Season 5: Episode 6: Fernanda Flores

Director at International Center for Dispute Resolution in Los Angeles

Fernanda Flores

Director at International Center for Dispute Resolution in Los Angeles

How to get a job in international dispute resolution as a LLM?

Fernanda started her LLM during the pandemic, but that doesn’t stop her from making the most of her networking opportunities with peers and professors. A friend’s tip led her to a mediator position with the LA court system, which she successfully turned into a career in dispute resolution. Today she is the Director of International Center for Dispute Resolution.

How did she leverage her language skills and international experience in applying jobs in the US?

How did she turn the pro bono position into her first paid and permanent position in the U.S.?

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Where did you grow up? And why did you choose to study law?

So I grew up in the South of Brazil.  Brazil is a developing country, and unfortunately, we witness a lot of injustice there. When I was a teenager, I realized that law was a way to bring dignity and social justice to people and help them access their rights. And I’m the first lawyer in my family.

What languages do you speak? And what do you do as a multilingual lawyer?

My native language is Portuguese. I also speak English and Spanish, as Spanish is close to Portuguese. I’m currently learning Italian. I also studied German for about three years.

I work as the Director of International Center for Dispute Resolution in Los Angeles. In the LA area, being multilingual helps me find solutions that US lawyers might not consider. I bring a different perspective and contribute to the solution process. In my work, understanding and speaking with people from other cultures is very important.

When working with people, it's crucial to understand how to approach them and read their reactions. This human experience is vital, especially when dealing with language or cultural barriers. Having lived here for a few years, my language skills allow me to navigate both cultures effectively to better assist people.

Could you give us an example of how to navigate the linguistic or cultural barriers in your role?

One day, we had a client who was a Spanish speaker. She said she understood English, but it was clear she was uncomfortable with how the proceedings were being conducted in English. So, I decided to speak with my colleague and began speaking Spanish with her. It was very important for her; she felt more secure and was able to cooperate better. She was more comfortable and followed the process more effectively when we communicated in her native language.

Why did you choose to study law in the United States? And what are the takeaways from your U.S. legal education?

Because I really wanted to gain this combination of experience, I was looking to advance my career and was very interested in dispute resolution at the time. I thought and still believe that the U.S. would be the best place to develop these skills.

The key takeaways were the introduction to the U.S. legal system and exposure to U.S. culture. This foundation was crucial for starting my career here. Although the opportunities for gaining experience were not as straightforward as I initially thought, the education and cross-cultural exposure were invaluable. My focus in the LLM program was dispute resolution, and interacting with classmates from around the world provided me with the tools to be where I am now.

What prompts you to choose to focus your practice in dispute resolution?

I chose this path because of a significant change in Brazil’s civil procedure rules in 2015. It became mandatory to use mediation and other dispute resolution methods before bringing a lawsuit to court. I was very interested in this development and wanted to study it further. I believe my profile is suited for bringing people together; I truly think we can achieve more as a group than individuals. This method intrigued me because it allows people to make their own decisions. Additionally, since it’s an international approach, it will benefit my career if I decide to return to Brazil or move to Europe. It’s something I can use anywhere in the world.

How did you find your first job in the United States?

I found it through USC, which provided a list of institutions and organizations that have openings. I started doing pro bono through a class where the professor mentioned various organizations where we could start working. I began working at this organization pro bono and later transitioned to a paid position. Mediation and arbitration are tricky fields to break into, especially mediation. I found that many organizations prefer attorneys who are also mediators. Realizing this, I decided to take the bar exam more than a year after finishing my LLM. I understood that becoming an attorney here would make it easier to open doors in this field.

I basically got the position through networking, which is definitely a very American thing. In Brazil, the situation is different. It’s not something we do to get hired. Here, I had to learn to market myself. USC organized job fairs and other networking events, but unfortunately, my LLM experience was during COVID, which was a tough time.

Eventually a friend of mine from USC told me about this opportunity. She was already mediating with them, so I applied, went through the training, and then started working with them.

Is there any advice you would give your younger self?

Do not take the master’s degree in the U.S. during a pandemic! I wish I could have networked more at that time and moved to the U.S. earlier. Adjusting to a new culture and class system while studying was a lot. I would have preferred to take it step by step and enjoy my studies more.

Who is your role model in the law?

Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She’s an inspiration to me here in the U.S. She was a strong woman and one of the first women on the Supreme Court. She broke barriers and showed us that women are capable of achieving great things. I completely agree with her belief in creating more space and opportunities for everyone. That’s the ideal society I’d like to live in.