preLaw Magazine - Fall 2008 - (Page 41) specialties INTERNATIONAL What is international law? With the increasing globalization of the world’s economies changing, the practice of international law has also spread worldwide. Attorneys are no longer just located at branches within the United States. Many are in major financial centers, such as London, Hong Kong and Tokyo. The expansion has been driven by client demand. Many attorneys work in departments specializing in international trade or internationonal finance, while others work for corporations with international interests. ( Q&A with Mike Newton, professor at Vanderbilt University Law School ) Q: How to people enter the field A:of international law? What skills are most important to international law International law presents a constantly lawyers? The skills required to succeed in international law are those that blur the boundaries between law and diplomacy. It is not enough to simply know where to find the law, because in this field it is often the lawyers themselves who are at the forefront of changing the law. International lawyers by definition are those who have the vision to see beyond immediate problems and the values to patiently implement solutions in a practice environment that is often anarchic. This requires the highest skills of legal craftsmanship, tact, and a great deal of persistence. evolving array of challenges that are as releev va vant as the morning headlines. The points of entry into the field are as varied as the o practice. Some international lawyers first p develop a solid domestic law foundation; d others enter the field by working with an o N NGO or international organization; some bu build upon an expertise in a specialized ar area of law; still more capitalize on linguistic or cultural advantages. Where to study… Albany Law School Arizona State University College of Law Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law California Western School of Law Case Western Reserve School of Law Catholic University School of Law Chicago-Kent College of Law DePaul University College of Law Florida Coastal School of Law Fordham University School of Law Franklin Pierce Law Center George Mason University School of Law Georgetown University School of Law Golden Gate University School of Law Hamline University School of Law Hofstra University School of Law Loyola University College of Law, New Orleans New York Law School Northwestern University School of Law Pace Law School Saint Louis University School of Law Santa Clara University School of Law Seattle University School of Law Southwestern Law School INTERNATIONAL LAW Suffolk University Law School Syracuse University Law School The John Marshall Law School Thomas Jefferson School of Law Thomas M. Cooley Law School Trinity Law School Tulane University Law School University of Arizona College of Law University of California Davis School of Law University of Connecticut School of Law University of Florida College of Law University of Georgia School of Law University of Kansas School of Law University of Miami School of Law University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law University of Pittsburgh School of Law University of Toledo College of Law University of Tulsa College of Law University of Washington School of Law University of Wisconsin Law School Vanderbilt University Law School Vermont Law School Willamette University College of Law What classes and law school experiences do you recommend? Students in law school should focus on a broad base of substantive coursework, but should also write and think more deeply about specific issues in the field. A course such as the International Law Practice Lab at Vanderbilt, paired with a strong externship program, is ideal for bridging the gap between theory and the practical skills needed to apply the law and succeed in practice. How should a student choose a law school with this specialty? Students seriously considering a career in international law should select law schools that provide the opportunity to hone real skills even as they provide excellent coursework. 41 Fall 2008
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