In reality, for most Brazilian researchers, it is still essential to reconcile academic life with professional life. This situation is not ideal, as it exposes the researcher to constant stress, whether from work or research. In the legal field, this is even more true, since both activities require constant analysis.

Within this context, in the quest to reconcile academic and professional activity, many researchers seek points of intersection between research and work. This could be due to the similarity of the research topic to the work topic, or even the use of research as a way to generate income.

This excerpt serves not only to encourage researchers to think about new strategies for reconciling academic and professional life by leveraging skills from one field in the other, but, above all, for aspiring researchers, those who are afraid to enter academic life for fear of not being able to reconcile the two. 

It's a natural concern, without a doubt. This demonstrates a keen sense of responsibility that is essential for both academics and professionals. But, beyond the possibility of reconciliation, the use of knowledge acquired in academia shows that, by studying theory, one is also honing essential skills for the job market.

Reconciling study material with work material

The main way we've found to reconcile academia with our profession is by researching the field we work in. For example, if I'm a civil lawyer specializing in real estate law, it's natural that I would seek to study topics related to real estate law. Therefore, while I'm researching for academia, I'm also developing my knowledge in the professional area.

This form of conciliation is widely used in advisory law practice, which requires lawyers to have in-depth knowledge of their area of ​​expertise. When hiring an advisory lawyer, it is expected that they will already have the answers ready. Therefore, the professional is required to be constantly studying and, above all, up-to-date.

This updating, obviously, can be achieved through scientific study, which will keep the professional in touch with the most current developments not only in Brazilian law, but in the world. Beyond understanding the details of the law and jurisprudence, research gives the consulting lawyer the advantage of having a vision of the future, of which theories are being developed and could be introduced in Brazil.

Even for lawyers who don't have a specific area of ​​expertise, or who practice more general litigation, research still has much to offer. This includes the opportunity to specialize in a subject of interest, as well as the indirect benefits of the academic environment.

Better argumentation: presenting ideas more clearly.

In addition to allowing us to delve deeper into legal knowledge, research greatly assists us in organizing ideas, especially in the study of logic. Typically, in academia, the study of logic is linked to methodology, as it is closely related to the way research itself is structured.

Logic is a science whose main purpose is the rational structuring of ideas, in the words of Professor Douglas N. Walton: "(...). Traditionally, logical theory tends to emphasize semantic relations, that is, the relations between sets of true or false propositions. (...). Logical theory, then, is basically concerned with the propositions that constitute the argument."

When we talk about the intermediate objectives of research, in essence, in logical terms, we are talking about these "propositions." In more technical language, they are basically the premises. These propositions, when structured in a text, lead to a conclusion, which is precisely the outcome of a thesis.

Within logic, there is pragmatic logic, which shares the same concern with the relationship between propositions, but refines the study and focuses it on the critical analysis of arguments, whether from the academic field or from everyday life. The same rules that make up logic are also present in pragmatic logic, but with a perspective applied to reality.

Therefore, it becomes clear that by developing research and delving deeper into the study of logic, legal professionals will naturally be better able to develop arguments, as well as critically analyze arguments that contradict their own ideas.

Now, a litigating lawyer operates directly within this logic. When writing a defense or a reply, such a professional is analyzing an argument and needs tools to refute it, which are provided by logic, primarily pragmatics.

In the future, this blog will discuss logical pragmatics, presenting appropriate ways to present arguments, as well as what fallacies are. If this topic interests you, then subscribe to our newsletter and closely follow the IDP blog.

Beyond argumentative analysis, critical analysis of information is another beneficial aspect of research, which has a direct impact on professional life.

Greater efficiency in data research and analysis.

One of the greatest benefits of academic study is precisely the research itself. Not only academics conduct research; it's an important part of the work done by lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and public defenders. The constant legislative changes, and even more so the changes in jurisprudential interpretation, necessitate continuous research.

In contemporary times, we no longer have the problem of access to information; it is abundant and easily accessible via the internet. Our current problem is filtering this information based on its sources; recognizing and having reliable sources is essential. Beyond the reliability of the sources, it is imperative that professionals know how to analyze them appropriately and effectively.

Academic research makes a significant contribution to the professional environment: a skilled academic, accustomed to research, will have access to more accurate and reliable sources. Furthermore, they will possess the critical thinking skills to analyze the source of information and verify its reliability. It is not uncommon for information on the internet to be passed off as science; such "traps" will be more easily detected by academic professionals.

In scientific research, it is not uncommon for academics to encounter diverse data and need to analyze it critically. Furthermore, they need to catalog and classify it appropriately. This forces legal professionals to become familiar with organizational tools that will certainly be used in their professional lives, especially in the preparation and presentation of reports.

Conclusion: yes, it is possible.

The logic of our contemporary world is associated with efficiency, as described by the Korean sociologist Byung Chul Han. We don't want to waste time on something we don't see as beneficial. It is precisely because we view academia as only beneficial for the diploma, that the path is arduous and without any immediate gain, that we often distance ourselves from scientific research.

But that's not true. As discussed above, academic research brings multiple benefits beyond a degree. Internalizing this helps us to be more committed to reconciling research with work.

In any case, to make this balance even easier and more palatable, it is essential to choose a good educational institution with versatile curricula for an increasingly busy work schedule. The ideal institution for this is IDP with its hybrid postgraduate programs, which offer both in-person and online classes, both equally beneficial and with an experienced and up-to-date faculty. Don't waste time, choose IDP and see how it's possible to reconcile professional life and theory. 

References

HAN, Byung-Chul. The Burnout Society . Translated by Enio Paulo Giachini. Petrópolis, RJ: Vozes, 2023.

WALTON, Douglas N. Informal Logic: A Handbook of Critical Argumentation. Translated by Fernando Santos. SP: WMF Martins Fontes, 2012.