Careers in International Law
What activities, academic or otherwise, did you par- ticipate in during law school that you feel particularly helped influence your career?
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I can’t really point to activities in law school that influenced my career because I didn’t know my career existed before I heard about it during my clerkship. There were, though, a number of ac- tivities that helped make me a better a lawyer and steer me towards a career in the public ser- vice. As a book review editor for the law review, I learned how to write and edit, and break down legal arguments. I also had the opportunity to edit some international law pieces. I participated in several clinics, including ones in civil rights and immigration, which taught me how to build argu- ments and present them persuasively. I was also fortunate to take a federal appellate seminar from Judge Sand, which reinforced those skills. These courses as well as extracurricular activities tutor- ing a high school moot court team in Harlem and serving as a lay representative in unemployment matters helped me realize that the most interest-
INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND FINANCE Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
ing and meaningful work, for me, was in the pub- lic sector.
What do you consider international law? What do you consider the practice of international law?
International law is generally thought of as the body of law that governs or affects the relations among states. The day-to-day practice of public international law involves problem solving -- shap- ing and responding to events happening around the world. In such a real world context, it is the actions and practices of states that are particu- larly important, as well as the agreements and arrangements to which they have bound them- selves through legal and political commitments.
Will you tell us about your current position, and the path that led you to this position?
Advance your career to the next level! Upgrade your knowledge:
Earn an LL.M. Finance in Frankfurt, Germany!
● Excellent education in law and finance ●
Combine theory and practice for law, business and economics graduates
● Study in a major European as well as a global financial center ● International program and students (All courses in English)
●
Interesting internships in banks, law firms, financial services and regulatory bodies
Contact: Institute for Law and Finance Phone: +49 (0) 69 798-33624 Email:
LLM@ilf.uni-frankfurt.de
www.ilf-frankfurt.de
I’m currently the Assistant Legal Adviser for Oceans, International Environmental, and Scien- tific Affairs. I manage a team of ten lawyers who handle a fascinating range of legal issues in areas ranging from international space law, maritime boundary disputes, biodiversity, climate change, and the protection of endangered species, to transborder pipeline projects, sunken vessels, marine pollution, the protection of rain forests and coral reefs, Arctic and Antarctic matters, and international health issues. I came to this position after a series of other assignments in L, most re- cently, running the Office of International Law En- forcement and Intelligence and serving as Legal Counselor in The Hague.
What is the attorney’s role at the U.S. Department of State?
The heart of a career in L is the rotation system. Unlike most other legal careers, lawyers at State remain generalists rather than increasingly spe- cialize in a particular discipline. An L lawyer will
ILSA Quarterly » volume 22 » issue 3 » February 2014
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