Flávia Lanat Silveira
My name is Flávia Lanat Silveira and I am from Brazil. I would describe myself as proactive, responsible and dedicated to my studies. I am passionate about negotiation and mediation, and my goal is to build a career at a major law firm specializing in cross-border dispute resolution. I practiced law for eleven years before arriving at IE University, but now I am delighted to have found a fantastic academic environment to help take my career to the next level.
"IE Law School presented me with a world full of possibilities when it came to enhancing my legal skills."
Preparing for legal practice in a globalized world
Flávia’s drive to succeed saw her build a solid professional foundation in her home country of Brazil long before she made the move to Europe. By the time she landed in Madrid, she had extensive experience in her field with eleven years of legal practice already behind her. She reflects positively on the dynamic and challenging nature of her work as an associate for a prestigious Brazilian law firm in São Paulo but says that despite her incredibly busy role, she never stopped learning about her preferred field of dispute resolution.
An international approach to law had always stirred her passion and curiosity, and the idea of moving abroad was never far from her inquiring mind. After considering a range of European law schools, Flávia decided to enroll in the Master of Laws (LL.M.) because of what she saw as a world of possibilities in terms of enhancing her already extensive legal skills.
The comprehensive educational environment promised by IE Law School really caught her eye. The quality of the faculty was a big draw, but it was the opportunity to learn surrounded by students and legal practitioners from all over the world that ultimately made up Flávia’s mind. She has not been disappointed. Well aware that law firms are dealing with an ever-growing range of issues that stretch beyond national borders, she is grateful for how IE Law School is helping young lawyers practice in an ever-more globalized world.
She loves how the institution lives and breathes international knowledge and can’t imagine a better place to help her career progress. It’s not just the modern classrooms and outstanding campus facilities either. The diversity of the student body and teaching staff has had a huge influence on Flávia, who believes they share a clear common goal: to live in a better world, something she feels certain can only be achieved through education.
Even the cultural differences between her classmates have been a great source of learning, providing insight into how different countries manage their legal systems. These differing approaches allow professors to teach comparative studies, which the students can use to reflect on how their own local legal system could do things better. She also enjoys observing how certain principles remain essentially the same around the world, giving as an example third-party rights to due process in a dispute.
As for her ambitions upon completing her studies at IE Law School, Flávia wishes to take all she has learned into her specialist area; dispute resolution. She hopes to find a place at a dynamic, high-profile law firm that values teamwork and provides a superb client experience. She believes the scholarship she was awarded to study at IE Law School will be invaluable in her future job search. She has been especially thankful for the help of the Talent and Careers Department, which helps students to draft a world-class CV, search for the right position and even hone their interview techniques.
Her advice for prospective students? While she knows the application process can be a little daunting for some, she encourages potential candidates to stick with it. By taking advantage of the extensive support and advice offered by the Admissions Department (she describes her approach as “Ask, ask, ask”), Flávia was able to navigate it successfully. She also suggests reaching out to colleagues and other lawyers who have already gone through the process. Lastly, she says a strong dose of dedication and resilience are must-haves, and an ideal litmus test for a career in a highly competitive field.
