Lisa D. Sparks was the first person in her family to graduate from high school. At age 22, she graduated from law school as valedictorian. She built a construction litigation practice, served as a JAG captain, and guided a software company through a private equity buyout as general counsel. Lisa walked into her first day at a 1,000-employee construction firm expecting to be in-house counsel, only to learn she was now the Chief Administrative Officer. In this episode of Cited Authorities, Lisa reflects on her path as a first-generation attorney who graduated during the Great Recession, how she built a book of business from scratch, and the only measure of success that matters: where you started versus where you are.

CBS asked for this interview. They couldn't get it. Cited Authorities did. You may have seen the recent 48 Hours episode on the murder of Joseph Shymanski in Calvert County, Maryland. CBS, 48 Hours: My Uncle Joe's Murder (aired Oct. 18, 2025). Cited Authorities Host Alexander Powell's friend, former classmate, and former co-worker Christopher J. Monte successfully prosecuted that case. Before he became an award-winning homicide prosecutor, Chris was a classical musician in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In this exclusive interview and series premiere of Cited Authorities, Alex and Chris discuss Chris's path from music to law, their time working together as prosecutors, and how Chris built a case after the defendant had tried to destroy every piece of evidence.

Cited Authorities is a new interview series hosted by Washington, DC tax attorney and former prosecutor Alexander Powell. Behind every successful legal career is a series of decisions that never made it onto a résumé. Every episode we talk to accomplished attorneys to hear those stories. Season One guests include: Rod Rosenstein, Partner at Baker McKenzie, Former Deputy Attorney General of the United States; Pamela Gilbert, Partner at Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, Former Executive Director and Presidential Transition Team Lead, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; Ellis Duncan, Director of the Graduate Tax Program at Georgetown University Law Center; and many more prominent attorneys from courtrooms, boardrooms, and government offices sharing how they actually built their careers.