The Study Abroad Advantage: Thoughts from Alumni

“My time studying constitutional law in the University of Chile gave me important insights into how Latin American constitutional systems interact with international human rights law. This experience, and the opportunity to view law and human rights issues from a different perspective, has been valuable for my work in international human rights and environmental law in the region.”

-- Jacob Kopas ’07
Legal Consultant
Commission for Justice and Peace, Colombia

“HLS study abroad directly and substantially advanced my career. I studied at Tokyo University, and I am now working as an associate in Davis Polk's Tokyo office. The language skills were the most important aspect for me. While I already spoke Japanese pretty well, my knowledge of the Japanese equivalents of terms like "prospectus" and "non-recourse loan" was nil.

Secondarily, I met a number of people at Tokyo University who I deal with regularly here when working with major Tokyo firms, both foreign and domestic. I often discuss my time at Tokyo University with alumni I meet, just as I might Harvard Law. Our firm also keeps in reasonably regular contact with some of my major professors.”

-- Wallace DeWitt ‘08
Associate
Davis Polk & Wardell LLP, Tokyo

“I spent my 2L spring semester studying international trade and environmental law at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland.  My experience there has continued to impact my professional life positively ever since.  The professional contacts I made that spring led to a phenomenal summer job working with the Maldives Mission to the United Nations preparing a report to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights on the implications of climate change on human rights.  My hands-on experience in Geneva set me apart from other applicants, and led to job opportunities opening at the State Department and the Department of Justice post-graduation.  While I opted to join the U.S. Department of Justice Environmental and Natural Resources Division as an honors attorney and am no longer working on international legal issues in my day to day work, I maintain close connections to mentors in Geneva.”  

-- Kim Smaczniak ‘08
Honors Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice,
Environmental and Natural Resources Division