Elie Mystal is the Managing Editor of Above the Law Redline and the Editor-At-Large of Breaking Media. He’s appeared on MSNBC, Fox, and CNN, and pretty much any network that will invite him. He’s written editorials for the New York Times, the Daily News, and would make a good character in a Billy Joel song. He graduated from Harvard University in 2000, Harvard Law School in 2003, and was an associate at Debevoise and Plimpton.
Legal departments have their own problems that other lawyers may not appreciate.
Is there a limit on how many cat puns we can have purr episode?
Lawyers often run for office -- and their past clients often become talking points.
A chat with former Orrick chief Ralph Baxter about what's next for firms.
A law school professor appeared on a panel and declared that America needs "fewer nonwhites." She is still employed.
A whole lot of lawyers are going to end up as collateral damage in the Epstein case.
Joe and Elie talk about the court system in the nation and the lower courts that no one usually talks about.
Joe and Elie bring back an old topic from 2018 where they discussed how to master on-campus interviews, so this independence day they give their listeners some lessons on the topic.
Hanna Stotland discusses her article about Kyle Kashuv's now-revoked Harvard admission, why she believes Harvard made the right move and where Kashuv will go from here.
Ryan Steadman of Zero sits down with Joe and Elie to talk about legal technology and how to get professionals to adopt it in their work.
Jay Edelson of Edelson joins Elie and Joe to talk about his involvement in matters as disparate as electronic privacy, college football safety, and the California wildfires.
Joe and Elie continue to offer their answers on questions from prospective law students asking “where should I go to school?”.
Joe and Elie answer Law Student's questions about how to decide which law school is right for them.
After George Conway's most recent salvo against Donald Trump, Joe and Elie discuss the curious relationship of the senior Wachtell lawyer and Trump's senior aide.
Joe and Elie take a dive into the college admissions scandal going on with celebrities and their children.
Jerry Buting and Jackie Maloney debate about the prosecution versus defense and how the portrayals on FOX TV’s ‘Proven Innocent’ compare to reality.
Joe and Elie discuss the US News and World Report law school rankings and breaks down who's on top and who's making big moves -- both good and bad -- in this year's rankings.
FOX's "Proven Innocent" creator David Elliot, California Innocence Project managing attorney Michael Semanchik, and real-life exoneree Jason Strong, talk about wrongful convictions and the inspiration behind the new show.
Ian Bassin, the Executive Director of Protect Democracy, talks about the pressing task of defending democratic institutions from authoritarianism.
Executive producer Danny Strong talks about the new legal drama “Proven Innocent” and what drew him to the subject of wrongful convictions.
Joe and Elie welcome Michael Avenatti to talk about him challenging Michael Cohen and Donald Trump over their treatment of his client, as well as his thoughts on the 2020 presidential candidates.
Joe and Elie attended the Legaltech NY conference, as well as talked about the future of law and the future of law conferences.
Elie and Joe have thoughts about the media's willingness to cave to every request of a public relations firm.
Elie and Joe talk about Rudy Giuliani's bizarre turn from respected former prosecutor and stealth layoffs appearing in the Biglaw world again.
Joe and Elie discuss the major headlines in law firm news.
Elie and Joe talk to Ralph Baxter about the future of the legal industry.
Josh Becker of LexisNexis talks about the release of Context, a new tool that delivers deep insights into judicial idiosyncracies by analyzing the language of their body of work.
Joe and Elie give their best tips on how to prepare for law school finals week.
Joe and Elie check in on what's happening with law schools these days.
Joe and Elie recap the top legal stories of last week.
Melissa Murray discusses her reaction to student walk-outs and protests and dives into the overall mood on law school campuses these days.
Mark Godsey discusses his conversion to an advocate for the wrongfully convicted and his grasp of the psychology that consistently lands the wrong people in prison.
Haresh Bhungalia and David Carns talk about the legal technology landscape, Casepoint, and how each are changing the legal workflow.
Andrew Eisbrouch and Jesse Weber talk about the Guys Who Law podcast and the Law & Crime network and why broadcasting live courtroom telecasts can inform the public about the judicial system.
Joe and Elie review the week that was in the Kavanaugh confirmation fight.
Jason Cruz explains the lawsuit against Conor McGregor for throwing cans into the crowd.
Joe and Elie play trivia to ask some bar questions that will benefit the DC Bar Pro Bono Project.
Elie and Joe are joined today with Nick Alexiou to discuss the on-campus interviewing process.
Joe and Elie give a quick, high-level rundown on the internal investigation process and Ohio State's situation.
Joe and Elie talk with guest Dr. Riaz Tejani to join their show as they talk about the dangers of for-profit Law Schools.
Tune in as Joe and Elie discuss the Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh and what changes they believe could happen.
Joe and Elie talk about Vinson & Elkins partner fleeing the scene after swimming away from a boat crash and their thoughts on the topic.
Joe and Elie chat with David Lat about Justice Anthony Kennedy’s announced retirement.
In today's episode, Elie and Joe discuss some of the worst law school exam questions.
Brian Dalton join Elie and Joe to discuss Above the Law's annual ranking of the top law schools in America.
Ellen Trachman discusses artificial insemination, custody conundrums, and how twins can be citizens of different countries.
Joe and Elie talk about Milbank raising associates salaries, what's happening and what this could mean for the industry at large.
Lisa Green talks about Trump family nuptials, and some common pitfalls in the asset protection game.
Elie and Joe answer listeners questions about law school and which one to choose and eliminate.
Join Joe and Elie as they discuss about the different types of law school and narrow the list for prospective law students.
Elie and Joe discuss with Joshua Lenon about global cybersecurity threats and what lawyers can do about them -- for both themselves and their clients.
Above the Law Research Director Brian Dalton talks about ATL's law firm brand rankings based on an extensive survey of in-house counsel and what clients are looking for in a law firm.
Jordan Weissman talks about Trump's plans to change the nature of student debt, how Elie finally paid off his educational debt, and concussions in the NFL.
Thornton McEnery talks about the cryptocurrency market, the role of big banks in the crypto landscape and what's on the horizon in the U.S. and abroad to regulate the market.
On this star-studded evening, Joe Patrice and Elie Mystal honored the best — and by that they mean the worst — of the year in law.
Elie and Joe talk with Above the Law's Kathryn Rubino about the challenges faced by women who go into Biglaw.
Joe and Elie talk to Cristian Farias about producing a legal podcast non-lawyers listen to, and explaining the Supreme Court to a law audience.
In this legal podcast about law school, Ray English discusses when law students should start finding a job.
How does one go from practicing law to writing about football? Hear from Ryan Nanni in this legal podcast.
In this Above the Law podcast, Richard Hasen talks about the voting rights and redistricting battles being waged at the nation's highest courts.
Brian Knappenberger discusses his documentary about the Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker case, Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press
In this Above the Law podcast, Tejinder Singh discusses the relatively sleepy Supreme Court Term.
This legal podcast discusses the Supreme Court's decision to challenge the the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).
This legal podcast looks at whether law schools should accept the GRE and the potential effect of this decision.
Elie and Joe discuss the 2017 Above the Law law school rankings and the ATL methodology with special guest Brian Dalton, Above the Law's Director of Research.
As a new crop of law school graduates prepares for the bar exam, Joe and Elie talk to James Mullen of Law School HQ about the “last test you’ll ever take.” What is a “UBE” and is it a good development? Why are so many people struggling to pass the bar? And, really, what’s California’s...
This legal podcast discusses whether using cops for promposals is counterproductive in improving people's view of police.
Joe and Elie open the mailbag and answer questions from listeners trying to decide where to go to law school.
Joe and Elie discuss how they chose their law schools, and how others should do what they say, not necessarily what they did.
On this episode, PwC's Oscars mistake and why they still won't get fired.
Willkie Farr's representation of Alma Kashkooli, a 12-year-old Iranian girl coming to the U.S. for surgery in the midst of the administration's travel ban.
Elie and Joe talk about Apple, Samsung, knock offs, child labor, Melania Trump, and open toed shoes… in that order… with Fashionista editor Tyler McCall.
In this legal podcast from the Above the Law blog editors, Elie and Joe award those in the legal industry who entertained us this year.
Professional advantages of cloud based technologies and steps lawyers can take to mitigate the cybersecurity risks these technologies expose them to.
Bob Ambrogi discusses cloud based practice management software and what lawyers should consider when choosing a program that is right for them.
Joe and Elie discuss the Philadelphia legal market with attorney Steven Silver.
Elie and Joe chat with SCOTUSBlog contributor and Supreme Court litigator Tejinder Singh about the upcoming Supreme Court Term. The docket lacks the blockbuster issues of past years, but there are still some critical cases pending before the 8-member Court.
Joe and Elie debate the Clinton Foundation, back to school issues, and the efficacy of taking classes with “famous” professors, just so you can name drop at parties.
Joe and Elie chat with attorney Drew Rossow, author of Gotta Catch... A Lawsuit?, about the legal challenges surrounding Pokémon Go.
Elie and Joe chat with Professor Bill Henderson, an expert in legal industry economics, to discuss the recent increase in associate salaries.
Joe and Elie chat with Research Director Brian Dalton about the latest law school rankings from Above the Law and trends in legal education. Do you want to know where you should go to law school? Do you just want bragging rights over your colleagues from rival schools? Either way this podcast is for you.
Joe and Elie chat with Dean Strang, the breakout legal star — if that’s the right word for a documentary — of Netflix’s Making A Murderer. Along with attorney Steven Chung, the gang chats with Strang about the state of the criminal justice system and the persistent plague of prosecutorial overreach.
Elie Mystal and First Amendment Lawyer Marc Randazza talk about the Hulk Hogan verdict, the right to be forgotten, and how Europe seems to be getting along just fine without ruining everybody's Google footprints.
Elie and Joe talk to Professor Peter Irons about Justice Scalia’s vacancy and the often very personal stories of the people who bring their cases to the United States Supreme Court. Listen to Elie’s mind being blown in real-time by a personal account of the life of Fred Korematsu. Peter Irons is the author of numerous...
Elie and Joe talk with a drone law expert about the expanding rights of drones and the diminishing rights of property owners who want to stop them. Steven Hogan is an associate with the law firm Ausley & McMullen and practices in the areas of commercial litigation and state and federal tax law. Before joining...
Joe and Elie chat with election law expert Professor Rick Hasen about the Iowa Caucuses, Ted Cruz’s infamous mailer, and Citizens United as the presidential election kicks into gear.
Do Droids have rights in the Star Wars universe? Are they “pets?” Does Jabba’s treatment of droids reveal him to be more evil than the Empire? Spoilers follow.
With the Court seemingly poised to strike down affirmative-action in Fisher v. Texas, Elie, Joe and Renwei Chung debate how we got here and the future of diversity in higher education.
Elie and Joe chat with Robert Schenk of Schenk Smith and proprietor of the Wedding Industry Law Blog about the oft-overlooked legal minefield that is getting married. Venues, vendors, and “DJ-Gate” loom large as Schenk explains how he found this niche and used it to build his small firm practice.
Joe and Elie chat with Slate Senior Business and Economics correspondent Jordan Weissmann about the economics of law schools. From Northwestern renaming itself for a huge endowment to a law professor taking to the media to say he sees no problem taking tuition from students who will never be able to practice, the economics of...
Joe and Elie chat with Gary Ross of Jackson Ross about starting your own firm, the unique challenges of transactional small law, and his blockbuster Above the Law column about legal sexual prowess.
Joe and Elie talk with Vanderbilt Career Services Officer Nick Alexiou about the legal job market, and the presidential job market.
If you’re curious as to why Above The Law would start its Academy for Private Practice, you’re not alone. After all, they’ve certainly made their way cozying up to Biglaw and its outtakes. So why start an online resource to help those who wish to practice in a small firm or solo? In this Special...
In the current legal marketplace, branded networks have emerged as client intake channels for many solo lawyers. These online listings offer lawyers to those in need, often for one flat fee. But from the lawyer’s perspective they aren’t always the same. So what questions should we be asking before signing up for a branded network...
The age-old question of whether lawyers should be blogging presents itself again at Above the Law’s Academy for Private Practice. In this Special Report, conference panelists Jeff Bennion, Jeena Cho, and Lisa Solomon talk with Thinking Like A Lawyer hosts Elie Mystal and Joe Patrice during the event. Together, they discuss which lawyers should blog...
In this Special Report, Joe Patrice and Elie Mystal talk with former editor in chief of Law Technology News Monica Bay. Together, they discuss her 30+ year collection of observations about the legal profession and technology, the shrinking prominence of equity partners, non-representation of clients in civil matters, and how things fall into place when...
For many leaving the big firm to start their own legal practices, certain administrative tasks and overhead expenses can be a big surprise. What used to be automatic and perhaps taken for granted now becomes part of the weekly grind. Fortunately, there are affordable and scalable services that can put needed help into place. In...
Fastcase founder Ed Walters goes introspective about sapere vedere on this Special Report with Joe Patrice and Elie Mystal. Simply put, sapere vedere means learning to see. In it, Ed recalls the lessons learned from his high school art teacher and applies them to legal practice. Attorneys should remember the viewpoint of others when they...
Elie and Joe complain about the media’s abysmal coverage of court cases before previewing the upcoming Supreme Court Term with a real-life Supreme Court litigator, Tejinder Singh, a partner at Goldstein & Russell (http://www.goldsteinrussell.com/attorneys/tejinder-singh/) and contributor to SCOTUSBlog. What’s next for the Supreme Court? If you said, “a lot of pro-business decisions” you’re probably right!
Elie and Joe talk with Steve Silver of The Legal Blitz about all the off the field problems associated with “OMG I think that’s brain coming out of his ear”-Ball.
Joe and Elie take a break from the usual format to face off in a trivia challenge. Do you know your constitutional amendments? How about your Supreme Court history? Play along at home.
Elie and Joe speak to Rick Hasen, professor at UC Irvine and author of Election Law Blog. Professor Hasen explains the recent Supreme Court redistricting case, future cases regarding voting rights, and talks about the relationship between the Roberts Court and disenfranchisement. Joe argues for hope while it seems like Elie believes we should be...
Joe and Elie talk to Matthew Dowd, a partner at Andrews Kurth. Dowd famously represents the Meitiv family, the parents (now cleared) of child neglect charges for allowing their children, 10 and 6, to walk through their neighborhood unattended. Elie expresses concern over letting children roam free, while Joe thinks independence is key to building...
Elie and Joe chat with Joshua Gilliland and Jessica Mederson of The Legal Geeks about their legal careers and the legal issues surrounding the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Recorded immediately before the release of Avengers 2, they speculate on the legal issues that arise in building genocidal robots, cleaning up the aftermath of superpowered mayhem, and just how...
Elie and Joe talk with Brian Dalton, Research Director at Above the Law, about the 2015 law school rankings published by Above the Law. The annual ranking of the Top 50 law schools in the country boasts some surprising shakeups at the top. After discussing the latest rankings, the gang discusses what really matters: what...
Elie and Joe sit down with Maria de Cesare, a lawyer from a major cable network, to talk about the fabulous life of an entertainment lawyer. After she stops crying, we figure out whether you should be jailed for killing a zombie, or a clone of yourself.
Elie and Joe sit down with Ryan Morrison, aka The Video Game Attorney, to discuss the emerging legal issues in the video game industry and just how many genocide treaties humans breach in every video game ever.
It’s March Madness time. Or, as a person with a rudimentary respect for trademark laws would say, “It’s time for the NCAA Mens College Basketball Tournament.” In this episode, we take a look at running an office bracket pool. But it turns out that gambling is illegal in most states. Why is that the case?...
In our inaugural episode, Elie and Joe take a deep dive into their own navels. What kind of person becomes a “legal blogger” in the first place? In the words of Admiral Stockdale (Google him): Who are we? Why are we here?
