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Welcome to "the sexiest of the legal professions, the one that most defends people". It was in a lighthearted spirit that the President of the Portuguese Bar Association (OA), João Massano, closed the message he addressed to Iscte's new Law students, at the first lecture of the degree, led by Helena Pereira de Melo.
In an informal tone, the OA's President spoke to the students about what it means to be a lawyer. "Lawyers are the most important part of the system: citizens only enter the justice system because they have a lawyer," he stressed. He also argued that the professional must be seen as a storyteller, because the essence of the profession is to always fight, grounded in trust and in listening to people. Responding to a student who asked what advice he would give to those starting the course, João Massano suggested: "Work on your skills, your soft skills, such as empathy, as the profession increasingly requires you to be 'psychologists' to your clients."
Massano also called on students to help the OA – which is celebrating its 100th anniversary – with legal literacy work further down the line, work which "assumes that respect for everyone's rights is essential". Massano added: "Rather than just thinking about the law we have, think critically too about the law you would like to exist." The students were reminded that they are not only "studying books, but an idea of society", and that a lawyer must defend everyone, even those whom no one else will defend or who are refused representation.
João Massano warned the students about two issues that will accompany them throughout the four years of the Law degree: "the much-discussed reform of Justice" and the need to know how to talk to and relate to people, since "AI will not replace us" and nothing compares to direct conversation, Massano argued.
The presence of the OA's President at the opening of the Law course, attended by around 30 students, was highlighted as "a privilege" by Helena Pereira de Melo, who recalled the principle that "honours are given by those who can give them". The Iscte lecturer also stressed the idea that "being a lawyer means defending the rights of those who need it, of everyone".
