- School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University
(Graduated in March 2010) - Law program, Lund University
(Completed in January 2019) - Malmö District Court
(October 2019～October 2022) - Mercedes-Benz Sweden
(November 2022～)
Message
I pursued a legal career in Sweden after graduating from SILS. Dare to invest in your dreams!
I chose to study at SILS because I wanted to pursue my bachelor’s degree in English and I wanted to study abroad. At SILS, I broadened my horizons and enjoyed my stimulating school life.
After graduating from SILS and having worked in a Japanese bank, I moved to Sweden 2012 due to marriage. Sweden was my one-year-study-abroad destination from SILS. I mastered the Swedish language after I moved to Sweden and began studies in the law program at Lund University. I finished my law studies (LL.M) in 2019 and started to work as a law clerk at a district court. As of June 2023, I am working as Legal Specialist at Mercedes-Benz Sweden.
I wanted to continue my career even after I built my family, so we chose to live in Sweden because gender equality is high in Sweden. It was not easy to choose my career path in Sweden because I could not apply skills that I learned in Japan directly. Considering long-term career goals, I decided to specialize in law, which will give me opportunities to work in a variety of areas and develop myself. Law might not be the best subject to learn in your third language, because language skills are essential for legal expertise. But I prioritized my interest and passion and decided to try.
What I learned from SILS was very helpful for my law studies among native Swedish speakers, especially when it came to essay-writing and group work.
At Mercedes-Benz, I belong to the Legal team and use both Swedish and English. My responsibilities include drafting and reviewing various contracts, providing legal advice to all business units on many different topics, and communicating externally. I enjoy working with wider and international tasks. I continue developing myself and I’m starting a new challenge in the autumn. Alongside my work, I am a mother to two small children.
Message for (future) SILS-students: Follow your passion and dare to invest in your dreams! Don’t hesitate to change your goals if your interests or situation change. It may open doors that you have never imagined!
*This article is current as of June 2023.
