MCLE ThisWeek Podcast
MCLE ThisWeek | S2 E2: New Lawyer Diaries: Law School to Real Life with Shira Diner
Episode Summary
In the second episode of the revamped MCLE ThisWeek podcast, host Bruce Richard speaks with Shira Diner, a seasoned public defender, legal educator, and advocate, about the transition from law school to real-world legal practice. As a Lecturer and Clinical Instructor at Boston University School of Law’s Defender Clinic, Shira mentors law students as they take on real clients and navigate the complexities of the criminal legal system. She shares her expertise on experiential learning, the importance of courtroom experience, and how new lawyers can develop confidence and resilience in their first year of practice. From mock trials to self-care strategies, this episode is essential listening for any aspiring attorney.
Episode Notes
In This Episode:
Host Bruce Richard sits down with Shira Diner to explore:
- How BU Law’s Defender Clinic gives students hands-on experience with real clients
- The biggest challenges and misconceptions law students have about public defense
- Strategies for developing confidence and resilience in the courtroom
- The importance of mentorship, networking, and work-life balance in the legal field
Featured Guest:
Shira Diner
- Lecturer & Clinical Instructor, BU Law Defender Clinic
- Former Director of Associate Development & Recruitment, Todd & Weld LLP
- Former public defender with CPCS for 17 years, including as a supervising attorney in the Criminal Defense Training Unit
- President of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Former adjunct clinical professor at Suffolk Law, where she created and ran the Innocence Clinic
- Appointed by Governor Charlie Baker to the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission
Don’t Miss:
- Shira’s advice for law students and new lawyers navigating their first cases
- How mock trials and experiential learning build better attorneys
- Why Legally Blonde holds a key lesson for cross-examinations
Links and Resources: