After launching the Real Lawyers podcast with John Corey and then Guy Alvarez, we’re back for round three—this time with Davis Williams. Davis is a rising 3L at North Carolina Central University School of Law and founder of the International Legal Practice Society, a student-run group helping classmates explore practice areas they may not have the opportunity to otherwise been able to.
We dig into why Davis started ILPS, how publishing on niche topics such as digital personhood opens unexpected doors and why young lawyers need to experiment with AI instead of fearing it.
Watch the full episode below or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. A timestamped outline and key takeaways follow.
Topics Covered
- 00:42 — How a childhood Blogspot project sparked Davis’s passion for publishing
- 02:15 — Why law school paths feel narrow and how students can create their own
- 05:30 — Launching the International Legal Practice Society to explore tech-driven global law
- 09:10 — Turning niche interests—space law, anime licensing and AI ethics—into career assets
- 12:45 — Blogging about digital personhood to stand out with employers
- 18:05 — Building relationships by referencing and sharing other lawyers’ work
- 23:20 — Advice for law schools on fostering curiosity instead of conformity
- 29:40 — Balancing healthy skepticism with hands-on AI experimentation
- 34:10 — Leveraging alumni networks and cross-school collaboration for bigger impact
Key Takeaways
- Publishing on subjects you truly enjoy signals expertise faster than grades or journals
- Student-run groups like ILPS give peers concrete ways to explore global practice trends
- Referencing others’ writing is a simple route to networking with leaders in any niche
- Early, responsible use of AI helps future lawyers understand both the promise and the pitfalls
- Personal passion, shared publicly, opens doors that traditional career tracks may never reveal