An HIV-positive diagnosis can thankfully now be managed with antiretroviral drugs that keep infection levels nearly undetectable. However, the widespread fear and panic that accompanied the AIDS crisis in the 1980s created rampant panic and discrimination against HIV-positive people, especially gay men. And unfortunately, that discrimination still exists. Our guest today, Scott Schoettes, is an attorney and advocate for HIV-positive individuals, and he is also an HIV-positive gay man.

Scott's undergraduate studies led to a career in musical theater, including a national tour of “West Side Story.” But as he considered his second act in life, the death of Matthew Shepherd inspired his legal journey. Since then, Scott has advocated for HIV-positive individuals – especially those in the U.S. military — as Lambda Legal’s HIV project director, served as a member of the President’s Advisory Council on HIV-AIDS, and continues his work in private practice.
Listen as this sticky lawyer describes the legal and legislative battles that have resulted in restoring rights to the HIV/AIDS community.

Jennifer Wagner’s legal path always included a desire to advance equality and civil rights. But her anthropology passion (and eventual Ph.D.) laser beamed her legal focus to the cellular level: genetics and the human genome.

As an assistant professor of Law, Policy, and Engineering and Anthropology at Penn State University, this sticky lawyer has created a legal career that links our most basic human rights and the most basic building blocks of human life. Listen as she explains the privacy implications of genetic data in medical research and digital technologies, and what we should know about how our personal data is used.

Growing up in North Carolina with parents in the home construction business, Forrest Merithew cut his teeth on construction sites, played in the dirt, and developed an early passion for outdoor adventures. Always game for new challenges, he pursued a law career and discovered how his deep experience in construction and his outdoor recreation pursuits could shape his law practice. And a sticky lawyer was born.

After successfully representing construction clients in complex commercial litigation for several years, Forrest pivoted to private practice representing outdoor recreation clients. Listen and learn how Forrest linked his personal passion (flannel shirt included) to a niche law practice that helps protect industry players and gives back to protect the great outdoors.

Alysen Bayles launched her legal career with an early interest in dispute resolution. Then after several years as in-house counsel and a law firm litigator, she found a mediation mentor and increasingly used alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and mediation in her private practice.

Appreciative of how ADR gives both sides a voice, Alysen is now director of a federal court-connected ADR program where she oversees civil cases, serves as a mediator, and facilitates ADR training. Along the way, she used her time spent waiting for verdicts to write children’s books. Now a published author, Alysen uses her heartwarming animal tales to encourage young readers to learn, live, love, and read. Hear how this sticky lawyer followed her bliss to two satisfying careers.

Chris Jennison is a government attorney with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He’s an American Bar Association Officer and Young Lawyer Member-At-Large. He’s also a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician and board president with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad. Oh, and he’s also a father of two young children. Aside from sleep, this sticky lawyer devotes his time and attention to endeavors that prepare him to do his best work, often for the benefit of others.

An early interest in politics and public policy led Chris to a federal government placement as a young attorney. He is now the Headquarters Team Manager in the Employment and Labor Law Division at the FAA’s Office of Chief Counsel. But he finds balance in his life by being active in other roles, including as a volunteer EMT. Listen as we learn how showing up and performing at a high level have paved his path in all areas.

Haydée Dijkstal grew up in Wyoming, but frequent travel to visit the families of her Puerto Rican mother and Dutch father piqued her interest in international relations at a young age. In fact, it led her all the way to The Hague and a career in international criminal law and human rights law.

In this episode, Haydée shares her path to international legal practice, and how she became a barrister in the U.K. She also gives us a primer on the workings of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the challenges of criminal and human rights investigations. Perpetually immersed in the world’s tragedies, Haydee explains how representing victims and the accused makes her a better attorney, and the huge roles empathy and optimism play in her practice. You won’t want to miss a second with this inspiring sticky lawyer.

Swimming by the time he learned to walk, Adam Grant soon ran faster than the other kids in school and biked when others drove cars. His interest in triathlons and ultra-marathons was a natural path for him. But creating a data privacy legal practice during the advent of the iPhone? Turns out, this sticky lawyer manifests his best ideas when he’s in a state of flow.

With incredible focus, curiosity, and a penchant for research, Adam immersed himself in technology, wrote articles about its legal implications, and became a sought-after speaker. He built his successful niche practice by being the solution to his clients’ problems and a trusted advisor. Listen as he describes how his competitive passions fuel his drive to protect client privacy and data and lead in his personal and professional communities.

Most attorneys hope to impact their clients’ lives and livelihoods by providing expert representation. As chief pro bono counsel at Arnold & Palmer’s New York office, Lucy McMillan’s legal career is keenly focused on making positive change for those who often can’t afford good legal representation.

Lucy forges deep relationships with non-profits and legal services organizations to create opportunities for her firm to serve the community through impact litigation. Whether leading high-profile voting rights and gun violence cases, filing immigration paperwork, or representing parents in family law cases, this sticky lawyer gains deep satisfaction from a legal career that truly gives back.