Over seven years ago, The Alchemist inspired me to take the leap and start my own law firm. The book tells the story of a shepherd named Santiago on his journey to see the pyramids in Egypt. Along the way, he meets a crystal merchant whose dream is to travel to Mecca. The crystal merchant chooses not to go, because he’s scared of change: if he realizes his dream, what else will he have to live for? His fear has become a self-fulfilling prophecy, but Santiago shows him the value in pursuing his dreams.

As someone who loves to travel, the lessons in the book resonated with me. Everywhere I’ve been and the people I have met along the way have taught me something new about the world and life. My travel guide BalkanEyes merges my interest in international criminal law and love of travel, exploring the former Yugoslavia and the complex legal issues in its recent history. I’ve learned through personal experience to live each day fully, but The Alchemist gave me an important reminder not to let fear stand in the way of my dreams. 

At the time I read it, I realized that in order to focus on the cases I believe in and to feel connected to the individuals and small businesses I wanted to serve, I would need to start my own practice. Alchemy is my vision of what a law firm should be: an accessible resource, here to provide context and guidance, so you can make informed legal decisions on your own journey.◼