Widener Law Commonwealth's Podcast

Happy Halloween! Welcome to the second episode of Things I Wish I Knew (a subseries of the Widener Law Commonwealth Podcast) hosted by students Jonathan Nace along with cohosts Connor Behrend and Mark Uriarte. In this special Halloween episode, hosts Jonathan and Mark interview Professor Robyn Meadows about how to write an essay answer for a law school exam. Among other tips, they review the acronym I.R.A.C. (Issue, Rule, Analysis, and Conclusion) as a method to follow when answering exam questions. Next, all three cohosts discuss their opinions on and experiences with study groups in law school in the 5 minutes of unsolicited advice segment. Finally, hosts Jonathan and Mark recap what listeners should take away from the interview with Professor Meadows.    Things I Wish I Knew podcast subseries is about learning from your mistakes and progressing in your law school careers. The hosts and guests will be having candid discussions about many topics including anxiety, test taking strategies, technical difficulti

Welcome to the first episode of Things I Wish I Knew (a subseries of the Widener Law Commonwealth Podcast) hosted by students Jonathan Nace along with cohosts Connor Behrend and Mark Uriarte. In the first half of this episode, hosts Jonathan and Connor interview fellow student Matt Bugli about how to present yourself on social media. Next, all three cohosts discuss sleep in the 5 minutes of unsolicited advice segment. Finally, hosts Jonathan and Mark interview fellow students Deanna Wagner and Eric Quiroz about how to dress for class, externships, and interviews.  Things I Wish I Knew podcast subseries is about learning from your mistakes and progressing in your law school careers. The hosts and guests will be having candid discussions about many topics including anxiety, test taking strategies, technical difficulties, and much more. Subscribe to the Widener Law Commonwealth Podcast on Apple podcasts, Stitcher, and other third-party podcast players so you don't miss the first episode. We hope you enjoy heari

Coming Monday, October 21, 2019... Things I Wish I Knew Podcast (a subseries of the Widener Law Commonwealth Podcast) hosted by students Jonathan Nace along with cohosts Connor Behrend and Mark Uriarte. This podcast series is about learning from your mistakes and progressing in your law school careers. The hosts and guests will be having candid discussions about many topics including anxiety, test taking strategies, technical difficulties, and much more. Subscribe to the Widener Law Commonwealth Podcast on Apple podcasts, Stitcher, and other third-party podcast players so you don't miss the first episode. Looking forward to sharing Things I Wish I Knew with all of you! For more information about the Widener Law Commonwealth Podcast, visit commonwealthlaw.widener.edu/podcast.   Music: Bob Birthisel (Pond5)

Welcome to a subseries of the Widener Law Commonwealth Podcast called Widener Wordsmith.  In episode two, Widener Wordsmith host and Adjunct Professor Pam DeMartino sits down with Professor John Dernbach. The two discuss the story behind how Dernbach wrote and published A Practical Guide to Legal Writing and Legal Method and Writing Essay Exams to Succeed in Law School: Not Just to Survive. Read the transcript for this episode. (PDF)     Music by runfirestop (Pond5)

Welcome to a subseries of the Widener Law Commonwealth Podcast called Widener Wordsmith.  In episode one, Widener Wordsmith host and Adjunct Professor Pam DeMartino sits down with Visiting Professor Dionne Anthon. The two discuss the story behind how Anthon wrote and published The Bluebook Uncovered: A Practical Guide to Mastering Legal Citation. Read the transcript for this episode. (PDF)   Music by runfirestop (Pond5)

Host Julie Sheldon sat down with podcast producer Steph Engerer on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, to discuss the changes that are coming to the Widener Law Commonwealth podcast.       Music Credit: LeChuckz

2019 John Gedid Lecture Series The speaker this year was Gillian Metzger of the Columbia Law School. She will present, 1930s Redux: The Administrative State Under Siege, which was recently published in Harvard Law Review. In the article, she addresses the fact that the national administrative state is under attack today to an extent not witnessed since the New Deal. In particular, constitutional challenges to key features of administrative governance are surfacing in the Supreme Court. Taking a historical perspective, the lecture will argue that the current constitutional challenges are fundamentally misguided. These challenges not only risk the institutional legitimacy of the Court, but also they ignore the extent to which the national administrative state is constitutionally beneficial and even obligatory. Gillian Metzger is the Stanley H. Fuld Professor of Law at Columbia Law School, where she is also a faculty co-director of Columbia’s Center for Constitutional Governance.  She writes and teaches in the a

Host Julie Shelton sits down with Professor of Legal Methods Amanda Sholtis and 3L student Sarah Rothermel to discuss the live critique method. The two recently presented on the topic at the high impact practices fair on main campus in Chester, PA.      Music Credit: LeChuckz

This lecture entitled, Bail: Risk Release & Reform, was be presented by Chief Magistrate Judge Susan E. Schwab, United States Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The following individuals served as experts on the lecture panel: Hon. Richard A. Lewis  President Judge  Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas  Heidi Freese  Federal Public Defender  Middle District of Pennsylvania  David J. Freed  United States Attorney  The United States Attorney's Office  Middle District of Pennsylvania  Nyssa Taylor, Esquire  Criminal Justice Policy Counsel  ACLU of Pennsylvania Judge Susan E. Schwab was appointed Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in 2012.  She assumed the role of Chief Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in 2017. She spent 11 years in public service with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as Deputy Chief Counsel for the Auditor General, Deputy Chief Counsel and Deputy St

Host Julie Sheldon sits down with Widener Law Commonwealth's Assistant Dean of Students Randi Teplitz and students Gabriella Romeo and Shannon Costa to discuss what to expect during the first year of law school. They provide some tips on how to not only survive but thrive as a 1L. This episode is helpful for anyone considering applying to law school or who is already in the process of preparing for law school. Mentioned in this Episode Student Life and Wellness at Widener Law Commonwealth Office of Student Affairs Law Library's Reading List      Music Credit: LeChuckz

Host Julie Sheldon sits down with Widener Law Commonwealth's Associate Dean of Admissions and Administration John Benfield and Director of Admissions Tom Foley to review helpful tips and information for accepted applicants. Mentioned in this Episode Financial Aid Office Cost of Attendance Accepted Applicants Page       Music Credit: LeChuckz

Host Julie Sheldon talks with Associate Professor of Legal Methods David Raeker-Jordan about evidence based study tips for law students. Research suggests the various ways students studied in undergrad may not be effective in law school.  For more information about the podcast, visit commonwealthlaw.widener/podcast. Mentioned in this Episode: Law Library Study Aids     Music Credit: LeChuckz

This episode, recorded in September 2018, is the final installment of a three-part series featuring Eden Mandrell, Director of the Career Development Office at Widener Law Commonwealth in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In this episode, Eden and Host Julie Sheldon discuss internships and externships for law students.  Mentioned in this Episode: Career Development and Job Search Tools Widener Law Commonwealth Externships Symplicity Job Bank     Music Credit: LeChuckz

This episode, recorded in September 2018, is the second in a three-part series featuring Eden Mandrell, Director of the Career Development Office at Widener Law Commonwealth in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In this episode, Eden and Host Julie Sheldon discuss tips for resumes and cover letters for law students and recent alumni.  The final installment in the series will be a discussion about and internships and externships.  Mentioned in this Episode: Career Development and Job Search Tools     Music Credit: LeChuckz

This episode is the first in a three-part series featuring Eden Mandrell, Director of the Career Development Office at Widener Law Commonwealth in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In this episode they discuss networking and professionalism for law students and recent alumni.  Upcoming episodes in this series will include discussions about resume building and internships and externships.  Mentioned in this Episode: Pennsylvania Bar Association Law Student Membership Dauphin County Bar Association Career Development and Job Search Tools     Music Credit: LeChuckz    

Host Julie Sheldon talks with Widener Law Commonwealth Director of Admissions Tom Foley and discusses how prospective law students can prepare to take the law school admissions test (LSAT) and general tips for law school preparation.  Mentioned in this Episode: LSAC LSAT Free Mock LSAT at Widener Law Commonwealth       Music Credit: LeChuckz

Host Julie Sheldon discusses the law library resources available to students with Susan Giusti, Brent Johnson, and Ed Sonnenberg.  Mentioned in this Episode: Law Library Webpage Contact Us Page Law Library Hours Law Library Student Services Large Collaboration Room Reservation       Music Credit: LeChuckz

Commonwealth Professor of Law and Government and Director of the Law and Government Institute Jill Family sat down with host Julie Sheldon.  Professor Family discussed a letter she co-authored and sent to Attorney General Jeff Sessions expressing concern about new quotas for immigration judges. The letter was signed by more than 120 immigration and administrative law professors. Mentioned in this Episode:  The Letterhttps://commonwealthlaw.widener.edu/ag-sessions       Music Credit: LeChuckz

Host Julie Sheldon sits down with Widener Law Commonwealth's Associate Professor of Legal Methods David Raeker-Jordan to discuss the process of and strategies for bar exam preparation. Their conversation covers everything from where to start, knowing your learning style, what costs are involved, and more.  Hear from an experienced professor about how you can set yourself up to pass the bar exam. For more information about Widener Law Commonwealth's podcast, visit commonwealthlaw.widener.edu/podcast. Mentioned in this Episode: Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners Comprehensive Guide to Bar Exam Requirements Greg Kihn Band - Jeopardy Weird Al Yankovic - I lost on Jeopardy     Music Credit: LeChuckz

Our first Wayback Wednesday episode in celebration of Earth Day on April 22 is a recording from a 2016 lecture by Jerry Taylor. This event was co-sponsored by the Environmental Law and Sustainability Center and the Law and Government Institute. Jerry Taylor is president of the Niskanen Center, during which he provides the case of why conservatives do themselves a disservice by ignoring the risks of climate change. A little about the speaker: Prior to founding the Center in 2014, Mr.Taylor spent 23 years at the Cato Institute, where he served as director of natural resource studies, assistant editor of Regulation magazine, senior fellow, and then vice president. Before that, Mr. Taylor was the staff director for the energy and environment task force at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Over the past two decades, Mr. Taylor has been one of the prominent and influential libertarian voices in energy policy in Washington. He is the author of numerous policy studies, has testified often before Congr