Studying Law Around the World

Claudio Klaus

A podcast with more than 60 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. Hidden Loyalties, the Peacock Metaphor, and Why Lawyers Feel Stuck with Lora McInturf

    3d ago

    Hidden Loyalties, the Peacock Metaphor, and Why Lawyers Feel Stuck with Lora McInturf

    ISSN 2819-733X This week on Studying Law Around the World, I have the absolute pleasure of welcoming back Lora McInturf. Lora is an American attorney living in Germany who transitioned from big law into a full-time executive coaching practice. She has mentored lawyers and rising corporate stars in over 50 countries. In this episode, we dive deep into a psychological barrier that affects countless legal professionals: hidden loyalties. We explore why so many highly capable lawyers feel unable to make a career change—even when it logically makes perfect sense—and how our unconscious commitments keep us anchored to the past. Guest: Lora McInturf, Founder of The Inner Advocate. Lora is an international lawyer turned executive coach who specializes in constellations and systems work, helping lawyers navigate complex career transitions globally. 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

    31 min
  2. Taking Charge, Introversion, and Career Pivots with Norman Bacal

    5d ago

    Taking Charge, Introversion, and Career Pivots with Norman Bacal

    There is an unspoken rule in the legal profession that no one teaches early enough. Legal careers are shaped far less by raw credentials and much more by your ability to communicate and build relationships. I want to make that invisible part of the profession visible today. This week on Studying Law Around the World, I have the profound honor of hosting Norman Bacal. From a self-described undistinguished law student to the leader of one of Canada's most prestigious law firms, Norman's career is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. In this episode, we unpack the hidden curriculum of building a successful legal career. We discuss: The Interviewer Technique: What mistake do people make with networking? They try too hard to be interesting. Norman explains how introverts can master small talk by interviewing the person next to them. Building an Organizational Culture: What is the unspoken rule of firm leadership? Successful organizations are tribal. We discuss why strong cultural values and shared mythology are essential. Processing Failure: What question should a junior lawyer ask about setbacks? Norman shares how he navigated the collapse of his former law firm, processed his anger through journaling, and pivoted toward an entirely new career as a speaker and author. Guest: Norman Bacal, Author, Motivational Speaker, and former Managing Partner. Norman is the author of Take Charge and Breakdown. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show. 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

    31 min
  3. Aiming for the Sun: Rebuilding and Reinventing Your Legal Career Across Borders

    May 29

    Aiming for the Sun: Rebuilding and Reinventing Your Legal Career Across Borders

    This week on Studying Law Around the World Podcast, we have a very special panel episode featuring three brilliant legal professionals who have successfully navigated the complexities of international practice. I am joined by Viviana Harrington (licensed in Colombia and Missouri, working as in-house counsel), Elizabeth Ciesielski Saldana (a corporate attorney from Mexico with a master's in France, currently working in the US), and Jorge Barona (a Colombian attorney with multiple European master's degrees, specializing in consultancy for EU-financed projects). In this episode, we discuss the reality of starting over, the undeniable translatability of legal skills, and how to reinvent your professional identity when moving across borders. What you will learn: The Reality of Starting Over: How to navigate the "grieving process" of realizing you must rebuild your professional identity and start from scratch when moving to a new jurisdiction. Skill Translatability: Why core skills like problem-solving, effective communication across time zones, and adaptability are highly translatable, even when the black letter law is local. Career Reinvention: How to look beyond traditional law firm partnerships and utilize a legal background to excel in compliance, finance, or administrative leadership roles. Why this matters For junior lawyers, the prospect of moving abroad can feel insurmountable. You leave behind a network where you are recognized as a competent local attorney to enter an environment where you are largely unknown and must prove your value tenfold. As our guests highlight, an international move forces you out of your comfort zone, humbling you while simultaneously demanding that you become incredibly resourceful. You learn to translate your value beyond your original degree, discovering that a legal background can unlock powerful leadership roles across various industries. 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

    31 min
  4. The Business of AI, Infrastructure, and the T-Shaped Lawyer with Saad Minhas

    May 25

    The Business of AI, Infrastructure, and the T-Shaped Lawyer with Saad Minhas

    This week on Studying Law Around the World, I am thrilled to host Saad Minhas. Saad is the Managing Counsel, Infrastructure and Canada Lead at Cerebras Systems, the company leading the world in high speed AI inference. Based right here in Toronto, his career sits at the fascinating intersection of real estate, energy, and digital infrastructure. As Toronto Tech Week brings founders, investors, and builders to our city to celebrate the future of technology, it is the perfect time to look at the physical engine powering this entire AI revolution. There is an unspoken rule in the legal profession that no one teaches early enough. Legal careers are shaped far less by credentials and much more by communication. When you are working on massive infrastructure projects, your ability to clearly explain risk across different disciplines is what actually gets things built. I want to make that invisible part of the profession visible today. In this episode, we discuss: The Unspoken Rule of High Stakes Deals: Why legal expertise is only the baseline. To be a true advisor, you must understand your client's profit incentives and how their business actually serves its customers. The T-Shaped Lawyer: What mistake do early career professionals make because no one explained it? They focus solely on their legal specialty. Saad explains why you must develop deep expertise in one area while maintaining the versatility to communicate across parallel fields like construction and power. Navigating Different Environments: What question should a junior lawyer ask but does not know how? How do I translate my skills across different sectors? Saad shares how he successfully transitioned between public agencies, global banks, and tech startups by staying true to his core values and clearly communicating his value to stakeholders. Guest: Saad Minhas, Managing Counsel, Infrastructure and Canada Lead at Cerebras Systems. Saad leads the legal function for Canada and heads commercial and infrastructure matters globally, with a focus on AI data center development and hyperscale infrastructure transactions. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show. 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 Please retain your confirmation email as proof of attendance in the event of an audit. Please note that the Barreau du Québec no longer directly accredits external CPD providers. Québec lawyers must self report eligible hours under the Regulation respecting compulsory continuing education for lawyers. Programs accredited by the LSO or LSBC are generally accepted when the content is relevant to legal practice and aligns with Barreau standards. For specific eligibility questions, please consult the Barreau du Québec website directly.

    24 min
  5. Career Reinvention, Japanese Business Culture, and the Fractional GC Model with Catherine O'Connell

    May 22

    Career Reinvention, Japanese Business Culture, and the Fractional GC Model with Catherine O'Connell

    This week on Studying Law Around the World, I have the absolute pleasure of hosting Catherine O'Connell. Catherine is a registered foreign lawyer in Japan, licensed in New Zealand and England and Wales. Originally arriving in Tokyo for a one-year contract, she has built an incredible 23-year career spanning private practice, in-house counsel roles for multinational giants like Panasonic, and the launch of her very own boutique law firm. In this highly inspiring episode, we discuss the evolution of a global legal career, the nuances of Japanese business culture, and why your unique background is your greatest professional asset. Guest: Catherine O'Connell, Principal and Founder of Catherine O'Connell Law. Catherine is a trailblazing foreign lawyer in Japan, an experienced corporate board member, and the host of the Lawyer on Air podcast. During our conversation, Catherine shared insights about board work and career reinvention that she expands on heavily in her own work. I highly recommend checking out her award-winning show: Lawyer on Air Podcast A Pathway to Board Success: Catherine's insights on leadership with guest host Akiyo Inoko Hewett (Part 1 of 3) Advice for aspiring board members at every level of their legal career with Catherine and guest host Akiyo Inoko Hewett (Part 2 of 3)

    21 min
  6. Navigating the AI Ecosystem, Ethics, and the Future of Law with Cristiano Therrien

    May 18

    Navigating the AI Ecosystem, Ethics, and the Future of Law with Cristiano Therrien

    This week on Studying Law Around the World, we dive into the rapidly evolving intersection of law, technology, and governance. I am joined by Dr. Cristiano de Souza Therrien. Cristiano is a Canadian-Brazilian legal scholar, AI governance strategist, and technology law consultant with over 25 years of experience spanning private practice, academia, and the public sector. In this episode, we discuss why career paths are networks rather than straight lines, how to practically integrate AI into your daily workflows, and why reading science fiction might just make you a better lawyer.

    31 min
  7. Trial Advocacy, Navigating Structural Barriers, and a 40 Year Career in Justice with Kenneth J Kunken

    May 15

    Trial Advocacy, Navigating Structural Barriers, and a 40 Year Career in Justice with Kenneth J Kunken

    This week on Studying Law Around the World, I have the distinct privilege of hosting Kenneth J Kunken. In 1970, Ken sustained a spinal cord injury while playing football for Cornell University, resulting in quadriplegia. Navigating an era nearly two decades before the Americans with Disabilities Act, he confronted and overcame massive physical and attitudinal barriers to become the first quadriplegic student to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees from Cornell. Ken went on to earn a law degree from Hofstra University and built a formidable 40-year career as an Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County, ultimately rising to the position of Deputy Bureau Chief. In this episode, we discuss his journey to the prosecutor's office, the reality of inaccessible courtrooms, and his high-level advice for navigating trial work.

    24 min
  8. Geopolitics, Mediation, and the Legal Frontier: A View from Pakistan with Hasan Mandviwalla

    May 14

    Geopolitics, Mediation, and the Legal Frontier: A View from Pakistan with Hasan Mandviwalla

    This week on Studying Law Around the World, we are exploring a topic that sits at the complex intersection of international law, diplomacy, and the local legal market. I am welcoming back Hasan Mandviwalla, a partner at Mandviwalla & Zafar in Pakistan and an officer of the International Bar Association. This conversation is an outlier for the show. While we usually focus on individual career paths, Hasan provides a candid look at how the geopolitical role of a nation directly dictates the volume and nature of its legal work. We specifically discuss the recent April 2026 peace talks in Islamabad and what it means for lawyers when a country acts as a regional mediator.

    18 min
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About

A podcast with more than 60 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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