Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney Produces Podcast To Help Colleagues
Samuel Partida, Jr. graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law. After law school, he worked as a prosecutor in Kane County Illinois for about eight years. He has been in private practice as a criminal defense attorney for the last five years. For about a year, Partida has been producing a podcast for Illinois criminal law attorneys. Creating CLE courses arose as a natural way to monetize the project and still provide a valuable resource to the community.
Partida, Jr. shares his insight and knowledge of working in the criminal justice field.
What are the responsibilities of your current role?
"I produce a podcast and CLE courses for criminal law attorneys. For me, the case-law is my never-ending spigot of content. The written form guides the audio recording. After the audio file is created, I then use an audio editor to help me turn it into a real show that is ready for release. Every podcast or course is supported by a written blog entry. All the notes, links, and citations have to be documented on the website. Finally, no project is complete until a photograph is created to accompany the blog entry."
What is your favorite part of your daily duties?
"I keep in touch with my audience in two basic ways: email and social media. Notifying my audience of new shows or programs is much more than just marketing. The information I learn from my audience provides the fuel for the whole operation. The attorneys themselves tell me what kind of courses they need. They help guide the types of cases I highlight. Indeed, there are very important 'business' and 'marketing' reasons to be active on Twitter and Linkedin."
Do you feel your education prepared you for your current role?
"I do and don't feel my education helped prepare me. Advancements in technology I can take advantage of now, simply did not exist when I was still in school. With my daily work activities, my education did very little to help me. Yet, undergraduate work and law school did provide a broad basis for me to build on. My education got me started in the criminal law as a prosecutor and defense attorney. That experience provided the knowledge base that gave me the confidence to believe I could become a legal educator. The rules are different now. Legal educators are not just found in law schools anymore."
Do you have any advice for people who desire to pursue a similar career?
"A transition in careers is very much like deciding to have a baby. The timing never feels quite right but once it happens the 'obstacles' are revealed as just excuses. I say to anyone who is looking to make a change in careers, just make sure your perceived reasons for not doing it are legitimate. If you have something to say, believe you can help others, and know how to use a computer then you may want to explore a career in new media."
Michelle Guilbeau is a writer, reviewer, teacher and business owner living in Chicago, Illinois. She also has experience in school administration, literacy coaching and is proud founder of CraftKitsForKids.com and MichelleGuilbeau.com Michelle enjoys sharing her knowledge of Chicago, food, travel, education and parenting issues with her readers. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.