Topics: Career tips, profession and vocation, LL.M., Harvard, judge, partner at LexImpact, president of AsyLex, CAS in International Compliance Management.
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Good morning, Ms Hungerbühler. You work as a judge, independent lawyer, lecturer, and volunteer for an NPO. Could you please tell us about your career path and, in particular, explain how this versatility came about?

Even during my studies, I aimed to gain as many diverse insights as possible: thematically, by combining economics and law at the University of St. Gallen; linguistically and geographically, through exchange semesters in Western Switzerland and the USA; and through various engagements in student associations. After graduation, I completed my legal internship at Lenz & Staehelin in Zurich – this reinforced my interest in focusing long-term on topics related to business and especially financial market law. Shortly thereafter, I was elected part-time judge at the Criminal Court of Basel-Landschaft – an equally exciting and enriching position.

I now serve as Vice President of the criminal division at the Cantonal Court. Volunteering in various fields has always been important to me – this eventually led to the creation of the human rights organization AsyLex, which I continue to preside over to this day. A CAS in Financial Market Law allowed me to deepen my expertise in my main field of work, and the LL.M. at Harvard Law School broadened my academic, linguistic, and personal horizons. Today, I appreciate the variety of my work and continuously see how these different perspectives create added value across all my roles.

How do you manage to successfully juggle all these different roles?

Admittedly, it’s not always easy – and the occasional night shift is unavoidable. At the same time, I constantly find parallels between the different fields, and what I learn in one area can often be applied productively and efficiently in another. Overall, I firmly believe that diverse perspectives – whether as a lawyer and judge or as a human rights and business lawyer – contribute to mutual understanding and help to break down entrenched positions.

International law is a key part of your work. How can one launch an international career after training in Switzerland, and what role does your LL.M. from Harvard play in this?

My fields of work are, by definition, internationally oriented: whether it’s human rights or standards in financial market regulation – both are based on frameworks developed jointly by states and thus have regional or global validity. Still, a large part of my legal work remains rooted in Swiss law. My LL.M. at Harvard Law School gave me insight into the American legal system and mindset, but most importantly, it offered me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world who share similar interests – a network from which I continue to benefit both personally and professionally.

Today, AsyLex has 15 employees and over 100 volunteers committed to ensuring access to justice for refugees in Switzerland and around the world. - Lea Hungerbühler, LL.M.

You are the founder and president of AsyLex. What motivated you to establish this organization?

There was actually a pivotal moment in 2016 that led to this: I was on an extended trip through Australia with a friend who was studying medicine. At a beautiful beach in a remote nature reserve, an accident occurred in which a tourist lost consciousness. My friend immediately began CPR and resuscitation until the ambulance arrived, while I stood there helplessly, watching someone die in front of me. That experience made me realize that I wanted to use my legal knowledge – beyond business law – to help others.

I first tried to do this by volunteering in a refugee camp in Greece for a few weeks, but I quickly realized that without knowledge of the local legal system and language, I couldn’t make much of an impact. Back in Switzerland, I began doing pro bono human rights work. Due to the overwhelming demand, I soon founded the association AsyLex. Today, AsyLex has 15 employees and over 100 volunteers committed to ensuring access to justice for refugees in Switzerland and around the world.

You received the Prix Caritas for your work with AsyLex. Could you tell us more about what AsyLex does?

AsyLex was founded to fill a gap: many refugees lack access to legal information and representation, which means they often don’t know their rights or are unable to assert them. This is exactly where AsyLex steps in. We offer free, digital legal advice in the field of asylum law, combining legal expertise with an innovative, technology-driven approach.

Our work is based on three central pillars: access to information, access to legal representation, and empowerment through knowledge sharing. It is especially important to us that people affected by the asylum system are part of our team. Thanks to this combination of expertise, innovation, and lived learning, we are able to support several thousand people each year – not only in Switzerland, but increasingly in many other countries and in cases of severe human rights violations, even before international courts.

What I find particularly motivating is the opportunity to tackle complex legal issues together with my clients in a solution-oriented manner – often at the intersection of law, regulation, and social responsibility. - Lea Hungerbühler, LL.M.

What does your role as founder and managing director of LexImpact involve, and what motivates you most about this work?

At LexImpact, I primarily work as a lawyer in the field of financial market law. Beyond that, I also advise on other business law matters, occasionally in criminal law, and on topics related to “Business and Human Rights”. What I find particularly motivating is the opportunity to tackle complex legal issues together with my clients in a solution-oriented manner – often at the intersection of law, regulation, and social responsibility.

In addition to your other roles, you also lecture at HWZ and are now head of the new CAS program in International Compliance Management. What topics are especially important to you in your teaching at HWZ?

I believe it is essential that employees of financial service providers understand the legal foundations of their work. This is not only for the protection of investors and the financial center but also for their own protection – misconduct often reflects back on them personally. In the newly launched CAS in International Compliance Management, we will also focus on questions of international law and cross-border business. I’m very much looking forward to working with committed students and excellent lecturers from around the world!

What advice would you give to lawyers who have similarly diverse career aspirations and an interest in international work?

From my perspective, it is crucial to pursue a path that truly fulfills you – not with the goal of earning as much money as possible, but with the intention of contributing to something you genuinely believe in. That requires perseverance: many things don’t succeed on the first try. I always assume that maybe one out of ten attempts will work – so disappointments and setbacks are simply part of the journey.

At the same time, it's important to take criticism constructively and not get discouraged – especially when you’re convinced that a certain path is the right one. Discipline helps with that, as well as composure and the ability to adopt other perspectives. Often, this leads to new insights and paths that you wouldn’t have considered before. And last but not least: stay open. Open to new topics, to unfamiliar situations, and to detours – because sometimes, it’s those detours that lead you to where you can make the greatest impact.

Thank you for the fascinating insights into your impressive career and your day-to-day work. We wish you continued success and all the best for the future!

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