Claim OwnershipThe Indiana Lawyer Podcast with Maura Johnson
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Navigating the legal world can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The Indiana Lawyer Podcast is here to help you understand the laws impacting your life, work, and community. Whether you’re a legal professional, a business owner, or someone who wants to know how Indiana law shapes the world around you, this podcast is for you. Hosted by Maura Johnson—a passionate legal reporter—we’re here to bring you clarity and insights like no one else can. This podcast is brought to you by Taft, Today’s Modern Law Firm.
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Indiana Court of Appeals Chief Judge Elizabeth Tavitas explains how appeals work in Indiana, including how the court reviews briefs and trial transcripts and issues written opinions. She breaks down what the Court of Appeals handles and which cases go to the Indiana Tax Court or directly to the Indiana Supreme Court, and notes the court produces about 2,100 opinions a year. Tavitas also shares her path from Lake County deputy prosecutor to juvenile public defender, private practice, magistrate and a Lake Superior Court family court judge in Gary before joining the Court of Appeals in 2018. She discusses access to justice, civics education through We the People, mentoring law students, and efforts to improve judicial safety, plus a traveling oral argument with the Indiana Historical Society on April 28 tied to outreach for the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
As law school hopefuls begin preparing for the application process, The Indiana Lawyer Podcast is sitting down with experts to glean insight on how best to prepare for the task. In this episode, we hear from Colleen McCracken Renick, a DePauw University pre-law adviser, who explains how the university's career services office supports students and alumni interested in law school, from choosing coursework and majors to building extracurricular experience. The conversation also covers DePauw’s pro bono legal clinic in Putnam County, connections with the local courthouse, student groups and alumni networking, plus how the university helps with LSAT prep and applications, including personal statements and law school resumes. Renick also explains how to think about timelines and applying early, and why gap years can be a smart step before law school. Finally, Renick shares advice on protecting your mental and physical well-being during prep, including how to establish routines, support systems, and strategies for stress and test anxiety.For more information on DePauw University's pre-law pathway, visit this link: https://www.depauw.edu/academics/pathways/law/
Jimmy Gurulé is a professor a the University of Notre Dame Law School and former U.S. Department of the Treasury undersecretary for enforcement with decades of experience that include oversight of major federal law enforcement agencies and teaching criminal law, national security law and criminal procedure. In this conversation, he draws on decades as a federal and state prosecutor and senior law enforcement official to explain what U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is legally tasked with doing and how that differs from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Gurulé talks about federal officer training, why the large federal deployment in Minneapolis is unusual, how cooperation with local police has eroded, and what accountability and trust-rebuilding could look like.
As law school hopefuls begin preparing for the application process, The Indiana Lawyer Podcast is sitting down with experts to glean insight on how best to prepare for the task. In this episode, Vincent Gullo, University of Notre Dame Law School student and Indiana University Northwest adjunct instructor, joins the podcast to explain how IU Northwest supports future law students through its in-person LSAT prep class and other guidance to help students feel prepared for testing. Hear from Gullo as he breaks down how to build an LSAT study plan, why diagnostic exams matter, how to set realistic goals based on target schools, and why full practice tests and detailed review are essential. He also shares how LSAT prep skills translate to law school and what recent LSAT format changes test-takers should be mindful of. Finally, Gullo shares his practical advice on how to avoid unnecessary stress when studying, including why students should stay off anonymous forums and how to advocate for yourself when test prep strategies don't fit your learning style.
For more information on IU Northwest's LSAT prep course, visit this link: https://events.iu.edu/northwest/event/2138479-lsat-prep-course
For more information on the LSAC LawHub referenced in the episode, visit this link: https://www.lawhub.org/?_gl=1*muf5vj*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiA7LzLBhAgEiwAjMWzCOG1EVqNb0KJq9gLBfrP9zwLYDwTQCdw88d7opmrZPW6P1ngn3kjqhoC9HYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAABrC4153v_6xEVzxs9EuH2YPPvS04
Ken Nunn, one of Indiana’s most prominent personal injury attorneys, died Dec. 24 at the age of 85. In February, The Indiana Lawyer Podcast sat down with him and asked him to reflect on his decades-long career and his unconventional path to success. In this encore edition of the podcast, Nunn tells of his early struggles, including dropping out of high school, flunking multiple grades, and spending time in jail for theft before turning his life around. Nunn shares the lessons he learned, reflects on the mentors who shaped him and offers advice for young lawyers entering the profession.
Ashley Hart, the new executive director of Indiana’s Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program, discusses her path from dual degree student at McKinney School of Law and the IU School of Social Work to leading JLAP’s interdisciplinary team. She explains JLAP’s mission to provide confidential and compassionate support to judges, lawyers, law students, bar applicants, and court employees, along with the program’s outreach efforts, volunteer network, therapy dog team, and statewide services. Hart also talks about evolving mental health needs in the legal profession, secondary trauma, support groups, law school outreach, physical wellbeing, and JLAP’s role in voluntary and formal monitoring cases. She highlights 2026 goals including volunteer engagement, staff training, crisis response services, and continued education efforts across Indiana’s legal community.
Host Maura Johnson talks with Barnes & Thornburg partner and Labor and Employment Department chair John Maley about how the firm’s nationwide labor and employment team serves employers of every size, from small family businesses to large public companies, on issues such as noncompete agreements, litigation, counseling and workplace compliance across federal, state and local laws. Maley explains how his early trial work in employment cases shaped his “bet the company” mindset, how he approaches leading a 100-person department, and why staying nimble amid expanding regulations and fast-paced client demands is essential in labor and employment law.
As president of the Indiana State Bar Association, Maley also discusses juggling firm and bar leadership, addressing attorney shortages, defending the independence of lawyers and judges, and promoting the rule of law at events like the bar admission ceremony and Law Day. He shares his focus on collaboration across the bench and bar, the profession’s response to increased scrutiny of law firms, and how innovation and artificial intelligence fit into his goals of sophistication, excellence and service in Indiana’s legal community.
Maura Johnson talks with Doug Church and Julia Church Kozicki, a father-daughter legal team from Church Church Hittle + Antrim about what it is really like to work together as family. They discuss how their ability to read each other's minds shapes their collaboration, how a background as a “Jeopardy!” champion shows up in daily practice, and how decades of experience have influenced the firm's open and supportive culture. They also share how they balance family time with legal talk and when their spouses step in to pause the shop talk.
Krieg DeVault Managing Partner Mike Messaglia joins The Indiana Lawyer Podcast to discuss the firm’s recent merger with Fort Wayne-based Rothberg Logan & Warsco. He explains how the deal aligns with Krieg DeVault’s strategic plan for thoughtful, values-driven growth and what it means for Indiana’s legal community. Messaglia also shares insights on firm culture, evaluating potential partners, and how technology and AI are shaping mergers in today’s legal industry.
As Halloween attractions grow bigger and bolder, what happens when a night of fright turns into a real injury? Wagner Reese partner and personal injury attorney Tim Devereux joins the show to explain how haunted houses have evolved from small fundraisers to multi-million-dollar operations—and how that impacts legal liability.
Devereux breaks down how injury waivers work, why suing a haunted house is nearly impossible, and what legal protections exist for both guests and operators. He also shares insight on Indiana’s laws, the differences across states, and why most haunted house injury cases never make it to court.
Ice Miller partner and board member Joshua Christie discusses his upcoming transition to chief managing partner in 2026. He shares insights into the biggest challenges facing law firms today—from talent retention to technology adoption—and how Ice Miller is preparing for the future of the legal profession. Christie also talks about artificial intelligence in law, the attorney shortage in Indiana, and the firm’s approach to growth and culture in the evolving Indianapolis legal market.
Indiana Lawyer Podcast host Maura Johnson speaks with Erin Hall, executive director of the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic in Indianapolis. Since 1994, the clinic has provided one-on-one legal assistance in housing, immigration, reentry and veteran services. Hall discusses the most pressing needs facing residents, how the clinic delivers support, and ways attorneys and volunteers can get involved.
In this Constitution Day episode of The Indiana Lawyer Podcast, host Maura Johnson speaks with Sheila Suess Kennedy, professor emeritus at IU Indianapolis, and attorney Jim Bopp Jr. about the constitutional limits of presidential authority. They examine Donald Trump’s executive actions, the separation of powers, judicial decisions, and state control over elections.Sheila Suess Kennedy is a professor emeritus in the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Indianapolis. Before entering academia, she practiced real estate, administrative, and business law, served as Indianapolis’ corporation counsel, and ran as the Republican candidate for Indiana’s 11th Congressional District in 1980. She later led the Indiana Civil Liberties Union (ACLU of Indiana) as its executive director, giving her deep experience in constitutional law and civil liberties.James Bopp Jr. is a nationally known attorney specializing in constitutional litigation, particularly election law and campaign finance. He is general counsel for the National Right to Life Committee and has argued multiple cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Bopp is widely recognized for his expertise in First Amendment and constitutional issues, particularly those shaping national politics and executive power.
Kevin Greenlee, a lawyer, and Áine Cain, a journalist, are the husband-and-wife duo behind The Murder Sheet podcast. They join host Maura Johnson to discuss their new book, Shadow of the Bridge: The Delphi Murders and the Dark Side of the American Heartland. The book provides the first definitive account of the 2017 murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German in Delphi, Indiana, and the trial of Richard Allen, sentenced to 130 years in prison. Greenlee and Cain share how their legal and journalistic backgrounds shaped their approach to true crime storytelling, the challenges of covering a high-profile trial, and their efforts to balance detailed reporting with empathy and integrity.
Host Maura Johnson talks with Jon Laramore, executive director of Indiana Legal Services, Inc. Laramore explains how the nonprofit provides free civil legal aid to low-income Hoosiers in all 92 counties, handling nearly 16,000 cases annually. From eviction defense and domestic violence cases to outreach partnerships and law school internships, the organization plays a vital role in ensuring access to justice. Laramore also discusses current funding challenges, the impact of federal appropriations, and how volunteers and donors can support ILS’s mission.
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Zachary Myers, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and now a partner at McCarter & English LLP, joins Indiana Lawyer reporter Maura Johnson to discuss his extensive background in prosecuting cybercrime, including ransomware, cryptocurrency fraud and international hacking. Myers shares how emerging threats have evolved and how law enforcement and private firms are adapting to protect businesses and individuals alike.
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In this episode of The Indiana Lawyer Podcast, host Maura Johnson speaks with Fran Quigley, clinical professor at the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law and director of the Housing Health and Human Rights Clinic. Quigley shares how he and his law students represent low-income Hoosiers facing eviction and the systemic challenges that drive Indiana’s high eviction rates. He also discusses his new book, "Lessons from Eviction Court: How We Fix Our Housing Crisis."
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Host Maura Johnson talks with Frank Pulice, executive vice president and chief legal officer at Pacers Sports & Entertainment. Pulice outlines the wide range of legal responsibilities he manages for the Pacers, Fever, Noblesville Boom and Gainbridge Fieldhouse. He shares how Caitlin Clark’s arrival has elevated the Fever to NBA-level operations and explains how his team is preparing Indianapolis to host the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. Hear the entire interview next week on The Indiana Lawyer Podcast.
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As Hoosiers prepare for the Fourth of July, The Indiana Lawyer Podcast explores the legal spark behind the fireworks industry. New host Maura Johnson speaks with John Brooke, founding partner of Muncie-based Brooke and Struble, who has represented clients in fireworks law since the 1980s. Brooke discusses Indiana’s role in shaping national firework regulations, the impact of tariffs and droughts on the industry, and how a chance encounter launched his one-of-a-kind legal career.
Listen and subscribe for more legal news and conversations. For the latest headlines, visit theindianalawyer.com.
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In this episode of The Indiana Lawyer Podcast, host Alexa Shrake speaks with Allison Wharry, CEO of New Hope of Indiana, about her journey from practicing attorney to leading a nonprofit that serves adults with disabilities. Wharry shares how her J.D. continues to shape her work in employment law, advocacy and nonprofit leadership—and why law school opened doors to a fulfilling, nontraditional career path. She also offers advice for young professionals who feel pressure to define their future too early.
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