Season 5 Premiere: Steven Wang
Attorney at Paul, Weiss LLP and Lecturer at Harvard Law School
Steven Wang
Attorney at Paul, Weiss LLP and Lecturer at Harvard Law School
How to make it at BigLaw and teach at Harvard Law School?
By the time Steven turned 35, he already had an accomplished legal career. He’s a corporate and M&A attorney at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in the Toronto office and serves as one of the youngest adjunct lecturers at Harvard Law School (on US-China relations) and University of Toronto (on AI companies and corporate governance). Steven is also a David Rockefeller Fellow at the Trilateral Commission and sits on the board of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers and the advisory board of Canadian International Council, a leading foreign policy think tank.
Steven began his legal career at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets. He has also served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard International Law Journal.
Prior to legal practice, Steven founded a social enterprise in Asia supported by the Gates Foundation cultivating the next generation of social innovation leaders, which was recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30.
What’s his take on the skill set and mindsets law students shall focus on developing in law school to navigate and build a global legal career?
What’s his advice for the next generation of international lawyers?
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How did your journey in the law begin?
I think the experience really started with my undergraduate studies in international relations. I was very curious about the changes in global power dynamics—like the reemergence of Asia, particularly China, on the world stage—and the potential frictions with major powers like the U.S.
What interested me, from an international relations perspective, was how international law could provide a framework for mediating or navigating avoidable conflicts and potentially resolving them. From there, I explored further what rule of law meant on the ground during my four years working in Asia in the nonprofit sector.
One experience I haven’t shared much about was my time working at a legal aid clinic located in the suburbs of Beijing. The clinic provided legal aid to migrant workers—many of whom had come from rural areas to big cities—who had lost compensation for their hard labor in jobs like construction. Often, the local bosses would take advantage of the workers, complete their projects, and then disappear without paying them.
At the clinic, I saw efforts to use law, even within a very different political system, to safeguard the rights of these workers. It was inspiring to learn from public interest lawyers trying to make a tangible difference. These lawyers demonstrated that the rule of law wasn’t just an abstract concept but something that could genuinely improve the lives of vulnerable groups.
The workers also learned they had claims and rights, which they then often shared with others in their home villages, encouraging them to fight for their rights too. Those experiences planted the seeds for my decision to pursue law school, although I took some time and deferred for a few years before starting at Harvard Law School.
The work I did before law school shaped how I viewed law’s intersection with society, global affairs, and our changing world. When I eventually started law school, I felt I had a clearer sense of direction. Studying law during the Trump administration, when the rule of law was being tested in the U.S. in unique ways, provided additional perspectives. It allowed me to approach questions about the rule of law through comparative and international lenses. Those experiences have been incredibly fruitful and have shaped my understanding of how law functions in both abstract and practical terms.
You mentioned that you first started considering law as a career during college while studying international relations. Were there any other formative experiences in your personal or educational journey that shaped you to become who you are today?
I think, like many people, that search for one’s place in the world and sense of identity is very important. I immigrated to Canada from China when I was nine years old, grew up in a small town called Cambridge, Ontario, which was quite different from Cambridge, Massachusetts!
Growing up in different environments made me more aware of cultural forces and how they interact. It also made me more mindful of being in between these different cultures and worlds, and it sparked this idea of trying to serve as a kind of bridge between them. I think that theme—being a bridge—has run throughout my life. It’s made me more comfortable working in different environments and helped me develop a sense of empathy.
Seeing what my parents went through as immigrants and experiencing it myself—from being a shy little boy who didn’t speak much English to becoming more comfortable navigating Canadian society and later other parts of the world—helped me realize the many layers of identity we all carry. I’ve come to see that we shouldn’t pigeonhole people into one box. Recognizing that complexity has shaped both my personal and educational journey. It’s allowed me to see the messiness of the world, to appreciate how complicated we are as individuals, and to understand that there isn’t always one “right” way or one correct answer.
That perspective has encouraged me to stay curious and try to understand others—even when I may not necessarily agree with a particular view—by asking, “Where does this perspective come from?” I think law, in many ways, is at the intersection of these forces—intellectual, philosophical, cultural, and political. I love that it combines big ideas, like the rule of law, with practical applications that can advance justice or social justice. It fits my personality well because I see myself as both a thinker and a doer. Bringing together these strands—my background, experiences, and perspectives—has been a way for me to contribute meaningfully while navigating this space between worlds.
As one of the youngest lecturers of law at Harvard Law School, you've been working with and teaching many international lawyers. What skills should law students focus on developing in law school to navigate and build a global legal career? And how can they cultivate these skills?
It's a very interesting question. Certainly, there are a lot of practical skills. One that comes to mind, as a former teaching fellow of the Negotiations Workshop at Harvard Law School—which is an incredible program—is the skill set around negotiating and mediating.
It's helpful because it forces you to think about where everyone is coming from in a very practical sense: their interests, values, and positions. How do you find common ground? What kind of dynamic is going on in the background? How do you relate to others? How do you create a win-win solution or, if that's not possible, at least prevent a really suboptimal outcome for both parties?
That’s a valuable skill, but I’d say even more important than a particular skill is the mindset. The U.S. legal system, for example, is rooted in a common law tradition, and the American system is unique in many ways. Recognizing how people think through issues—whether it’s a judge, a government decision-maker, or a legislator—is like learning a new language. You’re not just understanding the laws but also the cultural and ideological foundations behind them. Once you reach that deeper understanding, you can engage more effectively, particularly given the global influence of the American legal system.
The real challenge then becomes figuring out your unique value in a more specific context, whether in a law firm, a classroom, or another professional setting. You might not have everything that others possess, but bear in mind you always bring something unique to the table. It’s important not to lose sight of that and to focus on how to harness it. If you're in law school, it’s worth taking classes that expand your perspective, even if they don’t seem directly practical at first.
Skills can be built over time, but having the mindset to see the bigger picture is what frames how you navigate unpredictable challenges. For instance, during my time at Harvard, I wrote a paper on constitutionalism and Confucianism. It's a fascinating topic because there’s often an argument that Chinese culture justifies top-down authoritarian rule. While there’s some truth to that, I explored another perspective: the checks and balances embedded in Confucian traditions. These include holding the sovereign accountable to the ideals of the dynasty founders, adhering to rituals, and the role of scholar-officials speaking truth to power.
This intellectual journey had me studying classical Chinese alongside Western foundations of legal thought, drawing interesting parallels between Eastern and Western traditions. It doesn’t directly impact what I do now as a corporate lawyer, but I like to think it broadened my perspective on the forces shaping our world. Sometimes, I think we can overemphasize technical skills—which are vital—but as you advance in your career, especially as a leader, that broader vision becomes invaluable. It helps you provide direction and enables one to have a greater impact.
You mentioned bridging Eastern and Western traditions through your education and your professional journey. Do you have any interesting stories to share about navigating different cultures, languages, and identities?
That’s a great question. There have been so many episodes, and it’s hard to string them all together. I immigrated to Canada as a kid and, like a lot of immigrant children, I wasn’t very in touch with my cultural heritage. I just wanted to fit in. I played street hockey, tried to learn rap, and did what I could to be part of the local scene in my small town.
When I got to Oxford University for my Master’s, it was a much more international, cosmopolitan environment. I was exposed to cultures I hadn’t encountered before and began thinking about what it means to be a citizen of the world. Later, when I went to Asia, I started connecting with my cultural identity. For example, when I first arrived in Yunnan Province to help run an education NGO, Teach for China, I expected the locals to see me as a Westernized outsider. But because my skin is darker, they assumed I was a local teacher. That allowed me to blend in, which was great. After a year of working with principals, teachers, and education officials to bring creative energy to rural education, the locals joked that I looked like a village official (or Cun Gan Bu) because I had learned their ways. It was a meaningful upgrade in their eyes to try to understand local culture.
Experiences like that helped me explore parts of my identity I hadn’t before. When I moved to the U.S., I joined the board of the Asian American law student association at Harvard Law School, one of the largest student groups of that nature in the country. That led me to reflect on what it means to be Asian within a Western context along with all these other international experiences. Now, back in Canada, I’m exploring what Canadian identity means, particularly in contrast to American identity. All of these experiences have shaped how I see myself and how I relate to others.
For example, in a class I taught on U.S.-China relations, we had students from across the spectrum. It felt like a microcosm of the complex world we live in today. Facilitating nuanced discussions in that space—on hard topics—can be challenging but also incredibly rewarding. It’s about holding space for others, even if they don’t agree. I think my experiences have given me the ability to connect with people from vastly different backgrounds and create opportunities for meaningful engagement. Whether on a personal level or in a macro sense, bridging divides is something I’m continually exploring, and I hope I can contribute, even in a small way, to that effort.
What’s your advice for the next generation of international lawyers who aspire to build a global legal career?
I think my challenge to your audience—who I’m sure are terrific lawyers and non-lawyers considering a legal career in a global context—is to live up to the fullest aspirations of what it means to be a great lawyer. Of course, you have to make a living, do right by your client, and uphold the legal profession. But I truly believe in the broader ideals: the rule of law, justice, and the opportunity to make a difference. The unique training you receive as a lawyer gives you so much potential—and with that comes responsibility.
Especially in the context being an international lawyer. This world we're living in, that again is so polarized for many different reasons. How to use that skill set, even in small places, in a group of people, with people with different cultures or backgrounds. How do you facilitate more understanding, trying to find, perhaps, even some common ground? I think that's tremendously helpful. And so, I do think it's a very noble profession.
As an international lawyer, the idea of contributing to some form of practical world peace—though perhaps elusive—is worth striving for. Even as someone working as a corporate lawyer, doing day-to-day deal work, and now delving into AI and technology, I believe that no matter where we are in the world, we can all contribute in some way.
It’s easy to get cynical or disheartened by the tragic realities we see: conflicts that persist or new ones that arise, and the fragility and at times folly of human nature. But even in the face of all that, maintaining hope and optimism is a real gift and a tremendous asset. That spirit is part of what makes a great international lawyer, drawing from the historical traditions of the profession. So, I urge your audience to keep dreaming. We have a responsibility to do so. If not you, then who?
