Dive into the inspiring journey of Akiko Kawaguchi, a true pioneer in the Japanese legal world. Akiko shares her groundbreaking path of becoming the first Japanese qualified lawyer at Mitsubishi Corporation. In this episode, Akiko reflects on the historical events that shaped her pursuit of justice and logic, her courageous leap into the blue ocean of in-house counsel, and her belief in the transformative power of young minds. Tune in to discover how Akiko's passion for curiosity, continuous learning and embracing new challenges is shaping the future of law.

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.

I am thrilled to welcome Olga V. Mack, a renowned contributor to thought leadership on law and tech to the Lawyer on Air podcast. Olga takes us on a captivating journey, sharing her experiences from integrating art, science, and law to her impactful presence on LinkedIn and the evolution of her own podcast, "Notes to My Legal Self." Join us as we delve into her alternative to mentorship, AI innovation, and the power of individual excellence in the legal landscape. If like Olga, you do not like to wait in line, learn how you can be at the forefront of the exciting changes happening in the legal industry today.

Madoka Shimada is Partner at Nishimura and Asahi, one of the “Big Four” law firms in Japan. You might have heard some things about what it’s like to work there but Madoka shares some of the innovations and how she has carved out a unique career for herself with her interesting combination of qualifications.

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.

Vivien Clancy has a wealth of experience in the legal operations space which she brings to her current position in the Tokyo office of Herbert Smith Freehills. Vivien’s adventures and zest for life have all contributed to her fascinating career experiences. It goes to show that all experiences lead you to that next iteration of your career. If you are considering a legal operations role and wondering where to start, then this is the episode for you.

Yuka Yamada has taken on an exciting adjacent working path in addition to being General Counsel, Head of Legal and Compliance at Mercedez-Benz Finance Japan, she is also Counsel at GI&T Law Firm. This is really an unusual opportunity and yet another way to do law differently. We are thrilled to bring you this episode to hear more about how Yuka is able to do this and what has been her career path to date to enable such a fantastic way of working.

If you have finished your law degree but are not sure if you want to work as a “lawyer”, you might consider going to an in-house role such as Tomoko Konishi has done. Tomoko has had a truly varied career so far and is now working in corporate governance. With a law degree you really are able to serve society from all kinds of angles, this time Tomoko is doing it her own way, listen to hear more!

Mari Hiraizumi is a trailblazer in Japan. Not only is she the General Counsel and Executive Director for her organisation, but has been able to take on another external board role at the same time. This is truly groundbreaking with this trio of roles! If you are an in-house legal counsel and you are aiming for a board role at another company and wondering how to do that, then this is the episode for you.

Anitha Henderson is an eDiscovery attorney in Japan. Anitha shares her journey from studying law to navigating a fulfilling career that intertwines with her passion for Japanese language and culture. From her experiences in the JET program to her love for communication in Japanese, Anitha's story is one of perseverance, adaptability, and embracing imperfection in the legal profession. Join us as we delve into Anitha's insights on eDiscovery work, the impact of AI in the legal industry, and her appreciation for small moments that give meaning to life.