Reflections (and a Few Tips!) On Studying International Law Abroad

Some would say that life-changing events only occur maybe once or twice in an individual’s lifetime. Within the last two years, life has provided the opportunity to change the trajectory of my professional career. Whether it be luck, timing, or otherwise, personal, and professional networking has played a pivotal part in the overall success so far. The hope is that this article will inspire others to travel abroad, see the sites, and expand the concepts of their understanding of the practice of law on a global scale.

First, I pursued my Master of Legal Studies in Intellectual Property at Arizona State University. Second, I studied international law abroad in Prato, Italy. Lastly, based in part on the study abroad at Monash, the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDRIOT) invited me to serve as an independent researcher in Rome, Italy. During my international study abroad in the European Union, my wife, son, and I were able to travel throughout Europe and visit multiple historic sites including Pisa, Vatican City, Milan, and Monaco. The most memorable highlight was when we traveled to Rome to visit Vatican City and saw St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and other historical sites.

While at Monash, I studied Current Issues in Indigenous Rights and International Law and Transnational Litigation to sharpen my practice skills. As an independent researcher at UNIDRIOT, I conducted substantive legal research and performed legal writing in support of the development of my legal dissertation/law review project, “The Implications of International Commercial Contract Enforcement as it Relates to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.” The scope of the project was to assess whether fully integrated contract provisions allowed for the fulfillment of the contract to be enforced or otherwise provided exceptions under hardship or force majeure clauses to forbear, terminate, or renegotiate contractual provisions and stipulations.

Collectively, these experiences have moved my career forward while exploring the field of international law. Those who are interested in pursuing a similar path, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of planning—both in terms of the large details, such as how international law fits into your career plan, to the small ones, such as remembering to get an international drivers permit. My hope is that I will inspire others to travel abroad, see the sights, and expand the concepts of their understanding of the practice of law on a global scale.