Environmental law has shifted dramatically over the last few decades. What started as a battle against pollution and hazardous waste has evolved into a massive sector focused on the energy transition and infrastructure development. Michael Gerrard shares stories from his 30-year career in private practice, including his work on the environmental permitting for the World Trade Center redevelopment after 9/11.

Key Takeaways:

• Rebuilding History: The unique challenges of managing environmental review for the World Trade Center site.
• The Energy Transition: How the field is moving from "anti-pollution" lawsuits to facilitating the construction of renewable energy and transmission.
• Collaborative Practice: The intellectual reward of working alongside engineers, hydrologists, and biologists to solve complex problems.
• The "Adjacent" Fields: Why students should look into Water Law (especially in the West) and Toxic Torts.

• (00:00) - Introduction: Why Environmental Law is the Most Tangible Field
• (02:45) - From West Virginia to Big Law: Michael Gerrard’s Career Path
• (05:45) - Case Study: Permitting the World Trade Center Redevelopment After 9/11
• (07:23) - Myth Buster: Do You Need a Science Degree to Practice Environmental Law?
• (08:56) - The Shift: Moving from Pollution Control to the Energy Transition
• (12:15) - Shared Values: Working in NGOs vs. Large Law Firms
• (14:24) - Specialization: Clean Air Act, Water Law, and Toxic Torts
• (18:58) - 1L Advice: Why You Should Take "Tax" and "Corporations"
• (22:42) - Best Resources: Legal Planet, Grist, and Student Journals
• (24:02) - Current Landscape: Navigating Regulatory Changes and Political Shifts
• (25:37) - Finding Hope: Solar Prices, EVs, and the Role of Law in the Climate Crisis
• (28:08) - Host Debrief: Why Environmental Law Touches Every Practice Area
• (32:59) - Curriculum Chat: Water Law and Renewable Energy Courses

Common law can feel like a chaotic patchwork of 50 different jurisdictions. But for the last century, the American Law Institute (ALI) has worked to distill that chaos into clear, persuasive principles. We sit down with Mark Hall, the lead reporter for the Restatement of the Law Third, Torts: Medical Malpractice, to discuss how these influential texts are written and why they often carry more weight than a standard law review article.

In this episode, we cover:

• The "Goldilocks" Standard: How the ALI synthesizes the "best" version of the law from conflicting state approaches.
• Medical Malpractice Deep Dive: Defining the "Standard of Care" and navigating the controversial Loss of Chance doctrine.
• A "Secondary" Source with Primary Power: Why judges often rely on Restatements to settle issues of first impression.
• The Laboratory of the States: Why a little legal variation across the country is actually a good thing for the profession.

• (00:00) - Introduction: The Chaos of Common Law and the Role of the ALI
• (03:24) - What is a Restatement? Harmonizing 50 States into One Principle
• (04:36) - The Legacy of Torts: How the ALI Created Products Liability Law
• (07:17) - Defining the Standard of Care: "Competent" vs. "Average"
• (09:55) - The "Loss of Chance" Doctrine: Can You Sue for a Reduced Probability of Survival?
• (12:14) - Study Tips: Using Restatements to Outline for Finals and Understand Nuance
• (16:24) - Litigation Strategy: Making Arguments When the Law is Unsettled
• (20:00) - The "Laboratory of the States": Why Legal Variation is Beneficial
• (24:32) - Curriculum Design: Will Professors Teach from the Restatement?
• (27:38) - Host Debrief: How to Use Restatements as a Research Shortcut for Briefs
• (34:40) - Evidence vs. Torts: Why Codified Rules Feel Easier to Learn
• (42:02) - Networking Hacks: Using the ALI Member List to Find Mentors

Copyright law used to be considered a quiet, "boutique" field—but things have changed. With the rise of AI and global digital marketplaces, copyright has transformed into a high-stakes battlefield. We sit down with Kristyn Webb, a copyright litigator at Fishman Stewart, to discuss how technology is rewriting the concept of ownership and why firms are desperate for new experts in "Soft IP".

In this episode, we cover:

• The AI Revolution: How the legal world is grappling with training data, generated outputs, and the lack of global consensus on AI copyright.
• Global Enforcement: Why copyright lawyers need to look beyond lawsuits and work with Customs and Border Protection to stop infringing goods before they enter the country.
• The Human Element: The importance of understanding "moral rights" and protecting an artist's legacy (and immortality).
• Career Advice: Why you shouldn't be discouraged if you don't land an IP job immediately, and how "side quests" like clerking can make you a better litigator.

Click here to view the episode transcript.

• (00:00) - Introduction: Copyright Law’s Evolution in the Age of AI
• (01:44) - Meet Kristyn Webb: Copyright Litigator & Soft IP Expert
• (03:27) - Breaking into IP: A Non-Linear Career Path to Copyright Law
• (05:11) - Future of IP: Concierge Services and Artificial Intelligence
• (06:42) - Legal Job Market: The Growing Demand for Trademark & Copyright Attorneys
• (08:44) - IP Strategy: Using Copyright for Border Enforcement & Brand Protection
• (12:54) - Day in the Life: Litigating Diverse Cases from Cartoons to Digital Rights
• (15:34) - Moral Rights & Legacy: The Human Element of Intellectual Property
• (21:42) - Global Copyright: AI Training Data and International Jurisdiction
• (25:03) - Student Resources: The Copyright Claims Board & Law School Clinics
• (26:59) - Career Advice: Leveraging Clerkships and "Side Quests" for IP Jobs
• (31:45) - Host Debrief: The Broad Scope of Copyrightable Works (including Dance)
• (38:43) - Conclusion: Balancing Artistic Passion with Legal Career Practicality