Building a Values Aligned Legal Career with John Lopez

John Lopez is the Legal Director of the Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project, where he supports children charged as adults across Pennsylvania. In this episode, John shares how combining law and social work allowed him to practice in alignment with his values, and why treating people as people is central to meaningful legal advocacy.

Lawyer Side Hustles

Outside of his legal role, John co-founded a nonprofit called Toolshed Boxing with his sister, providing trauma-informed boxing and yoga programs for kids in the Lehigh Valley. While the programs involve physical movement, the real focus is connection, mindfulness, and helping young people feel safe in their bodies.

“The real transformative thing is the relationship,” John Lopez expresses in Episode 231 of You Are a Lawyer.

Through both his legal and community work, John demonstrates that advocacy can take many forms. Whether in courtrooms, classrooms, or parks, his work centers on presence, care, and helping people reconnect with themselves.

This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.