In
today’s
rapidly
evolving
legal
landscape,
especially
in
the
niche
but
growing
field
of
cryptocurrency
law,
having
the
right
mindset
and
strategy
can
make
all
the
difference.
Justin
Wales,
head
of
legal
for
the
Americas
at
Crypto.com,
brings
a
unique
perspective
to
this
space.
With
years
of
experience
both
at
a
law
firm
and
in-house,
Justin
shares
some
invaluable
lessons
on
how
to
thrive
as
a
lawyer
in
the
crypto
world.
Here
are
some
of
the
key
takeaways
from
our
recent
discussion:
1.
Embrace
Flexibility
And
Take
Risks
Early
One
of
Justin’s
most
striking
pieces
of
advice
is
about
the
importance
of
flexibility
in
your
career.
He
emphasizes
that
being
willing
to
take
risks
and
pivot
when
necessary
is
crucial,
especially
in
an
area
like
crypto,
where
the
regulatory
landscape
and
market
conditions
are
constantly
changing.
Early
in
his
career,
Justin
made
deliberate
choices
that
didn’t
always
align
with
the
conventional
path.
He
chose
to
prioritize
learning
and
experience
over
simply
hitting
billable
hours
at
his
firm.
This
unconventional
approach
allowed
him
to
build
a
broad
skill
set
across
various
areas
of
law,
including
securities,
commodities,
and
regulatory
work
—
all
of
which
are
highly
relevant
to
crypto.
For
legal
professionals
considering
a
career
in
crypto,
Justin’s
advice
is
clear:
don’t
be
afraid
to
step
outside
your
comfort
zone.
If
you’re
stuck
in
a
niche
that
doesn’t
excite
you,
it’s
worth
taking
a
calculated
risk
to
explore
other
areas.
You
don’t
need
to
be
locked
into
one
specialization
for
the
next
30
years.
The
field
of
crypto
law
rewards
those
who
are
adaptable
and
willing
to
learn.
2.
Become
A
Lifelong
Learner
And
Engage
With
The
Community
Justin
underscores
the
importance
of
continuous
learning
and
engagement
with
the
community
as
a
vital
strategy
for
success
in
the
crypto
legal
field.
Crypto
law
isn’t
static;
it’s
an
interdisciplinary
area
that
spans
multiple
legal
and
regulatory
frameworks.
Whether
it’s
understanding
the
nuances
of
state
regulations,
securities
law,
or
the
latest
developments
in
decentralized
finance
(DeFi),
staying
updated
is
non-negotiable.
But
learning
doesn’t
happen
in
a
vacuum.
Justin
advises
aspiring
crypto
lawyers
to
actively
participate
in
the
community.
This
could
mean
attending
industry
conferences
like
Consensus,
joining
online
forums,
or
simply
reaching
out
to
other
professionals
in
the
space
for
coffee
chats.
The
crypto
community
is
remarkably
open
and
collaborative,
making
it
a
fertile
ground
for
networking
and
mentorship.
Engaging
with
others
not
only
expands
your
knowledge
base
but
also
enhances
your
reputation
in
the
field.
You
don’t
need
a
long
list
of
credentials
to
make
a
mark;
genuine
curiosity
and
the
willingness
to
learn
can
set
you
apart.
3.
Self-Publishing
As
A
Strategic
Move
In
an
unusual
yet
brilliant
move,
Justin
chose
to
self-publish
his
book,
“The
Crypto
Legal
Handbook.”
This
decision
wasn’t
just
about
maintaining
control
over
content;
it
was
about
making
the
book
accessible
and
updatable
—
a
crucial
consideration
in
a
field
that
evolves
as
quickly
as
crypto.
Traditional
publishing
routes
can
be
slow
and
expensive,
with
textbooks
often
costing
hundreds
of
dollars
and
becoming
outdated
almost
as
soon
as
they
hit
the
shelves.
By
self-publishing,
Justin
ensures
that
his
book
remains
a
living
document,
reflecting
the
latest
changes
in
the
industry.
For
those
in
legal
education
or
just
starting
out
in
their
crypto
careers,
this
approach
offers
a
valuable
lesson:
there
are
always
alternative
ways
to
share
knowledge
and
build
a
reputation.
You
don’t
have
to
wait
for
a
traditional
publisher
to
validate
your
expertise.
In
the
age
of
digital
media,
self-publishing
can
be
a
powerful
tool
for
both
personal
branding
and
community
service.
Final
Thoughts:
Control
Your
Career
Narrative
Justin’s
insights
boil
down
to
one
powerful
message:
be
proactive
in
shaping
your
career.
Whether
it’s
taking
risks,
building
a
broad
skill
set,
engaging
deeply
with
your
community,
or
finding
innovative
ways
to
share
knowledge,
there
are
countless
ways
to
differentiate
yourself
in
the
fast-paced
world
of
crypto
law.
If
you’re
ready
to
dive
deeper
into
this
fascinating
field,
don’t
miss
my
full
conversation
with
Justin
Wales
on
“Notes
to
My
(Legal)
Self.”
You’ll
gain
even
more
insights
into
how
to
navigate
the
challenges
and
opportunities
in
the
world
of
crypto,
from
someone
who’s
been
on
the
front
lines
since
the
early
days.
Tune
in
to
hear
more
about
the
future
of
law
in
the
age
of
digital
currencies
and
how
you
can
be
at
the
forefront
of
this
exciting
journey.
Olga
V.
Mack
is
a
Fellow
at
CodeX,
The
Stanford
Center
for
Legal
Informatics,
and
a
Generative
AI
Editor
at
law.MIT.
Olga
embraces
legal
innovation
and
had
dedicated
her
career
to
improving
and
shaping
the
future
of
law.
She
is
convinced
that
the
legal
profession
will
emerge
even
stronger,
more
resilient,
and
more
inclusive
than
before
by
embracing
technology.
Olga
is
also
an
award-winning
general
counsel,
operations
professional,
startup
advisor,
public
speaker,
adjunct
professor,
and
entrepreneur.
She
authored Get
on
Board:
Earning
Your
Ticket
to
a
Corporate
Board
Seat, Fundamentals
of
Smart
Contract
Security,
and Blockchain
Value:
Transforming
Business
Models,
Society,
and
Communities. She
is
working
on
three
books:
Visual
IQ
for
Lawyers
(ABA
2024), The
Rise
of
Product
Lawyers:
An
Analytical
Framework
to
Systematically
Advise
Your
Clients
Throughout
the
Product
Lifecycle
(Globe
Law
and
Business
2024),
and
Legal
Operations
in
the
Age
of
AI
and
Data
(Globe
Law
and
Business
2024).
You
can
follow
Olga
on
LinkedIn
and
Twitter
@olgavmack.