Podcast

He was the very first student cold called in his very first law school class.

For 30 minutes.

No warning. No warm up. Just questions.

In this episode of That One Lawyer Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with Moe Matabbar, a first year law student at Tulane, to talk about what law school actually feels like when you are living it for the first time.

This is not a highlight reel. It is an honest look at pressure, uncertainty, friendship, missed opportunities, and the quiet moments that shape who you become in this profession.

Moe shares:

• What it felt like to walk into a law school lecture hall for the first time
• Being cold called for 30 minutes on day one
• The fear versus the reality of the Socratic method
• The pressure of realizing hiring starts earlier than you thought
• Missing part of the 1L hiring window
• The difference between focusing on grades and focusing on strategy
• The weight first generation students carry
• Finding real friendships in law school
• Why relationships matter more than people admit
• Wanting a career in public service and government

One of the most powerful moments in this conversation is not about grades or competition. It is about timing.

Moe focused on doing well academically during his first semester. That seemed responsible. That seemed disciplined. But law firm hiring cycles had already started moving. Applications were already being submitted. Interviews were already happening.

By the time he realized how early the process began, the pressure shifted.

That moment is something many law students experience quietly. No one tells you that law school is not just academic. It is strategic. It is relational. It is about timing.

Neal reflects on his own first cold call and how one uncomfortable moment shaped how he prepared for the rest of his legal career.

They also explore a deeper question.

What kind of lawyer do you want to become?

Moe speaks openly about wanting to build a career in public service. Not just to practice law, but to serve. To stay genuine. To avoid becoming hardened by the profession.

For law students who feel overwhelmed, behind, or unsure whether they belong, this conversation reminds you that:

• Everyone feels unprepared at some point
• Relationships carry you through the hardest moments
• You will win some and lose some
• Staying curious matters more than pretending to be perfect

If you are in law school, thinking about law school, mentoring a student, or remembering your own first year, this episode will resonate.

The profession will test you before you feel ready.

The question is whether you let it define you or refine you.

Subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast for real conversations about law school, legal careers, professional growth, and building a career that does not harden you.

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