Studying Law Around the World

Brian Potts, a partner at Husch Blackwell and founder of the Legal Mentor Network, shares his insights as a nationally recognized energy lawyer and legal tech entrepreneur. He discusses the transformative power of mentorship, detailing his journey from facing 100 rejection letters to achieving partnership and founding a vital networking initiative. Potts emphasizes the importance of building genuine professional relationships and offers strategic advice for law students and early-career lawyers on navigating their careers.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠CONTENDER ⁠⁠, The premier agency helping lawyers go from invisible to impossible to ignore on LinkedIn. Learn more at: ⁠⁠https://contenderllc.com/work-with-usSpencer May is a J.D. candidate at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, where he is currently entering his final year. He is a Dean’s List recipient, Dean’s Achievement Scholar, and a member of the Arizona Journal of Emerging Technology's Articles Committee.Spencer brings a strong foundation in contracts, real estate, and business law. He currently serves as a Legal Intern on the Corporate Contracts and Risk Management team at Meritage Homes, where he drafts subcontractor agreements, acquisition documents, and conducts multi-jurisdictional legal research on lien and repair laws. He has also completed a legal internship at LifePlan Legal AZ, supporting estate planning work in a small-firm setting.Prior to law school, Spencer gained practical business experience at ADP in client services and district management. His legal interests include transactional law, real estate, and supporting entrepreneurs through contract strategy and risk analysis.Outside the classroom, Spencer is widely known for helping law students grow their presence on LinkedIn. He’s created a free guide on how to get started on the platform and regularly shares advice on networking, outreach, and building early professional relationships. His work blends a strategic approach to legal career-building with a strong focus on authenticity and community.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠CONTENDER ⁠, The premier agency helping lawyers go from invisible to impossible to ignore on LinkedIn. Learn more at: ⁠https://contenderllc.com/work-with-usFernando Garcia has over 15 years of experience as a General Counsel. His practice has included providing strategic and legal advice on Canada-wide and international operations, labour relations and employment law and all general legal matters. He holds an MIR from the University of Toronto and LLB/BCL from McGill and recently completed an MBA at Wilfrid Laurier University.

This episode is sponsored by CONTENDER , The premier agency helping lawyers go from invisible to impossible to ignore on LinkedIn. Learn more at: https://contenderllc.com/work-with-usIn this episode of Studying Law Around the World, Claudio Klaus talks with Jonah Perlin, a professor at Georgetown Law, former litigator, judicial clerk, and host of the How I Lawyer podcast. Jonah shares what led him to study law, how he moved from practice to teaching, and what keeps him motivated. He also reflects on building a meaningful legal career, lessons from speaking with over 150 lawyers, and the value of staying curious and making real connections. You’ll also hear about his newsletter Stand Out, Summer Associate! and why he finds so much joy in teaching future lawyers.Bio:Professor Jonah E. Perlin is an Associate Professor of Law, Legal Practice at Georgetown Law where he teaches first-year legal practice and advanced legal writing courses. His scholarship focuses on the intersection of legal ethics, the technology of law, legal communication, legal education, and the practice of law. His scholarship has appeared or is forthcoming in the Washington Law Review, the Yale Journal of Law & Technology, Legal Communication & Rhetoric, and the Georgetown Law Journal (student note). His article “Client Confidentiality as Data Security” which studies the lawyer’s duty of confidentiality in the digital age was the runner-up for the 2024 International Association of Legal Ethics’s Deborah Rhode Prize for the best legal ethics paper by an early career scholar. His article “Making Your (Power)Point” which studies how lawyers can better use and create digital presentations was selected for inclusion in volume 12 of the Legal Writing Institute’s Monograph Series and was featured both in the Virginia Lawyer and the Washington State Bar News.In addition to his scholarly work, Jonah is the creator and host of the How I Lawyer Podcast where he interviews lawyers from across the profession about what lawyers do, why they do it, and how they do it well. The Podcast which has been downloaded more than 250,000 times has been ranked in the Top 25 for Careers on iTunes. Jonah is also a regular guest on podcasts about the legal profession and has spoken about legal careers and succeeding in the legal profession at law schools and law firms across the country. For his contributions to the legal profession, Jonah was honored in the 2024 vLex Fastcase 50.At Georgetown Law, Jonah is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Ethics and the Legal Profession and the Coordinator of the Center’s Program on Technology, Ethics, and the Legal Profession. He also served as the Faculty Advisor to The Georgetown Law Journal from 2021-2024. Outside the law school, Jonah has served as the Chair of the PR and Social Media Committee of the Legal Writing Institute and as an Editor of the Legal Writing Institute’s Monograph Series. He is also a Founding Board Member of the Legal Mentor Network, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing legal mentorship for free and at scale.Before joining the faculty in 2018, Jonah worked for several years as a litigator at Williams & Connolly LLP where he specialized in complex civil litigation in the United States and abroad. He also taught advanced legal writing as an adjunct professor at the Law Center. Early in his career, he clerked for then-Chief Judge Robert Katzmann on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.Jonah is a proud Georgetown Law alumnus. He earned his J.D. magna cum laude in 2012 from the Law Center where he was an Articles Editor for The Georgetown Law Journal and a law fellow in the Legal Research and Writing Program. Before law school, Jonah received his A.B. magna cum laude from Princeton University and his A.M. in Religious Studies from the University of Chicago Divinity School.

Sandra Shime, Director of Dispute Resolution Services in Ontario, shares her extensive background in dispute resolution and adjudication. She discusses the intricate dynamics of labor negotiations and the importance of effective policy-making to maintain harmony between unions and employers. Sandra reflects on her diverse legal career—from prosecuting cases in NYC to navigating the challenges of public sector disputes in Ontario. She offers valuable insights for aspiring legal professionals, emphasizing collaboration and recognizing personal strengths in the legal field.

Claudio Martellacci brings a unique mix of financial expertise, legal insight, and practical experience to his role as a Partner in Valuations and Litigation Support. A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), and Chartered Business Valuator (CBV), Claudio has spent his career helping clients navigate complex financial matters with clarity and purpose.Before focusing on business valuation, Claudio specialized in assurance and tax compliance for a wide range of clients, including not-for-profits and public sector organizations. Today, he applies his valuation skills to support estate planning, corporate reorganizations, shareholder disputes, and litigation involving economic loss and family law matters.What sets Claudio apart is his genuine passion for assigning value in ways that make a real difference in people’s lives. Whether he’s preparing expert calculations for court or helping clients plan for the future, he combines technical skill with a people-first mindset.Claudio is a proud Toronto native and loyal fan of the city’s sports teams. When he's not working, you might find him playing sports, spending time with his family, or strumming his guitar.

Erika Bailey⁠⁠ (she|her) has served the University of Toronto for nearly 25 years, specializing in international graduate student advising and coaching. With an MA in Adult Education from ⁠⁠OISE|UT⁠⁠, an MA in Leadership from ⁠⁠Royal Roads University⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Solutions-focused Brief Coaching⁠⁠, her passion is to support internationally trained lawyers and law students with the ⁠⁠University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law’s⁠⁠ graduate programs, specifically the ⁠⁠GPLLM⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠LL.M.⁠⁠ She coaches and advises them in their orientation to, and engagement with, the rigorous recruitment processes for future law licensing candidates, as well as on their licensing processes. In particular, fostering communities of kindness and belonging through mentorship, networking, and transparent dialogue are at the heart of her work.

Tony Albrecht, a former litigator and founder of CONTENDER, shares insights on how lawyers can effectively use LinkedIn to build trust and visibility. He emphasizes the importance of viewing LinkedIn as a platform for genuine engagement rather than just a job board. Albrecht discusses his career shift towards legal marketing and the lessons learned from pivoting careers. His advice is rooted in the principles of consistency, generosity, and authenticity, showcasing how meaningful connections can lead to significant opportunities.

Amanda Haverstieck is a former big law litigator turned legal writing coach, author, and founder of Writing Law Tutors LLC. After 20 years of writing for high-stakes litigation, she now helps lawyers and law students sharpen their writing skills, build confidence, and communicate more clearly and effectively.She is the author of Dear 1L: Notes to Nurture a New Legal Writer, a bestselling guide for new law students. Through one-on-one coaching and upcoming courses, Amanda is working to change how legal writing is taught, making it more accessible, supportive, and practical for everyone in the legal profession.Amanda is also a proud mother of three and brings the same warmth and insight from her personal life into her teaching. Whether you are a junior litigator, a 1L student, or someone preparing to enter law school, Amanda’s work is all about helping you grow into the writer and lawyer you want to become. Visit writinglawtutors.com.

Abdi Aidid researches and teaches in the areas of civil procedure, torts, and law & technology at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.He received his B.A. from the University of Toronto, his J.D. from Yale Law School and his LL.M from the Faculty of Law. Professor Aidid previously practiced litigation and arbitration at Covington & Burling LLP in New York City and most recently served as the VP, Legal Research at Blue J, where he oversaw the development of machine learning-enabled research and analytics tools.