Season 2: Episode 7: Nikolaos Doukellis
Associate Attorney, Investigations and White Collar Defense, Hogan Lovells
Nikolaos Doukellis
Associate Attorney, Investigations and White Collar Defense, Hogan Lovells
How did he transition from the World Bank to BigLaw?
When Nikolaos arrived in the U.S. for his LL.M, he planned to return home after graduation. However, a few weeks into the LLM, he found his classes intriguing, and he began to reassess his plan. Soon he realized that he would need to pass the bar to keep practicing law in the U.S. He took more courses after he graduated to meet the New York Bar requirement, he successfully passed the bar exam two years after he graduated. His externship at the World Bank became a permanent position, which he stayed on for five years with a short stint at PwC. Today he is an associate attorney at the Investigation, White Collar and Fraud practice at Hogan Lovells in DC.
What activities and events he attended during law school are the most helpful to develop his career? How did he get the externship at the World Bank? How did he turn his externship into a permanent position? Why did he say that law school is a journey of self-discovery?
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Tell us about your practice.
I'm currently an associate attorney at Hogan Lovells, working within the Investigations, White Collar, and Fraud group. My focus involves conducting investigations into various forms of wrongdoing, such as corruption and fraud, both domestically and internationally. I haven't been with Hogan Lovells for an extensive period, having joined about a year ago. Before this role, I dedicated around five years to working at the World Bank. During my time there, I was responsible for adjudicating cases related to fraud and corruption in projects funded by the bank. I've also had experience at PwC in the US, where I provided guidance to clients on establishing and executing integrity compliance programs.
In my journey, I would attribute Georgetown as the driving force that enabled me to pursue these various opportunities. Initially, I interned at the World Bank, thanks to the school's externship program. This internship was pivotal, as it allowed me to make connections and gain valuable experience. Through these connections and the shared experiences provided by Georgetown, I've been able to leverage these opportunities to advance my career.
What did you do before you start your LLM at Georgetown? And what should students be doing to prepare their LLM?
When I enrolled directly for the LLM, at the outset, I hadn't decided whether to take the New York bar or not. I thought of returning to Greece, my home country, to continue practicing law there. However, a few weeks into the program, I began to question this plan. I realized that I needed to be open to different possibilities. Ultimately, I didn't pursue any New York bar courses during the LLM. Initially, my intention was to focus on US white-collar crime courses and international criminal law courses. I had this ambitious idea of creating an international criminal court that would address cases of grand corruption and other similar issues. However, I later discovered that the practical implementation of such ideas can be complex and challenging, as I'm sure many of you have experienced in your academic pursuits.
Upon completing the LLM, I didn't have the required New York bar courses, but I did receive a certificate in human rights due to the courses I took in international criminal law. The remainder of my courses centered around US white-collar law. I eventually realized that in order to practice law in the US, particularly in the field of white-collar law, I would need to pass the bar exam. So, I took non-degree courses the year following the LLM to fulfill the New York bar requirements. I ended up taking the bar exam two years after completing the LLM. While this path might not be conventional, it does offer flexibility, especially for those of you interested in courses that don't directly align with bar requirements.
What activities, classes, events you attended that are the most helpful to develop your career?
When it comes to your classes, a significant portion of your curriculum should revolve around the area you intend to specialize in. This choice is pivotal in crafting the narrative or business case you'll present to recruiters or potential employers, demonstrating why they should choose you. While emphasizing experiences from your home country is essential – always make them prominent – you also need to recognize that your most recent career stage is linked with Georgetown. Thus, it's prudent to prioritize courses aligned with your chosen specialization.
With regards to other activities, I've found that one of the most valuable skills to cultivate is effective networking. Mastering the art of articulating your professional value and connecting with others is crucial. Georgetown offers numerous networking opportunities, which I suggest you take full advantage of. I understand that many, especially those more inclined toward introversion like myself, might feel uneasy about networking. However, this skill is integral in the American professional landscape. Building swift and meaningful relationships with people, even those you've just met, is often crucial.
How did you get your first job? And what advice do you have for internationally trained lawyers who are seeking internships or jobs in the United States?
At the outset, it's worth noting that I entered the LLM program with about a year and a half of professional experience in Greece, which is important context to consider. I was able to turn my externship into my first job in the U.S. I pursued the externship during the spring semester at the World Bank.
The externship's commitment was around 20 hours a week. I planned ahead. During that semester, I had completed all my courses except for one that had a writing requirement. This meant that I needed to carefully manage my time. While it might seem daunting to balance classes, the externship, and multiple papers, it's not as overwhelming as it sounds. The papers vary in nature, and they aren't all extensive theses.
Externships are particularly beneficial for those with limited professional experience. They not only provide practical exposure but also enhance your profile by associating you with a professional entity like a law firm, NGO, or international organization.
Allocating time to research potential contacts and crafting tailored emails is a good strategy. The Graduate Careers Office offers valuable resources, including email templates and conversation starters. These resources provide a strong foundation for outreach.
In my experience, reaching out to more senior professionals with common connections. Mentioning your law school affiliation or your alignment with their practice area can also help initiate conversations. If you have multiple points of connection from previous work or projects, you may get more responses. It's advisable to dedicate some time each week to these efforts.
What is your most meaningful experience during law school?
My time at law school is a journey of self-discovery and the building profound relationships. Reflecting on it, and circling back to the topic of planning and time management, especially given how intense the program is, I learned more about myself. It was a journey of self-discovery, in the sense that there were critical decisions for, you know, my personal life and my career to be made. Very little time. Very important decisions to be made. Select out of the available options that there are at every step of the way. That’s when I personally just realized what really mattered to me and what didn’t matter to me.
