The Whole Lawyer takes you beyond the courtroom and into the real lives of attorneys. Hosted by Akeem D. Earle, a young Black practicing criminal law attorney, and his wife and co-host Tonée Earle, a practicing family law and estate planning attorney, the show explores what it really means to be a lawyer today.
In one part of the podcast, Akeem sits down with attorneys from different backgrounds to uncover their stories, passions, and journeys inside and outside of the law. In another, Akeem and Tonée review and react to real life cases, using them as teaching moments while sharing insights f
Ep 46: The Lindsay Clancy Trial: Reasonable Doubt, Postpartum Mental Health & the Hung Jury
The Lindsay Clancy trial has sparked intense conversations about criminal responsibility, postpartum mental health, reasonable doubt, and the justice system.
On this episode of The Whole Lawyer, co-host Tonée Earle welcomes back trial attorney Era Kryeziu to examine the legal questions and public debate surrounding the case.
Together, they discuss the prosecution's burden of proof, the defense's strategy, the significance of the hung jury, and how postpartum experiences may shape the way people understand this case.
They also explore the role of medical professionals, the importance of maternal support, the challenges of evaluating an insanity defense, and what could happen if the case returns to trial.
00:00 Introduction and welcoming Era back
01:19 Initial reactions to the Lindsay Clancy trial
03:07 Criminal responsibility and the defense strategy
07:01 Evidence of Clancy's character as a mother
10:31 Postpartum mental health and maternal experiences
13:40 America's maternity leave problem
17:01 The importance of partner support
20:19 Reasonable doubt and questions about the evidence
24:22 The prosecution's burden and medical treatment
28:38 Mental illness and criminal responsibility
30:16 Massachusetts' legal standard
35:56 What happens after a finding of no criminal responsibility?
36:43 The possibility of another trial
40:50 The holdout juror and questions of bias
45:49 What does bifurcating a trial mean?
The views and theories expressed in this episode are those of the speakers. Discussion of disputed evidence and allegations should not be understood as established findings of fact.
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29 Sept 2026
Ep 45. Ayana McPherson, Esq.
From professional dancer to entertainment attorney, Ayana McPherson’s career is proof that you don’t have to leave your old self behind when you become a lawyer.
In this episode of The Whole Lawyer, Ayana joins Akeem to talk about her journey from growing up in Brooklyn and studying dance at the University of Michigan to working in talent representation and eventually becoming a production attorney in film and television.
Ayana breaks down what production attorneys actually do, how her background as a dancer still influences the way she practices law, and why law students should stop thinking there is only one traditional path into the profession.
She also shares her unconventional journey through the LSAT and law school admissions, the moment she found herself in the bottom 9% on a bar exam diagnostic just two weeks before the exam, and how changing the way she studied helped her turn things around.
The conversation also gets into networking, finding opportunities outside of your school’s job portal, reaching out to people who are only a few steps ahead of you, and how a LinkedIn connection eventually helped Ayana find her way into entertainment law.
Plus, Ayana talks about working in film and television, including her experience on Dexter, finding her voice as a production attorney, and why the stories she gets to help bring to the screen matter to her.
At the center of Ayana’s story is one message: don’t leave yourself behind. The interests, experiences, and skills you had before becoming a lawyer might be exactly what makes your legal career unique.
00:00 Intro
06:08 If Ayana Wasn’t a Lawyer
06:58 What Does a Production Attorney Do?
10:44 The Path to Entertainment Law
11:32 Growing Up in Brooklyn and Becoming a Dancer
14:03 Majoring in Dance at Michigan
15:17 Leaving NYC and Experiencing Culture Shock
19:04 From Dance to the Business of Entertainment
20:10 Discovering Talent Representation
24:03 Turning Her Dance Background Into an Advantage
25:22 How Entertainment Law Entered the Picture
28:58 How Her Mom Introduced Her to Law
31:52 Your College Major Doesn’t Define Your Legal Career
33:35 Finding Opportunities Outside the Traditional Path
35:46 You Only Need One Yes
36:50 Ayana’s LSAT Struggle
41:45 The Law School Interview That Changed Everything
43:29 Learning How You Learn
47:04 Bar Exam Horror Story
48:40 Bottom 9% Two Weeks Before the Bar Exam
49:20 The Conversation That Stopped Her From Quitting
50:20 Completely Changing Her Bar Prep Strategy
54:52 Finding the Study Method That Worked
57:36 Law School Is Built Around Litigation
59:19 Networking Her Way Into Entertainment Law
1:02:07 Working on Dexter
1:04:50 Finding Her Voice as a Production Attorney
1:05:19 Working on If I Go Will They Miss Me
1:07:49 The Closing Argument
1:09:17 Anna Chronistic 😂
1:09:47 Bring Your Whole Self Into the Legal Profession
1:12:29 Final Thoughts
evenaftermedia.com
15 Sept 2026
Ep 44: The 1L Survival Checklist - 5 Things Every Law Student Needs
Your 1L year can feel overwhelming, but there are things you can do right now to make law school more manageable.
In this episode of The Whole Lawyer, Akeem D. Earle and Tonee Earle break down five practical tips for succeeding during your first year of law school.
We talk about why focus matters, how to actually read and brief cases, preparing for finals without cramming, using professors and TAs as resources, taking care of yourself during law school, building relationships, protecting your reputation, and why you should be careful about relying too heavily on AI during your 1L year.
Whether you're starting law school, currently surviving your first semester, or preparing for finals, this episode is designed to help you build habits that will carry you through law school, the bar exam, and eventually into practice.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
02:40 Five Tips for Passing Your 1L Year
03:27 Tip 1: Focus and Eliminate Distractions
06:08 Organize Now So You Don't Cram Later
08:57 Tip 2: Actually Read Your Cases
10:15 Why Case Briefing Matters
14:40 Why Lawyers Are Still Needed in the AI Era
17:00 Tip 3: Breathe and Take Care of Yourself
20:21 How to Calm Yourself Before an Exam
22:58 Find Your People and Treat Yourself
24:49 Tip 4: Use Your Resources
26:44 Using AI and Quimbee During 1L
28:23 Why Your TAs Matter
30:23 Tip 5: Build Connections and Your Reputation
34:39 Be Careful Choosing Mentors
36:20 Your Reputation Starts in Law School
39:07 The Legal World Is Smaller Than You Think
40:35 The Five Tips Recap
43:04 Outro
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Subscribe to The Whole Lawyer for conversations about law school, becoming a lawyer, building a legal career, and everything that comes with life in the profession.
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
40,764
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
61
Social presence
0
YouTube
72
Engagement
32
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