Recently, I had a fascinating conversation with Flavia Naves, an accomplished lawyer who transformed her LLB from Brazil into a successful career in the United States. For many foreign-trained attorneys, the journey to a U.S. legal career can feel like navigating a labyrinth. But as Flavia’s story shows, it’s possible not only to find your way but to thrive by embracing the unexpected. Here are three unconventional lessons from our discussion that can help guide your path.
1. Embrace The Power Of Pivoting
Flavia’s journey is a masterclass in the art of pivoting. When she moved to the U.S., her goal was to enhance her qualifications for a legal career in Brazil. But life had other plans. Flavia encountered roadblocks — like unexpected state-specific bar requirements and rejections from law firms. Instead of letting these obstacles deter her, she saw them as opportunities to pivot.
For example, when job offers from law firms didn’t materialize, a chance conversation led her to a clerkship with a judge in Pennsylvania. Though it wasn’t part of her original plan, this experience became a critical stepping stone, boosting her credibility in the U.S. legal market. The lesson? Be open to changing directions. Sometimes, the detours are where you find the most growth.
2. Find Your Unique Edge
In a competitive job market, standing out can feel like an uphill battle — especially for foreign-trained lawyers who don’t fit the traditional U.S. JD mold. But Flavia discovered that her differences were actually her greatest strengths. Instead of seeing her background as a barrier, she leveraged her unique skills and experiences, like her fluency in Portuguese and her expertise in international transactions, to carve out a niche for herself.
Flavia’s advice is to identify what makes you different — whether it’s your cultural background, language skills, or specialized knowledge — and use that to your advantage. Rather than blending into the crowd, stand out by becoming the go-to person for your specific expertise. This approach not only sets you apart but also makes you indispensable in a market that values diverse perspectives.
3. Network Beyond Your Comfort Zone
Networking is often touted as a crucial component of career success, but Flavia took it a step further. She didn’t just network within the legal community; she built relationships across various industries, including finance, product development, and engineering. This broad approach allowed her to gain insights from different sectors and created unexpected opportunities, such as job recommendations from nonlegal professionals.
Flavia’s strategy demonstrates the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone. Don’t limit yourself to just legal circles; engage with professionals in other fields who can offer new perspectives and open doors you didn’t even know existed. Effective networking isn’t just about expanding your contacts; it’s about creating a diverse support system that can provide unique opportunities and insights.
Embrace The Unconventional Path
Flavia’s journey from Brazil to becoming a successful in-house counsel in the U.S. is a testament to the power of flexibility, leveraging unique strengths, and strategic networking. For foreign-trained lawyers navigating the U.S. legal landscape, the path may not always be straightforward. But as Flavia’s story shows, embracing the unconventional can lead to incredible opportunities.
Take these lessons to heart. Be open to pivoting when the unexpected happens, find and amplify what makes you unique, and build a diverse network that reaches beyond the usual legal confines. These strategies will not only help you navigate the complexities of the U.S. legal market but also enable you to create a fulfilling career on your own terms.
For more insights from Flavia’s inspiring journey and her practical advice for foreign-trained lawyers, stay tuned for the full episode. It’s packed with valuable tips and strategies that will help you turn challenges into opportunities and build a successful legal career in the United States.
Olga V. Mack is a Fellow at CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, and a Generative AI Editor at law.MIT. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat, Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security, and Blockchain Value: Transforming Business Models, Society, and Communities. She is working on three books: Visual IQ for Lawyers (ABA 2024), The Rise of Product Lawyers: An Analytical Framework to Systematically Advise Your Clients Throughout the Product Lifecycle (Globe Law and Business 2024), and Legal Operations in the Age of AI and Data (Globe Law and Business 2024). You can follow Olga on LinkedIn and Twitter @olgavmack.