Born in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, a city predominantly populated by public servants, Maristela Oliveira dreamed of becoming a lawyer since childhood. Her passion for justice has been deeply ingrained in her since she set her eyes on the goal. While many of her university colleagues aspired to become judges, prosecutors, or police officers, she chose to pursue a career in law as an independent entrepreneur, serving her community as an attorney. After graduating from law school, she worked as an assistant to a judge and a prosecutor, which provided her with valuable real-life experience and reinforced her ultimate aspiration: to serve those in need of defense and to deliver justice to her clients as an attorney.
Realizing Her Passion
Maristela is passionate about criminal law. She loves to develop a thesis for complex cases and spends countless hours studying a case. Her motivation behind becoming a criminal lawyer was driven by her passion for justice and the desire to help those who do not have a proper voice in the legal system. She has always been fascinated by the complexities of the law, with full engagement in the challenging and dynamic nature of criminal law.
Maristela is also inspired by the idea of standing up for the rights of individuals who may have been wrongfully accused or who may not have the resources to effectively defend themselves. Her decision to specialize in criminal law was solidified during her time in law school, where she had the opportunity to work on real criminal cases and she realized the impact that a skilled and dedicated criminal lawyer can have on the outcome of a case. “I was drawn to the high stakes and intense nature of criminal defense work, and I knew that I wanted to focus my career on defending the rights of those accused of crimes,” she says.
Overall, Maristela’s motivation for becoming a criminal lawyer and specializing in this field was driven by a deep-seated belief in justice and her commitment to standing up for those who are most vulnerable in the legal system.
Establishing Her Firm
Maristela is the founding attorney, working in the areas of criminal law and human rights at her firm, Maristela Oliveira Advocacia, and she is the CEO and General Counsel at her company, MO Brazilian Advisory LLC. She founded her law office in 2018 in Brazil. In 2019, she moved to the United States and further expanded her office in Brazil and created a subsidiary company in New York state (MO Brazilian Advisory). The world was amid a pandemic and Maristela used this time to focus on her business expansion. As hearings started to take place remotely, she was able to manage both the offices in Brazil and the United States during and post the pandemic. Today, with the expansion and improved technology, her teams have greater and integrated support to her offices in Brasilia, Sao Paulo, and New York. In parallel, she has been working on legal studies and dedicated publications on law. She has published books and scientific articles in collaboration with other lawyers. Gradually, she has been consolidating her position as an international criminal attorney.
Driven by Challenges
A disruptive and innovative leader, whenever Maristela encounters something challenging, her reaction is to overcome that challenge. Her technique consists of thorough study and dedication.
Recalling the most memorable learning experience she had as an attorney, she shares the time when she was involved in a challenging litigation case that pushed her to her limits. Maristela had to dig deep into a bunch of legal stuff like documents, laws, and court cases to make a solid case for her client. As she went through this journey, she discovered how to tackle legal challenges, work well with her colleagues, and present her findings in a way that everyone can understand. This experience was not just about learning the law, but it also helped her become a better thinker and communicator, which are important skills for her job as an attorney.
“This learning experience really pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow in ways I never thought possible. It reminded me that the legal field is always evolving, and I am thankful for the knowledge and abilities I acquired during this time,” says Maristela.
Stepping up with Modern Times
We have gone through the Industrial Revolution, and the Internet Revolution, and now we are facing the Technological Revolution (Artificial Intelligence). Maristela believes that lawyers must adapt to this new technology. In her firm, she invests in updates and studies in technology. She was even a co-author of a scientific article for a technology magazine in Brazil, titled: “The Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Supreme Courts of Brazil and the United States.” This article is part of her studies in the field.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
Maristela pursues diversity as a consequence of the fight for equality. Recently, she has been a co-author in books and scientific articles that promote gender equality. She is writing, with other co-authors, the book “Empreendedoras de Lei nos Estados Unidos” (Female Legal Entrepreneurs in the USA) and she wrote a scientific article under the topic “Judgments in Brazil and Patriarchal Heritage – Analysis of the Protocol for Judgment from a Gender Perspective” published in the work “Todas da Lei”, a book authored by women jurists, focused on gender equality. In addition, she is developing three scientific articles for publication in Brazil, on law, to be published in legal journals.
Global Dreams
In the coming years, Maristela is on a mission to become a globally recognized lawyer in the fight for human rights and criminal law. She intends to invest in knowledge and technology. She is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in marketing and commercial management, focused on her field.
“Additionally, I read a lot. I have a library with a very rich collection. I am deeply inspired by powerful women such as Adena T. Friedman, Karen Lynch, Roz Brewer, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, and many others who lead successful businesses on a global scale. I aspire to become a renowned lawyer known worldwide, taking ownership of my own business just as these exceptional women do with theirs,” she concludes.
Message for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:
Entrepreneurship is the combination of extensive study, courage, and persistence. In the book Diary of a CEO, the 33 Laws of Business and Life, Steven Bartlett teaches the following: Fill your 5 buckets in the right order: What are the 5 buckets?
1 – What you know, that is, your knowledge. 2. – What you can do (your skills) 3 – Who you know (your network of contacts) 4 – What you have (your resources) 5- And what the world thinks of you (your reputation).
“We generally start our professional life by acquiring knowledge. When this knowledge is applied, we call it skill. When you have knowledge, combined with skill, you become valuable to others and your network of contacts grows. Consequently, when you have: Knowledge, skills, and a network, your access to resources expands and, once you have: knowledge, skills, a network of contacts and resources, you will gain reputation” (Steven Bartlett).
Quote: “Love is the law. Work with what you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Quote: “I love my profession and am dedicated to my work.”
Quote: “I am passionate about fighting for the rights of my clients and ensuring that they receive a fair trial and the best possible legal representation.”
Quote: “I look forward to expanding my practice globally. This goal will be achieved through study, dedication, and the necessary skills.”