Interview with Associate Christina Gregg on Her Volunteer Work with the ABA Young Lawyers Division
Christina Gregg, an associate in our Boston office, focuses her practice on securities and complex civil litigation. Since starting at Berman Tabacco, Christina has been a core member of several litigation teams, including becoming an early member of Berman Tabacco’s Data Privacy Litigation team.
Outside of work, among several pursuits, Christina works closely with the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. Recently, she added two new roles to her resume: Associate Editor and Podcast Associate Producer.
Starting in August 2023, Christina joined the ABA’s Young Lawyers Division as an Associate Editor and Podcast Associate Producer. With the first episode of Young Lawyer Rising produced by Christina dropping last month [https://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/aba-young-lawyer-rising-podcast/2023/10/be-part-of-legal-history-attorneys-creating-precedents-in-cannabis-law/], we sat down with Christina to learn more about her recent project.
BT: You have commented that this project is a bit of a return to your “media and journalism” days. Can you tell us a little about your pre-law journalism background?
Prior to attending law school, I spent four years working in media and communications, with a focus on political news and communications. That chapter of my career offered me incredible experiences, ranging from managing regional editorial teams with a content startup company to producing national news coverage with a Fortune 500 media brand. Overall, I loved the way that informative, captivating storytelling could break down barriers between everyday people and the institutions that shape their lives. My years working in media and communications taught me to pay attention to what a listener or reader is looking for in a story and left me with writing and oral advocacy skills that I now utilize in my role as an attorney.
BT: What sparked your interest in the ABA Young Lawyers Division?
I think an essential part of learning in the early stages of a career is finding a community that helps you grow. I found myself continually going back to ABA Young Lawyers Division articles for helpful tips and tricks on everything from brief writing to growing your brand as a new attorney. I am a huge proponent of newer attorneys utilizing the vast and varied resources at our disposal for self-directed learning about practice areas and broader career development. Eventually, I realized I would love to apply my passion for building knowledge feedback loops for my fellow junior attorneys with the ABA Young Lawyers Division. I applied and was thrilled to be appointed to these editorial roles.
BT: So, what exactly does an Associate Producer for a podcast do?
As associate producer, I have a number of responsibilities. First, our team plans out the “theme” for each episode. My most recent episode’s theme was partially centered around Hispanic Heritage Month, so we knew we wanted someone who could speak to the importance of their background as a latino/a lawyer. Next, I reach out to potential guests and conduct “pre-interviews.” A pre-interview conversation is essential to podcast production because it provides an episode roadmap for the podcast host, editor, and co-producers. Finally, our team records, edits, and publishes the podcast for listeners across the country.
BT: What stories are you hoping to bring to light through this work?
As we all know, every great story has an element of adversity. That’s why it’s often the stories of those who overcame an obstacle or took a non-linear path to achieve success that leave a lasting imprint. Where the legal industry can at times feel overwhelming and discouraging for newer attorneys just starting out, sometimes the most valuable advice comes from someone sharing the mistakes they made and how they learned from them. As a producer and associate editor, I am always on the lookout for folks who are willing to not only highlight and share their accolades and achievements, but also the human details that tell the story of how they got there. My hope is that listeners, no matter their background, will leave having heard at least one nugget that they can apply to their own practice and career.
BT: So, what are some of your favorite podcasts (legal or otherwise)?
I am a bit of a podcast fanatic. I listen to them while cooking, running, grocery shopping—really whenever I can! My favorite legal podcasts are Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick for all things SCOTUS, Law360’s Pro Say for my weekly updates, and LawNext for great insights on emerging trends in legal technology. When I’m looking to turn my brain off from lawyering, I wind down (and laugh) with episodes of We Can Do Hard Things, the Big Picture, and Hidden Brain.
BT: How can people follow/subscribe to your podcast?
You can find Young Lawyer Rising wherever you get your podcasts (such as through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts).