# Intentional Career Planning, Becoming a "Pracademic," and the Future of International Arbitration with Dr. Kabir Duggal
Episode of Studying Law Around the World, hosted by Claudio Klaus.
Published: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT
Duration: 00:29:59
## Summary
What mistake do junior lawyers make because no one explained this? They pursue a vague goal like working in "international law" without a deliberate strategy, and they assume North American legal culture forces them to choose strictly between private practice and academia. Legal careers are shaped less by credentials and more by communication, and no one teaches that early enough. I make that invisible part of the profession visible. This week on the podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Kabir Duggal. Kabir is a partner in the international arbitration practice at Akin Gump in New York and Washington, D.C., and a longtime lecturer at Columbia Law School. Raised in the Middle East with Indian heritage, Kabir built an extraordinary academic and professional pedigree across India, Oxford, NYU, Leiden, and Harvard. Today, he is trusted with high stakes investor state and commercial disputes around the globe while remaining an active, prolific scholar. We got into how pivotal mentors steered him toward arbitration right before graduation, how to bridge common law and civil law traditions with an open mind, and how artificial intelligence and the energy transition will reshape global disputes over the next decade. The power of being a "pracademic." In North America, practice and academia are often treated as two paths that never meet. Kabir explains why international arbitration is the exception, and how combining rigorous scholarship with active dispute work makes you a sharper practitioner and a more effective teacher. Competing only with yourself. The global legal market is intensely competitive, and comparing your trajectory to your peers is a recipe for burnout. Learn how setting small, incremental daily goals in drafting and oral advocacy builds the credibility needed to earn major arbitral appointments. Bridging legal cultures. Having trained in both common law and civil law systems, Kabir shares why there is no single "better" legal tradition. Discover how recognizing universal values like trust, competence, and respect for the rule of law allows you to navigate different procedural routes to the truth. Guest: Dr. Kabir Duggal, Partner at Akin Gump, lecturer at Columbia Law School, and international arbitrator and mediator. Where to listen and how to support the show Search Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating. Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC). For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: https://studyinglawaroundtheworld.com/
## Listen
- Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/studyinglawaroundtheworld/episodes/Intentional-Career-Planning--Becoming-a-Pracademic--and-the-Future-of-International-Arbitration-with-Dr--Kabir-Duggal-e3qkohk
- Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/38a26d44/podcast/play/127606772/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-9-17%2F434349382-44100-2-77f074d9b9669.m4a
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/34QvO0swkWx4XtNxlItXWe
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/studying-law-around-the-world/id1547616885
Show page: https://claudioklaus.com/podcast
Canonical: https://claudioklaus.com/podcast/episodes/intentional-career-planning-becoming-a-pracademic-and-the-future-of-internationa.md