I Am The Law

An Introvert's Path to Running an Immigration Law Firm

As an international student graduating from a U.S. law school, Jimmy Lai struggled to find employers willing to sponsor him. Rather than leave the U.S., he chose to build something from scratch. In this episode, Jimmy talks about how his visa barriers pushed him to co-found an immigration law firm. Jimmy reflects on failing the bar exam three times before passing, navigating the financial and legal risks of starting a firm, and learning to think like a business owner rather than a lawyer. He also talks about doing all of this as a self-described introvert — someone who once avoided grocery store aisles to dodge small talk — and how he forced himself into networking and sales before eventually delegating those roles to more extroverted team members. Jimmy is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today! [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/lawhub] Learn more about Juno and private student loans [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/juno] Learn more about Juno and private student loans [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/juno] Haynes Boone LLP Learn more about Haynes Boone LLP [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/haynesboone]

IRS Tax Lawyer: From Tax Strategist to the Government (replay)

Deepan Patel explains his role at the IRS. While the IRS has many types of lawyers, he focuses on business taxpayer guidance, which ensures certainty for businesses making major decisions. He describes how he got into tax, where his career might go, and trade-offs between government and private practice. Deepan is a graduate of Florida State University College of Law. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today! [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/lawhub] Learn more about Juno and private student loans [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/juno] Haynes Boone LLP Learn more about Haynes Boone LLP [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/haynesboone] Learn more about Juno and private student loans [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/juno]

Space Law: The Work Behind an Emerging Practice

Michelle Hanlon spent 25 years as a cross-border M&A lawyer before earning an LLM in space law and reinventing her practice around an environment that nobody quite controls but many want to. Space law is barely developed, but much of the daily work looks like any other industry: contracts, regulatory compliance, and drafting provisions that account for risks nobody else is thinking about yet. Michelle holds a permanent observer seat at the UN committee where international space law is written, and in this episode she breaks down the craft of persuading legislators and diplomats, why industries often write the standards Congress later codifies, and how deep subject-matter fluency reshapes even conventional legal work. Michelle Hanlon is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Juno and private student loans [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/juno] Access LawHub today! [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/lawhub] Learn more about Juno and private student loans [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/juno] Haynes Boone LLP Learn more about Haynes Boone LLP [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/haynesboone]

Concierge Outside Counsel: Compliance, Contracts, and Keeping Clients Deal-Ready

Yuliya Flynn is a partner at a small business law firm where she acts as concierge legal counsel for small and mid-size companies — handling the kind and breadth of work an in-house lawyer would, but for multiple clients at once. In this episode, she walks through what that role looks like day to day, from drafting employment agreements and reviewing leases to fielding emergency calls about severance. Yuliya explains how she audits new clients for compliance gaps, why she treats compliance as preventative medicine, and how those gaps can tank a purchase when it's time to sell. She also digs into the complexity of structuring employee compensation and retention plans, where equity participation sounds simple but quickly intersects with succession planning and corporate governance. Yuliya Flynn is a graduate of Kostanay State University in Kazakhstan and also earned her Master of Laws from American University with a specialization in International Business and Trade Law. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today! [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/lawhub] Loyola Law School Learn more about Loyola Law School [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/lls] Learn more about Juno and private student loans [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/juno] Learn more about Juno and private student loans [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/juno]

Small Firm, Big Mountain: Ski Injury Law in Colorado

Evan Banker didn't plan to become a ski lawyer, but a chance opportunity led him to a niche practice handling collisions on the slopes. He explains how skiing accidents become legal cases, from right-of-way rules and Colorado's Skier Safety Act to evidence like witness accounts, video footage, GPS tracking data, and damage patterns on the skis themselves. Evan discusses why injured skiers hesitate to pursue claims and how personal injury lawyers navigate the profession's stigma. He also talks about leveling the playing field against deep pockets with his firms contingency fee model. The conversation also offers a behind-the-scenes look at small firm life and succession planning. Evan is a graduate of the University of Denver College of Law. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today! [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/lawhub] Learn more about Juno and private student loans [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/juno] Learn more about Juno and private student loans [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/juno] Loyola Law School Learn more about Loyola Law School [https://i-am-the-law.captivate.fm/lls]