Chile Forum

Hi there, just wanted to introduce myself. This is an awesome site! Just what I've been looking for to find Chile-related info. My husband and I visited last year and were both so taken with it that we plan on moving there for about a year starting this January or February, hopefully. He is a freelance journalist and can work from there, but I am an attorney and there is not much in the way of freelance legal work, so I am looking for other things to do while I am there. I have thought about teaching English, but that seems like an expensive proposition for only one year. So suggestions are welcome! I am sure I will have tons of questions about the practical problems that we will encounter when we move - we're looking for a place in Santiago or Valpo, possibly Vina.
Thanks and see you all soon!
Nicole

Well good for you, after you are in Chile you will wonder why you didn't hear about it all sooner and you have picked a great place to start...In Valpo on the Via Alemana which basicly runs parrallel to the coast you will find the best places with a view, quaintness, good nieghbors and affordable rent and markets....I won't tell yo where it is because its fun to find it but there is a roving "feria Persa " in Valparaiso, even alot of natives have never heard of it, but its there and it constantly changes location...I have gotten the most amazing things there....alot comes from the old houses there....Valpo was the first stop around the cape of good hope on the way to Californy in the day before the Panama canal and so everyone from europe and everywhere else went by ship through Valpo...Valpo was the first stop>>civilized stop>> after the rigors of the cape(there is are 3 Chilean sailors stationed on the cape at all times for 9 months at a stretch, yikes)...alot, and I mean alot of people got off the boat in Valpo as they had really seen it in the storms out of the artic off the cape, so the first place tthey can really get off is valpo....valpo had huge business in the way of ship chandelry but also all these people that got off the boat with everything and swore to never get on a boat again or got off the boat, sold everything and went by rail to Buenos aires and back to europe...my point is that in valpo, at the feria persa all these old things continually come to the surface from all these people....I think too that as a result of all these people coming and going and the vharactors that the Chileans are themselves it has made valpo a very different place...you could compare it to Paris but of course it isn't Paris..you can see some San Francisco and some Marsaille and some New yoork and some Key West and some San Diego and some Naples but valpo is really in comparable, and if you go there hold onto your wallet....I could tell you alot of stories about valpo but you have to tell them and not write about them...so if i ever see you at the "Angels" bar remind me and if you'll buy a round or two I'll let fly a yarn or two...but remember the "angel" is very, very ,very hard to find...

ciao, el puelche

Welcome, and we would be happy to answer your questions. What country are you an attorney in, and what is your specialization? There may be chances to pick up freelance legal work with some of the companies that do international work and transaction.

Our consulting company for example has many attorneys in other countries, and we from time to time need a contact in specific country that we have not covered yet. You might have a look at: http://www.spencerglobal.com for more ideas.

I'm an attorney in the US and am licensed to practice in New York State and California. I have experience in criminal defense and employment law litigation. I am trying to find nonpracticing "contract" positions where a law firm or practitioner might need a motion written or something researched, that I can do from my home office. Thanks for the suggestion, I will definitely check out that website and look for other similar companies! Even if I can't find this kind of work I am still excited to experience Chile!

We will keep you in mind.

We often have clients that have biz across many boarders. For example they might run a tourism biz in Chile, but their contracts with their guides and clients are all done in the States.
They can save a lot on taxes and red tape that way, but sooner or later one of them is going to drop the ball in some country and get themselves in to trouble.

We like to try an anticipate those thing as much as possible, and have a plan ready to go.
My father was a Criminal defense attorney in the States. His philosophy was: a good attorney goes to court and gets his client off. A great attorney makes sure they never go to court in the first place.