x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Lawyers in the Attic

Bamieh & De Smeth

Weekly conversations with lawyers and law students about all things legal in the 21st century, from big criminal cases and celebrity lawsuits to the challenges of figuring out what to wear in court. Recorded in a big beautiful attic space at the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth in Ventura, California.

true crime

All Episodes

40:29

Ep 86 - Red and Green Flags w/ Ron Bamieh

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/10/30

With more than 30 years of legal experience, Ron Bamieh has seen it all. In this conversation, he offers his ideas on how to spot good and bad lawyers. What qualities should you look for when hiring an attorney? And what behaviors are instant red flags? Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyersintheattic/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lawyersintheattic Tik Tok:

en-us

34:30

Ep 85 - ClioCon 2025 w/ Jennifer Yates

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/10/23

Senior partner Jennifer Yates joins us this week to report on her experience at this year's ClioCon, a major legal conference in which lawyers and other professionals discuss the state of the industry and the future of practicing law. This year, of course, AI was a hot topic, and Jennifer shares her ideas about how tech is changing (and not changing) the way lawyers do business. Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ Instagram:

en-us

29:14

Ep 84 - Three Local Controversies w/ Ron Bamieh

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/10/16

This week’s Ron Bamieh joins us to provide updates on three important local cases: The closing of a private Christian school and the site’s uncertain future; the Brown Act case against city officials for improper accusations against former city councilman Mike Johnson; and a shocking recent development in the case of Loay Alnaji, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter for an incident at a political protest in Thousand Oaks. Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh &

en-us

46:15

Ep 83 - Ask a Lawyer Anything w/ Ron Bamieh

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/10/09

This week our founding partner, Ron Bamieh, comes to the attic to answer questions from our listeners, touching on all manner of legal intrigue and controversy, from whether you can sue your annoying neighbors to how to protect children from predators. Ron always brings hot takes, and this episode is a chance to hear his stories and advice on topics we rarely cover on the show. Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ Instagram:

en-us

32:17

Ep. 82 - No Restraint w/ Jennifer Yates

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/10/02

This week, family law attorney Jennifer Yates returns from a week in court, and she has a story to tell. At a contentious divorce-related trial, she encounters a series of personalities and events that shed light on how, even in the most straightforward cases, things are not what they seem. Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyersintheattic/ YouTube:

en-us

30:43

Ep 81 - Trial Separation w/ Ron Bamieh

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/09/25

Having spent much of his legal career trying criminal cases, Ron's not a big fan of family law. And yet, he's been a part of some major family law cases over the years. In this episode, he offers his takes on the world of divorce, restraining orders, and custody battles, and explains why he tends to stay away from family court these days. Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ Instagram:

en-us

37:34

Ep 80 - Finding Your Place w/ Meghan Sherry

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/09/18

This week our resident education attorney, Meghan Sherry, returns to offer parents some ideas and resources about the “placement” process in school, and explains what to do if you disagree with how your student is being treated by school administration. . Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates: https://www.copaa.org/ Wrightslaw: https://www.wrightslaw.com/ Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ Instagram:

en-us

36:39

Ep 79 - It's Not My Fault w/ Ron Bamieh

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/09/11

This week Ron tells us about his recent car accident and resulting fight with insurance companies, a saga that offers some deep lessons about the injustice of the system and how individuals can fight for their rights against forces that often seem out of our control. Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyersintheattic/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lawyersintheattic Tik Tok:

en-us

52:14

Ep 78 - Back to School with an IEP w/ Meghan Sherry

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/09/04

It’s back to school time, so our resident education attorney Meghan Sherry swings by the attic for a conversation all about the myths, distortions, and outright lies that circulate about children with disabilities, and the rights that parents and students have when dealing with the public school system. Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyersintheattic/ YouTube:

en-us

33:40

Ep 77 - Someone Has to Pay w/ Danielle De Smeth

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/08/28

This week attorney Danielle De Smeth gives us an update on the firm’s civil lawsuit against UCLA in the case of Christopher Rodriguez, a teacher at the university’s Early Care and Education Center, who was recently convicted of several charges related to the sexual abuse of minors at the school. Danielle shares details on the complicated investigation, the grief experienced by victims and their families, and the practical construction of a demand letter that properly frames the case’s weight and

en-us

42:31

Ep 76 - When Protest Turns Deadly w/ Ron Bamieh

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/08/21

Defense attorney Ron Bamieh gives us an update on the case of Loay Alnaji, a local college professor charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Paul Kessler, after the two had an altercation at a political rally in the wake of the 10/7 attacks in Israel. This case will likely go to trial this fall, and obviously carries intense emotions connected to the larger global politics involved. Ron explains his strategy for Alnaji’s defense, and how he plans to navigate the often distorted

en-us

44:39

Ep 75 - Is the Justice System Fair? w/ Ron Bamieh

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/08/14

Do people go to prison, or even face execution, for crimes they didn’t commit? As a former prosecutor and current criminal defense attorney, Ron Bamieh has seen all sides of the legal system, and shares his candid takes on what really happens in the nation’s courts. From plea bargains to the death penalty, this conversation explores some of the darker questions lurking under the surface of American justice. For more on the case of Cameron Todd Willingham:

en-us

37:29

Ep 74 - When Divorce Gets Spicy w/ Jennifer Yates

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/08/07

How weird and petty do people get when in the midst of a contentious divorce? Spoiler: VERY weird and petty! This week we talk with family law attorney Jennifer Yates about some of the wackier things she’s encountered in her practice, from couples fighting viciously over custody of a toaster oven to emotional disagreements about dog and cat visitation rights. Jen offers some incredible examples and lessons from years of litigating broken marriages, as we explore the stranger side of divorce law

en-us

38:59

Ep 73 - Anatomy of Criminal Defense, Part Three w/...

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/07/31

What happens when your client is found guilty of murder? In the conclusion of our series on the art of criminal defense, attorney Ron Bamieh walks us through the final part of the process: hearing the jury’s verdict and dealing with the consequences. Since Ron just wrapped up a murder trial last week, he’s got plenty of takes on the subject and as always, offers his candid observations on how the system really works. Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De

en-us

32:14

Ep 72 - Debunking the Biggest Divorce Myths w/...

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/07/24

Do you really “get everything” if your partner cheats? Do moms always get full custody of the kids? Spoiler alert: Um, no. This week we talk with family law attorney Jennifer Yates about the biggest myths, lies, and outright bullsh!t that the American public believes about how divorce, child custody, and family court actually work in real life. What you don’t know CAN hurt you, and Jen is here to clear things up. Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth:

en-us

41:53

Ep 71 - You Can't Trust a Lizard in a Suit w/...

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/07/17

Is filing a lawsuit an easy way to get rich? A lot of Americans seem to think so! But the truth is, of course, far more complicated. In this episode, attorneys Danielle De Smeth and Meghan Sherry debunk the many myths about personal injury lawsuits, and discuss the reasons why so many falsehoods exist in the first place (spoiler: insurance companies have a lot of money and influence). Let’s set the record straight about what really happens when you’re injured and seeking recourse. Lawyers in the

en-us

32:23

Ep 70 - Murder in Moscow w/ Jennifer Yates

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/07/10

This week Jennifer Yates joins us to talk about shocking developments in the case of four college students murdered in Moscow, Idaho in 2022. How did all sides come to this decision? And what does this case’s outcome tell us about the strengths and weaknesses of our legal system? Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyersintheattic/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lawyersintheattic

en-us

43:31

Ep 69 - Vexatious Litigant w/ Jennifer Yates

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/07/03

Everyone knows that, if you’re accused of a crime, you’re entitled to a court-appointed attorney. But, as family law attorney Jennifer Yates explains this week, that’s not the case in divorces – which means that a significant number of people end up representing themselves in their own divorce proceedings. In this episode, Jennifer tells us about the things that can go wrong in family court, the poisonous paths that some choose to take, and the ways to avoid a prolonged, painful legal experience

en-us

41:58

Ep 68 - To Catch a Predator w/ Danielle De Smeth

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/06/26

This week Danielle De Smeth joins us for an update on the case of Christopher Rodriguez, a teacher at UCLA’s Early Care and Education Center, who was recently convicted of several charges related to the sexual abuse of minors at the school. We talk about new developments in the case, and Danielle shares ideas for parents and children about detecting and preventing child predators from hiding in plain sight. Check out Danielle’s Op-Ed, “We can equip ourselves with the tools to save our kids” Our

en-us

37:14

Ep 67 - Anatomy of Criminal Defense, Part Two w/ Ron...

Lawyers in the Attic ·

2025/06/19

In Part 2 of our series on the art of criminal defense, founding partner Ron Bamieh walks us through the mechanics of going to trial, from preliminary hearings to verdict. Using examples from his years of experience on both sides of the criminal justice system, Ron offers an inside look at the often surprising process that individuals face when accused of a serious crime. Lawyers in the Attic is brought to you by the law offices of Bamieh & De Smeth: https://www.bamiehdesmeth.com/ Instagram:

en-us

89 results

Similar Podcasts

Australian True Crime

Bravecasting

True Crime Podcast 2025 - Police Interrogations, 911 Calls and True Police Stories Podcast

True Crime Podcast 2025

Ontario Cold Cases - The Podcast

Jay Nicoll

The Conspiracy Files

Bloody FM

Crime at Bedtime

Jack Laurence