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Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersAuthor: Sharif L. Gray and Nael A. Abouzaki
Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.(804) 915-1611TrialLawyers@RVATrialLawyers.com1210 E Cary St Suite 300-3Richmond, VA 23219 Language: en-us Genres: Education, True Crime Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Finding Purpose in Your Law Career | Glenn Katon (Civil Rights Lawyer)
Episode 50
Friday, 27 February, 2026
For years, you've been building your law career: head down, focused, years of commitment and perseverance.But are you sure you're where you need to be?Perhaps you know already: 'This is the best place, the best people and the best work for me, right now.' Which is a wonderful feeling, and something we're all striving for.But if you find yourself trying to fit in, to stay true to yourself and your values, to find more meaning in law work, you're not alone.Glenn Katon experienced this himself, and took the bold step, when the time was right, to make a change. Glenn was a trial lawyer for 10 years before turning his focus, and practice, to civil rights law for the past 15 years. Many of Glenn’s cases have challenged high profile civil rights abuses, and he has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Newsweek, among other publications.Today, we talk about the challenges, both systemic and cultural, facing civil rights litigation, and how to navigate these obstacles. But our discussion always circles back to this question of, "How do you really find your passion?" If you're not where you want to be right now: start exploring."You have to be willing to not take the safest route. You can find a way to community, and then it just becomes a matter of how much are you willing to go off the beaten path."In this episode, we discuss:◼️ How Glenn's upbringing in Brooklyn impacted his worldview.◼️ How Glenn was able to transition from corporate law to civil rights law.◼️ Why civil rights lawyers face unique struggles in their work.◼️ That finding a community in law can help you guide career transitions.◼️ Why qualified immunity presents significant challenges in civil rights litigation.◼️ The undermining of constitutional rights, as protected in the 4th, 5th and 14th amendments.Chapters00:00 From Corporate Law to Civil Rights Advocacy02:57 The Impact of Glenn's Upbringing on His Career10:12 The Rocking Chair Test: Reflecting on Career Choices19:48 Finding Your Passion in Law30:13 Navigating Qualified Immunity in Civil Rights Cases39:46 The Importance of Authenticity in the Courtroom49:46 Advice for Young LawyersCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki
