Anna studies Public International Law in 2013. She now works as Counsel at the World Bank Group Sanctions Board Secretariat in Washington DC, USA.
I knew from the start of my LLM search that I wanted to be in London. I was deciding between Queen Mary and another institution, and felt at that time that Queen Mary's academic program better suited my career goals.
At the risk of sounding like an absolute nerd, I would say that my favorite was the memory of all those days camping out at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies to finish writing my dissertation and half dissertation. When I was in law school in the Philippines, we did not have the same kind of expansive access to books and other legal research tools that were readily available at IALS. It may seem quite basic, but I was amazed at how easy it was to get a hold of the books and journals that I needed at the time that I needed them. I also loved discovering the different cafes around that area where I would take a break from writing, have a little treat, and people-watch.
I owe a lot to CCLS, so being a member of the CCLS community means being ready to provide guidance to students and younger alumni on career paths and prospects.
My professor in Regulation of International Trade, Dr. Gabriel Gari, was directly responsible for how my career immediately took off after my LLM. He actively gave us internship and employment leads (I learned about Volterra Fietta, where I interned right after my LLM, from Dr. Gari), prepared me well for my interview and exam at the WTO, and seems to have given me good references because I got the jobs I wanted!
Another professor, Professor Takis Tridimas, was also instrumental in my academic and professional journey. He challenged my preconceived notions about the law, opened my eyes to career paths I never considered, and selflessly provided support each time I needed it. Finally, the school's career counselor at that time met with me countless times to guide me in my job search. She was so proactive in helping me out that I remember once being offered an internship opportunity I did not even apply for!
CCLS equips its students academically to deepen their knowledge of their respective fields of law, provides various resources to explore viable career paths, and has an expansive network of alumni ready to support and advise students. Beyond CCLS, simply being in London provides you with several avenues for meeting professionals in your field and rich opportunities for career development.
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