A note from an IBA scholarship winner

Luiza Coelho Guindani

Souto Correa Advogados, São Paulo

luiza.guindani@soutocorrea.com.br

Attending the IBA Annual Conference in Toronto as a scholarship recipient was one of the most rewarding professional experiences I have ever had, mainly because of the chance to participate in the entire programme alongside other scholars. 

Each IBA committee selects one young lawyer as a scholar and, as such, the group is made up of individuals from a wide range of countries and backgrounds. As scholarship recipients, we were invited to attend the conference and to participate in the young lawyers training on Saturday. 

The discussions outside of the conference

Many of us arrived a day early and stayed at the same hotel, which made the first interactions more natural. From the first evening, during an informal dinner, conversations started to flow. Over the next few days, smaller groups formed and became a reference point throughout the conference. We would meet before heading to the venue, walk together and often regroup afterwards.

Our discussions were practical and focused on day-to-day issues, such as how firms organise client teams, how different offices implement artificial intelligence (AI) tools and how various markets approach service delivery. The fact that the group represented a mix of jurisdictions made these exchanges particularly useful, as we were able to compare approaches in a concrete way. These conversations have continued after the conference, with the sharing of materials and discussions about developments in our respective countries. 

The young lawyers training

The young lawyers training on Saturday was one of the highlights. It is a full-day programme designed specifically for early career lawyers, and it brings together the scholarship group in a more structured setting. The format helped break down any initial barriers and created a sense that we were a collective early on, which carried into the rest of the week. 

The conference

From Monday onwards, the programme followed the usual format, with multiple parallel sessions across different practice areas. Networking was a constant part of the experience and having the scholarship group as a reference made a clear difference in this regard. We often attended events together, introduced each other to new contacts and moved between receptions as a group. Evening receptions hosted by law firms took place across the city, and moving between events became part of the routine. These settings allowed for direct conversations with lawyers from both local and international offices, often in a more informal way, and being part of the scholarship group created a natural way to approach and engage with others.

The rule of law sessions added a different perspective. The discussions focused on institutions, accountability and participation, helping to place many of the technical discussions into a broader context. Another important aspect of the scholarship programme is that each scholar is paired with a ‘buddy’ from the same committee. The buddies helped identify relevant sessions, made introductions and shared practical guidance on how to make the most of the programme. 

For me, the most relevant part was the experience of being part of the cohort itself and the opportunity to build connections with lawyers from different jurisdictions, which have continued well beyond the conference. I am already looking forward to next year and to meeting the newest group of scholars.