Paris on the Seine, the Tower of London, the Great Wall of China. It’s only natural to think about sightseeing and fun when perusing a list of study abroad programs.
But those who have participated in such programs know there will be practical benefits as well.
Many schools offer study abroad programs that give students real-world experience through internships and externships. They may be in law firms, at nonprofit agencies or with courts.
An up-close look at a foreign legal system, unusual classes, international networking opportunities, cultural events and the chance to form lasting friendships: These are just a few of the reasons law students opt to participate in study abroad programs.
Sure, some law students take the plunge just to make sure they don’t have blank spaces on their resumes. But more often, students seek out study abroad programs as valuable launching pads for careers in international law.
Study abroad programs can also be life-changing. We gathered stories from people across the country, from current students to law school deans, who explained how vital these experiences were in shaping their lives, their outlooks and the trajectory of their careers.
Madison Graham
2L, University of Georgia School of Law
Graham participated in University of Georgia’s two-week Global Governance Summer School last summer in Brussels, Belgium. Then she had a six-week externship at the law firm of Van Bael & Bellis, also in Brussels.
Studying abroad was something she had always wanted to do, but her busy schedule during undergrad prevented her from having the time. As an anthropology major, she had always been very interested in international law.
“Long term, I would like to do some sort of federal public service,” she said.
Graham said the benefits of her experiences in Brussels were twofold.
“What I walked away with as being the most beneficial was having a more in-depth understanding of how the E.U. government operates generally, but also how to research new legislation, where to get those resources.”
Much of the work Graham did related to how changes in U.S. laws effect the E.U. and vice versa.
She had previous experience working in the U.S. government, so she was able to share her knowledge with other members of the law firm. This not only helped everyone but also allowed her to compare how different governments operate.
“I wanted to be challenged a little bit, because how else are you going to learn?” she said. “You get so ingrained in what you’re doing every day, and it’s good to be reminded that other people do things differently.”
Because of her experience, Graham is strongly considering living abroad after graduation. At the moment though, she’s preparing for another externship, this time with NATO in Norfolk, Virginia.
Sabreen “Noel” Ben Salem
3L, Santa Clara University School of Law
Ben Salem participated in Santa Clara Law’s study abroad program in Singapore during the summer of 2022. It focused on business and the environment.
She was part of the first group in the program to go abroad after two consecutive years of cancellations because of the pandemic.
During her first year of law school, she wasn’t entirely sure what type of law she wanted to focus on. Business and tech issues interested her, but those avenues are so broad that there are multiple routes to take. After spending eight weeks in Singapore, however, she came away with a firm grasp on what she wanted to do.
“I went straight from undergrad to law school, so I didn’t have any idea of what I really wanted to be,” Ben Salem said. “This experience helped me realize I want to do corporate law.”
The first four weeks of Santa Clara’s study abroad program is spent in the classroom. During that time, she was also able to visit the Singapore Arbitration Center and learn how arbitrators are chosen. She also toured the Singapore Supreme Court and Singapore’s International Commercial Court.
During the second four weeks, she worked at the law firm of David Lim & Partners. One of the first things they had her work on was drafting a board resolution for a shareholder agreement to issue more shares.
“It was really nice to be hands-on and thrown into the law firm to get that experience,” she said. “A lot of my friends were getting internships where they get one assignment, and then that would be their one assignment for the whole summer. I was getting two to three assignments per week, so I got a lot more experience and opportunity to see if that’s actually what I liked doing.”
One experience stood out for Ben Salem. The firm had spent a year negotiating a $40 million sale of a port in Indonesia. She got to be part of the last phase of the negotiation and was with them when they closed the deal.
After graduation, Ben Salem wants to practice in the U.S., working with international clients.
She said her time in Singapore helped her understand the Asian market, contract law and the various features of a newer economy. Singapore is a hub for international business, so she hopes to use the knowledge she gained to help future clients who may want to expand their businesses internationally.
“I think I would like leaving [the U.S.] in the future,” she said. “I’m still open to working abroad and seeing where that takes me. I think it would be a great experience.”
Brian Pappas
Dean, University of North Dakota School of Law
Graduate of Wayne State University Law School
Pappas’ experience is a clear illustration of the importance a study abroad program can have.
He went to South Africa after his first year of law school. In addition to visiting the Cape of Good Hope and going on safari in Kruger National Park, he was introduced to an area of specialization that became his career focus.
“What I didn’t know when I decided to attend is that [the law school] specializes in ADR (alternative dispute resolution),” Pappas said.
His experience inspired him to take community mediation training when he returned.
He later earned an LL.M. from University of Missouri, which led him to a faculty position at Michigan State and a career teaching mediation and negotiation.
“Without studying abroad, I would not have discovered my passion and had such an incredible experience,” Pappas said.
Clemence Kim
2021 graduate of American University Washington College of Law
Kimhas been practicing international trade law since graduating from law school.
While in law school, she participated in two summer abroad programs in Geneva, Switzerland. They were the International Human Rights and Labor Program and the International Rule Making and Dispute Settlement: World Trade Organization and World International Property Organization Program.
“The experience during my time in Geneva, including meeting various experts who were present at the founding of the WTO, was extremely influencing and formulated my views on how international trade can impact cross-cutting issues,” Kim said. “It has also given me a base network to build upon.”
She said the summer programs greatly influenced her decision to enter the area of trade law. She gained invaluable insights from WTO professionals, as well as from professor Padideh Ala’i, who led the program.
She is now an international trade lawyer at Mowry & Grimson in Washington, D.C., specializing in trade remedies and customs-related issues, as well as United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement disputes.
Kim said American University’s Geneva program gives students relatively unfettered access to WTO, WIPO, International Labour Organization and United Nations Human Rights Council facilities.
“The program was intensive but also gave enough free time for students to roam the neighboring cantons, parts of France, and even the U.N. beach,” she said. “The dispute resolution simulations and the general knowledge of, and exposure to, the WTO and WIPO systems provided by the program were invaluable in my career and essential in being able to discuss bigger concepts and ideas with colleagues and in professional settings.”
Kim said she also found what she had learned helpful while participating in the John H. Jackson WTO Moot Court Competition.
Emily Steinert
Graduate of DePaul University College of Law
Steinert participated in three study abroad programs during law school: the International Human Rights Law Practicum in Kenya in 2017; Post-Conflict Justice in Cambodia in 2017; and Post-Conflict Justice in The Hague in 2018.
The majority of her elective coursework focused on human rights and social justice, and she said she jumped at the opportunity to apply what she had learned to real world, practical settings abroad.
“Being able to take what I was learning about human rights in the classroom and see how it worked in real contexts — in addition to the added value of being able to explore the immense variety of different career paths associated with human rights work — was invaluable,” Steinert said.
In Kenya, her group conducted research, met with grassroots advocates and service providers, and drafted a report on violence against women to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.
“The experience taught me the crucial role of engaging with experts on the ground to articulate and develop human rights advocacy,” Steinert said. “It also impacted me on a deeply personal level and is relevant in the work I do now related to gender justice.”
In Cambodia, Steinert met with lawyers and grassroots advocates at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia to better understand the national and international post-conflict justice response to genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge.
In The Hague, she met with various professionals to better understand the post-conflict justice mechanisms that are located there, including the International Criminal Court and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.
“These two experiences greatly contributed to my understanding of international human rights law and the various, complex components involved in responding to human rights violations,” she said.
“I also had the opportunity to intern at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia during law school, which in addition to being an incredible professional opportunity, also led to other opportunities later in my career to connect to a variety of human rights advocacy work.”
Check out the guide to summer study abroad programs in The National Jurist, Winter 2024 digital issue.
