# Trial Advocacy, Navigating Structural Barriers, and a 40 Year Career in Justice with Kenneth J Kunken
Episode of Studying Law Around the World, hosted by Claudio Klaus.
Published: Fri, 15 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT
Duration: 00:23:54
## Summary
This week on Studying Law Around the World, I have the distinct privilege of hosting Kenneth J Kunken. In 1970, Ken sustained a spinal cord injury while playing football for Cornell University, resulting in quadriplegia. Navigating an era nearly two decades before the Americans with Disabilities Act, he confronted and overcame massive physical and attitudinal barriers to become the first quadriplegic student to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees from Cornell.Ken went on to earn a law degree from Hofstra University and built a formidable 40-year career as an Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County, ultimately rising to the position of Deputy Bureau Chief. In this episode, we discuss his journey to the prosecutor's office, the reality of inaccessible courtrooms, and his high-level advice for navigating trial work.
## Listen
- Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/studyinglawaroundtheworld/episodes/Trial-Advocacy--Navigating-Structural-Barriers--and-a-40-Year-Career-in-Justice-with-Kenneth-J-Kunken-e3jbfp1
- Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/38a26d44/podcast/play/119962849/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-4-14%2F424117052-44100-2-2c2dae60bf931.m4a
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/34QvO0swkWx4XtNxlItXWe
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/studying-law-around-the-world/id1547616885
Show page: https://claudioklaus.com/podcast
Canonical: https://claudioklaus.com/podcast/episodes/trial-advocacy-navigating-structural-barriers-and-a-40-year-career-in-justice-wi.md