Lawyer on Air podcast
 

WELCOME TO THE Lawyer on air podcast

I’m Catherine, the host of Lawyer on Air, the #1 podcast for legal careers in Japan. In each episode, I bring you award-winning insights and inspirational inside stories about working in law as a woman in Japan. Whether you’re dreaming of a career here or already practicing, this is your go-to guide for finding your place in Japan’s legal landscape. We’ll dive into what hiring managers look for, emerging trends in the legal market, what it takes to earn a seat on a Japanese corporate board, and how to thrive personally and professionally.

Tune in and join the Lawyer on Air community by subscribing on your favorite podcast app below.

TOPICS YOU’LL HEAR ON THE SHOW…

Navigating your legal career


Leadership in law


Life as a woman lawyer

Podcast Accolades

Best Podcast by a Kiwi Abroad | Bronze Award

2021 Quill Podcast Awards Nominee

2022 Quill Podcast Awards Nominee


Lawyer on Air is produced by award winning Jayne Nakata of PodLaunch with Jayne, winner of the BCCJ BBA Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2022.

Our special thanks to Kristen McQuillin for the design of our Lawyer on Air podcast logo! 

 Recent Episodes

Catherine O'Connell Catherine O'Connell

A Pathway to Board Success: Catherine's insights on leadership with guest host Akiyo Inoko Hewett (Part 1 of 3)

In this special session of the Lawyer on Air podcast, guest host Akiyo Inoko Hewitt, an attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia, interviews Catherine O'Connell about her path to becoming a successful board member in Japanese corporations. This is Part 1 of 3 where Akiyo asks all the questions you have been wanting to know. Akiyo bravely reached out to Catherine to ask her for this opportunity that would benefit all listeners of Lawyer on Air. In Part 1, Catherine generously shares all the steps and timelines for board readiness.

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Catherine O'Connell Catherine O'Connell

Small Seasons, Big Impact: Building a legal practice that you love in Japan with Saki Nakahara

Saki Nakahara joins us to share her story of finding her way to starting her own practice in the perfect area for her. We hear about how she spent a lot of time on the qualification she thought she should achieve because it was more difficult. However, that experience then went on to become part of a strong foundation for her true calling. If you are wondering how starting your own firm could be a chance to do the work you want as well as incorporate some of your passions, this is a fantastic episode showing a different way to work in the law in Japan.

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Catherine O'Connell Catherine O'Connell

Bridging Borders: The Diplomatic Lawyer in Japan with Kaori Oka

From her early days of wanting to be a diplomat and instead becoming a lawyer, Kaori Oka is now the diplomatic founder of Oka Fortuna Law, a law firm based in Tokyo. We follow Kaori’s exciting career path and see how time and time again she created and asked for opportunities to have the experiences she wanted not only in her career but also in her life. Kaori will surprise you with some fantastic insights into starting your own firm and being recommended for board positions.

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Catherine O'Connell Catherine O'Connell

The power of listening: Insights from Sayaka Ohashi, Lawyer and Advocate

Sayaka Ohashi, a legal counsel specialising in employment law, shares how her experience of raising three children and listening to what they have to say, has greatly improved her practice in employment law. She also encourages male lawyers to embrace child-rearing as it can make them better professionals. Her reasons are a little different from what you might be thinking (you will need to listen in!) Sayaka has had a varied career with big law firms and now running her own practice also makes time for new hobbies and even a side business!

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Catherine O'Connell Catherine O'Connell

Creating a career in cross culture communication and the IP legal industry in Japan with Yasuko Tanaka

Catherine interviews Yasuko Tanaka, a patent attorney, IP business consultant and founder of her own firm S-Cube Corporation. Yasuko shares how her own experiences and learning through lived experience of cross cultural communication in IP have led her to become a leader in this field in Japan. We explore her advice for people considering starting their own firm and discuss the growing popularity of IP law in Japan.

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Catherine O'Connell Catherine O'Connell

Create your dream solo firm that supports your passions with Monika Oyama

Monika Oyama never thought she would set up her own law practice, especially when she made partner at a firm at a young age. Listen as we hear how Monika was able to start her own firm that incorporates her “dream firm” aspects that she wrote down in a journal years ago while also contributing to causes that mean a lot to her.

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Catherine O'Connell Catherine O'Connell

From law firm owner to becoming a patent attorney in Japan with Maria Abe

Maria Abe shows us that anything is possible with a little bit of an adventurous heart and a willingness to try new things even when you are unsure. Maria has navigated the challenges of starting her career during the World Financial Crisis of 2009 and takes us on a fascinating journey of how she came to be a practicing lawyer in Japan. A truly inspirational story for anyone who is feeling like the chips are stacked against you just now.

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Catherine O'Connell Catherine O'Connell

Inspiring the next generation of lawyers with Keiko and Junko Ohara

Keiko Ohara and Junko Ohara are mother and daughter lawyers and my guests in Episode One of Season Four! If you are wondering what the journey of being a lawyer and a parent might be like and what your own kids might be thinking as you try to navigate your career, this episode will give you insights that might surprise you. It’s a really heartwarming episode that goes to show that parents and children don’t always have the full picture of a situation but that even years later you can come to an appreciation of what your parents went through.

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Catherine O'Connell Catherine O'Connell

Episode Seven: Finding your niche in the law with Yuka Hongo

There are many ways to lead a lawyer life and today’s guest has found her own niche in a part of the world and an area that suits her perfectly. Yuka Hongo of Hongo Law Office is a US qualified attorney who found her niche in Honolulu. Yuka is a perfect example that you don’t have to be loud and aggressive to be a lawyer, but that empathy and supporting people when they need it is an equally important aspect of the field. I can’t wait to be able to travel freely again and check out some of her recommendations for a trip to Hawaii!

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