Studying Law Around the World

Claudio Klaus

A podcast with more than 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

  1. 4 Sept

    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/

  2. 1 Sept

    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/

  3. 28 Aug

    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/

  4. 26 Aug

    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/

  5. 24 Aug

    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/

  6. 21 Aug

    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/

  7. 19 Aug

    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/

  8. 17 Aug

    Boardroom Leadership, The Power of Trust, and Navigating Cross Border Careers with Liran Kandin

    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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A podcast with more than 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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