Interview with Teodor Imparatu – Interaction with JGV & Associates – “I believe it was one of the best interactions I have had.”
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A LAW STUDENT COMPARED TO OTHER FACULTIES?
I believe that being a law student is a unique experience, beyond the daily pages of legislation read and the cliché Latin phrases. Law school becomes a way of life, where the everyday starts to take on legal aspects. You begin to notice things that were previously indifferent to you, and for the first time, you feel that the arguments you present in any discussion gain legitimacy.
The faculty offers you the possibility to study various fields, making you feel more informed than perhaps other students because everything has a legal underpinning that first requires understanding the social phenomenon and only then applying the legal norms.
HOW DID THIS COMPETITION HELP YOU DEVELOP YOUR LAWYER SKILLS AND APPLY THE THEORY LEARNED AT SCHOOL IN PRACTICE?
I can certainly say it was a unique experience for me. I learned that to win a case, you must truly believe in the cause you are fighting for. Obstacles are everywhere, and you have to be careful not to trip yourself up, as the opposing side can always highlight your mistake or use the argument you suggested, perhaps even unintentionally.
Regarding the knowledge gained from school, I can say it is incredibly important and has helped me a lot to identify arguments in favor of the cause and to anticipate potential defenses from the opponents. However, unfortunately, it is not enough. A real case requires much more knowledge than the legal institutions taught in lecture halls, and it is crucial to be self-taught and learn from multiple sources, without limiting yourself to the mandatory bibliography.
HOW IMPORTANT IS INTERACTION WITH THE "REAL WORLD OF LAW" (LAW FIRMS, REAL CASES, COURTS) FOR A STUDENT?
Any kind of contact with the legal world is very important for shaping yourself as a legal professional. There comes a moment when you realize that one day, the case before you is not just a simple seminar exercise; the people in front of you are real, and the clients have placed their “fate” in your hands.
Beyond the responsibility you become aware of, it is essential to try each profession as much as possible to truly understand what represents you. Until you have real contact with the work environment, it is difficult to realize the pros and cons relative to your personality, as everyone has a different reference system. The advantage when you are a student is that you can still try everything without being held accountable for it; you are like in a glass globe. You won’t be judging the case, but you can do an exercise of imagination to see what solution you would have given. You don’t represent the client, but you can think concretely about what arguments would be useful in the case. And the examples can continue.
Certainly, it gives you a much better chance to choose the path that appeals to you the most.
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU FACED DURING THE PROCESS AND HOW DID YOU HANDLE IT?
Lack of experience and emotions. It was the first time I was going to plead before a jury, aware that there was a whole room watching us. Initially, I admit I was more focused on how I expressed myself, the tone of my voice, the arguments I presented to avoid making any gross errors, but after a while, everything became natural, and the replies and rebuttals flowed naturally. The situation did not become more relaxed, but my attention was entirely captured by the plea, so I saw and heard nothing else but the court’s questions and communication with the defendants.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THIS COMPETITION AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO APPLY THESE LESSONS IN YOUR LAWYER CAREER?
WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU CONSIDER ESSENTIAL FOR A LAWYER DEALING WITH PERSONAL INJURY CASES?
I believe that a lawyer in this field must be human. They need to empathize with the victims, understand their pain. However, no matter how emotional the cases are, they must also have a more detached attitude so that they are not easily affected by the cases they receive.
WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT STRATEGY YOU USED IN YOUR CASE AND WHY WAS IT EFFECTIVE?
From the beginning, we decided to have specific responses to the arguments presented by the opposing side and try to neutralize the defenses they invoked, one by one. Knowing the case very well and being in the position of the plaintiff, it was necessary to adopt a spontaneous and offensive style. This helped us create a sense of credibility for both the jury and the audience.