In this episode of the Jabot Podcast, I speak with Molly Coleman, Executive Director of the People’s Parity Project (PPP) and newly elected St. Paul City Council member, about organizing within the legal profession and redefining the role lawyers play in democracy.
Coleman shares how her early work in public education inspired her to pursue law as a tool for systemic change, and how the People’s Parity Project grew from a small group of law students into a national organizing force challenging corporate power, forced arbitration, and inequities embedded within the legal system.
The conversation explores the ideological shaping of law students, the long-term influence of legal movements, and the importance of building alternative pathways for lawyers who want to advance social and economic justice. Coleman also reflects on organizing during political crisis, the limits of courts as vehicles for change, and why community action — not institutions alone — ultimately drives democratic resilience.
The Jabot podcast is an offshoot of the Above the Law brand focused on the challenges women, people of color, LGBTQIA, and other diverse populations face in the legal industry. Our name comes from none other than the Notorious Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the jabot (decorative collar) she wore when delivering dissents from the bench. It’s a reminder that even when we aren’t winning, we’re still a powerful force to be reckoned with.
Happy listening!
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
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