Lauren and Lacey are finally back together for this candid, catch-up episode of The Lawmas Podcast. After a season of personal stress, including health scares, office flooding, therapy check-ins, and family illness.From mental health and family stress to leaning on friends during hard seasons, this episode is an honest reflection on navigating real life while running businesses and raising families.

They also dive into trending topics in the news, including elder abuse scams targeting older adults through AI and impersonation tactics, and a cold case conviction solved decades later through genealogy DNA evidence. As always, the conversation blends law, life, and pop culture, touching on everything from true crime developments to comfort TV shows and concert bucket lists.

In this solo episode of The Lawmas Podcast, Lacey breaks down the recent oral arguments in the appeal of the high-profile Alex Murdaugh murder conviction. She walks listeners through what an appeal actually is, what qualifies as an “error of law,” and why appeals focus on judicial mistakes rather than attorney strategy. Lacey unpacks the two major issues raised before the South Carolina Supreme Court: allegations of jury tampering involving the former clerk of court, and whether evidence of Murdaugh's financial crimes was improperly admitted as motive. She explains how concerns about fairness, prejudice versus probative value, and the right to an impartial jury could impact the outcome. With insight from a defense attorney’s perspective, she also discusses what happens next procedurally and what a potential new trial would mean.

In this deeply personal solo episode of The Lawmas Podcast, Lacey steps away from legal analysis and leans fully into mom life. In recognition of Heart Month, she shares the story of her son Luke, his congenital heart defect diagnosis, heart surgery as an infant, and how early medical intervention changed everything. She reflects on the emotional weight of pregnancy diagnoses, the importance of proper screening, and the gratitude she feels for modern medicine and compassionate providers.

The conversation then turns to Luke’s upcoming birthday and a realization Lacey has had about how her son experiences joy differently. From travel over birthday parties to letting go of expectations around gifts, she opens up about parenting a child with special needs, honoring his preferences, and learning to let him lead. It’s an honest, heartfelt episode about advocacy, acceptance, and redefining what celebration looks like.

In this solo episode of The Lawmas Podcast, Lacey dives into what happens when things go wrong in criminal cases and why those mistakes can change outcomes forever. Using some of the most infamous examples in legal history, she explains how errors can occur during investigations, trials, and plea negotiations, and how those mistakes impact both the prosecution and the defense.

From the infamous glove moment in the O.J. Simpson trial to investigative failures in serial killer cases and immunity agreements that backfired, Lacey walks through real-world examples that show how one misstep can alter the course of justice. She also explains key legal concepts like double jeopardy, mistrials, appeals, and post-conviction relief, highlighting why some mistakes can be corrected and others can’t.

The episode offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the high stakes of criminal law and the lasting consequences when errors happen inside the courtroom and beyond.

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In this solo episode of The Lawmas Podcast, Lauren continues the New Year focus on estate planning by examining what happens when even well-known, well-documented estates go wrong. Using high-profile examples, including James Brown, Jimmy Buffett, and the Menendez brothers, she explains how wills, trusts, executors, and beneficiaries can still end up tangled in decades of litigation, despite proper planning.

Lauren walks through why James Brown’s estate remained tied up for nearly 20 years, how executor misconduct and family disputes drained estate assets, and why having a will doesn’t guarantee a smooth probate process. She also explains how trusts can still lead to lawsuits, and how laws like the slayer statute prevent inheritance even when someone would otherwise be an heir. The episode reinforces a key takeaway: estate planning is essential, but no plan is completely immune from conflict—and thoughtful planning is about minimizing risk, not eliminating it entirely.

In this solo episode of The Lawmas Podcast, Lacey talks abut the behind the scenes on what really goes into preparing a criminal case for trial. From highly technical DUI cases involving field sobriety tests, breathalyzer machines, and suppression issues, to credibility-driven “he said, she said” cases, she explains how defense attorneys analyze evidence, build strategy, and prepare witnesses long before stepping into the courtroom.

Lacey also shares the emotional side of trial work, why cases involving innocent clients are often the hardest, how jury decisions can weigh heavily on attorneys, and the mental toll of preparing for high-stakes trials that may fall through at the last minute. It’s an honest look at the pressure, preparation, and responsibility that comes with criminal defense work.

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In this solo episode of The Lawmas Podcast, Lauren shifts gears for the new year and talks about one resolution that isn’t flashy, but is incredibly important: getting your estate plan in place. Drawing from real-life examples and her experience as an estate planning attorney in South Carolina, she explains why wills and powers of attorney matter at every age, not just later in life.

Lauren walks through the basics of medical and financial powers of attorney, why spouses still need them, and how failing to plan can leave families stuck in court or facing decisions they never wanted to make. Between candid moments of working-from-home chaos and personal reflections on health, parenting, and the new year, this episode serves as a practical reminder that estate planning is less about paperwork and more about protecting the people you love.

Get your estate plan in place!

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In this episode of The Lawmas Podcast, Lauren and Lacey reunite to wrap up their Homicide for the Holidays series with a powerful and thought-provoking conversation. After giving updates on binge-worthy shows, cult documentaries, and Disney memories of recent vacations, they turn to a heartbreaking New Year’s Eve murder case involving 19-year-old Valerie Zavala Wilson in California.

The episode walks through the investigation, the role of forensic evidence, and how a 17-year-old suspect was ultimately convicted and sentenced as an adult. From there, the conversation broadens into a deeper legal discussion about juvenile offenders, being tried as adults, parole eligibility, and how the criminal justice system handles age, intent, and future danger to society.

The episode closes with reflection on the emotional weight of covering violent crimes during the holidays and a look ahead to what’s next for the podcast, possibly shifting toward lighter topics in the new year!