Stacy Bratcher, General Counsel of Cottage Health, in conversation with host M.C. Sungaila, shares her journey to in-house leadership and dives into the role of bar associations in shaping professional connections, skills development, and career advancement. She also discusses the pivotal role played by general counsel in organizations. Tune in to be inspired.

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Episode 151: Ruth Pritchard-Kelly

To continue the series featuring leading women in space law, Ruth Pritchard-Kelly, an expert on satellite regulatory policy, joins The Portia Project podcast to discuss her career in satellite policy and her role in leading legal strategy for several space startups. She also shares some powerful and moving career and life advice.

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Episode 150: Michelle Banks

Michelle Banks is a champion of women lawyers and their careers. Her own career trajectory – from BigLaw to General Counsel to Executive Coach – is also inspiring. Michelle sits down with host M.C. Sungaila to share her career journey. She dives deep into the meaning she gets from helping others succeed and her work with Ms. JD and DirectWomen. Michelle also shares her contribution to a book on the many ways women lawyers define success and then offers some guidance for in-house counsel about their roles. Tune in to this episode to learn more about Michelle’s inspiring journey.

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Episode 149: Angela Meyer

Client relationship expert Angela Meyer joins the podcast to talk about her corporate career, including business development strategy and tips for lawyers. She is a mechanical engineer, the former executive director of the Product Liability Advisory Council, and a client relationship guru. Tune in and gain important insights on business development from today’s amazing guest.

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Episode 148: Diana Hagen

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.

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Episode 146: Elaine Hammond

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.

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Episode 145: Denise Dragoo

Denise Dragoo, Snell & Wilmer partner, shares her trailblazing path in environmental and natural resources law. Denise shares her incredible journey, from being on the Governor's policy team to becoming an equity partner at Snell & Wilmer. Along the way, she talks about the importance of mentoring, community service, and provides invaluable tips for building a successful law practice. Tune in on our engaging conversation with Denice Dragoo as she shares her wealth of experience and insights.

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Episode 144: Robyn Crowther

Robyn Crowther, the Regional Managing Partner for California at Steptoe & Johnson, sits down with host M.C. Sungaila to share her path to leadership in a large law firm, her earlier experience at a pathbreaking boutique litigation firm, and her work as a trial lawyer and community and bar leader which has led to her being repeatedly named by the Daily Journal as one of the Top 100 Women Lawyers in California.

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Episode 142: Carol W. Carpenter

In this episode, Carol W. Carpenter, Chief Marketing officer at Unity and former CEO of ElasticBox, shares her journey as a marketing powerhouse at Silicon Valley technology firms. She also provides business leadership and teambuilding tips, as well as insights into an effective marketing plan and building a personal brand. A powerful episode from an extraordinary business leader.

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Episode 141: Ninth Circuit Law School Clinic Alumni Panel with Tina Kuang, Molly Okamura, and Sydney Wong

In this episode, we explore the transformative experience of law school clinics and their pivotal role in shaping the careers of aspiring lawyers. Today, we have the privilege of hearing from three exceptional graduates of Loyola Law School of Los Angeles' Ninth Circuit Clinic: Tina Kuang, Sydney Wong, and Molly Okamura. Under the guidance of our host, M.C. Sungaila, these talented alumni share their remarkable journeys, where they, along with their law school teammates, took on the challenge of briefing, arguing, and ultimately prevailing in immigration appeals before the esteemed Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Their stories exemplify how participation in law school clinics can sharpen legal skills, nurture professional growth, and accelerate careers in the legal arena.

This episode also marks an exciting collaboration between the Portia Project and the Personal Jurisdiction podcast. Together, we strive to shed light on the significance of law school clinics, judicial externships, and judicial clerkship experiences, illuminating the path for future law students to find their own trajectories of success. Tune in for a captivating exploration of the possibilities that unfold when ambition, mentorship, and opportunity intertwine in the pursuit of legal excellence.

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Episode 140: Jean Lawler

Jean Lawler shares her journey from law firm managing partner to mediator and arbitrator, and her experience leading the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. She is a great example of how to design your legal career and stack skills to find new career directions. Tune in to this insightful conversation between Jean Lawler and podcast host MC Sungaila.

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Episode 139: Rachel Cossar

Olympian. Professional ballerina. Presence and public speaking coach. Tech company founder. Rachel Cossar, CEO of Virtual Sapiens, which provides realtime body language coaching for video meetings, connects the dots and shares insights into her multiple career reinventions. She also shares terrific insights into the use of body language in our remote and hybrid work environments. This episode is one of a series focused on skill building and tips for career enhancement.

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Episode 138: Maria Hernandez

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.

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