Studying Law Around the World

Episodes

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  Digital Assets, The Truth About Trusts, and Writing Your Own Niche with Demetre Vasilounis 21.08.2026 30m

  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 learnThe 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 takeawaysDo 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/
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  Unplanned Pivots, The Economics of Law, and Authentic Practice with Bruno Maggi 19.08.2026 35m

  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 learnThe 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 takeawaysEmbrace 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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  Boardroom Leadership, The Power of Trust, and Navigating Cross Border Careers with Liran Kandin 17.08.2026 24m

  In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Liran Kandin. Liran is a dual licensed lawyer in Ontario and New York, an entrepreneur, and the founder of NCA Tutor. Over the past 14 years, he has helped nearly 4,000 internationally trained lawyers successfully navigate the Canadian licensing process. He generously shared his insights on building a flawless reputation, the immense value of non legal roles, and how to successfully adapt when your career goals inevitably change.Building Trust Before Scaling: How giving away high quality study materials for free for five years built the foundational loyalty needed to launch a massively successful education business.The Boardroom Advantage: Why sitting on the board of a publicly traded company proves that a lawyer's greatest asset is not having all the answers, but knowing exactly how to research and solve complex, unprecedented problems.Adapting to Career Seasons: Why your definition of success will naturally shift from chasing a paycheck in your twenties to seeking deep personal fulfillment and legacy later in life.It is incredibly easy to feel a sense of imposter syndrome when the laws are changing rapidly or when you are navigating a completely new jurisdiction as an internationally trained lawyer. Liran’s journey proves that true success is not about having a perfect plan from day one. It is about leaning into your unique background, building trust through reliable work, and remaining open to unexpected opportunities. Whether you are an immigrant lawyer starting over or a recent graduate feeling behind, mastering the fundamentals of problem solving will allow you to confidently step into any room, legal or otherwise.Give value first. Do not rush to monetize every single effort immediately. Build your personal brand on quality and reliability, and the financial success will naturally follow.Seek out board positions. You do not need to be a senior corporate partner to add massive value to an organization. Your legal training gives you a unique insight into structural governance that companies and non profits desperately need.Let your goals evolve. The ambition you have on graduation day will not be the exact same ambition you have ten years later. Give yourself the grace to pursue fulfillment over prestige as your life changes.Guest: Liran Kandin, Lawyer, Mediator, Entrepreneur, and Founder of LexPD and NCA Tutor.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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  Human Judgment in the Age of AI, Cross-Border Practice, and Writing Publicly with Yash Jangid 14.08.2026 29m

  In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Yash Jangid. Yash is an advocate registered with the Bar Council of India, an LLM graduate from Queen Mary University of London, and a passionate voice for the integration of artificial intelligence in arbitration. Having navigated completely different legal systems, he generously shared his insights on bridging cultural gaps, advocating for representation, and why human judgment will always be the core of legal practice.What you will learnThe AI Augmentation Reality: Why artificial intelligence will not replace lawyers. Discover how AI acts as an incredible information processing tool for massive document reviews and translations, drastically lowering costs and increasing access to justice.The Frontier of Human Judgment: Why the entire arbitration system rests on the uniquely human asset of trust. AI can process massive datasets, but it cannot assess the credibility of a witness, weigh commercial reasonableness, or take moral responsibility for a decision.The Power of Public Writing: Why you should start writing and publishing your ideas before you ever feel truly ready, and how doing so builds unexpected global connections and expands your practice.Why this matters As technology rapidly evolves, it is easy to feel intimidated by the fear of automation. Yash provides a deeply empowering perspective: AI takes over the grunt work that historically burned out junior lawyers, allowing you to focus on strategic judgment and human connection. Furthermore, by embracing the agility of different legal systems and choosing to advocate publicly for inclusion, you can actively shape policy and design a deeply fulfilling, borderless career. Modern legal success lies in leveraging technology to process information so you can use your human intelligence to deliver justice.Three takeawaysWrite before you are ready. The feeling of readiness arrives a full year after your actual capability. Start sharing your ideas publicly now to connect with global practitioners you might never meet otherwise.Protect human judgment. Embrace technology for what it is: a brilliant processor of information. However, never forget that clients and parties appoint human beings, not algorithms, to weigh evidence and be fair.Treat networking as a service. Stop approaching networking as an extraction of value. When you connect with people with genuine curiosity and a desire to learn, you build authentic relationships that naturally serve your career.Guest: Yash Jangid, Advocate registered with the Bar Council of India, arbitration and AI practitioner, and LLM graduate from Queen Mary University of London.Where to listen and how to support the show Search 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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  Legal Tech Innovation, Managing AI Risk, and Building Breadth with Josh Lokko 12.08.2026 18m

  ISSN 2819-733XOne of the most exciting shifts happening in the legal profession right now is the movement away from exhausting mechanical tasks and toward strategic, fulfilling legal work.Legal careers are shaped less by credentials and more by communication, and almost no one teaches that early enough. I want to make that invisible part of the profession visible today.What mistake do junior lawyers make because no one explained this? They assume they must brute force every project with endless hours and pure willpower. In the technology world, professionals rely on specialized software to manage complex workflows, while lawyers often try to manage multi million dollar deals entirely through their email inboxes.In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Josh Lokko. Josh is a former capital markets lawyer who turned his frustration with legal inefficiencies into a thriving business. He taught himself how to build software prototypes and eventually founded Statera, an AI driven verification engine for securities diligence. He generously shared his insights on the future of legal practice, managing technology risks, and how to build a career you actually enjoy.The Junior Associate Analogy: Why the fear of AI hallucinations is manageable. Discover how senior lawyers can oversee artificial intelligence output using the exact same risk management skills they already use to review work from junior associates.The Shift to Strategy: How automating the tedious, compliance heavy parts of corporate law will allow practitioners to focus entirely on high value professional judgment.The Breadth Advantage: Why exploring multiple practice areas early in your career is the ultimate defense against getting trapped in a legal specialty you ultimately despise.The anxiety surrounding the future of law is often rooted in a misunderstanding of how technology will be applied. Josh provides an incredibly positive outlook. By adopting tools that handle the heavy lifting of document consistency and precedent searches, lawyers will be freed to do what they actually went to law school to do: think critically. Because humans cannot sustain deep, strategic thought for 14 hours a day, this technological evolution will likely spell the end of the notorious legal burnout culture. Embracing technology does not replace your job; it simply makes your job better.Guest: Josh Lokko, former capital markets lawyer at Sherman and Sterling, JD/MBA graduate, and founder of Statera.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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  Why Changing Jobs Will Not Fix It: The Path to the Happy Lawyer with Paul Karvanis 10.08.2026 24m

  On the newest episode of Studying Law Around the World, I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with Paul Karvanis. After a 12 year career navigating Bay Street, the private sector, and a crown agency, Paul transitioned into coaching and literally wrote the book on The Happy Lawyer.He generously shared the invisible mechanics of career satisfaction and proved that building a joyful practice is completely within your control:What mistake do people make because no one explained this? They assume that changing jobs will magically cure their burnout. Paul explains that internal happiness cannot be solved by an external move. Instead, true satisfaction is built through a simple, positive loop: reflect on what you want, take one small intentional step, and use what you learn to inform your next move.What is the unspoken rule here? You must master the "Table Stakes." Many junior lawyers stress over complex networking or perfect boundaries early on. Paul reminds us that the foundation of a happy, flexible career comes down to two simple prerequisites: doing quality work and being completely reliable. Once you build that trust, everything else opens up.What question should a junior lawyer ask but does not know how? How do I know if my ambition is actually healthy? Paul introduces the brilliant concept of "shadow goals" to help you discover if your drive comes from true passion or external pressure. He proves that practicing genuine self compassion is the ultimate key to sustainable, long term success.If you want to stop feeling trapped in the daily grind and learn how to intentionally design a career that brings you true joy, this conversation will leave you incredibly inspired.Listen to the full episode, "Why Changing Jobs Will Not Fix It: The Path to the Happy Lawyer with Paul Karvanis," out now.Where to listen and how to support the show:Search 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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  The Mindset Shift, AI Hallucinations, and the Return of the Legal Apprenticeship with Ceschino Brooks de Vita 08.08.2026 28m

  In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World Podcast, I sat down with Ceschino Brooks_de_Vita. Ceschino is a former Big Law corporate attorney, a Harvard alum, and the founder of the Legal Tech Guide. Having successfully transitioned from practicing law to legal tech marketing and entrepreneurship, he generously shared his insights on how to cut through the AI marketing hype, the importance of genuine legal expertise, and why the legal profession is heading back to its roots.What you will learnThe Mindset Shift: The critical difference between practicing law as a pure risk management function and operating in a business role where your goal is to facilitate growth and prioritize acceptable risks.The Apprenticeship Comeback: Why AI will not eliminate the need for junior lawyers. Discover why forward thinking partners are returning to a one-on-one apprenticeship model to actively mentor the next generation of legal talent.Navigating Legal Tech: How to look past vendors promising to "change everything" and evaluate software based on the people behind it, their mission, and the genuine value it brings to your specific practice.Why this matters It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the daily influx of new legal technology and the fear that automation will replace legal jobs. However, Ceschino proves that highly sophisticated tools actually make human expertise more valuable. Artificial intelligence will confidently hallucinate incorrect information, and it takes an experienced lawyer who knows what "right" looks like to catch those errors. By being proactive, deeply understanding your clients' business goals, and shaping your career intentionally, you can leverage these tools to eliminate repetitive work and focus entirely on high value strategy.Three takeawaysPrioritize, do not just flag. If you want to succeed in a corporate or non-traditional role, you must stop treating every risk equally. Learn to weigh the magnitude of a risk against the ultimate growth goals of the business.Learn what good looks like. You cannot blindly trust an AI drafted memo or contract. You must build foundational legal experience so you can confidently discern between a polished hallucination and genuinely correct legal work.Be highly intentional. A fulfilling career does not just happen to you. Do not passively accept the way things have always been done. Use the current technological disruption as an opportunity to proactively design the exact practice and life you want.Guest: Ceschino Brooks_de_Vita, former Big Law attorney, founder of the Legal Tech Guide, and host of the Future of Law Today podcast.Where to listen and how to support the show Search 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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  Bridging the Gap: AI Risks, Corporate Silos, and Test-Driven Law with Dr. Steven A. Wright 05.08.2026 17m

  In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Dr. Steven A. Wright. Dr. Wright brings an incredibly rare perspective to the table, holding a PhD in computer engineering, an MBA, and a JD. Working at the intersection of technology, business, and law, he generously shared his insights on digital transformation, the hidden risks of artificial intelligence, and how lawyers can better protect their organizations.What you will learnBreaking Corporate Silos: Why the communication breakdown between executives, engineers, and legal teams happens, and how to build internal bridges before a crisis hits.Hidden AI Threats: Beyond the hype, understanding the very real business dangers of deepfakes, data poisoning, and algorithmic suppression.The Test-Driven Approach: How lawyers can borrow the concept of "test-driven design" from software engineering to safely and reliably use AI tools in their practice.Why this mattersCompanies are rushing toward digital transformation, with technical departments often pushing for the "shiny new object" without fully considering the legal or financial consequences. If you wait for the IT department to come to you after a problem occurs, it is already too late. Dr. Wright proves that modern legal professionals must act as translators, protecting the enterprise by actively communicating across functional silos. Furthermore, while AI will profoundly impact the legal field, you cannot simply outsource your judgment. A language model cannot replace the deep, strategic insight that comes from genuine expertise and human dialogue.Three takeawaysTest before you prompt. Do not blindly trust AI outputs. Adopt a "test-driven" approach by setting clear acceptance criteria and specifications for what you need before you even fire off your prompt.Step out of your silo. The best way to protect your company or client is to proactively engage with other departments. Innovation requires a balancing act; get involved early to help technologists achieve their goals without stepping on legal minefields.Specialize for true insight. Law school only provides a high-level survey of the law. To stand out, you must commit to becoming a genuine expert in a specific niche. Real strategy and judgment are built through experience and dialogue, not through simple AI queries.Guest: Dr. Steven A. Wright, cybersecurity attorney, author, and professor. He leverages his extensive background in engineering, business, and law to help organizations navigate the complex risks of emerging technologies.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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  Alternative Legal Paths and The Power of Generosity with Tim Wilbur 03.08.2026 18m

  In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Tim Wilbur. Tim is the Global Managing Editor of Key Media, overseeing some of Canada's most respected legal publications, including Canadian Lawyer and Lexpert. As both a trained lawyer and an experienced journalist, he sits at a unique vantage point to observe exactly what makes lawyers succeed. He generously shared his insights on non-traditional careers, the reality of legal technology, and what truly separates the best legal minds in the country.What you will learnThe Human Element of AI: Why the automation of analytical legal work is actually making human skills, like crisis management, client coaching, and empathy, the most valuable assets a lawyer can possess.Award Winning Grit: What top tier awards panels actually look for. Discover why lawyers who see the bigger public policy picture and survive incredibly difficult, multi-year corporate transactions always stand out.Organic Career Pivots: How to transition into alternative legal careers by following your passion and gravitating toward files that expose you to the industries you actually care about.Why this mattersWith the rapid integration of artificial intelligence, many lawyers are anxious about the future of their analytical work. Tim's unique editorial perspective proves that while AI might draft a standard contract faster, it cannot read a room or calm a client in crisis. Your true product is your human judgment. Furthermore, your law degree is incredibly versatile. By focusing on genuine relationship building and offering help to others unconditionally, you will organically uncover opportunities in business, policy, and media that you never knew existed.Three takeawaysGive before you take. True networking requires patience. When you meet other professionals, focus entirely on them. Ask about their careers, offer your assistance, and do not expect an immediate return. Generosity is the ultimate career accelerator.Lean into human skills. As artificial intelligence continues to disrupt the profession, your ability to analyze a document will matter less than your ability to effectively communicate with and coach your clients through high stakes challenges.Fight for the bigger picture. The most celebrated lawyers do not just grind through individual files. They identify systemic industry problems, advocate for meaningful policy reforms, and demonstrate absolute grit during complex, prolonged matters.Guest: Tim Wilbur, Global Managing Editor of Key Media and host of the CL Talk podcast. He leads the editorial direction for Canadian Lawyer, Lexpert, and other major legal publications.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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  Rethinking the Billable Hour, the Apply All Dilemma, and AI Curiosity with Amy Grubb 29.07.2026 24m

  In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Amy Grubb. Amy began her career in big law before transitioning into business strategy, entrepreneurship, and eventually legal technology. Today, she works as a Legal Solutions Architect at Spellbook, helping in-house teams integrate AI into their daily workflows. She generously shared the invisible mechanics of navigating modern legal practice and why curiosity is the ultimate career accelerator.What you will learn:The "Apply All" Dilemma: Why features that allow you to instantly accept AI generated contract revisions are incredibly efficient for senior lawyers, but potentially dangerous for juniors who still need to learn the rationale behind those changes.Rethinking the Billable Hour: How the integration of AI is exposing the deep flaws in the billable hour model, and why smaller firms are often much faster at adapting to highly profitable flat fee structures.The Power of Curiosity: Why dedicating just one hour a week to testing new technology is the simplest way to overcome the fear of falling behind in a rapidly changing profession.Why this mattersFor early career professionals, the pressure to instantly master artificial intelligence can feel overwhelming. Amy's non-traditional career path proves that you do not need to be a software engineer to thrive in legal tech; you just need to be curious. The true challenge for the next generation of lawyers is not learning how to use the tools, but learning how to use them without skipping the fundamental steps required to build professional confidence. By blocking out dedicated time to experiment and refusing to rely blindly on the "apply all" button, you can safely integrate AI into your practice while actually developing your legal expertise.Three takeawaysBlock the time to experiment. You do not need to master AI overnight. Schedule exactly one hour every Friday afternoon to test a new tool or write a new prompt. The compound effect of that single hour will keep you ahead of the curve.Understand the "Apply All" trap. Efficiency tools are designed for professionals who already know the law. If you are a junior lawyer, force yourself to review the rationale behind every AI generated change before accepting it. You cannot outsource your legal judgment.Lean into the network. The legal tech community is incredibly welcoming. Do not let the fear of sounding foolish stop you from reaching out to colleagues on LinkedIn to ask them exactly how they built a specific workflow or used a new tool.Guest: Amy Grubb, former big law attorney, entrepreneur, and Legal Solutions Architect at Spellbook. She specializes in redesigning how legal work gets done by building AI workflows for in-house teams.Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 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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  Owning Your Success, Executive Communication, and the Power of Exposure with Oliver Gleeson 28.07.2026 25m

  In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Oliver Gleeson. Oliver is a former general counsel, COO, and the founder of Salient Map Executive Consultancy. Through his extensive coaching work, he generously shared his insights on how early career professionals can shorten their learning curves, build executive presence, and transition from capable lawyers into trusted leaders.What you will learnThe Power of Exposure: Why getting out of your comfort zone and seeking early exposure to mentors, complex files, and different ways of thinking is the absolute fastest way to accelerate your career.Redefining Executive Communication: Why sounding polished is completely secondary to creating clarity. Oliver explains how every email and conversation should be viewed through a "user experience" lens to ensure it actually moves the matter forward.Seeing the Puzzle Box: How to stop operating in a silo. You will learn why understanding the "why" behind your tasks and learning the actual business mechanics of your law firm will dramatically improve your confidence and decision making.Why this mattersMany law firms still rely on an inefficient trial and error training model where juniors are expected to simply absorb executive skills by proximity. If you wait for a formal development plan that may never arrive, your career will inevitably stall. By proactively owning your success, taking the time to understand how your firm generates revenue, and focusing on the strategic purpose behind every single task, you position yourself as a trusted business partner rather than just a high level task executor.Three takeawaysAsk for the big picture. If you only understand your isolated piece of a project, your confidence will naturally suffer. Ask your partners where your work fits into the overall strategy. Understanding the full puzzle allows you to make sharper, more independent decisions.Focus on the user experience. Executive communication is not about using complex legal jargon. It is about asking yourself if your message answered the right questions and provided immediate clarity for the recipient.Build a library of lessons. Do not wait to make your own mistakes. Identify leaders at every level of your firm and ask them what one thing they would change if they could go back five years. Use their hindsight to build your own professional roadmap.Guest: Oliver Gleeson, former general counsel, COO, and founder of Salient Map Executive Consultancy. He specializes in coaching early and emerging legal professionals to build executive judgment and leadership skills.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://law-learn-link.base44.app/Episodes
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  The Master of Laws Project, Strategic Listening, and Global Legal Careers with Yi Song 24.07.2026 20m

  On the newest episode of Studying Law Around the World, I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with Yi Song. As a dual-licensed lawyer from China and an incredible educator at Georgetown University Law Center, Yi has spent years analyzing what actually gets international lawyers hired through her brilliant Master of Laws Interviews Project.She generously shared the invisible mechanics of navigating the U.S. job market and thriving as a global professional:What mistake do people make because no one explained this? They lock themselves in a room to perfect their writing samples or practice their English with AI. Yi explains why hiding behind a screen is a massive error. You must step out of isolation, tell your story, and actively build a real community.What is the unspoken rule here? Being the smartest person in the room is not enough. You must learn to read the room. Yi brilliantly points out that a client's ultimate goal is rarely to "win" a drawn out legal fight; it is usually just to resolve a business problem and move forward.What question should a junior lawyer ask but does not know how? How do I stop viewing my career as a simple pass or fail? Yi shares why abandoning a strict dichotomy worldview (where you divide the world purely into those who have jobs and those who do not) is essential. Giving yourself grace and showing genuine empathy to others will always make you a better, more hireable professional.If you are an internationally trained lawyer or simply want to understand the true mechanics of building a global legal career, this conversation will leave you incredibly inspired.Listen to the full episode, "The Master of Laws Project, Strategic Listening, and Global Legal Careers with Yi Song," out now.Where to listen and how to support the show:Search 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://law-learn-link.base44.app/Episodes
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  The Alignment Doctrine, Tribal Mentorship, and Finding Your Legal Giftings with Norm Bowley 22.07.2026 24m

  On the newest episode of Studying Law Around the World, I had the privilege of sitting down with Norm Bowley. With over five decades of experience as a lawyer, educator, and coach, Norm generously shared the invisible mechanics of building a thriving practice instead of just enduring one:What mistake do people make because no one explained this? They spend decades trying to fix their weaknesses instead of abandoning tasks they are only mediocre at. Norm shares his Alignment Doctrine, proving that identifying your unique giftings and actively shedding the rest is the only path to a joyful practice.What is the unspoken rule here? There is a massive difference between a commodity practice and a bespoke practice. Commodity law focuses on volume and efficiency. Bespoke law focuses on complex, tailored expertise where clients do not ask how much you cost; they ask how soon you can get there.What question should a junior lawyer ask but does not know how? Are we building a business or a tribe? Norm explains that true professional growth happens in tribal firm models, where senior partners act as invested mentors who nurture the next generation, rather than just treating them as billable units.If you are ready to stop grinding and start aligning your daily work with your natural strengths, this conversation is essential listening.Listen to the full episode, "The Alignment Doctrine, Tribal Mentorship, and Finding Your Legal Giftings with Norm Bowley," out now.Where to listen and how to support the show:Search 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://law-learn-link.base44.app/Episodes
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  Bottom Up Policy, Environmental Justice, and the Interdisciplinary Lawyer with Sergio Sánchez 21.07.2026 22m

  In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Sergio Sánchez. Sergio is a lawyer from Mexico City, a Stanford PhD candidate, and a brilliant environmental policy leader working at the intersection of sustainability, climate justice, and community driven solutions. He generously shared his insights on how legal professionals can step outside traditional boundaries to create real, lasting impact.What you will learnBottom Up Policymaking: Why top down environmental regulations often fail local communities and how to incorporate meaningful consultation early in the development process.Ending Parachute Research: The ethical imperative to share academic findings with local populations, empowering them to negotiate fairer contracts and protect their own resources.The Living Laboratory: How electrifying the educational farm at Stanford University proves that lawyers must collaborate with engineers and scientists to build practical, real world solutions.Why this mattersFor junior lawyers interested in sustainability, the career path is not always clearly defined by traditional law firms. Sergio proves that environmental law is not just about administrative permitting; it is fundamentally about human lives. By moving away from abstract legal theory and embracing an interdisciplinary mindset, you can build a career that actively bridges the gap between high level policy and practical community needs. Advocacy requires stepping out of the office and working alongside the people who will actually live with the consequences of your legal and policy decisions.Three takeawaysAvoid the top down trap. Do not wait until a project is finished to ask for community feedback. True advocacy requires engaging with stakeholders during the planning and construction phases to ensure their specific daily needs are met.Translate knowledge into action. Whether you are doing academic research or legal analysis, your work must be accessible. Give communities the concrete data they need to negotiate better terms, just as Sergio did by helping local groups in Colombia understand the true value of their carbon storing peatlands.Embrace interdisciplinary work. You cannot solve global climate issues with the law alone. Stay curious and be entirely willing to collaborate with experts across different scientific and technical fields to build solutions that actually function in the real world.Guest: Sergio Sánchez, Mexican lawyer, environmental advocate, and Stanford PhD candidate. He is deeply dedicated to making the global energy transition more just, equitable, and community centered.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://law-learn-link.base44.app/Episodes
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  Building Your Ship, Authentic Relationships, and the Science of Luck with Dr. Tina Seelig 16.07.2026 18m

  In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Tina Seelig. Dr. Seelig is a neuroscientist, a renowned educator at Stanford University, and the Executive Director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars. As the author of What I Wish I Knew About Luck, she generously shared her groundbreaking framework for turning unpredictable career winds into intentional luck.What you will learnThe Anatomy of Luck: Why you must distinguish between fortune, which is out of your control, and luck, which you can actively catch by building your ship, recruiting your crew, and hoisting your sail.Flaring and Focusing: How to balance the need for deep, specialized legal focus with "flaring," the deliberate practice of exploring new ideas, meeting new people, and testing different paths.The Keys to the Building: Why accepting a job offer is not just taking on a set of assigned tasks. It is taking the keys to the entire building so you can solve bigger problems and help your colleagues succeed.Why this matters Law schools train us to analyze precedent and eliminate risk, which often pushes young lawyers to lock themselves into strict, hyper specialized career tracks from day one. Dr. Seelig proves that this approach can blind you to incredible opportunities. By shifting your mindset away from transactional networking and focusing on genuine generosity, you can build a reliable crew that supports you through the unpredictable pivots of a modern legal career.Three takeawaysSend a sincere thank you. The shortest distance between you and a positive outcome is showing genuine appreciation. Never miss the opportunity to thank the mentors and colleagues who support your journey; a simple note yields boundless returns.Treat uncertainty as a gift. Do not panic if your career does not follow a perfect script. Use the uncertainty as a chance to experiment, walk into new rooms, and discover passions you never knew you had.Define your core values. Your core values act as the ballast of your ship. They keep you steady in turbulent waters and protect you from ethical missteps when the pressure of practice is high.Guest: Dr. Tina Seelig, neuroscientist, Stanford University professor, and author. She is a global expert on creativity, innovation, and teaching professionals how to actively build their own luck.Where to listen and how to support the show Search 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://law-learn-link.base44.app/Episodes
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  Building AI Skills, Holding Space, and the Value of the Struggle with Larissa Meredith-Flister 14.07.2026 27m

  In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Larissa Meredith-Flister. Larissa is a solicitor qualified in England, Wales, and Canada, with an LLM from the University of Cambridge and a deep background in economics. She has practiced complex litigation in London and now focuses on competition law and digital markets. She generously shared her insights on how to ethically integrate modern technology into legal practice while maintaining the crucial human elements of our work.What you will learnHolding Space: Why the ability to listen and make clients feel truly heard is just as vital as your legal strategy, whether you are dealing with municipal bylaws or the victims of an international disaster.Creating AI Skills: How to stop treating AI like a simple chatbot and start building specific, source verified instructions to eliminate repetitive tasks and legal hallucinations from your workflow.The Value of the Struggle: Why the intellectual friction of digging through case law and reading full decisions is absolutely essential for developing the legal judgment that technology cannot replace.Why this mattersWhat is the unspoken rule of modern legal practice? Technology can accelerate your output, but it cannot replicate your critical thinking or your professional accountability.Larissa highlights a crucial tension. While AI tools can provide instant answers, relying on them blindly creates a false sense of confidence. To truly succeed, lawyers must step out of their comfort zones, build diverse networks of people who challenge their perspectives, and accept that the "struggle" of complex problem solving is exactly what builds world class legal judgment.Three takeawaysBuild specific workflows. Do not just accept frustrating, repetitive mistakes from generative tools. Take the time to actively train the tool by creating strict parameters, such as demanding mandatory source verification and exact paragraph citations for every claim.Embrace the intellectual struggle. Do not let instant answers rob you of your training. The hours spent reading full cases, connecting disparate concepts, and wrestling with complex legal theories are necessary to develop the strategic judgment that clients actually pay for.Show up for people unconditionally. Build bridges with individuals who think differently than you do. Offering genuine help and friendship without expecting anything in return is the most reliable way to build a resilient, global career.Guest: Larissa Meredith-Flister, Solicitor in England, Wales, and Canada. Larissa specializes in competition law, complex litigation, and the ethical integration of artificial intelligence in digital markets.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://law-learn-link.base44.app/Episodes
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  Solving Legal Debt, Elevating Human Judgment, and the Future of Law with Sebastian Padina 09.07.2026 23m

  This week on Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Sebastian Padina. Sebastian is the founder of Hauswerk Law and a fractional General Counsel who brings a rare and brilliant mix of legal depth, AI engineering, and product management to his practice. He generously shared a completely refreshing and optimistic perspective on how modern tools and innovative business models are reshaping the way we deliver legal services.What you will learnManaging Legal Debt: How founders accumulate "legal debt" by skipping essential early legal steps to move fast, and how pragmatic legal counsel can prevent those skipped steps from turning into expensive crises later.The Premium on Human Judgment: Why artificial intelligence will successfully automate routine "road work," making your human judgment, empathy, and ability to uncover a client's true problem your most valuable professional assets.The Mini Partner Mindset: How modern law firms are completely rethinking training. Sebastian explains why new service models allow junior lawyers to act as "mini partners" from day one, developing real world advisory skills rather than hiding in the back room.Why this mattersFor junior lawyers, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence can sometimes feel intimidating. Sebastian proves that this technology is actually an incredible gift. Instead of spending your first few years doing repetitive tasks, you now have the opportunity to step into a strategic advisory role immediately. By understanding the commercial realities of tech companies and moving away from the traditional billable hour toward subscription based models, you can position yourself as a proactive business partner who delivers true clarity and value.Three takeawaysFocus on the real risks. Startups do not want theoretical legal essays; they need pragmatic solutions. Learn to identify which risks are genuine threats to a specific business and which ones are just noise. Directing your client's resources to what actually matters builds deep trust.Judgment is your true product. Artificial intelligence can draft a standard agreement, but it cannot read a room. Your greatest professional advantage is your ability to ask the right questions, understand the emotional context of a founder, and provide human accountability.Embrace the advisory role early. The days of washing rice for five years before rolling sushi are over. Use modern tech tools to handle the routine administrative work so you can start developing your strategic judgment and business acumen from the very beginning of your career.Guest: Sebastian Padina, Founder of Hauswerk Law and Fractional General Counsel. Sebastian blends legal expertise with a tech forward mindset to deliver flexible, fixed fee legal support to startups and growth stage teams.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://law-learn-link.base44.app/Episodes
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  Global Networking, The Entrepreneurial Mindset, and Redefining Success with Sebastian Volcan 08.07.2026 23m

  This week on Studying Law Around the World, I had the absolute pleasure of hosting Sebastian Volcan. Sebastian is a brilliant Venezuelan lawyer who successfully transitioned from traditional corporate law into international strategy and business development. After a profound career shift inspired by Simon Sinek's "Start with Why," he co-founded Cressência to help entrepreneurs scale across borders.In this episode, Sebastian generously shares his incredibly positive philosophy on building meaningful relationships, creating opportunities for others, and completely redefining what a successful legal career looks like.What you will learnThe Borderless Career: How young lawyers in geographically isolated areas or small firms can build a global career by leveraging international associations, global firm networks, and digital platforms like LinkedIn.The Entrepreneurial Lawyer: Why technical legal skills are no longer enough. Sebastian explains why learning the foundational mechanics of starting and running a business is essential for advancing your career and serving your clients effectively.Reclaiming Your Time: Why the outdated "dream" of working 60 hour weeks for decades is fundamentally flawed, and how you can use AI to automate tedious tasks so you can focus on the work you actually love.Why this mattersIt is incredibly easy to feel trapped by the traditional expectations of the legal profession. Universities and law firms often sell a very narrow vision of success that demands the sacrifice of your personal life and well being. Sebastian’s journey proves that you have the power to write a completely different story. By actively building international connections, embracing an entrepreneurial mindset, and leveraging technology to recover your time, you can design a career that aligns perfectly with your true purpose and allows your humanity to shine.Three takeawaysRedefine your own success. Do not blindly accept the burnout heavy path as the only way forward. Success is having the freedom to do what you love, when you want, and with the people you care about.Create your own global network. You do not need to work at a massive international law firm to have a global presence. Apply for scholarships through the International Bar Association or the World Bank, engage with international clients, and actively reach out to professionals you admire on LinkedIn.Use AI to enhance your humanity. Do not fear technology; use it to your advantage. Let AI handle the tedious contract drafting so you can dedicate your energy to the things technology can never replicate: building deep, meaningful human connections and exercising true strategic judgment.Guest: Sebastian Volcan, Co-founder of Cressência, international strategist, and business development expert. Sebastian is a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, global networking, and helping legal professionals build purposeful careers.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://law-learn-link.base44.app/Episodes
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  The Entrepreneurial Leap, Strategic Lawyering, and Human Skills with Daniel Maffessoni Passinato Diniz 06.07.2026 9m

  This week on Studying Law Around the World, I had the pleasure of hosting Daniel Maffessoni Passinato Diniz. Daniel is a Brazilian corporate lawyer, law professor, and the founding partner of Passinato & Graebin. After taking a massive leap of faith to start his own fully cloud based firm ten years ago, he has become a highly respected advisor in M&A, arbitration, and corporate governance. He generously shared the invisible mechanics of what it actually takes to build a practice and become a deeply trusted business partner.What you will learnStrategic vs. Operational Lawyering: How to transition from simply executing assigned legal tasks to operating as a high level advisor who helps clients make their most critical business decisions.The Power of Plain Language: Why Daniel's experience as a professor taught him that the absolute highest compliment a lawyer can receive is that they "do not sound like a typical lawyer."Mastering Human Skills: Why emotional resilience, relationship building, and clear communication are your ultimate competitive advantages in an era of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.Why this mattersFor many junior lawyers, the idea of starting a firm or building a book of business feels impossible because law schools heavily emphasize technical skills while completely ignoring sales, relationship building, and strategy. Daniel's journey proves that technical excellence is only the baseline. If you cannot confidently communicate your value or translate complex legal jargon into plain language, you will struggle to win trust. By shifting your mindset from a mere task executor to a strategic business partner, you can command higher value, secure better clients, and build a career that is built to last.Three takeawaysEmbrace the strategic level. Do not just wait for a client to tell you to draft a contract or file a lawsuit. Position yourself as the trusted advisor they call to ask if they should take those actions in the very first place.Prioritize human skills. As AI continues to automate routine legal work, your ability to listen, negotiate, and empathize will become your most valuable professional assets. Learn to speak the language of your clients, not just the rigid language of the law.Play the long game. Building a world class reputation takes time, immense consistency, and a willingness to always remain teachable. Do not rush the process. Focus intensely on taking care of your people and your clients, and the commercial success will follow.Guest: Daniel Maffessoni Passinato Diniz, founding partner at Passinato & Graebin and professor of corporate law. He specializes in M&A, arbitration, and guiding companies through complex corporate transitions.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://law-learn-link.base44.app/Episodes
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  Firm Realities, Authentic Networking, and Sustainable Careers with Murray Gottheil 03.07.2026 29m

  In this week's episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Murray Gottheil. Murray is a retired business lawyer who spent nearly 40 years representing entrepreneurial clients while serving as the managing partner of a mid-sized Ontario firm. He generously shared the hidden rules of law firm economics and the vital importance of building genuine human connections.What you will learnThe Power of Connection: Why establishing relationships and taking clients out to lunch is often far more effective than trying to prove you are the smartest person in the room. Clients assume competence; what they want to know is if they actually enjoy working with you.The Expectation vs. Reality Gap: Why hiding in your office to churn out perfectly drafted memos will not secure your future in a firm. Murray explains why technical brilliance must be paired with visibility, relationship building, and cultural fit.Defining Your Own Success: Why you must actively define what a successful career looks like for you before the profession defines it for you, often at the severe expense of your health and personal life.Why this mattersFor a young lawyer stepping into a firm, the pressure to produce billable hours can easily overshadow the need to learn how the business of law actually functions. Murray's insights highlight a critical truth: there is no single right way to market yourself. Whether you excel at one on one lunches, public speaking, or consistently delivering excellent follow up service, you must lean into your authentic personality to build your practice. Learning to communicate effectively and prioritizing your personal well being are not distractions from your career; they are the very foundation of its longevity.Three takeawaysClients assume competence. Do not waste valuable networking time explaining how smart you are or how hard your firm works. Focus on learning about the person across the table. People ultimately hire the professionals they like and trust.Define success on your own terms. If you do not actively decide what success means for your life, the legal profession will happily impose its definition on you. Be intentional about your goals, your boundaries, and your health.Find your own marketing style. You do not need to mimic the senior partner's golf game or cocktail party networking style to succeed. Lean into your own personality and find a method of connecting with clients that feels natural and sustainable for you.Guest: Murray Gottheil, retired business lawyer, former managing partner, and founder of Law & Disorder Inc. He is a passionate mentor and a vocal advocate for sustainable career planning in the legal profession.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://law-learn-link.base44.app/Episodes