Interview with Mr. Ryan Crowley, Executive Director & Foreign Services Manager at Dharmniti Law Office

1. What is your educational and career background?

Answer: My education qualifications are as follows:

2002: Bachelor of Arts (Australian National University)

2004: Bachelor of Laws (Australian National University)

2007: Admitted as a Solicitor (Australian Capital Territory)

2008: Master of Laws (Legal Practice) (Australian National University)

2010: Graduate Certificate in Migration Law and Practice (Australian National University).

I began working for Dharmniti Law Office (DLO) in early 2013 as the Foreign Services Manager. Prior to working at DLO I worked for several years as a public servant for the Department of the House of Representatives in Australia’s Federal Parliament in Canberra.

2. What specific skills and expertise do you have which you think can be of benefit to DLO’s clients?

Answer: The skills and expertise I have that I think can be of benefit to DLO’s clients are as follows:

1. My bilingual language skills (Thai & English) as I can communicate with both Thai and foreign clients;
2. My tertiary educational qualifications from the Australian National University, especially my Master’s Degree;
3. My work experience in both the private and public sectors has given me and understanding of how both generally operate and the challenges facing both;
4. My 10 years of work experience at DLO has equipped me with considerable experience, practical skills and knowledge especially in terms of management; and
5. My ability to multi-task coupled with my attention to detail.

3. What skills and attributes do you think are important when DLO’s lawyers are serving its clients?

Answer: I think the following skills and attributes are important when DLO’s lawyers serve the firm’s clients:

Communication: Effective communication is critical to serving clients, especially with respect to speaking and writing.

Analytical skills: To be able to effectively serve clients, I think that DLO’s attorneys must be able to analyze complex legal issues and develop effective and practical strategies based on the needs and limitations of their client.

Confidentiality: An attorney must maintain client confidentiality with respect to sensitive information that a client shares with their lawyer.

Time management: Lawyers must be able to manage their time effectively so that they deliver the agreed work to their client according to the agreed deadline. If a lawyer fails to have effective time management it can result in several negative outcomes such as a breakdown in trust with the client or a case/ assignment t not resulting in a successful outcome.

Client service: Attorneys should provide high-quality and timely service to their clients, including prompt responses to client communications, regular updates on their case/assignment, and a willingness to listen to the client’s concerns and needs so that they can be properly addressed.

Ethics: Behaving in an ethical manner is one of the most fundamental things which a lawyer should follow. Lawyers must always act in their client’s best interests, while also adhering to high ethical standards.

4. What is your greatest achievement in your career?

Answer: Thus far, my greatest career achievement was being appointed to DLO’s board of directors. I would also like to note that my success in the firm is largely due to the strong support and hard work of my colleagues at DLO who have worked closely with me over the past decade.

5. What is your opinion about the firm’s direction in the new global legal society?

Answer: DLO is building closer strategic relationships with several overseas law firms (such as Mezal Marhoon Alaali & Associates and Dr. Yousef Alhumoudi Lawyers & Consultants) as well as joining relevant legal networks such as Prae Legal and ASOCIACIÓN EUROPEA DE ABOGADOS International Lawyers Network (AEA). I see more relationships like the above being formed by DLO, both with individual law firms as well as legal networks.