Young Thug and lawyer, Brian Steel inspire Emory Law students to pursue defense law careers

"You wanna put people in prison for mistakes?" – Young Thug urges students to consider defense over prosecution.

Young Thug, freshly out on probation following a plea deal in the YSL RICO case, recently joined a FaceTime call with students from Emory Law School in Atlanta, courtesy of his lawyer, Brian Steel. 

In the video circulating on social media, the rapper encourages the students to consider careers as defense attorneys rather than prosecutors, highlighting the importance of supporting individuals through legal challenges.

Currently hearing from Attorney Brian Steel and @youngthug (via FaceTime) in class at Emory Law School. #YSL #YSLTrial pic.twitter.com/9vNJ0KzAvX

— Greear Webb (@greearwebb) November 6, 2024

“We had a situation that was daunting towards my life and I think that the justice system could be bad. You know, sometimes it could be bad, and you gotta always look at it, like, they're there to put us in prison and you guys are here to keep us from prison,” Thug remarked.

He went on to praise Steel, calling him “the best person possible” and suggesting that he “should be a professor,” which sparked laughter among the students. 

Thug urged the aspiring attorneys to focus on helping people, stating, “What side do you wanna be on? You wanna put people in prison for mistakes? Because everybody makes mistakes, we're human.”

The rapper further described defense law as “God’s work,” emphasizing its positive impact on society and encouraging students to choose paths that aim to help rather than punish. “Anything you need from me, I'm here always. We need y’all,” he concluded.

@rmckz_

Really appreciated the words of encouragement!

♬ original sound - Rhy

Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Williams, was released on Halloween after a guilty plea deal that saw him receive a 40-year sentence, including time served, 15 years of probation, and a 20-year prison term contingent on meeting probation conditions. 

His lawyer, Brian Steel, known for his 30 years of criminal defense work with high-profile clients, also sought approval for Thug to stay in contact with co-defendants, including his brother Quantavious “Unfoonk” Grier and Gunna, for professional reasons.

Steel’s reputation as one of Billboard’s Top Music Lawyers of 2023 has been bolstered by his handling of the YSL RICO trial, where he represented Thug with exceptional skill, as noted by Vibe’s Regina Cho.