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Welcome to our space!

We are happy to launch the first of several monthly editions of the International Connection. The International Connection was created as a mouthpiece for NBLSA’s International Relations Committee. The International Relations Committee has adopted 4 goals for this academic year:

1. To celebrate cultural diversity within NBLSA
2. To help NBLSA members successfully prepare for careers in International Law
3. To change the structure of the Black Law Students International Division
4. To keep NBLSA members aware of issues affecting black communities in the global village

This blog will serve as a vehicle to further these four goals.

The International Relations Committee (IRC) will focus on celebrating the diversity of NBLSA during the 2007– 2008 term. NBLSA members have roots in countries all over the world and there is so much we need to learn about each other in order to form a stronger alliance and accomplish our common goals. The IRC will release a list of activities that can be done during the International Week of Service to help chapters get in touch with the cultural richness of their membership, as well as learn about the wider black community in the international community.

The IRC is further invested in helping more NBLSA members get internships in International law. The IRC will feature discussion pieces on internship opportunities, resume building, finding mentors in International Law, finding people in International Law and learning about the work of our peers in the International legal field.

The IRC will also work on helping the International Law School Division build stronger coalitions in their regions. The IRC is working on creating an African Coalition of Black law students as well as a Caribbean coalition of law students. The IRC will work with these groups to increase the general body’s awareness of issues affecting black communities in the global village. This year our focus is on Haiti, and we will also focus on issues such as child labor and trafficking and of course AIDS. NBLSA’s International Relations Committee is working hard to help you prepare for a successful career in International Law. Every month we will highlight the stories, the tips, the news and the people of International law. We welcome you to look at our blog spot to find the information you need to help you as you plan a successful career and learn more about the committee. We further ask for your contributions to the IRC blog, to share your experiences of International Law on this blog with the wider membership, comment on articles on Facebook and the blog, and post news stories of interest on the blog and on facebook.

We look forward to hearing from you.



Young Black Professionals in International Law

INTRODUCING MS. MAGDA THEODATE

This month, Thallen Womack Brassel of NBLSA spoke to Ms. Magda Theodate about her career in International Law. Ms. Theodate's bio is followed by excerpts from Ms. Womack's conversation with Ms. Theodate.

Ms. Theodate is a U.S. and France trained attorney, and recognized specialist in public procurement matters with multi-lateral entities. She is admitted to the State of New Jersey Bar, and has over nine years of international experience in her field.

Currently, Ms. Theodate is the Regional Procurement Specialist for the Caribbean, with the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, DC. In that role, she provides advice to five countries (Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago) on the management of procurement issues related to IADB loans. Ms. Theodate also has expertise in the area of international public sector reform, with emphasis on procurement and contracts policy reform. She has worked with the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development in Paris, France, the World Bank’s Africa Region, as well as the US Congress, and a private law firm.

Ms. Theodate is a US national, and fully fluent in French and Spanish. She has lived and/or worked in the U.S., Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

Ms. Theodate answers our questions about the making of her career.

How I broke into the field of international law:

I always knew I wanted an international career, working with clients and colleagues from around the world. I chose The American University Washington College of Law for law school because I knew that the School and its dean, Claudio Grossman, valued international experiences and encouraged law student study abroad programs. Through the law school's exchange program with the University of Paris X-Nanterre in Paris, France, as well as one semester spent in an internship with the International Chamber of Commerce, Court of Arbitration, I knew that I was on track to having a rewarding career as international lawyer.

Advice to aspiring African-American law students:

First, I would encourage students to join the American Bar Association Section of International Law. The Section has terrific resources, both in terms of people and information, to help you once you make the decision to pursue a career in international law. Second, I would recommend creating plan A, B, and C (all inter-related) for your personal and professional development; a sort of mission statement, if you will. If one plan fails, go to the next. Then, take stock of the skills and assets you have to advance your plan, creating alliances to help you along the way (and whom you can help down the line), and remaining persistent. Lastly, stay humble, be grateful for your blessings, and be patient. I suffered through some difficult years in and out of law school, including family issues, two trans-Atlantic moves by myself, and unemployment, but I knew where I wanted to go, and had an idea what it would take to get there. I committed to making my dreams come true, but remained flexible to the unexpected curve balls life sometimes threw me.

Most Recent Publication(s): "Working Abroad: What You Need To Know To Make It Happen." American Bar Association Section of International Law Newsletter, Winter 2006/Spring 2007.

Searching for that Internship in International Law?

by Jackee Missick

Are you looking for an internship in international law but do not know where to begin? This month our committee members have compiled a list of internet links to wonderful summer internships in international law both in the United States and abroad. Please share your own links with the membership if you see nice ones we missed out on. Have fun searching!


Research Leads for Careers in International Law:


STUDY ABROAD
http://www.petersons.com/stdyabrd/us.asp

Information of Studying Abroad:
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Website Addresses:
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/educationusa/abroadstudy.htm
http://www.careers.state.gov/students/programs.html


Work Abroad Programs

http://www.workabroad.gatech.edu/WorkAbroadFair/
Registration Deadline: January 1, 2008
Work Aboard Fair Date: Tuesday, February 5, 2008

MIT European Career Fair: February 1-4, 2008
https://www.euro-career.com/.


Programs Offered By Schools

Georgia Institute of Technology:
http://www.workabroad.gatech.edu/WorkAbroadFair/

MIT European Career Fair: February 1-4, 2008
https://www.euro-career.com/.

University of California Berkeley-Study/Work Abroad Fair
September 28, 2007-Past due, but try next year
http://studyabroad.berkeley.edu/SAF/SAF_2007_Students.pdf
http://events.berkeley.edu/index.php/calendar/sn/student.html?event_ID=3610&date=2007-09-28

University of Chicago
http://www2.lib.uchicago.edu/~llou/careers.html

San Diego State University: October 24, 2007
http://www.sdsuniverse.info/info_content.asp?id=46617

This page of Huron University offers a lot of links to other work abroad sites
http://www.huronuc.ca/international_opportunities/work_abroad/



ORGANIZATIONS:

European Union
Scroll down; the good stuff is usually at the bottom of the page
https://www.euro-career.com/
http://www.eurunion.org/
http://www.eurunion.org/delegati/ppd/interns.htm
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ombudsman/trainee/en/rules.htm


National Association of International Educators:
Promotes the exchange of students and scholars to and from the US
http://nafsa.org/
http://www.eseries.nafsa.org/scriptcontent/YP_auto_2/yellowpages.cfm
This second link provide some good resources on everything from Visa and Tax info to Insurance and Medical Assistance

https://www.aramcoservices.com/Home/default.htm

www.allianceabroadgroup.com

www.monster.com

Internet Legal Research Group:
http://www.ilrg.com/lsahq/

American Bar Association:
http://www.abanet.org/lsd/sections/

ABA International Sector
http://www.abanet.org/intlaw/

American Branch of the International Law Association
http://www.ambranch.org/

Asian-ABA
http://www.abanet.org/aba-asia/jobs/home.shtml

International Law Students Association
http://www.ilsa.org/

Center for International Legal Studies
http://www.cils.org

United Nations Associations of the USA
http://www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF&b=317257
www.unausa.org

International Center for Dispute Resolution
www.adr.org/icdr

SPOTLIGHT ON HAITI

Voices of the Diaspora

This month, two law students who are part of the Haitian Diaspora share with us their hopes for Haiti as we kick off our first edition of Spotlight on Haiti.

Marlynne Bidos

As a young attorney, it is my life goal to set an example
that will inspire other young Haitians to become involved in
the law. Through community activities, academic excellence,
and professional success I hope to create a path for those
who come after me to know there is no limit to the dreams
they aspire to attain. Today, Haiti has been drained,
through much of its political upheaval, of many talented
young men and women who are educated at fine institutions
all over the world that do not return to the island to help
change it for the better. It is my aim to begin an
organization that will bring brilliant minds from the legal
and other professions together to create a series of schools
whose aim is to teach a curriculum that provides students a
variety of professional options to which they may have not
been exposed. The organization will obtain sponsors for
each child for them to study at the college level in the
United States and then return to Haiti to donate their time
to the community that helped them. I look forward to this
initiative creating a cycle that enables young Haitians to
see the importance of returning home and helping younger
generations persevere.



Kim Sassine

As an aspiring attorney, one preliminary contributions I can
make is to, in fact, return to Haiti or to stay close to it.
Too easily we find ourselves escaping our duty and
responsibility be keeping our involvement distant and
dismissive.

In light of the inner turmoil and the insufficient
international response, it becomes crucial to return home
and participate in the rehabilitation and development of
Haiti, creating a more favorable understanding of this
country so as to facilitate a fellowship amongst Haitians
within the country and those abroad.



Meet The Committee


Jackee Missick: New York

Jackée Missick was born in The Bahamas, but came of age in Brooklyn, New York. She is however, a true island girl-laid back and always smiling. She attended college at New York College of Technology. She studied independently for a BS in Interpersonal Communications and Hospitality Management.

She now attends Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in Central Islip, New York. She is an active member of The Women’s Bar Association, Touro BLSA, and NBLSA International Relations Committee. She enjoys mentoring young children and is involved Touro BLSA High School mentoring program as well as her work with the youth at her church. She is committed to helping young people succeed.

She considers herself, “a church girl.” The most important thing in her life is her relationship with God.

Her goals for NBLSA’s International Relations Committee:
Establish an ongoing program that encourages American law students to perform community service in those international countries that need it most.
Establish “The Caribbean Summer Internship” program in the Caribbean nations for NBLSA members. This would allow students especially with a Caribbean connection to give back.Make the practice of International Law a viable choice for NBLSA members

Destination London

By Christina Versail : Touro Law School

This summer I had the opportunity to intern in London, England. There, I worked in the legal department at Arsenal Football Club Plc. The main focus of the legal department at Arsenal was Intellectual Property.

Arsenal’s goal was to decrease trademark right infringements, passing-off issues, and the use of outsourced legal council to handle these types of litigations. Since the legal department was being reorganized I was able to aid in that reconstruction. I was excited in being able to have hands-on experience and to work independently. I was responsible for creating cease and deceit letters, on-site film and crew release forms, contest guidelines, and enforcement guide brochures which aided officials in identifying false Arsenal/Nike products. I particularly enjoyed visits to the Westminster Trading Standards where my supervisor and I would identify false merchandise and cease them for future litigation.
Interning abroad gave me the opportunity to also experience the lifestyle and culture of London. There is so much to see and do in this city. One cannot go here and not take advantage of the numerous sites such as the London Bridge, the London Eye, Victoria and Albert Museum, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Harrods, and best of all Oxford Street. Oxford Street is known as the main touristy shopping areas of London and is similar to New York City’s 5th avenue. Although London had it own sense of fashion, their entertainment industry (television and cinema) appeared to be heavily influenced by the American culture. This tendency is also apparent in the music industry as well.
Overall, my experience in London was amazing. I encourage others to study abroad if the opportunity arises. It is a life changing experience that you will learn and grow from. Networks for a Successful Tomorrow