In August 2016, I did an interview (for my legal blog) with lawyers Eduard and Corina Digore. Looking at their remarkable success in business law, I was curious to ask them about the people who had influenced them, about the events that had determined their development and what it was like doing business law in the Republic of Moldova.
After graduating from the Babeş-Bolyai University (Cluj-Napoca, Romania), Eduard and Corina Digore returned to Chisinau (Republic of Moldova). He started to work hard on his future career of lawyer, and she took her second graduate degree in Law in order to follow her husband on the same path. And it was not an easy path.
I am curious if, after 15 years of activities, when things settled into a routine, they still find the lawyer’s profession to be really noble. Mr. Digore tells me that although very few lawyers are doing real advocacy, he continues to regard legal profession as an art. In a way, he has even more reasons now than before. He tells me that he really likes the feeling of freedom that this profession offers and the fact that you can grow and evolve at any time. “I can say without exageration that this job gives you all the space to do everything you want”, mr. Digore says.
Corina admits that her profession was inspired by her husband, Eduard Digore, from the time they were studying at the Babeş-Bolyai University. “He always spoke very well of the teachers he had. And I had a chance to assist during a lecture in law. I liked it so much that I decided to study law as well”. That’s what she did when she returned to Chisinau.
When I ask them to name some chances which were offered to them in life and which influenced their development, they tell me that they believe more in opportunity than in luck. “I say all the time that we make our luck by ourselves, by working. It is important for us to want this thing”, Corina says.
When being asked whether it is harder for a female lawyer to be heard or if she was ever charged only on the basis of the gender stereotype, Corina replies that she does not consider the legal profession to be a men’s prerogative. “I do not feel this gender difference between a female lawyer and a male lawyer. I am talking in the most serious way. I believe that as long as you apply all your diligence, all your knowledge, and on the other side there is a lawyer of the same level, then you have equal weapons. You cannot see under the robes if it is a woman or a man. In the court you are what you present. As you present yourself, so you are”, the lawyer states.
I do not feel this gender difference between a female lawyer and a male lawyer.
“Moldova is not an attractive destination for foreign investors today”, mr. Digore admits. “To put it bluntly, it comes to us on pure conjecture, due to certain circumstances. After Romania joined the EU, there was a wave of businessmen who transferred their businesses to Moldova, just about what it was”. When I ask him why, he responds: “The government has done nothing to attract investment, but the biggest issue is justice. In our case, the right to property is not guaranteed, even though it is the main value after the right to life and health”. Another concern of businessmen is legislative interventionism. “This fact in the business environment can generate financial losses and reduce the return on investment”, he says.
“I think this is a job that makes you feel independent in financial terms”, mr. Digore responds to my question whether or not the legal profession gives financial rewards. “It also depends on how one wakes up – early in the morning or later”.
I think this is a job that makes you feel independent in financial terms. It also depends on how one wakes up – early in the morning or later.
When I ask about a limit of lawyer’s fees, the lawyers tell me that it oscillates from pro bono work, free of charge, which they regularly provide to certain non-governmental organizations, up to the corporate clients’ fees, which can be hundreds of thousands of euros. “Eventually the parties execute a contract and a contract can be negotiated. The fee is discussed between the parties then”, Corina Digore says. “The legal profession must be one of the most well-paid jobs, because it involves a tremendous effort, a great deal of training. And in the meanwhile it is normal for the fee to become higher, more consistent”.
When being asked what principles guide them, they say they give priority to dignity, honesty and loyalty to the client. “These are the main principles that guide us in our profession, but also as people in general”.
Location: Orheiul Vechi Photo by Dumitru Doru
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