 Theotonio Monteiro de Barros Brazil UWC-USA Lawyer | It’s undeniable that the way I look at my profession and the moral and ethical values I practise and pass on as one of the leaders of the firm, are the result of my two years at UWC |
Theotonio Monteiro de Barros (USA 83-85), from Brazil, is a litigation lawyer and a partner in the law firm he helped to set up after graduating from university. He is Vice President of the Association for Cardiac and Heart Transplant Children (ACTC), and also serves on the UWC International Board.
“My journey to UWC-USA was not only my first trip abroad,” says Theotonio, “but also my first long-distance trip alone. I had heard about UWC through some UWC graduates my sisters knew, and from the age of 12 I knew that I wanted to attend a UWC.
“I also knew that I wanted to be a lawyer, and after leaving UWC I studied law at the University of Sao Paulo. I’ve been a practising lawyer now for 16 years, and during all these years, UWC has been part of my life. Initially, my UWC involvement was through the Brazilian National Committee, who contacted me as soon as I returned to Brazil. Over the years I have worked with the National Committee on selection and fundraising, as well as participating in community service work, and I am President of the United World Colleges movement in Brazil. Brazil presents quite a challenge for the UWC movement, especially in terms of fundraising and access to the UWC opportunity. This is a country of continental proportions, marked by profound injustice in the distribution of wealth and opportunities, especially for the young.
“I have also tried to integrate my UWC principles into my working life as a lawyer. It’s undeniable that the way I look at my profession, my approach to clients’ conflicts, the way I run my firm of young lawyers and law students, and the moral and ethical values I practise and pass on as one of the leaders of the firm, are the result of my two years at UWC. I deal constantly with people in conflict, and so I see my work as looking to achieve conflict resolution and understanding among people. I am always working with different viewpoints, values, interests and motivations, and I am pleased that it has proved possible to keep alive the spirit of UWC in my professional life.”