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Seth Morris is a criminal defense lawyer based in Berkeley, California, where he runs his own firm and represents clients in state and federal criminal cases, from misdemeanors to serious felonies. He works across the Bay Area and focuses on defending people accused of a wide range of crimes. Before starting his own firm, he spent years as a deputy public defender in Alameda County, then moved into private practice and later launched his own office in 2021. In the episode, he talks about how his early work as a teacher in Compton shaped the way he thinks about justice, poverty, and the people caught in the legal system. He also shares how he built his career in criminal defense and reflects on a recent murder case that ended in a not guilty verdict based on self-defense. The conversation also explores what makes criminal defense meaningful to him, the difference between public defense and private practice, and why communication and trust matter so much with clients. He also speaks about fairness in the legal system, burnout in the legal profession, and the need for more kindness and compassion in society. This episode is worth listening to for anyone who wants a clearer look at what criminal defense work is really like and how lawyers think through difficult, high-stakes cases. Listeners may also come away with a better understanding of the pressures of legal practice, the human side of the justice system, and why long-term resilience matters in this kind of work.

Morris Defense
https://www.morrisdefense.com/

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

louis@lovethylawyer.com

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Sonya Mehta is a trial attorney and partner at a workers’ rights law firm, where she represents employees and labor unions in cases involving discrimination, retaliation, and workplace issues. She focuses on holding powerful employers accountable and advocating for fair treatment of workers. She has been practicing law for over a decade and has built her career in the same firm, eventually becoming a partner. Before becoming a lawyer, she spent years as a community organizer, which shaped how she approaches legal work and understands power and advocacy. She has handled major cases, including trials and large settlements, and has also taken on leadership roles in legal organizations and professional groups. In the episode, Sonya talks about how legal work connects with organizing and real-world change, and why many workplace issues are unfair but not always illegal. She also explains how she selects cases, what it takes to succeed in trial work, and how lawyers can stay grounded while dealing with difficult cases and losses. Tune in to hear a clear view of how law can be used to support workers and challenge powerful institutions, and hear practical advice on building a legal career, choosing the right cases, and staying resilient in a demanding field.

Siegel, Yee, Brunner & Mehta
https://siegelyee.com/

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

louis@lovethylawyer.com

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In this special episode of Love Thy Lawyer, Louis shares a personal story instead of interviewing a guest. After nearly forty years as a private criminal defense attorney, Louis explains how he is returning to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office as a Deputy District Attorney, the same office where he began his career decades ago. He reflects on his early days as a young prosecutor in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the legal community in Alameda County was smaller and lawyers learned quickly by handling many different kinds of cases. Louis also talks about the mentors who shaped his thinking about the law, including prosecutors, a public defender, and Judge Bob Fairwell, whose kindness and respect for everyone in the courtroom left a lasting impression on him. The episode also explores the long path Louis took after leaving the District Attorney’s office, building a criminal defense practice, learning how to run a business, and eventually launching Love Thy Lawyer. He then shares how a conversation with Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson unexpectedly led to the opportunity to return to public service. This episode has the feeling of a full circle moment, as Louis reflects on the people and experiences that shaped his life in the law. Listeners will hear about career changes, mentorship, the realities of the criminal justice system, and the meaning of coming back to where everything began. Tune in to hear Louis tell this personal story and learn how decades of experience can lead someone back to the very place where their legal journey started. It is a thoughtful look at career, purpose, and the surprising ways life sometimes brings things back around.

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

louis@lovethylawyer.com