About
The Podcast
To the average person, "law" entails a fancy courtroom where a dramatic lawyer can be awesomely snarky with a judge and get away with it. Or law can be something much boring than that, with a bunch of books, papers, and endless reading. And while some of this may be true, it really isn't the whole story. In fact, it doesn't even touch the tip of the iceberg.
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Coming into the study of law hoping to influence people's minds and legislation one day, one realizes just how many avenues you can take to accomplish that. Perhaps you can be a legal clerk to a judge to familiarize yourself about constitutional law. Or maybe you can start venturing into legal technology space to revolutionize how lawyers handle their paperwork and analysis. But wait -- did you think about the fact that as a law professor, you would be shaping the minds of future lawyers at their origin?
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Learning About Law aims to talk about all these aspects of law and more. It aims to quell basic stereotypes about the field, while properly discussing the dynamic nature of a field that is rooted in tradition, in a country that reveres justice. The podcast invites esteemed legal professionals, policy changemakers, law professors, business law associates, and so many more to expand the inclusivity and knowledge of what is law in today's age.
Inaugural Guest:
UT Chancellor Milliken
For my first podcast, I have the honor of welcoming the University of Texas system Chancellor -- J.B. Milliken. Be sure to give it a listen, linked below.
Second Guest:
University of Texas student,
Eleonora Natale
For the second podcast, I have the honor of welcoming a University of Texas student, Eleonora Natale. As the executive chair of over 5 in-university organizations, a representative of "Hook the Vote Agency", and a young daughter of immigrant parents and polyglot majoring in Linguistics and Government, she values learning about the intersection between language and politics. She is passionate about making a change in the legal world as a future lawyer, politician, or diplomat. Be sure to give a listen to our conversation, linked below.
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Third Guest:
Author, Social Scientist, and Associate Professor, Dr. Michael Sierra-Arévalo
"Inside the Police Force: Insights from a Former Safety Commissioner & Ph.D. - Michael Sierra-Arévalo"
For my third podcast, it is an honor to have Dr. MSA, who earned a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in Sociology and Psychology, and a Master's and Ph.D. from Yale University in Sociology. With this rich academic background and as a former Public Safety Commissioner to the City of Austin for 3 years, he has a breadth of hands-on research in American policing. Working with officers and affected community members, he was motivated to write and recently publish his own book explaining the public-police connection: "The Danger Imperative: Violence, Death, and the Soul of Policing". Be sure to tune into our conversation, linked below.
Fourth Guest:
UT Austin, College of Liberal Arts Dean, Ann Huff Stevens
For the fourth podcast, I had the opportunity of interviewing the very own Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin - Dr. Ann Huff Stevens. Hailing from Rutgers, Yale University and UC Davis in public policy and economics research, she now oversees over 11,000+ students in the University of Texas's interdisciplinary Liberal Arts college. Our podcast includes discussion about the intersectionality of law, economics, and public behavior - and how the rising generation can prepare for factors like recession and intergenerational poverty squared with job ambition. She also names further strides the University of Texas's College of Liberal Arts is making to incorporate AI and technical skills in the Humanities-centered curriculum. Be sure to give the conversation a listen, linked below.
Fifth Guest:
Global Head/VP of Managed Services at CS DISCO,
Umair Muhajir
For the fifth podcast, I had the opportunity of interviewing the Global Head and Vice President of Legal Managed Services at CS Disco, Umair Muhajir. Starting off his liberal arts education at NYU, Umair consequently earned a J.D. at Columbia Law School, working in big law as an associate at Paul Weiss for over 6 years. During his time there, he made room for pro-bono cases and as a Deputy Voter Protection Coordinator for the Obama campaign in 2008, respectively. He’s taken his legal knowledge in copious directions, as a VP for Legal Services at Reuters, the Managing Director of Legal Managed Services at EY, and now as the VP and Global Head of Managed Review at CS Disco. Our conversation aimed to explore an honest review of how liberal arts does and does not prepare an aspiring lawyer to work in a technologically-advanced world, how to best stay informed amidst misinformation, and legal technology offers new ventures for tenured and new legal associates. Be sure to give the conversation a listen, linked below.
Sixth Guest:
Managing Director of Morae,
Steven Cole
For the sixth podcast, I had the opportunity of interviewing Steven Cole, who has been at the forefront of witnessing and guiding the journey of e-discovery and legal technology in the U.S. and globally. Indeed, Steven Cole has over 20 years of combined legal practice and technology experience. With experience as a former litigator and managing director with EY Law, he was also the Head of Financial Services at Thomson Reuters Pangea 3 group, Head of Corporate Sales with Disco, and more. Now, he is the Managing Director of Morae, a technology-enabled legal solution provider. In our conversation, we discuss finding a suitable legal path amidst market conditions, how strategic legal decisions can be motivated by the integration of technology automation, and the personal aptitude of lawyers that drive technology, rather than being influenced by it. Be sure to give the conversation a listen, linked below.
Seventh Guest:
Manager of Enterprise Partnerships at Murmuration,
Annemarie Donnelly
For the seventh podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing the Manager of Enterprise Partnerships at Murmuration, Annemarie Donnelly. At Murmuration, Annemarie leads and supports charter school partners in their advocacy strategy and use of Murmuration's tools and research. Annemarie began her career as a Teach for America Corps Member in Phoenix, Arizona, as a 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts teacher. After being inspired by the families she worked with in Phoenix, Annemarie moved back to her home state of Texas to work on a political campaign and later to lead IDEA Public School's advocacy work across their entire network. Annemarie currently resides in Austin, Texas. Be sure to give our conversation regarding the role of education equity in present-day America, linked below.
Eighth Guest:
Incoming 2L at NYU Law School, Swara Mukkamala
Swara is Texas Ex and rising 2L at NYU Law School. Her long standing interest in sustainability and climate change work is reflected in the interdisciplinary nature of her journey to law school. She is passionate about working at the intersection of business, law, and policy as a means for making an impact at the individual and global scale. Swara has worked across the public and private sectors—from the Texas Senate to the U.S. Senate, and at organizations like Ceres Inc. and Environment Texas that focus on sustainable policy and corporate accountability. Outside of her professional life, you can find her taking long walks, singing acapella with friends, and hunting for actually good tacos in NYC.
Ninth Guest:
Mayor of the City of Fremont, Dr. Raj Salwan
Dr. Raj Salwan is a lifelong resident of Fremont, California, dedicated veterinarian and passionate community leader. Over the past two decades, he's balanced running a veterinary practice while serving in multiple civic roles, from the Human Relations Commission, to City Council, and now as the Mayor of Fremont since December of 2024. Known for championing initiatives that improve quality of life, expand housing, and foster innovation, Mayor Salwan brings a unique blend of compassion, business acumen, and community vision to city leadership. He shared his insights with the City of Fremont and beyond during the first-ever live local radio broadcast of the Learning About Law podcast. Be sure to tune into our conversation, linked below.
Tenth Guest:
J.D. Candidate at Yale Law School, Elijah Schimelpfenig
Elijah Schimelpfenig is a J.D. candidate at Yale Law School and a graduate of Harvard University, where he earned his B.A. in African and African American Studies. At Harvard, he specialized in African American legal history and wrote an award-winning senior thesis titled “The Court of Last Resort: Legal Liberalism in the Age of Mass Incarceration.” Before law school, Elijah worked with ArchCity Defenders and later at the Boston Consulting Group, where he spent 18 months advising clients on consumer retail, organizational restructuring, and healthcare strategy. He spent the summer of 2025 as a transactional law summer associate at Kirkland & Ellis and plans to return in 2026. At Yale, Elijah serves as Co-President of the First Generation Professionals and sits on the board of the National Lawyers Guild.
Eleventh Guest:
Founder of The KiraKira Institute, Kira Sano
Kira Sano is the founder and Executive Director of KiraKira, an emerging social-impact lab that uses storytelling, research, and play to build hope and power in movements for justice. Drawing from her background in sustainability management, environmental justice, and youth advocacy, Kira designs creative, community-engaged tools that illuminate the brilliance of underrepresented communities while challenging the systems that constrain them. Kira’s work is rooted in her long history with the American Cancer Society, where she has spent nine years organizing young leaders across California to influence cancer policy, expand access to care, and engage historically excluded communities. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Sustainability Management, focusing on environmental justice and health equity. At the heart of all her work is a simple belief: when people tell their stories, design their own tools, and imagine new futures together—they create the conditions for justice. Through KiraKira, she hopes to build a research and storytelling ecosystem that not only analyzes systems of power, but actively transforms them.
The LAL Newsletters
The podcast isn't simply an auditory experience - it aims to mobilize through information shared by legal newsletters.
Newsletter 1: The Effects of Trump's Legislation on the U.S. Department of Treasury
Newsletter 2: Trump v. CASA and the Supreme Court Hearing on May 15th, 2025
Newsletter 3: The Surprising Legal Complexity behind a Product's Country of Origin - An Analysis of Tariffs
Main Article Written by Vivian Hawk
Newsletter 4: A Comprehensive Review of the Legal Implications within the "Big, Beautiful, Bill"
Main Article Written by Vivian Hawk
Newsletter 5: Patent Infringement in the Fashion Industry: A Case Study"
Main Article Written by Vivian Hawk
Executive Producer &
Host
About the
Host:
Dakshata Anand
Dakshata Anand is a legal professional in New York City, soon to be heading to law school to pursue her dreams of obtaining a formal degree to argue. She is an alumni of The University of Texas at Austin, graduating in May of 2024 with a double-major in Government and Humanities Honors, with a contract in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Her comprehensive curriculum in the Liberal Arts allowed her the honor to be inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as the top 7% of her class.
Indeed, ever since she was young, her mom said she talks too much for her own good. So, Dakshata thought of putting her talent for talking and law together to create something her mom and many others would appreciate. Enter "Learning About Law" Podcast.
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