How Filmmaking Taught Me to Advocate for Incarcerated Persons featuring Katherin Hervey

Katherin Hervey explains her frustration with the rigidity of law school and the importance of seeing humanity in everyone, even people who have committed acts of violence.

In this episode, Katherin Hervey, a Loyola Law School-Los Angeles graduate, explains the need for reconciliation within ourselves.

How Filmmaking Taught Me to Advocate for Incarcerated Persons featuring Katherin Hervey

<iframe width="100%" height="180" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless src="https://share.transistor.fm/e/bad1edd1"></iframe>

How Filmmaking Taught Me to Advocate for Incarcerated Persons featuring Katherin HerveyHow Filmmaking Taught Me to Advocate for Incarcerated Persons featuring Katherin Hervey

About This Episode

If you think having a law degree limits your creativity you haven’t met Katherin Hervey.  Katherin has worked as a magazine editor, a public defender, a film enthusiast, a holistic artist, a director, and filmmaker.  

After studying cross-cultural communications, which was a self-designed major at the University of Washington, Katherin found that curating her own degree was her way of diving into her interests.  Katherin was able to take women's studies courses, ethnicity, psychology and  sociology courses which motivated Katherin to pick up a camera.

Katherin Hervey attended law school at Loyola- Los Angeles and later became a public defender.  Katherin found the tradition, patriarchy, and hierarchical processes of law school to be stifling, and Katherin rebelled against most of what she saw in law school.  Law school inspired Katherin to wonder about the people behind the case law and find her own way to tell stories of others.  

Katherin’s interest in the background stories combined with her experiences as a public defender in California, motivated Katherin to go behind the prison walls to share the stories of men on death row. Katherin wants you to know that the stories of the men behind the walls could be you, these men could be your brothers, uncles, nephews.  

Katherin used language and terminology learned from being a public defender while appealing to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to gain access to the men inside.  Katherin’s mission in filming ‘The Prison Within’ is to show the empathy of the men behind the walls; show the work that these men are completing and showing their humanity.  Every person is on a parallel journey to heal and these men are not unlike the lives of those who live on the outside of the walls.

Although Katherin believes that she would have taken a creative path regardless of attending law school, Katherin Hervey  knows that she would not have created a project like ‘The Prison Within’ had she never attended law school.

Learn more about ‘The Prison Within’ at theprisonwithin.org, and watch the film ‘The Prison Within’ on Tubi, Amazon Prime, iTunes, and Google Play.

Katherin Hervey is licensed in California.  Connect with Katherin Hervey on Instagram @theprisonwithin.

Follow the You Are A Lawyer podcast on Twitter @YouAreA_Lawyer, Instagram @youarealawyer, Clubhouse @youarealawyer, and on LinkedIn.  Follow the podcast host, Kyla Denanyoh, on Instagram @kjd796.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u86nP5pn_cM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Recent Episodes

How Sales Funnels Create Million Dollar Law Firms featuring Sam Mollaei

Sam Mollaei explains how sales funnels can work for law firms and the importance of mentorship as an entrepreneur.
Read and listen here

Multiple Career Changes Inspired Me to Become a Career Strategist featuring Michelle Thompson

Michelle Thompson explains why calming the nervous system can make you a better lawyer and the importance of listening to your mom.
Read and listen here

LLM vs JD: An Argument for Alternative Legal Degrees featuring Morgyn Jones

Morgyn Jones explains why you shouldn’t let the fear of not having a JD limit your career prospects.
Read and listen here

Digital Creators Have Unique Legal Issues (And Lawyers Must Take Notice) featuring Jon Tobin

After working as a designer & software developer, Jon Tobin attended law school. With his creative background, he became a partner at Counsel for Creators to assist with copyrights, trademarks, licensing and other issues.
Read and listen here

How a Health Scare Made a Patent Prosecutor Change Careers featuring Krista Contino Saumby

Krista Contino Saumby explains how studying calculus in the fifth grade led to becoming a patent lawyer and the importance of mentoring new lawyers.
Read and listen here

From Intern to Data Privacy Counsel featuring Terrance Pryor

Terrance Pryor shares his inspiring journey from a career in IT at General Motors to transitioning into the legal field, all while pursuing his law degree part-time. Through his determination and strategic planning, Terrance navigated through various roles in data privacy and DevOps, showcasing his ability to adapt and excel in different areas of expertise. Join us as Terrance reflects on his experiences and the pivotal moments that shaped his career path.
Read and listen here

Why I Switched Sides; From Prosecutor to Criminal Defense Counsel featuring Christon Halkiotis

Christon Halkiotis explains why she attends court every day and the importance of bringing kindness to the legal profession.
Read and listen here

How to Build a Career in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work feat. Jaya Saxena

Jaya Saxena explains how she uses her J.D. to create diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies for a global consulting brand.
Read and listen here

How To Start a Law Firm Right After Graduation featuring James Mattox III

James Mattox III explains why he opened a law firm immediately after law school and how law school removes limitations from each student.
Read and listen here

How Bold Women Lawyers are Changing the Rules featuring Sharon Christie

Sharon Christie explains why she went to law school after being an ICU nurse and the importance of being a bold woman lawyer.
Read and listen here

Why High School is the Right Time to Start Thinking about Law School featuring Jolene Blackbourne

Jolene Blackbourn explains the importance of knowing your debt to income ratio while choosing a law school.
Read and listen here

Finding Success in the Legal Field with a Technology Background feat. Devin Zito

Devin Zito, a technology professional and lawyer, shares his unique journey from running his own IT company to becoming the Director of Information Services and Corporate Counsel at Assurance Financial Group. He discusses the intersection of technology and law, the value of a legal education in various industries, and the importance of embracing non-traditional paths to career success.
Read and listen here

©2025 You Are A Lawyer LLC.
All rights reserved.