In this episode, first-time host Sydney Marino marks her upcoming one-year anniversary as a licensed attorney by leading a candid roundtable with colleagues Liz Lenivy, Elizabeth McNulty, Katie St. John, and Mary Simon. The conversation unpacks the gap between what law school teaches and what the actual practice of law demands. The group agrees law school builds legal theory and a basic "muscle" for argument, but does little to prepare new lawyers for the on-the-ground realities of the job, including arguing face-to-face with opposing counsel, handling losses, and making hundreds of small judgment calls every day.
Episode: 1020
The Loosey-Goosey Years: Lessons from Attorneys’ First Twelve Months
October 21, 2026
In this episode, first-time host Sydney Marino marks her upcoming one-year anniversary as a licensed attorney by leading a candid roundtable with colleagues Liz Lenivy, Elizabeth McNulty, Katie St. John, and Mary Simon. The conversation unpacks the gap between what law school teaches and what the actual practice of law demands. The group agrees law school builds legal theory and a basic "muscle" for argument, but does little to prepare new lawyers for the on-the-ground realities of the job, including arguing face-to-face with opposing counsel, handling losses, and making hundreds of small judgment calls every day.
Episode: 1019
The First Woman Judge, Part Two: Ambition, Exhaustion, and the Cost of ‘Playing It Cool’
October 21, 2026
What did it really take for Florence Allen to stay steady while being underestimated, mislabeled, and passed over? Professor and author Tracy Thomas shares the first woman judge’s own advice ...
Episode: 1018
The First Woman Judge, Part One: Rediscovering Florence Allen’s Legacy
October 21, 2026
Long before "first woman" headlines became familiar, Florence Allen was breaking barriers no one had broken before her. She was the first woman on a state Supreme Court. The first ...
Episode: 1017
From TikTok to Trial: Paige Sparks on Building a Legal Brand That Actually Works Part 2
October 21, 2026
She’s an employment attorney, founder of Sparks Legal and one of the most recognizable online legal creators. And, in this episode of Heels in the Courtroom, Paige Sparks goes past ...
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