Lawyer’s Day: Students see law as means of promoting social transformation
Today, August 11, is Lawyer’s Day in Brazil, so FGV News decided to interview these two law students to understand their career aspirations, how they plan to contribute to society and even how they would like to transform the world.
As well as learning about the laws and regulations that govern society, many law students dream of changing the future and making society fairer. That is why Lucas Diettrich (a fourth-year student at the FGV Rio de Janeiro Law School) and Daniela Nomura (who is in her fifth and final year at the FGV Sao Paulo Law School) chose this profession.
Today, August 11, is Lawyer’s Day in Brazil, so FGV News decided to interview these two law students to understand their career aspirations, how they plan to contribute to society and even how they would like to transform the world.
“Law plays a key role in structuring society, establishing norms that govern the behavior of people and institutions,” says Lucas. Daniela notes that the legal field sets limits and parameters for certain behaviors and in some cases prohibits activities that are harmful to society’s well-being.
Read the full interview below.
Why did you choose to study law?
Lucas Diettrich (FGV Rio de Janeiro Law School) – I became interested in social causes at a very young age. Somehow, I always viewed the legal environment as an efficient tool for promoting the structural changes that I really desire. In fact, it would be utopian to say that, in the face of so many problems, these changes will come quickly, but I believe that the development of serious legal reasoning, committed to these issues, as Fundação Getulio Vargas advocates, is one of the possible ways to spur these changes.
Daniela Nomura (FGV Sao Paulo Law School) – I chose to study law because I see it as a tool that helps me understand how the world works. I believe that law is able to empower its professionals through knowledge that can enable the materialization of ideas and possibilities for projects of benefit to society.
How does your chosen profession contribute to society?
Lucas Diettrich (FGV Rio de Janeiro Law School) – Law plays a fundamental role in structuring society, establishing rules that govern the behavior of people and institutions. Thinking of law as a tool for social change implies recognizing its dual purpose: on the one hand, it is an instrument of social order, establishing the way in which society should be structured in light of certain objectives; and on the other hand, it is an instrument for defending individuals, establishing guidelines for upholding their fundamental rights and guarantees.
Daniela Nomura (FGV Sao Paulo Law School) – Law, with its varied and almost infinite set of rules and cases, acts as a modulator of social relations. In this sense, it sets limits on certain behaviors, provides parameters for certain behaviors and, in some cases, prohibits activities that are harmful to the well-being of society. These guidelines often serve as mechanisms for upholding justice in society and, although they sometimes restrict conduct, they are necessary to enable projects endowed with balance, security and major positive social impacts.
How do you wish to change the world in your profession?
Lucas Diettrich (FGV Rio de Janeiro Law School) – Using all the experience gained in my undergraduate studies, I intend to develop projects and initiatives aimed at modifying a state of affairs that has plagued Brazil for a long time, especially in the criminal sphere. This desire is based on my understanding of problems and injustices in our system. I would like to develop solutions using knowledge generated in academia, rather than received wisdom, in order to drive desired changes.
Daniela Nomura (FGV Sao Paulo Law School) – In my internship at a law firm and in my research, I realize on a daily basis that legal scholars are in a privileged position to help people. This is because legal knowledge grants lawyers the ability to advise and assist people with regard to queries in many different areas. I also realize that knowledge of the law enables lawyers to think about and propose innovative solutions, which positively impact the functioning of institutions and markets. Thus, I believe that by studying law and consolidating our knowledge, it is possible to contribute to society and change the world.
Visit the websites of the FGV Rio de Janeiro Law School and FGV Sao Paulo Law School to find out more about the schools.
This article is part of a special series called Transforming the World. See the other publications in the series:
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