By Ulysses M.
Pre-law and law students who love traveling and have a passion for human rights advocacy or want to represent multinational businesses can find their career groove by studying international law. The ever-growing field of international law encompasses both the private and public sector, and those professionals who can break into this field of practice have a wide variety of options when it comes to choosing specialty areas. [1] It takes serious study and dedication to break into this field, but those who do it enjoy a great deal of personal satisfaction along with a lucrative salary.
The skinny on becoming an international law practitioner
Like each state, each country has a specific set of rules that governs what someone must do in order to try cases in court. However, that doesn’t mean that professionals who possess a law degree can only work in international law if they’re admitted to the bar in a variety of countries. In fact, few international law practitioners actually try cases in front of the International Court of Justice or in related tribunals. [2]
No matter your nationality or where you study, you can enter the field of international law so long as your education meets the demands of the firms or organizations with which they’re applying. This means that a student who is set on working at one of several important British law firms in Asia would need to meet the requirements to be hired as a barrister in that country. You can learn more about what’s happening in international law in other countries by looking up their international law yearbooks.
Despite the fact that anyone with a law degree can theoretically practice international law, aspiring practitioners should know that the field is extremely competitive. Many highly successful attorneys and law school graduates want to work abroad. Those who land the best jobs have generally begun preparing for employment in this competitive field early in their educational careers.
Preparing for international law in the undergrad years
Aspiring attorneys often choose pre-law programs at their undergraduate institutions. These programs are a great choice if they offer coursework in international law or if faculty members have experience in international law. However, pre-law isn’t the only major you can choose. Think about the particular area of international law that most interests you and choose a related field of study.
For example, some attorneys who practice in the field of international law do so in policy-related or advisory roles. They must have a solid understanding of political science and international relations in order to succeed in these positions. If you’re looking to land a job in policy in an international context, poly sci and international relations majors can make sense. Of course, it’s possible to double major or do substantial work in pre-law at the same time too.
If you want to work for big businesses in an international context, you might consider a business administration degree. You could also opt for finance or accounting degrees, which are particularly useful if you want to work on mergers or major trade deals. Take any business ethics and law classes that your school offers to get a better idea of how these factors play into multinational business deals.
Studying foreign languages is also important for some students. [3] If you aren’t sure of the area of the world in which you want to work after you graduate, you’re probably well served by studying one of the official United Nations (UN) languages. Many international business professionals have mastered at least one of these languages. There are six altogether: English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French and Russian. [4]
Some fields that might seem unrelated to international law can also be great choices for aspiring attorneys. Consider majors such as anthropology, sociology, psychology and social work. These fields all train students to better understand human behavior and to interact with individuals from other cultures. These are great lessons considering one of the foremost qualities that lawyers at international firms look for when hiring is the ability to work with a diverse group of individuals and understand the unique facets of a foreign culture. [5]
You should also focus on holding down internships or part-time jobs during your undergrad years. Interning at a multinational corporation or major law firm will help you make professional connections. It will also help you build an impressive resume to show potential employers in the future.
Stepping up international studies in law school
Once you’ve earned your undergrad degree and passed the Law School Aptitude Test (LSAT), you can be admitted to law schools in the U.S. If you plan to study for an advanced law degree abroad, be sure to speak personally with faculty from universities in the country where you’d like to study. You may need to meet different educational requirements in order to be admitted to a foreign law school.
Regardless of where you choose to study, focus on choosing a school that is known for its international law program or for producing graduates who are particularly successful in this field. As you research schools, remember that international law is an incredibly broad field. [6] It’s important to get a good feel for a program by talking to faculty and current students. This allows you a window into the facets of international law you’ll be able to master at a given institution. Of course, you should also continue interning or working part-time.
Gaining experience and advancing in international law
Once you’ve earned a law degree, you’ll need to take and pass the bar exam in your state in order to land a job. Ultimately, though, succeeding in international law is all about gaining a breadth of experience and being able to handle diverse tasks. After all, international law is a field that changes all the time. It’s just as important to demonstrate that you can keep pace with these changes as it is to pass your bar exam.
Resources:
[1] http://military.answers.com/positions/job-description-and-duties-for-a-position-in-international-law
[2] http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people/Farer/farer-con00-3.html
[3] http://www.theguardian.com/law/2013/apr/26/become-international-human-rights-lawyer
[4] http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/official-languages/
[5] http://www.theguardian.com/law/2012/oct/01/international-lawyer-asia
[6] http://www.lawyeredu.org/international-law.html
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