René Jovel, an assistant general counsel, shares his inspiring journey from L.A. to Milwaukee, with a pit stop at Northwestern University, navigating multiple cultural environments and forging a unique legal career path. Discover insights on the realities of law school, the impact of constituent services in the U.S. Senate, and the evolving landscape of in-house legal roles.

Host Emil Ovbiagele leads this lively discussion, which centers on René's road less traveled, the power of staying true to oneself, and the value of time, while providing insight on his work as in-house counsel for a multi-state healthcare organization.

Chapters

Explore the evolution and impact of legal blogging with Kevin O'Keefe, CEO of LexBlog Inc., as he shares insights on how lawyers can leverage blogs for reputation, niche authority, and adapting to AI advancements. The LexBlog Library "indexes and archives legal commentary published across the web, providing the structure and metadata required to power the AI-driven web."

O'Keefe, who started his legal career as a trial lawyer in La Crosse, discusses his path into the legal tech world, the democratization of legal publishing through blogs, and how lawyers can leverage legal blogs in an Internet age now dominated by AI. Joe Forward and Peter Kraemer, of the State Bar of Wisconsin, lead the discussion with O'Keefe, a pioneer of legal blogging in the U.S.

Chapters

Through the Assigned Counsel Program, the Wisconsin State Public Defender (SPD) appoints private bar attorneys to handle conflict cases, providing attorneys with courtroom experience in criminal cases representing clients charged with misdemeanors and felonies across the state. "You can absolutely do it," said attorney Kathleen Pakes, director of the Assigned Counsel Program.

Pakes is talking about new or newer attorneys who may be interested in taking assigned cases, noting SPD provides training and other resources. Learn more about the opportunities in Episode 29 of the State Bar of Wisconsin's Bottom Up Podcast, a bonus episode with Pakes and program and policy supervisor Melissa Lamb, hosted by State Bar Communications Director Joe Forward.

This conversation explains the program and explores the essential qualities and motivations of public defenders, the unique challenges they face, and the critical role they play in upholding justice and protecting clients' rights.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to the Episode

00:55 – Guest Introductions: Melissa Lamb and Kathleen Pakes

02:20 – What Is the Assigned Counsel Program?

04:15 – History and Attorney Shortage Challenges

06:31 – How Attorneys Join and Work with SPD Assigned Counsel

08:20 – Mentorship, Training, and Community Support

11:10 – Why Assigned Counsel Is Valuable for Young Lawyers

12:40 – Case Types, Flexibility, and Attorney Lifestyles

13:37 – Parenting, Lifestyle, and Remote Work Options

14:55 – Trials, Timelines, and Misdemeanor Case Duration

15:42 – The Crisis in Rural Counties

16:45 – Remote Hearings and Travel Compensation

18:00 – Staffing Needs at SPD and Public Defender Hiring

19:20 – Student Loan Forgiveness for Assigned Counsel Work

20:22 – What Makes a Good Public Defender?

22:41 – What Keeps Attorneys at SPD?

25:03 – Caseloads and Demand for Attorneys

27:40 – Encouragement to Attorneys Considering the Program

29:06 – Benefits for a Well-Rounded Legal Career

31:29 – Flexibility, Work–Life Balance, and Rewards of the Work

32:50 – How to Get Involved

33:44 – Closing Remarks