Global Perspectives: Students Relfect on International Internships
Each year, Ira H. Trako, the executive director from the Center for International and Comparative Law helps place students in various international law internships after the Summer Law Program in Madrid. This summer, 10 Saint Louis University School of Law as well as SLU LAW Summer Law Program in Madrid students from other U.S. law schools gained valuable legal experience through internships abroad. Our students spent the summer working with law firms in Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, Turkey, applying what they learned in the classroom to real-world practice.
This summer, 16 law students took part in the SLU LAW Summer Law Program in Madrid, one of the school’s signature international experiences. The ABA-approved summer law program offered an intensive combination of classroom learning and cultural immersion, giving students a firsthand look at European legal systems and international law in practice. Students in the Summer Law Program in Madrid have the opportunity to participate in an international internship following the completion of their courses.
Student Reflections
Benjamin Weas (J.D. ’28)
Internship placement: Fieldfisher in Barcelona, Spain
I had the wonderful opportunity to intern for three weeks at Fieldfisher’s Barcelona office in Barcelona, Spain, where I had the great privilege to work with their litigation team. There, I was able to assist attorneys with cases ranging in subject from agency law to negligence defense, while comparing and researching Spanish, European Union, and U.S. law along the way. This internship afforded me the opportunity to explore my interest in international and comparative law in the welcoming and supportive environment. It was highly engaging for me, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to intern at Fieldfisher Barcelona.
Gabrielle Haman (J.D. ’28) and Grace Engel (J.D. ’28)
Internship placement: Plana Ventura Garcés in Madrid
Grace Engel and I (both J.D. ’28) fortunately stayed in Madrid following the completion of our summer study abroad program at SLU’s Madrid campus. There, we interned at Plana Ventura Garcés — an international law firm led by fellow SLU law graduate, Víctor de Cambra (LL.M. ’92). Throughout the summer, we reviewed, researched, and translated various contracts and cases involving international inheritances, local construction work, Spanish tax filings, and national competition law. Our coursework aptly prepared us to navigate European Union regulations and their applicability to not only Spanish law, but also neighboring EU countries. No universal legal framework exists, and thus, the need for international lawyers with cross-border legal competency and curiosity remains strong!
David Garcia (J.D. ’28)
Internship placement: ECIJA in Mexico City
I had the privilege of spending five weeks at ECIJA's Mexico City office, working in their Data Privacy and Compliance team. I worked on a variety of issues — drafting privacy notices and data-privacy contract clauses for international companies, reviewing sponsorship contracts, and researching Mexican regulatory law concerning education and data privacy. As the son of Mexican immigrants with an interest in international law, this was a unique opportunity to use my Spanish in a professional legal setting and experience international transactional work while immersing myself in Mexican culture. Living in Mexico City also let me explore the city, enjoy incredible food, and take in the electric atmosphere of the World Cup. I'll always be grateful for the experiences and the meaningful relationships I built with the team at ECIJA Mexico.