# Mastering Oral Advocacy, the Power of Public Service, and Following Your North Star with Karlson Leung
Episode of Studying Law Around the World, hosted by Claudio Klaus.
Published: Sat, 17 Oct 2026 02:55:18 GMT
Duration: 00:41:17
## Summary
What mistake do junior lawyers make because no one explained this? They assume that choosing a career in public service means giving up on high stakes courtroom experience, or they walk away from their dream path because the early years require navigating short term contracts. 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 Karlson Leung. Karlson brings a truly remarkable global background to the table. After earning a master's degree at the University of Oxford and a JD from the University of Toronto, his journey took him through the UK House of Commons, the United Nations in Beijing, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, and prestigious barristers' chambers in London as a Harold G. Fox Scholar. Today, following years as a constitutional and civil litigator, he serves as a Special Advisor and Counsel at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General (speaking on the show strictly in his personal capacity). We got into the art of English and Canadian courtroom advocacy, how international tribunals operate on the ground, and why a career in public service offers unmatched opportunities for young lawyers to carry their own files and make a tangible impact early on. The English advocacy bootcamp. As a Harold G. Fox Scholar in London, Karlson saw the UK's bifurcated legal system up close. He explains how British barristers operate as courtroom specialists, sometimes absorbing complex briefs just 48 hours before a hearing, and why the "five Ps" (proper preparation prevents poor performance) are the ultimate foundation of oral storytelling. Applying litigation skills to broader strategy. Moving from courtroom advocacy to high level advisory work requires a broader perspective. Discover how foundational litigation skills like risk mitigation, issue spotting, and negotiation translate directly into solving complex institutional puzzles and engaging community stakeholders. The public service advantage. Without the rigid constraints of private billable hours, public sector lawyers get the breathing room to think deeply about complex, meaningful legal issues. Karlson shares how public law allowed him to gain incredible on-your-feet experience, arguing before the Superior Court of Justice, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada in his very first year of practice. Guest: Karlson Leung, public sector lawyer, former Harold G. Fox Scholar, and international law researcher. Note: Karlson Leung appeared on this episode strictly in his personal capacity. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed during the conversation belong solely to him and do not represent the views or positions of his employer, the Ministry of the Attorney General, or the Government of Ontario. 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/Mastering-Oral-Advocacy--the-Power-of-Public-Service--and-Following-Your-North-Star-with-Karlson-Leung-e3qknif
- Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/38a26d44/podcast/play/127605775/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-9-17%2F434348001-44100-2-ab7299d8c7283.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/mastering-oral-advocacy-the-power-of-public-service-and-following-your-north-sta.md