What Are the Best Legal Podcasts for Nonlawyers?
If you're a lawyer, seemingly endless podcasts exist to meet your professional interests.
But what if you're a nonlawyer who is merely interested in the law? Or who is looking for useful legal information that you can use?
There aren't as many legal podcasts out there for nonlawyers, but we've rounded up what we think are some of the best ones — eight in total — and summarize them below in no particular ranking order.
They range in style and format, but we chose them specifically because they are not legal "inside baseball." We chose them because they provide substantive information of one kind or another that can be understood by a nonlawyer.
We encourage you to check them out.
1. Good Law / Bad Law. Weekly, hosted by Aaron Freiwald, managing partner of Freiwald Law, a Philadelphia plaintiff's firm. Featuring “guests and conversations that show how and why the law matters." Recent topics: “Did You See What?", on the flaws of eyewitness testimony; “Reckoning With a Nazi Past," on the continuing legacy of Nazi persecution; and “How to Ask a Good Question."
2. Common Law. Periodic, every one or two weeks. Hosted by Risa Goluboff and Leslie Kendrick, dean and vice dean of the University of Virginia School of Law, who “explore how law shapes society, how we shape the law and why we should all care." Recent topics: “When Law Changed the World," recounting pivotal moments when law and lawyers changed the world; “The Road Not Taken After the Civil War," on how efforts to distribute land to former slaves were foiled by southern lawyers; and “The Nonsmoker Revolution."
3. Law to Fact was created in 2017 by Leslie Garfield Tenzer, then an attorney for the City of New York and now a professor at the Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, aiming to provide information for law students and aspiring law students preparing for the LSAT. Since then, it has expanded to “all things law" and of interest to nonlawyers. Recent topics: “Summary Judgment," “First Amendment: Free Speech," and “Election Law."
4. Lehto's Law. Daily podcast of Michigan consumer-law attorney Steve Lehto, the “podcast reincarnation of the radio show Lehto hosted for many years." The podcast answers submitted listener questions on consumer law, one per podcast. Recent topics: “Never Sell a Car to a Relative," “Can You Pry the GPS Tracker Off Your Car?", and “Driver's Licenses Are Not 'Commercial'."
5. Legal Beagle Personal Injury Podcast. Weekly podcast about “the wonderful world of personal injury law" by Phoenix PI lawyer Jonathan Negretti. Recent topics: “Tesla's Smart Summon Technology," which looks at legal implications if an owner's Tesla strikes a vehicle or person when it's being summoned, and “Electric Scooter Laws."
6. Your Legal Rights. Weekly, hosted by San Mateo (Calif.) Deputy District Attorney Chuck Finney, but not limited to criminal matters. Recent topics: “Year-end tips to figure income tax returns for 2019," “Reshaping Landlord-Tenant Relations," and “Employment Rights After a Workplace Injury."
7. In Legal Terms. Weekly production of Mississippi Public Radio, hosted by Richard Gershon, a professor at the University of Mississippi School of Law. Gershon interviews attorney guests to explain legal terms and concepts to a lay listenership. Recent topics: “Revocable Trusts," “Cyber Security," and “Expungements."
8. Lawyer 2 Lawyer. Attorneys Bob Ambrogi and J. Craig Williams have been offering up perspectives, often opposing, on legal issues in the news since 2005. They're lawyers talking about the law, but the podcasts are accessible for general audiences. Recent topics: "Inside the Liability of Selfies," "Website Accessibility and the ADA," and "Space Law."
Related Resources:
- Best Podcasts for Lawyer Listeners (FindLaw's Technologist)
- Legal Tips for Starting a Podcast (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
- Practical Legal Advice in a Podcast (FindLaw's Strategist)
- BigLaw Firms Have Podcasts Now; Should Others Follow? (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
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