Trial Magazine

1 More Perfect

This podcast, a spin-off of NPR’s Radiolab, reflects on the inner workings of the U.S. Supreme Court. Each episode focuses on a specific theme or idea—the inaugural episode centers on the “cruel and unusual” language of the Eighth Amendment. But the episodes are far more than a dry summary of the legal and policy issues; they rely on lively commentary from reporters, attorneys, and experts. Each hour-long episode dives into the brains, history, and intrigue behind the country’s highest court in a memorable and insightful exploration of our Constitution and its nine arbiters.

2 Lawyer 2 Lawyer

Ever wanted a lawyer’s perspective on the dangers of Pokémon Go or the constitutionality of jailhouse informant programs? Created in 2005, this award-winning podcast has also been one of the longest running. It covers a mix of contemporary news and events from a legal perspective. Hosted by lawyers and bloggers J. Craig Williams and Robert Ambrogi, the bimonthly episodes invite industry experts to weigh in on various criminal and civil law issues.

3 Amicus

Hosted by Dahlia Lithwick, a legal writer at Slate magazine, “Amicus” is a must-listen for both lawyers and nonlawyers who’d like a deeper dive into the constitutional law behind the week’s most notable legal news stories. Ranging from discussing the state of free speech on college campuses to parsing the legal issues behind the current travel ban, the episodes are engaging and informative. The podcast’s guests are an additional bonus—they often are involved in the cases and bring an extra dimension of personal knowledge.

4 The Happy Lawyer Project

Aimed at new lawyers, “The Happy Lawyer Project” tackles issues beyond the courtroom doors: finding satisfaction in your career, achieving ­work-life­ balance, and grappling with questions about short- and long-term goals. From making the decision to strike out on your own to succeeding as a working parent, hear from experts and fellow lawyers who have been there before—reminding you that you’re not alone on the journey to being a happy and well-rounded lawyer.

5 The Lawyerist

Evolving from a blog dedicated to technology solutions for the practice of law, this weekly podcast is part of a larger online community of sole practitioners and small firms sharing ideas and tools for building stronger, more ­forward-thinking practices. There are more than 100 episodes available on a wide range of topics. And it hasn’t abandoned its technology roots—many episodes focus on how to be innovative and better integrate technology into your practice, such as “Going Mobile Without Losing Balance” and “Law Firm Data Security.”

6 Life of the Law

From a team of investigative journalists, this Edward R. Murrow Award-winning podcast delves into current legal events and, through storytelling, sheds light on how the law affects real people. Several episodes focus on the criminal justice system and civil rights, while others look ­behind the scenes at jury selection or explore what it’s like to work on a dairy farm that lacks safety measures and is largely unregulated. The episodes show that the law is a living, breathing entity—and why ­fairness and access are so important.

Kate Halloran and Diane M. Zhang are associate editors for Trial. They can be reached at kate halloran@justice.org and diane.zhang@justice.org.