Servet Yildiz Stêrk, associate attorney at Tveter and Kløvfjell Law Firm in Oslo, was nominated for the Norwegian Bar Association's talent award 2021 for his work in highlighting and supporting marginalized groups in society.

Stêrk, who was born in a mountain village in Turkey, came to Norway as a child after his father had to flee due to political activities. With his Kurdish background and affiliation to the Turkish minority group Alevi, he has himself experienced being "one of the others" - an experience that has influenced his career choices and professional approach.

"I stood among people who were unable to speak for themselves, who were underprivileged and whom few cared about. When I started studying law, it was because I wanted to make a difference for these people," Stêrk says in an interview with the legal magazine Advokatbladet.

As a pioneer in the legal profession's use of social media, Stêrk has set himself the goal of becoming "Norway's first lawyer-influencer" on Instagram. Through this platform, he reaches out to client groups who traditionally have a high threshold for seeking legal assistance. His language and cultural understanding have been valuable in this work.

In the jury's justification for the nomination, it is emphasized that Stêrk "has articulated the discrimination in the industry and the challenges it brings, but also proposed improvements." He is described as "one of the bravest associates in the field by being a clear voice in a relatively heated topic."

Stêrk emphasizes the importance of the human aspect in the lawyer's role: "A good lawyer is someone who people like and feel they can trust. It's about building trust, collaborating, creating value through what one does, and delivering good results."

With experience as an independent legal advisor before becoming an associate, Stêrk believes that the associate scheme should allow more room for independent client contact and portfolio building: "The associate scheme should develop good lawyers with all it entails, and not just case handlers."

"I have a story that differs somewhat from many others in this industry. When I was younger, I had almost no role models in this industry that I felt I could relate to, and I want to be the role model that I myself wished I had," he says.

Stêrk's story illustrates how personal experiences with injustice can be transformed into a driving force for creating positive changes in the legal system and society at large.