A faculty member of a leading law school recently told me that more than 50% of the incoming 1Ls today say they want to practice international law.  Whether they see themselves prosecuting cases before an international war crimes tribunal or litigating before the World Trade Organization, advocating the rights of refugees or negotiating international treaties, today’s law students want to play a role in the governance of our globalized world.  Knowing what they want is the easy part.  Charting a career path in this ill-defined field can be daunting.

ASIL receives hundreds of inquiries from students trying to figure it out.  My advice is three-fold: develop language skills; work summers overseas; and network.  This guidance was echoed in a “webinar” we held with practicing international lawyers.  (View it at http://www.asil.org/events/calendarmore.cfm?confid=441&URLmonth=3&URLyear=2008&CatID=0&TheType=&Webinars=.)  Fellowships—like ASIL’s Helton Fellowship—open up valuable overseas summer opportunities that expose students to international practice and build their network of mentors.  International practice is not like the traditional domestic path.  No one sets out the hoops you have to jump through in a clear way.  Finding mentors—among faculty, summer employers, and professional associations like the ASIL—is key to developing a successful international legal career.

See ASIL’s Career Development Resource for announcements of fellowships and job openings, as well as to order Careers in International Law, which contains profiles of international lawyers and a list of fellowship and internship opportunities.  It can be found at http://www.asil.org/careers/careerwebsites.html.  And consider attending our annual meeting, April 9-12, which includes an April 12 Law School Fair, highlighting the international study opportunities available at leading US schools.  For more information on it, visit http://www.asil.org/events/am08/program.html.