Who are the people behind the G&P Law team? What does their work entail, and what inspires them? What do they enjoy doing in their free time? We’re exploring these questions through a series of interviews as part of our #G&PLawTeam column. The next person we introduce is one of the newest members of our team – Nikola Drashkov, who joined G&P Law in August 2024. Nikola is a final-year law student at the Faculty of Law at Sofia University. His professional interests and areas of expertise include property law, commercial law, contract law, and intellectual property. Nikola shares his journey of choosing the legal profession, his plans for the future, inspirations, challenges, and even the types of questions his grandmother asks him.
What do you do at G&P Law?
I am part of the property law department. Even though I am not yet a fully qualified lawyer, I appreciate the opportunity to independently interact with clients, draft my own opinions, and work directly on various cases.
What inspires you most about your work?
From the wide range of answers one could give to this question, the most significant for me is the opportunity to learn. University cannot – and should not – prepare you for every possible practical situation. Real-life cases are richer than the legislator’s imagination. In this sense, improving oneself while knowing you’re being helpful is incredibly inspiring.
When and how did you realize this would be your profession?
Since high school, I excelled in the humanities, particularly Bulgarian language and literature, as well as history. The amazing teachers who prepared me for life after school naturally pointed me toward law. And deep down, I always felt this was my profession – something I can’t quite put into words.
What has surprised or disappointed you compared to your expectations?
Disappointment often seems more prominent than inspiration – perhaps because disappointment leaves a stronger emotional imprint. Nevertheless, the advantages or “benefits” of the legal profession are by no means few, and they often outweigh the challenges. The greatest advantage is the realization that you are needed, that you can contribute to progress and help raise legal awareness among people. The drawbacks often stem from legislative inconsistencies.
What’s the best professional advice you’ve received?
Before providing a legally correct answer, make sure it is practically applicable in real life.
What qualities do you think are most important in this profession?
I can’t help but think of the famous phrase, which may seem far removed from today’s world: a good lawyer must first and foremost be a good person.
What are the three things you like most about your work?
The sense of being helpful, personal fulfillment, and the opportunity for growth, can lead to change.
If you could change one thing in the field of law, what would it be?
I would make it more accessible to non-lawyers. There is a tendency for legal texts to become increasingly incomprehensible – even for lawyers. The purpose of law is not to be a burden but wings for society. Only through understanding the law can we strive for a true rule of law. Unfortunately, we are still far from that goal.
How would you explain your job to your grandmother?
My grandmother is often more interested in whether I’ve eaten than what I do for work, haha. But when she asks, I say: “I work in law. Property law.” That’s enough for her.
How do you see your profession in 10 years?
I hope to have earned a PhD by then and to have developed enough to contribute to reforms in the education system.
What’s the next step in your legal development?
Next, I have my state exams, followed by the bar exam and the qualification exam. I also plan to pursue a PhD as the next stage in my career.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
I love silence. It allows me to open a book and immerse myself in another world. I also make an effort to spend time with my close friends and family. Interacting with them always recharges me.
Share one of your favorite songs.
I have so many favorite songs that it’s hard to choose just one. I’ll go with “Repetition” by FSB. It always makes me reflect on the beauty of chance.
Stay tuned for more profiles from the #G&PLawTeam. Learn more about Nikola here, and follow G&P Law on LinkedIN, Facebook, and Instagram.