I was climbing my way up the legal ladder in sunny Southern California and all was going pretty well when one day I decided to drop everything and leave to the other side of the world for an undetermined amount of time. People thought I was crazy. That I was giving up my legal career, that I “belonged” in LA and that this was bad move for my future. I didn’t know how it would all turn out or what exactly I would be doing, but I am certain that my decision to move overseas has made me a better lawyer in ways staying in my comfort zone and choosing a traditional path would have never done. Here are 6 ways living overseas has made me a better lawyer:
It has made me a better communicator.
I spent 2+ years communicating entirely with people who don’t speak English as a native language, whether they were Thai, French, Italian, Chinese. It has taught me to be clear in my communications, to ask questions to clarify meanings, and learn to recognize ambiguity and miscommunications before they’re made. It’s made me a more patient and understanding person- all necessary skills of an effective lawyer.
I have more understanding of different cultures.
By virtue of living in a huge international city overseas, you get exposed to, and learn so much about different people and cultures. I’ve gotten to know bits and pieces of so many different people from around the world, their stereotypes, preferences, what’s acceptable where they’re from, what we can laugh about. I can speak their language. It’s made me more relatable. An attorney needs the ability to build rapport with their clients to best serve them.
I have better understanding of people.
On a similar note, I’ve become more versatile. In LA I rarely ventured out of my socio-economic circle. Overseas, I live in a city that is a true melting pot and have spent time with people I would have never crossed paths with in LA. I can spend a day and get along with the rickshaw driver from Cambodia who spent his childhood without parents as a monk in a Buddhist temple. I can entertain billionaires at the St Regis and help them game plan their next business steps while simultaneously exchange tips for their next exotic vacation destination. I can empathize with the stay at home mother of three young kids who’s divorcing her husband and get her in the right mindset and legal strategy. I can get my nails done with a foreign attorney working at a competing firm and share the differences in law in our respective countries.
It’s given me insight to law around the world.
It’s given me a first hand insight and understanding of international law and policy. Law in a single country is complex. Laws involving multiple countries each of which are different and conflicting? It’s a whole ‘nother level. When you’ve handled cases in country A, involving one person from country B, and another person from country C…. handling a case where all issues and parties are from the same country is a piece of cake.
It’s taught me that we’re not that different after all.
It’s taught me that no matter how different we are, in the end we are all the same. We all have the same emotions, desires, fears, frustration etc. The stress a Colombian client feels over their impending legal problems is no different from the stress a Californian feels. The happiness when their case is settled in their favor is of the same intensity. The gratefulness to their lawyer who got them through one of the most challenging times of their lives is a universal feeling.
It’s taught me purpose.
It’s taught me that being a lawyer is what I really want to be. I’m not sitting in my office waiting for my next vacation. I’ve seen the world and I’m choosing to do this. I’m practicing because I want to be practicing. I want to help, I want to make a difference. I want to do my part towards advancing more justice in the world. The world is beautiful. It’s even more beautiful when you find meaning in what you do.
Most lawyers have followed what we were told to do our entire lives to get to where we are. We went to school, we excelled at all we did, we took a job at a firm, and we worked hard. Really really hard. While that path is certainly admirable and proven, that is not the only way. Whether you’re a lawyer or not, don’t be afraid to take risks and do something differently from how things were always done. You will find your way.