*“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” — Micah 6:8
“The core of the rule of law is that all persons and authorities within the state, whether public or private, should be bound by and entitled to the benefit of laws publicly made.” — Lord Bingham, The Rule of Law (2010)
I’m Manuel — 41 years old, husband, father, follower of Christ, and an aspiring barrister, with over 14 years of experience in global shipping and logistics.
Before beginning my legal journey, I spent over a decade working in global shipping and logistics — a fast-moving world of contracts, problem-solving, compliance, and high-stakes detail. It taught me discipline, accountability, and how to operate under pressure, but it also made something clear: I was being drawn toward a vocation I had carried in my heart for years — the Bar.
I’ve always been attracted to advocacy, justice, and the craft of persuasion. Now, after more than a decade working in industry, I’m embracing the calling I once set aside: a career at the Bar, shaped by faith, reason, and service.
Alongside study, I’m navigating life as a husband and dad, balancing law school deadlines with bedtime stories, case notes with family time, and ambition with the responsibilities God has entrusted to me. My legal journey is not just academic — it’s vocational, spiritual, and personal.
This blog is where I document that transition: from logistics desks to legal texts, from commercial negotiations to courtroom training, from career certainty to calling. Here I share reflections on studying law later in life, preparing for the Bar, integrating faith and justice, and living out purpose in family, work, and service.
Whether you’re already in law, exploring a career change, or balancing faith with ambition, you’re welcome here. Let’s explore what it means to pursue the Bar with integrity, build a life of service, and carry both belief and briefs into the courtroom.
I hope you’ll join me — and perhaps we’ll raise the bar, together.
Briefs, Belief and the Bar 