MEDIJATOR Marko Porobija

Guest Marko PorobijaHosted by Srđan ŠimacMay 3, 2026

Marko Porobija

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

The legal profession often moves with caution, a necessary trait given the stakes. But what happens when that caution turns into resistance to change, making lawyers the bottleneck in an otherwise fast-paced business world? Marko Porobija, a lawyer and partner at Porobija i Špoljarić, argues that this risk-averse mindset, while understandable, can lead the profession to "shoot itself in the foot." Marko is not just an attorney; he is an "ambivert" who codes, plays guitar, and believes in bringing a "human face" to law. His firm actively integrates modern technologies and alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation, aiming to make legal services genuinely accessible. This conversation challenges the traditional view of legal practice, suggesting that adaptability and empathy are not just desirable traits but essential for relevance. You will leave this discussion considering how even the most established professions must evolve to serve their clients effectively, or risk becoming, as Marko puts it, "stolen value."

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Marko's description of himself as an "ambivert" who codes, plays guitar, and enjoys both solitude and company suggests that a rich tapestry of personal interests often signals a broader, more adaptable mindset within professional life, challenging the stereotype of a singular professional identity.

The observation that the legal profession often lags behind other sectors in adopting new technologies and approaches points to how the inherent risk-averse nature of legal work, while crucial for client protection, can become a significant obstacle to progress if not actively balanced with a willingness to manage and embrace change.

Marko's stark phrase: "If we are the reason everything stops, then we are not added value; we are stolen value." This illustrates that when your professional function consistently becomes the bottleneck for an otherwise efficient process, you are not just failing to contribute; you are actively diminishing the overall value for your clients.

The international business community's common complaint, "stuck in legal," highlights that if your service is consistently the last hurdle after other high-tech, efficient providers have delivered, you're not just a necessary step; you're signaling a need for internal process modernization.

The firm's motto: "Law with a human face," emphasizing people over cases or diplomas, means that genuine legal service transcends mere technical application of law. It’s about the human experience of problem-solving, building relationships, and ensuring clients feel seen and respected as individuals.

A US survey finding that 70% of clients would change lawyers due to relationship issues like unavailability or perceived condescension demonstrates that technical expertise is a baseline, but client retention and satisfaction are ultimately driven by accessibility, transparency, and the feeling of being a valued partner, not just a case file.

Marko's personal standard—questioning his own expertise if a client feels bad or uncomfortable in his presence—shows that empathy and the ability to make clients feel at ease are not merely "soft skills"; they are foundational to effective legal practice, especially when guiding individuals through high-stakes, emotionally charged situations.

The statistic that lawyers in Croatia have a life expectancy ten years shorter than the national average underscores that the high-stress, low-margin-of-error environment of legal work carries a tangible human cost, demanding the profession to evolve from pure risk *avoidance* to a more sustainable model of risk *management*.

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