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Studying Law Around the World

Claudio Klaus

A podcast with 70+ hours of conversations with lawyers, professors, and students from over 20 countries. Each episode shows how people study law, build careers across borders, handle setbacks, and find purpose in their work. You will hear clear advice, practical tips, and global insights from different legal systems and top schools. A useful guide for anyone interested in law school experiences, law career advice, legal industry insights, and the views of legal scholars. Selected episodes accredited by the Law Society of Ontario and the Law Society of British Columbia. ISSN 2819 733X

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  • 34 episodes
  • a few times a week
  • Avg 26 min
  • English

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  • October 30 · 20 min

    Real Estate Litigation, Finding Your Niche, and Building Your Profile with Daniel Waldman

    This week on the podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Daniel Waldman. Daniel is a partner at Dickinson Wright in Toronto, where he leads a high-stakes commercial and real estate litigation practice representing prominent commercial landlords, international developers, REITs, and financial institutions. Long before arguing precedent-setting cases at the Ontario Court of Appeal, Daniel began his career as a journalist, working for the CBC in London and the Associated Press in Jerusalem. After transitioning into law and prosecuting white-collar crime at the Ontario Securities Commission, he pivoted into private practice, reinvented his focus, and established himself as one of Canada's leading voices in real property litigation. We got into how journalistic curiosity translates into courtroom advocacy, the complex business realities behind real estate disputes, and why building a public reputation outside your daily files is essential for career longevity. Why "put your head down and work" is a trap. Senior lawyers often tell juniors to focus strictly on assigned tasks. Daniel explains why waiting years to start writing, speaking, and networking hurts your trajectory, and how publishing industry columns (like his regular Property Law Hub column on RENX.ca) leads directly to organic client referrals and even AI search recommendations. The art of professional reinvention. Starting your career in one area does not lock you in forever. Daniel shares how he transitioned from regulatory prosecutions at the Ontario Securities Commission to securities litigation at a national firm, and later to a real estate boutique where he carved out a specialized niche. Inside commercial real estate disputes. Real estate litigation is never as simple as reading a standard contract. With financing shifts, zoning hurdles, construction liens, and complex lease renewals, when a deal goes sideways, a great litigator has to understand the underlying financial statements and commercial mechanics just as well as the case law. What is the unspoken rule here? If you ask a question and a senior lawyer gets annoyed, they will forget all about it the moment you hand in a great piece of work. If you stay quiet to protect your ego and make a costly mistake on the file, everyone will remember. Law school does not teach you how to practice, and every new lawyer feels lost at the beginning. Furthermore, you cannot rely solely on lawyer-to-lawyer networking. By showing up at industry conferences where very few lawyers are in the room, and by sending clients proactive updates on new cases that affect their bottom line, you transform yourself from a billable technician into an indispensable business partner. Guest: Daniel Waldman, Partner at Dickinson Wright LLP, commercial and real estate litigator, legal columnist, and Board Member of the Peel Law Association. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC).For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • October 27 · 28 min

    Community Practice, Global Legal Leadership, and Protecting Your Boundaries with Mark Evans

    This week on the podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mark Evans. Mark recently completed his historic term as President of the Law Society of England and Wales. Hailing from a small village in North Wales, Mark grew up with no legal connections, the son of a steelworker and a school volunteer. After a 1980s police height restriction closed one door, a work experience placement arranged by his history teacher opened another. Mark qualified as a solicitor in 1995, built a three-decade practice as a trusted community general practitioner, and eventually made history as only the third Welsh president in the Law Society's 201-year history, and the very first from North Wales. We got into the art of communicating so your own family understands your advice, why the law is fundamentally a human relationship business, and how lawyers around the globe can set strict boundaries to protect their personal diaries. The power of community practice. Long before leading 210,000 solicitors on the global stage, Mark spent decades as a local general practitioner. He explains why serving individuals across property transactions, succession planning, and family law builds multi-generational trust that no legal textbook can teach. Relatable, human communication. If you cannot explain a legal concept so that your parents understand it, you have not mastered the material. Mark shares his philosophy on stripping away legalistic jargon in favor of plain, empathetic communication that focuses on real-world impact and practical remedies. The reality of modern boundary setting. When Mark began practicing in 1993, work ended when you left the office. Today, emails, WhatsApp messages, and notifications follow lawyers everywhere. Mark discusses why junior lawyers must be just as disciplined with their private calendars as their work diaries to prevent burnout. What is the unspoken rule here? Lawyers are human beings first, not machines. Too many early-career lawyers believe they must surrender their entire identity to the profession to earn respect. Mark proves that staying true to your roots, speaking openly about mental health, and remaining an ordinary, approachable person in your community makes you a far stronger advocate. Furthermore, you cannot afford to sit on the sidelines of the profession. Whether by joining regional committees, responding to public consultations, or supporting colleagues through initiatives like LegalRunner, real institutional change only happens when practitioners step forward and voice their perspectives. Be as strict with your personal diary as your work calendar. Set clear expectations with clients and colleagues about your availability. 24/7 digital access is not a badge of honor; protecting your personal time with friends and family is essential for long-term survival in the law. Do not judge a practice area by its textbook. Subjects like land law, trusts, or tax can feel dry in a classroom lecture. Keep an open mind and test them in real-world practice, where helping clients buy their first home or start a business brings the law to life. Remember that the law is borderless. With over 12,000 English solicitors practicing abroad and the rise of dual qualification, legal practice is deeply interconnected. Engage with international colleagues, because questions of access to justice, regulation, and the rule of law affect lawyers in every jurisdiction. Guest: Mark Evans, past President of the Law Society of England and Wales (2025/26), solicitor, and founder of LegalRunner. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC).For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • October 26 · 16 min

    Building Pan-African Legal AI, Judicial Infrastructure, and Taking the Leap with Rawan Dareer

    This week on the podcast, I had the honour of sitting down with Rawan Dareer. Rawan is a Sudanese-Canadian lawyer, entrepreneur, and the co-founder and CEO of Hakimu, a pioneering startup building AI-powered legal infrastructure across the African continent. After studying at NYU Abu Dhabi and earning a master's degree in migration studies at the University of Oxford, Rawan completed her JD at Stanford Law School as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar. Along the way, she drafted parliamentary codes of conduct in Kuwait, conducted migration research for the United Nations, and clerked for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rwanda. We got into the realities of harmonizing civil and common law traditions in Rwandan courts, how to deploy artificial intelligence safely inside public judiciaries, and why some of the most fascinating careers belong to non-practicing lawyers who use their training to solve systemic problems. What is the unspoken rule here? Talent is equally distributed around the world, but opportunity is not. Law school trains you to think in rigid, structured ways, which often pushes graduates straight onto the safest, most conventional career conveyor belt. Rawan points out that at the very beginning of your career, virtually nothing is irredeemable. You have far more flexibility today than you will have ten years from now. Whether you want to build legal tech from scratch, work on constitutional reconstruction, or tackle climate and migration policy, you do not need to wait for a traditional job posting to give you permission. Find exceptional people you admire, leave room for serendipity, and build the solution yourself. Choose your people over the job title. Early in your career, who you work with often matters more than the specific tasks on your desk. Seek out brilliant leaders you respect who will act as both hands-on mentors and vocal advocates for your growth. Leave room for serendipity. Do not let rigid five-year plans blind you to unexpected opportunities. Halfway through her second year at Stanford Law, Rawan had no idea she would be founding a legal tech company upon graduation. Stay open to pivots. Take the leap early. If you feel called toward a project or a country that falls completely outside the conventional Big Law script, take the risk now while your personal flexibility is highest. Even if a venture fails, the lessons and institutional fluency you gain are yours forever. Guest: Rawan Dareer, co-founder and CEO of Hakimu, Knight-Hennessy Scholar, and Stanford Law School graduate. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC).For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • October 23 · 27 min

    Defining Your Own Success, the Two-Year Check-In, and Authentic Networking with Josh Rosen

    This week on Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Josh Rosen, a corporate and securities lawyer and Toronto office lead at Pulse Law. Josh began his career with a unique articling experience that took him across three very different work environments in just ten months. He used those early lessons in adaptability to build a practice advising technology and life sciences companies from inception to exit. We discuss how he approaches his career in two to three year cycles, what it takes to build a modern legal practice in a new market, and why professional fulfillment starts with running your own race. Defining your own success. Stop measuring your career against your peers. Whether success means billing 2,000 hours on Bay Street or finding a better work life balance, Josh explains why your career should reflect your own goals, needs, and boundaries. The two year check in. Josh evaluates his career every two to three years by asking three simple questions: Are you happy? Are you growing? Are you compensated fairly? Learn how to assess your progress while making room for personal and professional fulfillment. Authentic networking. Not a fan of large networking events? You do not have to force it. Josh shares why building genuine connections, rather than transactional relationships, can lead to lasting professional opportunities. Learning the business of law. Junior lawyers often receive assignments without fully understanding their purpose. Josh explains why going beyond the checklist and understanding how legal work helps senior lawyers assess risk can make a real difference early in your career. Building a sustainable career. Law is a marathon, not a sprint. Taking every assignment and working endless hours without clear goals or boundaries can lead to burnout. Learn why developing your legal skills, understanding the business of law, and protecting your well being all matter for long term success. Define success based on your own values, not someone else's career path. Review your career regularly to make sure you are learning, growing, and being fairly compensated. Be intentional about your work, build authentic relationships, and set boundaries that support a sustainable career. Guest: Josh Rosen, corporate and securities lawyer and Toronto office lead at Pulse Law. Search for Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you find value in the show, please follow the podcast and leave a rating. Your support helps more law students and lawyers discover these conversations. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia. For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • October 19 · 29 min

    Intentional Career Planning, Becoming a "Pracademic," and the Future of International Arbitration with Dr. Kabir Duggal

    ISSN 2819-733X What mistake do junior lawyers make because no one explained this? They pursue a vague goal like working in "international law" without a deliberate strategy, and they assume North American legal culture forces them to choose strictly between private practice and academia. Legal careers are shaped less by credentials and more by communication, and no one teaches that early enough. I make that invisible part of the profession visible. This week on the podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Kabir Duggal. Kabir is a partner in the international arbitration practice at Akin Gump in New York and Washington, D.C., and a longtime lecturer at Columbia Law School. Raised in the Middle East with Indian heritage, Kabir built an extraordinary academic and professional pedigree across India, Oxford, NYU, Leiden, and Harvard. Today, he is trusted with high stakes investor state and commercial disputes around the globe while remaining an active, prolific scholar. We got into how pivotal mentors steered him toward arbitration right before graduation, how to bridge common law and civil law traditions with an open mind, and how artificial intelligence and the energy transition will reshape global disputes over the next decade. The power of being a "pracademic." In North America, practice and academia are often treated as two paths that never meet. Kabir explains why international arbitration is the exception, and how combining rigorous scholarship with active dispute work makes you a sharper practitioner and a more effective teacher. Competing only with yourself. The global legal market is intensely competitive, and comparing your trajectory to your peers is a recipe for burnout. Learn how setting small, incremental daily goals in drafting and oral advocacy builds the credibility needed to earn major arbitral appointments. Bridging legal cultures. Having trained in both common law and civil law systems, Kabir shares why there is no single "better" legal tradition. Discover how recognizing universal values like trust, competence, and respect for the rule of law allows you to navigate different procedural routes to the truth. Guest: Dr. Kabir Duggal, Partner at Akin Gump, lecturer at Columbia Law School, and international arbitrator and mediator. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • October 17 · 41 min

    Mastering Oral Advocacy, the Power of Public Service, and Following Your North Star with Karlson Leung

    ISSN 2819-733X What mistake do junior lawyers make because no one explained this? They assume that choosing a career in public service means giving up on high stakes courtroom experience, or they walk away from their dream path because the early years require navigating short term contracts. Legal careers are shaped less by credentials and more by communication, and no one teaches that early enough. I make that invisible part of the profession visible. This week on the podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Karlson Leung. Karlson brings a truly remarkable global background to the table. After earning a master's degree at the University of Oxford and a JD from the University of Toronto, his journey took him through the UK House of Commons, the United Nations in Beijing, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, and prestigious barristers' chambers in London as a Harold G. Fox Scholar. Today, following years as a constitutional and civil litigator, he serves as a Special Advisor and Counsel at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General (speaking on the show strictly in his personal capacity). We got into the art of English and Canadian courtroom advocacy, how international tribunals operate on the ground, and why a career in public service offers unmatched opportunities for young lawyers to carry their own files and make a tangible impact early on. The English advocacy bootcamp. As a Harold G. Fox Scholar in London, Karlson saw the UK's bifurcated legal system up close. He explains how British barristers operate as courtroom specialists, sometimes absorbing complex briefs just 48 hours before a hearing, and why the "five Ps" (proper preparation prevents poor performance) are the ultimate foundation of oral storytelling. Applying litigation skills to broader strategy. Moving from courtroom advocacy to high level advisory work requires a broader perspective. Discover how foundational litigation skills like risk mitigation, issue spotting, and negotiation translate directly into solving complex institutional puzzles and engaging community stakeholders. The public service advantage. Without the rigid constraints of private billable hours, public sector lawyers get the breathing room to think deeply about complex, meaningful legal issues. Karlson shares how public law allowed him to gain incredible on-your-feet experience, arguing before the Superior Court of Justice, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada in his very first year of practice. Guest: Karlson Leung, public sector lawyer, former Harold G. Fox Scholar, and international law researcher. Note: Karlson Leung appeared on this episode strictly in his personal capacity. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed during the conversation belong solely to him and do not represent the views or positions of his employer, the Ministry of the Attorney General, or the Government of Ontario. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • October 13 · 27 min

    The ADHD Advantage, Inclusive Leadership, and Treating Your Career Like a Scientist with Sarah Ennor

    This week on the podcast, I sat down with Sarah Ennor. Sarah is a non-practicing lawyer and the founder of Growth Council. After working in high pressure roles at Gowlings and BMO, a career pivot led to her ADHD diagnosis. She realized the traits she spent years masking were actually her greatest strengths. We talked about neurodiversity in the legal profession, why fear is a terrible motivational tool, and how leaders can build inclusive, high performing teams. The reality of ADHD. Sarah breaks down the clinical reality of ADHD. It is an impairment of executive function, not a lack of discipline. She explains how the ADHD brain operates on an interest based nervous system and why forcing it into traditional corporate boxes leads to burnout. The neurodiverse advantage. Neuroinclusion is a massive competitive advantage. Workplaces that successfully utilize neurodiverse talent achieve significantly higher revenue and profit margins because they benefit from high energy, creative problem solving, and the ability to spot connections others miss. The Ask, Listen, Believe method. If you manage people, stop trying to fix performance problems by micromanaging behavior. Instead, ask your team members what support they need, listen to their answers, and actually believe them. Focus on the outcome, not the rigid process used to get there. What is the unspoken rule here? The legal industry relies heavily on fear and panic as default motivational tools. For neurodivergent professionals, and honestly for everyone else, this environment is counterproductive and harmful. If you are a junior lawyer trying to force your brain to function in ways that actively hurt you, you are doing yourself a disservice. You must act as a scientist in your own career. Test different strategies and figure out what your specific brain needs to succeed. Do not shrink yourself to fit a traditional mold that was built decades ago. Give yourself grace. The legal profession makes everything feel urgent. Let go of the need for constant, perfectionist urgency and recognize that a lot of those pressures are entirely artificial. Focus on outcomes over optics. Professionalism should be defined by the quality of your work and your skills, not your adherence to rigid, outdated office behaviors. Bring your full self. The industry only changes when people stop hiding. By bringing your authentic, intersectional self to the workplace, you help build a richer and much more sustainable legal culture. Guest: Sarah Ennor, non-practicing lawyer, neuroinclusion speaker, and founder of Growth Council. Where to listen and how to support the show Search Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • October 5 · 27 min

    Game Theory in Court, AI Arbitration Bias, and the T-Shaped Lawyer with Federico Ast

    This week on the podcast, I sat down with Federico Ast. Federico is an economist, philosopher, and the founder of Kleros. He built a decentralized justice system that uses blockchain technology and game theory to resolve cross-border digital disputes online. We talked about crowdsourcing jurors like in ancient Athens, the terrifying reality of AI biases in arbitration, and why the next generation of lawyers must become "T-shaped" professionals to survive in a rapidly automating market. What you will learn Game theory in the courtroom. Discover how Kleros uses cryptographic tokens and financial incentives inspired by game theorist Thomas Schelling to guarantee that anonymous jurors evaluate evidence honestly and vote fairly by rewarding coherence with the majority. The AI bias problem. Federico ran a test comparing how two different versions of the same AI model resolved 99 real fintech disputes. Learn why one version heavily favored consumers based on written narratives, while a simple software update caused the AI to demand documentary proof and suddenly favor corporations. The T-shaped lawyer. Because artificial intelligence will soon handle the baseline task of knowing the law, lawyers must build a horizontal specialization. Learn why focusing on niche industries like esports, the metaverse, or tokenized intellectual property is the best way to future proof your career. Why this mattersWhat mistake do junior lawyers make because no one explained this? They assume their primary professional value is memorizing legal rules. Federico points out that autonomous AI agents will soon handle the bulk of traditional legal analysis and processing. If your only skill is knowing the law, you will be outpaced by a software update. To survive in a market where justice can theoretically be delivered in under a day, you must transition from a generalist into an industry specialist. You must build a personal brand that generates human trust because clients will no longer hire you just for your legal knowledge. They will hire you for your judgment, your empathy, and your specific industry expertise. Three takeaways AI is a tool, not a judge. While artificial intelligence can deliver lightning fast initial assessments, fully automated binding arbitration is still a long way off. Human oversight remains essential to ensure legitimacy and catch algorithmic biases. Specialize immediately. Stop trying to be a generalist. Combine a strong vertical foundation in commercial law with a deep horizontal specialization in emerging digital markets. Build your brand in public. In a world increasingly run by algorithms and automated agents, human trust is your only remaining currency. Start producing content and sharing your insights publicly today to ensure clients know exactly who you are before they ever need to hire you. Guest: Federico Ast, founder of Kleros and expert in decentralized justice. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • September 29 · 16 min

    Building Your Craft, People-Centered Justice, and Cross-Border Human Rights with Milena Klimberg van Marrewijk

    This week on Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Milena Klimberg van Marrewijk. Milena is the program advisor on human rights and access to justice at the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Law. Originally from Buenos Aires, she began her international career representing states in investment arbitration in Paris before deliberately transitioning into human rights litigation in New York. We talked about her work coordinating the Women in Prison Network across 30 countries, what it actually takes to build effective partnerships with grassroots organizations, and why mastering the technical craft of law is the ultimate differentiator for advocates. What you will learn The craft of international law. Milena explains why she started in big law investment arbitration. Representing states taught her how to build a legal record, draft rigorous arguments, and interpret treaties. These technical skills were the exact foundation she needed for high stakes human rights work. People centered justice. Traditional justice reform usually starts by looking at institutions. Learn how to flip the model and start with the actual, daily legal needs of individuals at the grassroots level. The Women in Prison Network. Women make up less than 10 percent of the global prison population, meaning facilities and procedures are designed entirely by default for men. Discover how Milena advocates for gender sensitive approaches to address the specific, systemic barriers incarcerated women face globally. Why this mattersWhat is the unspoken rule here? Passion alone will not make you a great human rights lawyer. The field is full of highly committed people, but you will only stand out if you are an excellent, detail oriented technician under pressure. Junior lawyers often believe the path to international advocacy is a straight line, but Milena proves that the journey is non-linear. When you focus on building a rigorous legal craft, treating language fluency as a core career strategy, and securing reliable mentorship, you become incredibly hard to replace. Three takeaways Build your craft first. Passion is common, but technical excellence is rare. Your ability to draft impeccably, pay attention to detail, and operate effectively under pressure is what will actually move the needle for your clients. Languages are a career strategy. Being able to communicate across legal cultures and translate complex international law into accessible, everyday language opens doors that remain firmly closed to monolingual lawyers. Build genuine partnerships. Effective cross border advocacy never involves flying in, extracting information, and leaving. It requires building absolute trust with local organizations and matching your pro bono capacity to their actual, stated needs. Guest: Milena Klimberg van Marrewijk, program advisor on human rights and access to justice at the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Law. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • September 25 · 29 min

    The Sunk Cost Fallacy, Leaving the Law, and the Power of Storytelling with Shaun Bernstein

    ISSN 2819-733X Legal careers are shaped less by credentials and more by communication, and no one teaches that early enough. I make that invisible part of the profession visible. This week on the podcast, I sat down with Shaun Bernstein. Shaun is a journalist turned lawyer who eventually left practice entirely to found a ghostwriting and storytelling agency. After experiencing a severe mental health crisis while practicing employment law, he realized the traditional legal path was incompatible with his well-being. He walked away to build a thriving solopreneur business that helps professionals translate complex jargon into relatable stories. We got into the unspoken realities of mental health in the legal profession, why lawyers are traditionally terrible at marketing, and how to build a personal brand without sounding like a corporate robot. The Three-Week Rule: How to tell the difference between a tough file and a toxic career. If you are consistently miserable for three consecutive weeks, it is time to seriously evaluate your professional path. The most dangerous tool for a lawyer: The keyboard. Lawyers are trained to write for opposing counsel, resulting in dense, opaque prose. Shaun explains why writing at a fourth-grade level is not dumbing it down. It is the baseline for effective public communication. The issue-spotting strategy: Your content should not teach clients how to practice law. It should use storytelling to help them recognize their own problems early enough to call you before the situation explodes. What mistake do junior lawyers make because no one explained this? They fall for the sunk cost fallacy. They believe that because they invested years of their life into a law degree, they must suffer through a practice that actively destroys their mental health. Shaun’s journey is proof that your legal education is not a prison sentence. Your degree and intellect can be leveraged entirely outside of traditional practice to build a highly profitable, creatively fulfilling career. Furthermore, whether you stay in law or pivot, mastering clear, human to human communication is the only way to build a sustainable pipeline of clients. Stop writing for other lawyers. If your marketing materials sound like a legal brief, you are alienating the public. Use analogies and personal stories to connect with the actual people paying your bills. Lean into your origin story. Professional does not mean faceless. Clients hire people they know, like, and trust. Sharing the personal why behind your practice, your superhero origin story, makes you instantly memorable. Remember there is a way out. The legal industry often pays lip service to mental health while maintaining punishing expectations. If the environment is breaking you, you have permission to walk away. Utilize your Law Society or EAP resources to get immediate support, and start exploring alternative paths. Guest: Shaun Bernstein, former employment lawyer and founder of The Write Stuff Agency. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • September 23 · 30 min

    The Sunk Cost Trap, the Mentor Deck, and the Science of Patent Law with Khadija Wilson

    This week on Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Khadija Wilson. Khadija holds a PhD in pharmacology, is currently a JD candidate at Temple Law, and is the founder of Rooted Advising. She shared her journey moving from Trinidad and Tobago to the United States and how she built a highly specialized career at the intersection of science and patent law. We got into the realities of being a first generation professional and the specific strategies required to navigate environments that were not originally built for you. What you will learn The mentor deck. Finding one senior partner is not a complete mentorship strategy. Khadija explains why you need to curate a diverse set of mentors across junior, mid, and senior levels to truly understand the unspoken mechanics of your organization. First principles thinking. Having a scientific background gives you the ability to operate in ambiguity. Discover how Khadija uses root cause troubleshooting and first principles thinking to overcome complex patent office rejections. The potluck of minds. As artificial intelligence changes the profession, you must clearly define your unique value proposition. Khadija breaks down how to identify the specific strengths you bring to the table that no one else can replicate. Why this mattersWhat mistake do junior lawyers make because no one explained this? They fall into the sunk cost trap. They stay in stagnant, depleting roles simply because they invested time in getting there. They wait for their employers to dictate their professional ceiling. Khadija proves that you have to treat the workplace as a two way street. You have to establish your own boundaries, learn the art of managing up, and proactively ask for help when you are confused instead of suffering in silence. Three takeaways Stop surviving and start strategizing. Resilience is a great survival skill, but it is not a long term career strategy. If your environment actively diminishes your confidence, you need to find a new table or build one yourself. Listen to the culture. Do not just focus on the partners. Engage with coworkers at all levels and listen more than you speak. This is the only real way to gauge the actual health of a workplace culture. Vulnerability is not a weakness. Sharing your personal experiences and struggles helps the next generation feel supported. Unofficial mentorship and honest feedback are the best cures for imposter syndrome. Guest: Khadija Wilson, PhD in pharmacology, Temple Law JD candidate, and founder of Rooted Advising. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • September 16 · 24 min

    The Immigrant Advantage, AI Implementation, and Billing Models with Majo Castro

    This week on the podcast, I sat down with Majo Castro. Majo is the founding attorney of Castro & Legal in Austin, Texas. After leaving Venezuela in 2015 with a law degree that she could not use in the United States, she started completely over. She took a paralegal course, worked as a bartender, eventually earned an LLM, and opened her own boutique firm specializing in cybersecurity, AI governance, and technology law. We got into how she uses artificial intelligence to compete with big law, the biggest mistakes tech founders make when rushing to market, and why she believes the billable hour is dying. What you will learn The AI edge for boutique firms. Majo uses AI to automatically generate client proposals five minutes after a consultation ends. Learn how she reclaimed 13 hours a month by automating her administrative workflows. Where AI fails in law. She shares a hilarious (and painful) story about implementing an AI phone system that aggressively argued with a potential client. Discover why high-stakes negotiations and first impressions still require a human touch. The death of the billable hour. Tech-enabled lawyers work faster. Majo explains why clinging to the billable hour actually punishes efficient lawyers, and why flat-fee structures are the only logical future for modern practice. Why this mattersA lot of lawyers treat cybersecurity and AI as IT issues. Majo proves that they are now fundamental legal competencies. If you refuse to use modern tools, you are doing a disservice to your clients by charging them more money for a slower product. Foreign-trained and junior lawyers often doubt their ability to compete in this market. Majo’s story shows that because fields like AI governance are so new, the playing field is entirely level. Three takeaways AI is your leverage, not your replacement. Use AI to draft proposals, organize research, and create marketing content, but never let it make legal judgments or handle sensitive human relationships. Stop rushing to market. Tech founders constantly launch products without protecting their IP or clarifying their data rights. As a technology lawyer, your job is to slow them down just enough to keep them out of trouble. Use your background as an asset. Whether you were a bartender, a small business owner, or an immigrant learning a new system, those experiences make you a better advisor. Your clients want a lawyer who actually understands how hard it is to build something from scratch. Guest: Majo Castro, founding attorney of Castro & Legal, specializing in cybersecurity and AI governance. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • September 14 · 27 min

    Humanizing the Code, Building Client Trust, and Cross-Border Estates with Amanda Doucette

    ISSN 2819-733X There is a persistent myth in law school that you must be a math genius to practice tax law. It keeps a lot of great advocates away from a field that desperately needs them. Legal careers are shaped less by credentials and more by communication, and almost no one teaches that early enough. I try to make that invisible part of the profession visible. This week on the podcast, I sat down with Amanda Doucette. Amanda is a Canadian tax, trust, and estate lawyer and the host of The Tax Chick podcast. She started her career in civil litigation and family law, completely convinced she was terrible at math. When a senior partner pulled her onto a tax litigation file, she discovered that tax practice is not about crunching numbers on a spreadsheet. It is fundamentally about advocacy, education, and human relationships. We talked about how she eventually transitioned into cross-border estate planning and why making the law accessible is the best business development strategy you can have. What you will learn Humanizing the tax code. Clients do not want to hear you recite subsections of the Income Tax Act. Learn how to use visual aids, analogies, and plain language to turn reactive, panicked clients into proactive business partners. The cross-border trap. A Canadian Power of Attorney is effectively useless for a snowbird dealing with a medical emergency in Arizona. Discover why you have to treat every country, and sometimes every state or province, as a completely separate legal reality when planning an estate. The accidental audience. Amanda started her podcast during the 2020 lockdowns to help confused business owners. Learn how she inadvertently built a massive audience of non-tax professional advisors who now use her show to spot problems for their own clients. Why this mattersJunior lawyers often box themselves in based on what they think they are bad at. Amanda's story proves that practice areas are rarely what they seem from the outside. As artificial intelligence continues to automate baseline legal work, clients are actively searching for advisors they actually like and trust. You do not differentiate yourself just by knowing the rules. You stand out by translating those rules into plain English so your clients can sleep at night. Three takeaways Say yes to the scary assignments. Amanda only discovered her passion for tax because she did not turn down an intimidating trial file. The biggest leap in your career might come from a practice area you actively avoided in law school. Assume your documents do not travel. Never assume a domestic legal document works across a border. From mismatched tax treaties to completely different legal definitions of the word "spouse," international planning requires highly localized advice. Be a translator, not a dictionary. Stop trying to prove how smart you are by using dense legal jargon. Your actual job is to digest complex financial and legal risks into three clear options so your client can make an informed decision. Guest: Amanda Doucette, tax, trust, and estate lawyer, and host of The Tax Chick podcast. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • September 4 · 25 min

    The Global Classroom, Comparative Equality, and Leaving Your Jurisdiction with David Oppenheimer, Panos Kapotas, and Laura Carlson

    Legal careers are shaped less by credentials and more by communication, and no one teaches that early enough. I make that invisible part of the profession visible. What mistake do junior lawyers make because no one explained this? They assume the law looks exactly the same everywhere. When you only study your local legal system, you start to believe your jurisdiction's way of solving a problem is the only way. This week on Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with three law professors from three different countries. David B. Oppenheimer from Berkeley Law, Panos Kapotas from the University of Portsmouth, and Laura Carlson from Stockholm University. During the pandemic, they teamed up to build a global course in comparative equality law. It brings students and professors from six continents into a single virtual classroom. They generously shared what happens when you completely remove geographic borders from legal education. What you will learn The culture shock of comparative law. Laura explains how Swedish civil law students are trained to prioritize legal certainty. They were completely shocked by the raw passion North and South American students brought to arguments about justice and fairness. The danger of local assumptions. David highlights how a concept like abortion is framed as an issue of privacy in the US, but as a matter of bodily autonomy and equality in other legal systems. You cannot fully grasp an issue until you see how other cultures frame it. The baseline of equality. Panos shares a grounding moment from the course when a student from South America pointed out that in their village, the primary equality issue is simply getting access to clean water. It is a stark reminder of how privilege shapes our legal priorities. Why this mattersIt is incredibly easy to get trapped in the specific rules and procedures of your home jurisdiction. This conversation proves that the best way to become a sharper, more creative lawyer is to expose yourself to different ways of thinking. When you understand how other systems tackle the exact same human problems, you build a massive intellectual advantage in how you approach your own practice. Three takeaways Leave your jurisdiction. Whether you do a full LLM or just a short exchange term, you need to study law outside your home country. It fundamentally changes how you view the profession. Look for non hierarchical spaces. The best professional networks do not care about your seniority. Find communities that treat you as an equal simply because you share the same intellectual curiosity. Leverage local associations. You do not have to move across the world to build a global network. Join the international subcommittees of your local bar associations to start connecting with practitioners in other countries today. Guests: David B. Oppenheimer (Berkeley Law), Panos Kapotas (University of Portsmouth), and Laura Carlson (Stockholm University). Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC).For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • September 1 · 28 min

    Shippable Futures, Escaping Microsoft Word, and Prototyping Your Career with Baru Obračajová

    This week on the podcast, I sat down with Baru Obračajová. She is a Czech lawyer, legal designer, and the mind behind "Attorney at Code." After years of handling cross-border M&A and ESG transactions, she realized the traditional, hyper-specialized legal path was not for her. She took a free Harvard coding class online, and it completely changed how she viewed the practice of law. Today, she teaches a "Modern Lawyers" course at Charles University and helps organizations rethink how legal services are actually delivered. We got into why the legal industry's obsession with Microsoft Word is limiting our imagination, and why lawyers need to start treating their work as an end-to-end product rather than a series of disconnected emails. What you will learn Legal product management. It is time to stop viewing legal work as just replying to an email with a Word document attached. Discover how to design an end-to-end client experience, from onboarding and pricing all the way to final delivery. Escaping the Microsoft Word trap. Word is the lowest common denominator in law. Baru challenges us to explore ideas outside of this standard environment. When you stop designing every legal process around a single document editor, you open up massive opportunities for actual innovation. Shippable futures vs. R&D. Most law firm innovation is vendor-driven and plays it safe with commercially viable "shippable futures." Learn why exploring speculative, outlandish ideas is essential if you want to understand where the industry is actually heading. Why this mattersYoung lawyers constantly message me worried about getting stuck in a single, narrow practice area forever. Baru's journey proves you do not have to be a hyper-specialized technician to be successful. By layering different skills—like project management, design, and coding—you can build a highly customized, generalist career that actually fits your interests. You have the agency to shape the future of the profession rather than just sitting around waiting to see if artificial intelligence will replace your job. Three takeaways Prototype your career. Do not make massive, high-stakes career pivots overnight. If you are interested in legal design, start by redesigning a single, simple document. Test the waters with low-risk experiments before completely changing your path. Become a self-started learner. You no longer need formal permission or another expensive degree to learn a new skill. Find free resources online, build your own reading lists, and pursue the subjects that genuinely intrigue you, even if they fall outside traditional legal boundaries. Embrace multidisciplinary work. Being a lawyer is just one layer. When you add other disciplines like design or coding, you gain the ability to automate repetitive tasks, communicate complex ideas more effectively, and build completely new systems. Guest: Baru Obračajová, Czech lawyer, legal and futures designer, educator, and founder of Attorney at Code. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • August 28 · 29 min

    Sponsorship, Critical Thinking, and Building Your Own Platform with Aneka Jiwaji

    This week on Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Aneka Jiwaji. She is a commercial and securities litigator who has been in practice for a decade. After navigating insurance defense, an international firm, and the BC Securities Commission, she recently co-founded JI Law, an all-women boutique firm. We talked about why she decided to start her own practice. It wasn't about lifestyle or working fewer hours. She just wanted to build a place where women could do high-level commercial litigation without dealing with the yelling and inflated egos that the legal industry has somehow normalized. She wanted a space where they could simply focus on doing excellent work. What you will learn Sponsorship beats mentorship. Young lawyers don't just need advice over coffee. They need a sponsor who sees their potential, mentions their name in closed rooms, and gives them substantive pieces of a file to handle. The true barrister approach. Aneka didn't lock herself into a single micro-niche early on. By taking on insurance, regulatory, and defamation work, she built a broad foundation that allows her to look at a client's business problems from multiple angles. The hidden cost of AI. JI Law uses plenty of technology, but Aneka warns against using AI to replace junior associates. If you outsource early legal work to software, young lawyers never learn critical thinking. Why this mattersIt is easy to feel stuck if you are in a frustrating work environment. Aneka's story is a reminder that you don't have to fix the firm you are in. You can focus on doing good work, building your reputation—what she calls your character—and making genuine connections outside of your immediate office. If you do that consistently, you eventually build enough credibility to leave and create the exact practice you want. Three takeaways Stop treating networking like a transaction. Build real relationships without worrying about how a person can advance your career right now. Those organic connections are what actually sustain a practice over the long term. Get on your feet. Going to court to handle small applications in person builds a type of confidence you simply cannot get sitting at your desk on a video call. Pull someone up with you. If you are senior enough, look around and find a junior lawyer to sponsor. The profession has a strict obligation to teach the next generation how to actually think. Guest: Aneka Jiwaji, commercial and securities litigator, and co-founder of JI Law. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC).For approved episodes and accreditation details, visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • August 26 · 29 min

    Presence Over Perfection, The Happy Lawyer, and Writing for Children with Shani M. King and N. Jeremi Duru

    In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Shani M. King and N. Jeremi Duru. Shani and Jeremi are brilliant legal scholars, law professors, and longtime friends who met as undergraduates at Brown University. Having built formidable careers in child advocacy and civil rights litigation, they recently collaborated on a deeply personal children's book published by Fair Share Publishing. They generously shared their insights on navigating heavy legal work, protecting family time, and the true meaning of professional success. Presence Over Perfection: Why your children do not expect you to be flawless. Discover how giving 20 minutes of completely undivided attention is vastly more valuable than an hour of distracted multitasking. The Happy Lawyer Principle: How choosing a practice area that genuinely speaks to your substantive interests makes you not only a better professional but a happier and more emotionally available parent. A Pure Form of Advocacy: How writing for children serves as a direct, refreshing oasis away from the heavy and procedural nature of traditional legal and academic writing. The pressure to bill hours and climb the legal ladder can easily overshadow your personal priorities. Shani and Jeremi prove that you can actively structure your life to prioritize your family without sacrificing your professional impact. You cannot always control a demanding legal workload, but you can control your focus. By being deeply intentional with your available time and actively expressing your emotions, you build a legacy that goes far beyond your legal resume. Make the 20 minutes count. You will have days where your workload is overwhelming. When you finally step away from the desk, put your phone down. Even a brief, fully intentional moment of connection matters more to your children than sheer quantity of time. Find your creative oasis. Traditional legal work, especially in fields like civil rights or litigation, can be emotionally heavy. Find a creative outlet to recharge your energy and gain a fresh perspective. Do not just follow the fad. Do not pick a practice area simply because it is lucrative or currently trendy. Pursue work that you find substantively meaningful so you can be a happier lawyer and a more present human being. Guests: Shani M. King and N. Jeremi Duru, law professors, legal scholars, and co-authors of a newly released children's book on fatherhood. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show on your platform of choice. Leaving a rating and review is the best way to support the podcast, helping us continue to grow and bring these invisible rules of the legal profession to more junior lawyers around the world. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC).For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • August 24 · 43 min

    The Power of Narrative, Proactive Career Strategy, and the Human Connection with José Bottazzo

    In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with José Bottazzo. After building a highly successful career as a litigation partner in Brazil, José made a bold pivot, moving to Toronto to become a leader in legal recruitment. Now the Director of Client Services at Forge Recruitment, he generously shared his insights on how law firms evaluate senior talent, the distinct differences between private practice and in house roles, and how internationally trained lawyers can perfectly position their skills. The Proactive Career Strategy: Why you must stop waiting for the perfect moment to network. Discover how building authentic connections before you ever need a job keeps you from getting trapped in a "golden cage." The Private Practice vs. In House Divide: How to strategically align your practice based on your end goal. Learn why law firms reward deep, narrow specialization, while in house roles require a broad, generalist approach. The Power of Narrative: Why internationally trained lawyers need to stop over explaining the technical differences of their home jurisdictions and start leading with their proven business generation and people skills. It is incredibly easy to put your head down, bill hours, and assume your hard work will automatically translate into partnership or a dream general counsel role. José proves that you must treat yourself as a business unit. In a legal market increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence and private equity, your technical skills are only the baseline. The professionals who will thrive in the future are the ones who lean into their humanity, building genuine trust and community with their clients and peers. Build a compelling story. Your resume is just a piece of paper. To stand out, you must craft a narrative that connects your past experience directly to the business problems your future employer is trying to solve. Act like a business owner. Do not just wait for a partner to hand you work. Go out, build a small book of business, and use those relationships as leverage to find the exact platform you need to grow. Double down on human connection. As technology automates routine legal tasks, emotional intelligence becomes your most valuable asset. Connect with your local community and focus on building authentic trust. Guest: José Bottazzo, former litigation partner, legal recruitment expert, and Director of Client Services at Forge Recruitment. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show on your platform of choice. Leaving a rating and review is the best way to support the podcast, helping us continue to grow and bring these invisible rules of the legal profession to more junior lawyers around the world. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • August 21 · 30 min

    Digital Assets, The Truth About Trusts, and Writing Your Own Niche with Demetre Vasilounis

    In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Demetre Vasilounis. Demetre is a trust and estates lawyer, a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), and a recognized leader in family wealth and succession planning. After discovering his love for estates during a mandatory articling rotation, he built a thriving practice advising ultra high net worth families. He generously shared his insights on navigating complex tax laws, the importance of multidisciplinary networking, and how to successfully blend pop culture with legal expertise. What you will learn The Tax Reality: Why understanding tax is absolutely non negotiable for estate planners. Discover why modern trust law is focused on tax deferral and risk analysis rather than finding magical loopholes. Creating Your Niche: How Demetre combined his love for writing, anime, and gaming with legal practice to become a sought after expert in the rapidly evolving area of digital assets. The Power of Rotations: Why remaining open minded during your early career rotations is the best way to find a practice area that truly clicks with your personality and academic interests. Why this mattersIt is incredibly common to feel like you have to hide your unconventional hobbies to be taken seriously in a corporate legal environment. Demetre proves that integrating your genuine interests into your professional profile actually makes you stand out. By writing publicly about niche topics that intersect with the law, you build a highly visible, authentic reputation that attracts both clients and a supportive community. You do not have to choose between being a rigorous professional and being yourself. Three takeaways Do not hide your interests. Whether it is anime, video games, or technology, writing about how your personal passions intersect with the law is the fastest way to build a memorable brand. Embrace the tax code. You cannot effectively plan an estate without understanding the tax implications of death. Lean into the technical learning and seek out advanced educational programs like the TEP designation. Try everything once. Do not lock yourself into a single practice area too early. Be open to trying fields you never considered, because they might just provide the perfect blend of academic challenge and human connection. Guest: Demetre Vasilounis, trust and estates lawyer, writer, and leader in family wealth, succession planning, and digital assets. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show on your platform of choice. Leaving a rating and review is the best way to support the podcast, helping us continue to grow and bring these invisible rules of the legal profession to more junior lawyers around the world. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

  • August 19 · 35 min

    Unplanned Pivots, The Economics of Law, and Authentic Practice with Bruno Maggi

    In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Bruno Maggi. Bruno is a partner at BM Advocados and one of Brazil's leading antitrust and competition lawyers. After an accidental assignment thrust him into cartel defense 25 years ago, he built an incredible career shaping Brazilian competition law and pioneering private damages litigation. He generously shared his insights on navigating complex regulatory bodies, the evolution of antitrust enforcement, and the vital importance of professional authenticity. What you will learn The Unplanned Pivot: How leaning into an unexpected, chaotic assignment can unlock a lifelong passion for a highly specialized area of law. Pioneering Private Enforcement: How Bruno helped develop private antitrust damages litigation in Brazil, allowing victims of international cartels to seek civil compensation beyond government fines. The Economics of Law: Why true legal expertise in competition law requires a deep understanding of corporate transactions, mergers, and market economics. Why this mattersIt is easy for young lawyers to feel immense pressure to pick the perfect specialty on day one. Bruno's story proves that leaning into unexpected opportunities often yields the best results. When you combine rigorous, continuous study with a willingness to tackle the subjects most lawyers avoid (like math and economics), you become an indispensable asset. More importantly, his journey highlights that ultimate success is not driven by choosing the most supposedly lucrative field, but by finding authentic joy in the specific mechanics of your daily work. Three takeaways Embrace the unexpected. If you find yourself abandoned on a new assignment, do not panic. Treat the chaos as an opportunity. As Bruno says, if they give you lemons, make lemonade. Broaden your knowledge base. You cannot practice competition law in a vacuum. To be a truly effective advisor, you must continuously study the interconnected worlds of corporate law, acquisitions, and economics. Be aggressively authentic. Do not pursue a practice area simply because others claim it will make you rich. Choose the work that makes you genuinely happy to wake up every morning, because authenticity is the ultimate driver of long term success. Guest: Bruno Maggi, partner at BM Advocados, professor, and pioneer in Brazilian antitrust and competition law. Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show on your platform of choice. Leaving a rating and review is the best way to support the podcast, helping us continue to grow and bring these invisible rules of the legal profession to more junior lawyers around the world. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC).For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/

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