Blue Ocean Global Technology Interviews David Missirian | Attorney and Owner of Missirian Law Firm | Associate Professor, and Chair, Law and Taxation at Bentley University

David Missirian is an Associate Professor of Law and Chair of the Law and Taxation Department at Bentley University, where he has taught since 1984. His expertise encompasses contracts, real estate law, the Uniform Commercial Code, and ethics, alongside research into marginalized groups, public policy, and Indigenous Peoples law. As a conveyancing attorney and Massachusetts title examiner, he integrates practical experience with academic insight. A dedicated mentor and certified Level 4 Archery Coach, he believes that “law is like air, vital for life and society.” His nearly four decades of service have left a lasting impact on students and the legal community.

Blue Ocean: Tell us about your professional journey. What inspired you to pursue a career in law, and what continues to motivate your work in both legal practice and academia?

David Missirian: When I first went to university, I wanted to be a doctor. I’ve always been good with my hands and could see connections in things. I was frustrated that people with disabilities didn’t have better prosthetics, and I thought that if I became a doctor, I could combine my mechanical skills to help. But I wasn’t mature enough for that path at the time, so I became a philosophy major instead. I focused on ethics and wrote a lot about law as it is and as it ought to be. I liked thinking about how life could be better.

My uncle was a lawyer, and during the energy crisis, I thought I’d go into oil and gas law. That led me to study in Oklahoma, where I realized how different perspectives can be across the United States. The priorities, struggles, and realities of people in the Midwest were not the same as those on the coasts. That broadened my view of my own country.

After law school, I returned to Massachusetts. The oil drilling I had planned to work on never happened, so I opened my own practice. I had grown up without much money, and I remembered doctors who would come to our house and give us medicine samples so we didn’t have to pay. That inspired me to be the kind of lawyer who helped ordinary people, even if they couldn’t always afford it. I would meet clients where they were, work out payment however they could manage, and often gave advice without charging for every minute.

To build my practice, I also took on court-appointed criminal defense work. The pay was low, but it gave me valuable trial experience and a window into parts of society I hadn’t seen before. I learned to negotiate fairly, balancing what was best for my clients with what was fair to the community.

Over the years, I’ve tried to practice law with that balance between what the law allows and what is right. I believe we always know deep down when we’re crossing a line. For me, I often ask: would my mother be disappointed? That keeps me grounded. I’ve turned down clients who wanted me to do something dishonest, even if it cost me business, because I need to do what feels right in my heart.

Today, I continue both practicing law and teaching. My approach is rooted in those early lessons: law isn’t just about rules, it’s about people, fairness, and remembering that there’s always someone in a harder place than you.

Blue Ocean: What is your strategy for resolving challenging cases?

David Missirian: When I face a difficult case, my strategy is to get my client to see the bigger picture. They often focus only on the moment, but I try to make them think longer term: what are the costs and benefits over time? Everything comes down to how much time and money they are willing to devote.

The hard part is that other lawyers sometimes keep cases alive just to make money, and their clients get fooled into believing they will win big. I’ve seen cases drag on unnecessarily for a year, only to reach the exact outcome I predicted from the beginning. Once, one lawyer even admitted by accident that they waited to settle until their firm had made enough money. That’s wrong. If the right answer is clear early on, that’s when it should be done.

My approach is to speak the truth as I see it and not be afraid to go to trial if necessary. Many lawyers bluff about trial, but I call that bluff. Most cases settle, because going to trial is like gambling; you never really know how a judge or jury will react. I’ve won cases I should have lost and lost cases I should have won, all because of human factors.

I also make sure not to let emotions control my decisions. I may be emotional by nature, but I’ve learned how to harness that. When I represent a client, I help them separate their anger or desire for punishment from what is actually in their best interest. My role is to get them out of a bad situation so they can move forward, not to fuel their emotions.

At the end of the day, I sell information built on years of experience. That has value, but I still try to make myself accessible to ordinary people. I’ve always believed there should be more small lawyers people can call for simple, affordable advice. Helping average people gives me real satisfaction.

Blue Ocean: You’ve built a strong reputation in both the legal and academic communities. How do you continue to stay ahead in a profession that’s constantly evolving?

David Missirian: To stay ahead in this profession, I think it’s important to get involved in organizations where lawyers can hear presentations and share ideas. I don’t see a real divide between professors and practicing lawyers—professors focus on theory, while lawyers deal with hands-on realities, and both perspectives are valuable.

What I would like to see more of is continuing education that addresses what is truly wrong with the profession. Lawyers often talk about these issues among ourselves, but the people in charge don’t seem to care. They focus too much on licensing rules and form over substance.

Another problem is that the agencies overseeing lawyers often don’t understand what actually happens in practice. They treat all lawyers as if we’re the same, but a solo attorney trying to make ends meet is in a completely different position than someone at a large firm with endless resources. Small firms don’t always have the time or bandwidth for certain requirements—they’re just trying to get through the day. Recognizing these differences and talking openly about them would really help the profession.

Blue Ocean: What core values or ethical principles do you believe every lawyer should uphold, especially when working in areas like contracts and real estate law?

David Missirian: At the core of this work are values and ethics, and it can be difficult to stand firm when money, career advancement, or pressure from superiors is involved. Lawyers are smart, and it is easy to rationalize: “It is legal,” “it is not that bad,” “Everyone does it.” But each compromise chips away at who you are. The best way forward is to start small, pick one thing you know is wrong, and try to correct it. That first step makes you more aware of other areas where you might need to change. Even if you fail, trying is better than doing nothing.

What I bring to my clients, especially in complex situations, is the ability to see all sides. I have been told I am like Switzerland because I try to understand different perspectives. At the same time, I can recognize when someone is acting in bad faith. In those cases, I will be honest with my client and acknowledge their own mistakes, intentional or not, while helping them find a better path forward. Sometimes that means accepting a smaller financial loss to avoid years of litigation, stress, and emotional toll. I always try to look at what is in my client’s best interest as a whole, not just financially. Money can be replaced, but damage to reputation, relationships, or personal well-being is much harder to repair.

Blue Ocean: How do you view the role of ethics in the age of AI, especially when it comes to legal education, professional responsibility, or contract law?

David Missirian: Professional responsibility is misnamed. The code of ethics says we must represent clients zealously, with the idea that if both sides argue zealously, the court can reach a just decision. The problem is that many lawyers care more about money than what is in their clients’ best interest. In my experience, most lawyers can tell where a case is going after a few hours, but they drag it out because their business models depend on it. Instead of solving problems quickly, they investigate every possible angle, even when the chances of it mattering are infinitesimal.

True ethics is not taught in law school. We are taught the rules, but not what they actually mean, and the language is so broad that it can be interpreted any way. I have even called the licensing agency with ethical questions and was told the department is only open a few times a week for a few hours. If an attorney reaches out for help there needs to be people there during business hours who are willing to offer help and advice.

When it comes to AI, the problem is similar. AI cannot weigh words, tone, or context the way I can after 40 years of experience. Law is not fixed like grammar. AI can write well and shorten material, but it does not know what is valuable or correct in the legal sense. Too many people rely on AI answers as if they are right, but they still need to be checked by someone who understands the law.

Blue Ocean: What advice would you offer to students or aspiring lawyers entering today’s legal and academic environments?

David Missirian: If you are going into the legal profession, find an area of law that you enjoy. Law is very broad, so choose what intrigues you and makes you happy. Money is important, but it should not be your whole focus. At a big firm, you may earn a lot, but you will work very hard and may not have much of a life. Balance is important.

I would not open my own practice again. I accomplished it, but it was too hard, and I never took a vacation because clients always need you.

Law school itself is valuable for everyone. Even if you do not practice, learning how the legal system works will help you in business and in any job. It trains your mind to think and analyze. But remember, just because something is legal does not mean you should do it.

Students need to use their brains and believe they can do it. Too often, people convince themselves they are not smart or fast enough, but that is just fear. I know this because I am afraid of many things myself.

It also helps to find a professor or mentor who will push you, care about you, and support you. I have had many students I pushed to do better while making it clear that if they fell, I would be there to help them back up.

I tell my students that the cost of my help is that when they reach a position of responsibility, they must do the same for someone younger. That way, each generation helps the next stay on the right path. You will make mistakes, but the key is to learn from them and not repeat them too many times.

Blue Ocean: What hobbies or interests do you enjoy outside of law and teaching?

David Missirian: I used to teach archery. I’m an archery coach, licensed in the United States, and qualified to teach very competent archers all the way up to the Olympic level. I have never done that, and it’s not what I want to do. What I enjoyed most was working with young people who didn’t feel good at other sports. Maybe they were small or slight, but I could show them how they could be amazing at a sport where you don’t need to be strong or fast. What you need is to stay calm and control your body. They would excel at that.

I would also have their parents try. Some were football people, all kinds of people, and they would struggle. I would tell them, yes, it is hard, but your daughter is very good at it. The parents would be surprised, because they thought she wasn’t good at sports. This is a sport, an Olympic sport, and very few people are good at it. But your daughter is good at it. That gave them a different perspective, and I enjoyed that.

The other thing I enjoy, which is unusual, is building and fixing things with machinery. My daughter has always said, now that she is grown, “Daddy can fix anything.” It’s true. I love machines, and they love me. When a machine breaks, it tells you by the sounds it makes or by how it vibrates. You just have to pay attention, find what’s wrong, and fix it.

I like taking old machines and bringing them back to life. I just bought back an old boat. It was small, and the person who owned it before didn’t take care of it. I looked at it and said, I will fix you. Do not worry. They didn’t treat you well, but I will make you look pretty again. You are like me—you are old, but you can still keep going. I will make it so people will look at you and say, Oh, look how pretty you are. I will make you beautiful again.

Blue Ocean: Is there a guiding principle, legal philosophy, or quote that has significantly influenced your career and life?

David Missirian: I’ve always believed that just because something is legal does not mean it should be done. I remind my students to use their brains, to keep learning, and not to believe they are incapable. Those fears are lies we tell ourselves. I have them too, but I believe in the need to push through and trust that we can succeed. We all make mistakes, but the important thing is to learn from them and not repeat them too often.

I also believe strongly in mentorship. When I reached positions of leadership as a manager, department chair, professor, or lawyer, I saw it as my responsibility to recognize young people with potential, guide them, and encourage them to use their gifts. In return, I expect them to do the same for the next generation so that younger professionals continue on the right path.

Conclusion

David’s reflections highlight a career shaped by practical wisdom, ethical awareness, and a commitment to mentorship. His insights underscore the importance of balancing professional ambition with integrity, while also reminding future lawyers to find fulfillment beyond the law.