David Lat spent years climbing the legal ladder, clerking, working at Wachtell, joining the DOJ, before realizing that the most meaningful part of his career wasn't going to happen in a courtroom. Joining Chris Batz and Howard Rosenberg, David talks through the decisions that shaped his path, from writing a cheeky anonymous blog about federal judges to launching "Above the Law" and building one of the most influential voices in legal media. He reflects on the pressure to follow prestige, the pull of creative work, and the unexpected ways his early writing opened doors he didn't even know existed.
A serious case of COVID-19 in 2020 forced him to pause and take stock. What would it look like to return to writing on his own terms? What parts of the legal world still felt worth exploring? Those questions led to "Original Jurisdiction," a Substack newsletter where David now shares sharp, thoughtful takes on the profession he never fully left. David also opens up about parenting two young kids with his husband Zach, navigating surrogacy, and finding ways to stay engaged without burning out. This episode is a look at what it means to shift gears without losing momentum, and how the best version of your work might be the one that feels the most like you.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Meet David Lat: From Wachtell to Legal Media
05:41 The Birth of Underneath Their Robes
06:59 Launching Above the Law
10:54 The Rise and Reach of Above the Law
13:25 Why David Stepped Away from Legal Journalism
16:23 A Life-Changing COVID-19 Experience
18:02 Starting Over with Original Jurisdiction
27:00 Legal Parenthood, Surrogacy, and Family Life
31:45 Candid Advice for Aspiring Writers and Lawyers
39:54 Big Law, AI, and the Future of the Profession
Links
Connect with David Lat:
Substack: https://davidlat.substack.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlat/
Connect with Howard Rosenberg:
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hrosenberg/
Company web profile: https://www.baretzbrunelle.com/howard-rosenberg
Connect with Chris Batz:
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbatz/
LinkedIn Company page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/columbus-street/
Columbus Street website: https://www.columbus-street.com/
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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