Studying Law Around the World

Jay Baykara is the CEO of KSI Law, a firm that operates in the creditor space. He focuses on aligning legal services with the goals of creditors by understanding their needs and delivering outcomes that reflect those priorities. He also explores the use of technologies like machine learning to support legal strategy and improve decision-making.He has trial and appellate experience and has appeared before various tribunals and all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2024, Lexpert named him one of the 'Lawyers to Watch.' Jay holds a B.A. from York University, an LL.B. from the University of Manchester, completed a J.D. exchange at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and earned an LL.M. from the University of Toronto.

Laura Frederick is a contracts lawyer turned entrepreneur who has spent 25+ years practicing law across the globe—from San Francisco to Singapore—at top firms like Morrison & Foerster and leading commercial deals at Tesla.In 2020, she started a 30-day LinkedIn challenge sharing contract tips—and it changed everything. Her posts, paired with her signature contract-themed cartoons, gained massive attention, leading her to write the bestselling book "Practical Tips on How to Contract" (now in its second edition).She then launched How to Contract, a training platform that helps lawyers and in-house teams master real-world drafting and negotiation. She also created ContractsCon, a one-of-a-kind contract training event where speakers dress as characters like Sherlock Holmes and Mary Poppins!In this episode, Laura shares her unexpected career journey, how she overcame setbacks, why LinkedIn transformed her career, and what she’s learned about law, business, and life along the way.

Jeffery Lamont is the President of Lamont Wealth Strategies. In 1998, Jeffery Lamont followed in his father Ray’s footsteps and began his career in the financial services industry. Over the past 26+ years, he has helped entrepreneurs, lawyers, and other professionals build, preserve, and transition their wealth strategically. A consistent Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) qualifier—with multiple achievements at the prestigious Court of the Table level—Jeffery has established himself as a trusted expert in financial planning, tax strategies, and wealth management. In 2015, he founded Lamont Wealth Strategies, recognizing the unique financial challenges that lawyers face. His firm specializes in helping lawyers take control of their financial future, leveraging tailored strategies and a team of tax, accounting, and financial professionals to ensure that lawyers—who work so hard for their money—get their money working harder for them. Expanding on his mission to educate and empower legal professionals, Jeffery co-founded The Wealthy Lawyer Podcast, a bi-weekly show dedicated to business development, practice management, and long-term financial success for lawyers. Through this platform, he shares insights and strategies to help lawyers achieve financial independence sooner and build lasting legacies. Jeffery lives in Oakville with his wife, Colleen, their two sons, Jack and Harry, and their daughter, Bridget. When he’s not working with clients or growing his business, he enjoys traveling, golfing, and coaching baseball.

Bill Denstedt is a partner at Loopstra Nixon LLP, where he specializes in all aspects of real estate transactions. With a client-focused approach and a commitment to leveraging new technologies, Bill ensures seamless and efficient service in every transaction.Before joining Loopstra Nixon, Bill was a Founding Partner of Realty Law, a firm dedicated to providing real estate services across Ontario. His extensive background in real estate law is complemented by his earlier experience in civil litigation, where he appeared before the Ontario Superior Court and at Examinations for Discovery. This litigation experience provides him with valuable insights when navigating complex real estate matters.Bill began his legal education at the University of Melbourne in Australia before returning to Ontario to complete his Juris Doctor at the University of Windsor. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University. In addition to his legal practice, Bill serves as the Real Estate Chair on the Toronto Law Journal Editorial Board, published by the Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA).Outside of work, Bill enjoys both traditional and digital competition—balancing his passion for hockey with his love for high-level competitive gaming. He is also an avid traveler, with recent trips to England and Scotland.

Irina is a dedicated legal career coach specializing in helping aspiring and practicing lawyers build successful, fulfilling careers in Canada. With experience as an internationally trained paralegal, an Ontario-licensed lawyer, and a legal recruiter, she understands the unique challenges legal professionals face in the job market.Motivated by a passion for guiding lawyers toward career success, Irina founded Mui Coaching, where she provides comprehensive and personalized support. She helps legal professionals land roles that align with their goals, gain clarity in their career paths, and maximize their earning potential.You can connect with Irina here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinamui/Book a Free Consultation: https://app.practice.do/me/irina-mui/book/discovery-call-with-irinaJoin Legal Job Canada LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14320058/Website: https://www.muicoaching.com/Email: irinam@muicoaching.com

Gregg Schoenberg has built a diverse career over the past 30+ years, holding multiple professional roles, including legislative aide, government affairs representative, investment banker, crisis consultant, media start-up founder, content creator, angel and crypto investor, and corporate strategy advisor.His experience across industries has provided him with valuable knowledge and insights that he applies to his coaching and mentorship practice. It has also enabled him to cultivate meaningful relationships with individuals around the world who have generously shared their wisdom with him.In addition to working with his clients, he advises a global macro hedge fund, serves on the board of directors of a music technology company, and collaborates with a local non-profit to provide need-based college scholarships for young adults in his community.He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management.Links:What I Learned From Coaching Jay Gatsby and Nick CarrawaySun Tzu's Guide to Career Reinvention

Syeda Nazifa Nawroj, Esq. is a Silicon Valley corporate lawyer specializing in Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). With experience at top firms like DLA Piper and Fenwick & West, she has helped founders, investors, and private businesses navigate every stage of growth—from startup to successful exit.Now leading Empowering Legal Solutions PC, Syeda focuses on guiding small to mid-sized businesses through M&A and providing strategic corporate advice. Throughout her career, she has worked on over 35 M&A deals, totaling close to $3 billion.She is also the author of Sell Your Start-Up: A Founder’s Guide to Navigate and Win at M&A. She earned her J.D. from NYU School of Law, where she served on the NYU Law Review, and her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College.

In this third special "series within a series" episode, the tables turn once again as your host, Claudio Klaus, steps into the guest seat to share his experiences from his first semester at a Canadian law school and his journey navigating the Canadian job market. Co-hosted by ⁠⁠Erika Bailey⁠⁠, who has dedicated nearly 25 years serving the ⁠⁠University of Toronto⁠⁠, most recently supporting NCA internationally trained lawyers and law students at the ⁠⁠Faculty of Law’s⁠⁠ GPLLM and LLM. The third episode, "Navigating New Beginnings: First Semester and Job Searching in Canada," dives into Claudio's personal story of adjusting to the academic challenges of law school while taking his first steps toward building a legal career in Canada. He discusses the highs and lows of juggling coursework, networking, and job applications, offering insights into what it really takes to start a new chapter in an unfamiliar country. This episode provides an honest and practical look at how to balance academic life, cultural adjustments, and career ambitions. It's perfect for internationally trained lawyers, students, and anyone curious about the realities of job searching in Canada as a newcomer. Bio: ⁠⁠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.

Luciana is a dual-qualified lawyer licensed to practice law in Ontario (Canada) and Brazil. She was admitted to the Brazilian bar in 2011, where she gained extensive experience over approximately 8 years. Initially, she worked as a litigator in the financial industry for 5 years before transitioning to an In-House counsel position. During her time in Brazil, Luciana played a significant role in one of South America's largest tailings dam collapse cases, specializing in mass-tort litigation and crisis management. She made valuable contributions to the crisis committee by overseeing 15,000 lawsuits through external counsels, conducting individual and collective settlement negotiations, and implementing a procedural strategy that resulted in a groundbreaking legal decision.Luciana became a member of the Ontario Bar in 2023 after relocating to Canada. As part of her licensing process, she obtained her LLM degree at the University of Toronto and completed her articling term at a prestigious law firm on Bay Street. Luciana returned to an in-house role following her call to the bar, when she joined Philips Canada as Legal Counsel.

Sukhi Alberga⁠ is a Canadian lawyer with a passion for innovation and supporting growth-driven enterprises, and extensive experience in the business and health sectors. She holds an Honours Bachelor’s from the University of Toronto, a Juris Doctor from Bond University, and a Health Law certificate from Osgoode Hall Law School. She founded ⁠Bridging Legal Solutions⁠, Canada’s first multidisciplinary practice combining business law, health law, HR, and accounting services. Sukhi also created ⁠Counselurdocs⁠, an online platform simplifying complex business agreements for startups and professionals. She chairs the Canadian Bar Association’s ⁠Legal Futures Subcommittee⁠ and hosts The ⁠BLS Podcast⁠, featuring trailblazers in business and innovation. When she’s not driving change in the legal world, Sukhi enjoys hiking, bowling, and movies with her twins.