My summer internship at Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown (TCMB) in Rio de Janeiro exceeded all my expectations, becoming one of the most enriching experiences of my life. The idea of pursuing an international internship first took root two years ago, during my time in Austin, Texas.
In 2022, after arriving in the U.S., I enrolled in the Academic English Program at the University of Texas at Austin (UT). After a year of intensive language study, I realized that pursuing a Two-Year LL.M. would be the ideal next step for two main reasons: (i) It would provide a comprehensive understanding of the American legal system, which is essential for my career, and (ii) it would offer the opportunity for an international summer internship, enhancing my global legal exposure. I vividly remember the moment I received the email from Georgetown inviting me to join the program—I was attending the International Energy Conference in Miami, organized by the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN), and I couldn’t stop smiling. It was the perfect convergence of events, reinforcing that I was on the right path.
The journey to secure the internship was a focused effort. From the outset of the LL.M. program, I set a clear goal to gain practical experience in the energy sector. I was diligent in attending energy conferences and networking with professionals, ensuring the right people knew my aspirations. Through these efforts and consistent conversations, my former professor Norman Nadorff and my friend Leandro Duarte advised me to apply for a specific internship opportunity. I followed their advice, applied, and was thrilled to receive the positive news.
I joined the Oil & Gas Practice Team at TCMB in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Working alongside many professionals I had already connected with through international conferences and professional platforms like LinkedIn. My responsibilities included conducting legal research, drafting energy contracts, assisting in creating business plans for clients interested in investing globally, and preparing legal reports and memos. My previous legal experience, combined with my first academic year at Georgetown, proved invaluable. For example, the Contract Drafting course with Professor Dundon directly aligned with my first assignment at the firm. I was tasked with reviewing an oil and gas contract, and the project was almost identical to my final exam in Professor Dundon’s class. Although I was initially nervous because a partner personally assigned me the task, I recalled that I had earned an ‘A’ in the course and used the same approach, adapting the content to the specific legal regime involved.
Additionally, skills from my U.S. Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing course with Professor Hoffman and Legal Writing with Professor Lake were more beneficial than I had anticipated, allowing me to contribute effectively and meet tight deadlines.
My experience at the law firm exceeded my expectations in several ways:
As a native Portuguese speaker, I naturally expected that most of my work in Brazil would be conducted in Portuguese. However, to my surprise, nearly all of my assignments were in English. This unexpected shift not only challenged me but also provided a great opportunity to refine my professional English skills, which made the experience even more rewarding.
I expected the firm, given its size and reputation, to have a highly pressured, perhaps even distant, working environment. Instead, I found the atmosphere to be friendly, collaborative, and supportive. The partners, contrary to the stereotype of “Big Law,” were approachable and down-to-earth.
The workload was intense, but the dedication and enthusiasm of my colleagues were inspiring. I often found myself working late into the night alongside peers, and no one ever complained. The shared sense of purpose and drive to excel, especially among those younger than me, was both fascinating and motivating.
In conclusion, my internship at TCMB not only solidified my professional skills but also reshaped my perceptions of the legal industry. The unexpected challenges, such as working extensively in English and the fast-paced environment, pushed me to grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated. The collaborative culture and the dedication of my colleagues made the experience truly fulfilling. This journey reaffirmed my passion for international energy law and demonstrated the value of seizing opportunities, building meaningful connections, and continuously pushing my own boundaries. I feel more confident and prepared for the next phase of my career, with a clearer vision of the impact I want to make in the global legal landscape.
Returning from parental leave, Prof. Cheng is set to teach sections of Legal English I and Professional Responsibility this fall. Additionally, he is working on a new Legal English Negotiations curriculum for the spring 2025 semester.
Professor Dundon had a busy summer, which started with his teaching an Advanced Contract Drafting class to LL.M. students at IE Law School in Madrid, Spain. It was his fifth summer teaching at IE Law, and he always feels very honored to be there – the school community is very welcoming, and the students themselves are always extremely impressive.
Next, Professor Dundon presented his research at two linguistics conferences in the United Kingdom: the i-Mean 7 Conference on Meaning in Social Interaction in Bristol, and then the 5th European Conference of the International Association for Forensic & Legal Linguistics in Birmingham. His first presentation was an explanation of procedural and evidentiary rules in U.S. trials that can affect linguistic analysis of trial testimony. The second presentation summarized Professor Dundon’s recent research about how U.S. Supreme Court Justices and attorneys at oral arguments sometimes speak “on behalf” of institutions and clients, and how this phenomenon manifests in linguistic features.
Professor Dundon then spent a month in Taiwan, teaching Contract Drafting in English to law students at the National Chengchi University College of Law and practicing attorneys at the Taipei Bar Association. It was one of his largest-ever classes (over 100 students), and Professor Dundon learned an incredible amount about the Taiwanese legal system from his students. He’s been invited back for a similar program next year and hopes to expand the course offerings to cover additional material.
Finally, Professor Dundon taught U.S. Legal Research, Analysis & Writing in Georgetown Law’s Summer Experience Program for entering LL.M. students.
It is hard to believe that the summer is almost over! We have several personal and professional highlights to share.
Prof. Julie Lake (left) and Prof. Heather Weger (right)
Vacations & Family Time
Since our last blog post, we took time to relax with our respective families.
Professor Julie Lake spent much of the summer with family and friends in Cape May (New Jersey), Chapel Hill (North Carolina), and Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Though the sun was in full force in Cape May (aka, the “beach”), the jellyfish prevented her from swimming in the ocean. (It is hard to conquer these lifelong fears!) She was able to spend time with her husband and daughter, watching movies and TV shows about unicorns, playing her guitar, and completing kid-friendly art projects.
Professor Heather Weger traveled to Chicago (Illinois) and Richmond (Virginia) to visit her husband’s family), and she spent time with her Mom (from Arkansas) and sister (from North Carolina) as they visited her here in DC. She also spent a week at the beach (North Carolina), binge watching the Olympics, collecting sea shells with her children, and catching up on pleasure reading. Reconnecting with family always brings a renewed sense of identity and energy!
Summer Projects
Between family trips and vacations, we have continued to refine our asset-based approach to teaching Legal English. Specifically, we presented at the Legal Writing Institute (LWI) Biennial Conference in Indianapolis in July. In our presentation, “Linguists in Law School: Rebooting Legal Education to Empower Multilingual Law Students,” we highlighted the value that multilingual law students bring to law school and showed effective pedagogical strategies to enhance their Legal English. We also enjoyed the presentations we attended, and we came away with practices ratified (e.g., mindfulness of cultural and linguistic references in teaching), new practices introduced (e.g., a new approach to cultivating creativity), and some practices overturned (e.g., unexpected ways of handling plagiarism).
The Upcoming Academic Year
We look forward to another academic year with the Two-Year LL.M. program!
We are offering a newly designed course to the Two-Year LL.M. students, Academic Legal English: Special Topics, which engages students in experiential learning to enhance their oral communication skills, grammar skills, and professional language skills. The course topics include:
Reflecting on Legal English Skills
Listening to a Law School Lecture
Optimizing Study Strategies for Law School
Using (& Not Using) Generative AI in Law School
Participating in and Facilitating Law School Discussions
Using Grammar in Legal Contexts: Conditionals
Writing Academic and Professional Emails
Exploring the Scholarly Writing Genre
We also look forward to some exciting upcoming projects with our legal English colleagues at several Ukrainian law schools.
We will continue to participate in the monthly working group with Ukrainian linguists teaching in the law context.
As we reflect on its evolution over since 2008, we are proud of the quality legal English curriculum that the team has developed. We welcome the new cohort of students and look forward to staying in touch with the students in their second year!
I was also extremely honored to receive an “Individual Award”Recognition of Achievement in Global Legal Skills Education” award from the Global Legal Skills Institute for “creating collaborative exchanges between US and Ukrainian Legal Educators and for Promoting Legal Skills Education Around the World.”
The other fantastic part was getting to meet so many wonderful members of the Global Legal Skills community in person, including Mark Wojcik, David Austin, Lurene Contento, Chantal Morton, Kim Holst, Artem Shaipov, Louise Kulbicki, Natasha Costello, Claudia Amato, Lindsey Kurtz, Susan Dudley, John Thornton, Shelly Saltzman, Bythia Loudon, Kateřina Chudová, and many others. And particularly special was getting to finally meet in person Ukrainian law professors Oksana Kiriiak (Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University) and Nadiia Maksimentseva (Oles Gonchar Dnipro National University), who had both been active participants in all of the legal English trainings over the past year.
Prof. Oksana Kiriiak (left), Prof. Nadiia Maksimentseva (middle), & Prof. Horowitz (right)
Fact of the day: The bones of St. Nicholas (aka Santa Clause) are buried in the Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Bari. And thanks to a recommendation from a friend, I just started reading an amazing novel of historical fiction titled Nicked by M.T. Anderson which is set in Bari which tells the somewhat fictionalized story of how Santa’s bones ended up there.
Sri Lanka
Flew to Sri Lanka to lead workshops on legal English curriculum development for the University of Colombo and University of Jaffna in connection with USAID’s Efficient and Effective Justice (EEJ) Program in Sri Lanka. Also met with faculty from the Open University of Sri Lanka and University of Peradeniya to lay the groundwork for legal English curriculum support. Similar to the situation in Ukraine, law schools in Sri Lanka are in the process of moving to English-only curriculum.
Ukraine
Initiated conversations with Georgetown Law faculty to establish a sort of umbrella “Ukraine legal support” group within the Georgetown Law community in order to identify and connect the various people and entities within the law school that have been involved with providing law-related support to Ukraine. The goal is to be able to increase opportunities for collaboration and info sharing and also establish a central point of contact for inquiries, events, getting involved, etc.
Looking forward to re-starting the weekly Legal English Conversation sessions for Ukrainian law and legal English faculty that I’ve run for the past year. In each session, some subset of the 30+ Ukrainian faculty members and 30+ US/EU faculty members join and are paired off in breakout rooms for legal English conversation. (If interested in being added to the list of volunteers, please feel free to email me at stephen.horowitz@georgetown.edu.)
Looking forward to continuing to support the organization of Legal English trainings for Ukrainian law and legal English faculty.
Looking forward to continuing to support the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Peer-to-Peer Writing Project, which matches KMA students with American law students, including several from Georgetown Law for all three semesters the program has run so far.
Continued providing the online self-guided pre-LLM legal English program for fellows in the ABA Afghan Legal Professionals Scholarship & Mentoring Pilot Program. The course, which I co-created, is hosted on the USLawEssentials learning management system. The course is made available for free to all fellows in the program who have completed the legal English assessment designed by Prof. Lindsey Kurtz (Penn State Law), Prof. Dan Edelson (Seton Hall Law), and me last year to support the ABA Pilot Program.
*Once again co-taught with Prof. Daniel Edelson (Seton Hall Law) a 4-week bar essay skills course (for MEE and MPT) this summer through USLawEssentials using a “pay what you can” model to make legal English bar support accessible to all LLM students who need it.
Online Legal English
Continued my annual tradition of teaching part of the summer pre-LLM English for American Law School course for incoming LLM students at St. John’s Law School. After leaving St. John’s in 2020, I collaborated with Daniel Edelson to create an online version of the summer legal English program in St. John’s Canvas system. The course content, which we designed to be used as both a synchronous or self-guided course, helps students learn the basics of the US legal system, US law school culture, legal writing, and case reading and analysis.
Fall 2024 Semester
Excited to be teaching sections of both Legal English and US Legal Research & Writing this semester to the Two-Year LLM students this fall semester!
Melick holds a Master of Law in European Union Law and a Bachelor of Laws from Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. She spent the summer in Washington, DC, interning at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID, World Bank Group), and has previously interned at the Brussels law firm of Govaerts-Mortiaux, which specializes in immigration law, asylum law, and child protection.
Salome Adeishvili, Georgetown Law Two-Year LLM, 2023-25
Post by Salome Adeishvili, who just completed her first year of Georgetown Law’s Two-Year LLM and will graduate in Spring 2025. Salome is from a small town called Samtredia in Georgia. Fun fact from Salome: Samtredia translates as “three pigeons.” 🙂
Do you want to know how it all concluded? We have reached the satisfying moment when you can tuck this experience away on the imaginary shelves of your mind and the real lines of your resume. Let’s delve into the final facets of a summer externship that are worth reflecting on before you close this chapter.
In the first part of this blog, I will wrap up the discussion on the final steps of Georgetown University’s requirements and share my thoughts and experiences on crafting the Reflection Memo, as I promised in my second post. In the second part, I will discuss the value of externships for multilingual international lawyers. In the third part, I will discuss the strategies to develop professional growth and skills during an externship. In the conclusion, I will reflect on how transformative this externship has been for this new chapter of my academic and professional career.
Crafting the Reflection Memo
In this part, I will be guiding you on how to effectively approach writing your Reflection Memo at the end of your externship. The Reflection Memo is a critical component of your externship experience, allowing you to thoughtfully analyze and document what you have learned, how you have grown, and how your experience aligns with your career goals. I will share three important strategies on how to stay engaged with these reflective topics throughout your placement to ensure that when the time comes to write your memo, you will have a wealth of insights ready to shape into a meaningful reflection.
First, to prepare for writing the Reflection Memo, it is essential to approach your externship with an active mindset, continuously engaging with the key topics the memo will cover. Throughout the externship, you should keep in mind the questions you need to answer, allowing you to reflect on your experiences throughout the externship.
Second, during the semester, your externship supervisor from Georgetown University will most likely point out specific topics and areas that can inform your memo. This guidance is invaluable, as it helps you know what to pay attention to and what reflections will be most relevant to your final write-up. As you work on cases or engage in various tasks, consider how these activities align with the organization’s mission and your initial expectations. Pay attention to surprising elements of the work environment or your responsibilities, as these will form a crucial part of your reflection. It is also beneficial to observe how your skills develop over time, noting specific tasks that contribute to your growth. Take note of any lessons or insights gained that go beyond classroom learning, as these will be valuable in your reflection on the most important takeaways from the externship.
Third, use the expected discourse conventions for the Reflection Memo. In the first year of my Two-Year LLM program, I took Fundamentals of Legal Writing I and II. These courses were crucial in teaching me how to write like a US legal professional, focusing on US writing styles tailored for legal readers. This approach was entirely new to me, as I had not previously encountered this style of legal writing in my career. I highly recommend paying close attention to these classes, as they will be invaluable not only for writing your Reflection Memo for the externship but also for crafting any academic papers during your second year.
In summary, writing a strong Reflection Memo requires ongoing engagement with your experiences, noting your evolving thoughts, and advanced writing skills, all while keeping in mind the specific guidance provided by your supervisor.
Why is it valuable to do an externship/internship for multilingual international lawyers
In this part, I will cover two key benefits of an externship: gaining real-world experience in a different legal system and enhancing language skills in legal contexts.
Real-World Experience in a Different Legal System
As a multilingual lawyer from a Civil Law country, engaging in an externship has been essential for me. It has given me the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in a Common Law system, which is quite different from what I am familiar with. This exposure has been crucial in helping me understand the nuances and complexities of practicing law in a jurisdiction other than my own. Before I can fully step into the role of an attorney and take on all the responsibilities that come with it, I needed to have this experience. It prepared me for the challenges of working in a Common Law system, ensuring that I am well-equipped to navigate this legal system with confidence.
Enhanced Language Skills in Legal Contexts
Being multilingual is undoubtedly an asset, but using multiple languages in a professional legal setting takes those skills to a higher level. It helps refine your language abilities, especially those that rely on legal terminology and formal communication. In this context, it is not just about translating words but truly understanding the legal concepts behind them. Sometimes, literal translations of legal terms can lead to confusion, as the same word might mean something entirely different in another legal system. This is why asking questions and seeking explanations about legal terms is crucial. For a lawyer coming from a non-English-speaking country, this experience is invaluable. It helps you become proficient in the legal language of another country, setting you apart in the global legal market and ensuring that you can navigate complex legal discussions with confidence and clarity.
Growth and Skills: Lessons Learned and Future Advice
This part of the blog will cover how I have grown in my professional skills and how these skills will benefit my future career and LLM studies.
Growth as a Legal Professional
At the start of my externship, managing my time and handling complex immigration cases was tough. I felt overwhelmed and struggled to keep up with the fast pace. But as I practiced and adapted, I became more efficient and organized. The feedback from my supervisor attorney was incredibly helpful, turning my challenges into learning opportunities. My advice is not to get discouraged. Even if progress can feel slow, keep moving forward, practicing, and doing your best. Every small step counts, and, with persistence, you will eventually find yourself making significant strides toward success.
Skills to Take into My Legal Career and LLM
The skills I have developed during this externship will be pivotal for my future career. I have gained a solid understanding of US Immigration Law, which aligns with my professional interests. As I progress into my second year and take courses on Immigration and Refugee Law, this practical experience will provide a significant advantage. Conversely, these courses will address any gaps in my theoretical knowledge. Together, this blend of hands-on and theoretical experiences will equip me to handle complex legal issues with confidence and professionalism.
For future students, my advice is to make the most of your externship by aligning it with the field you plan to study and work in. Choose a placement that complements your academic and career goals, and strive to gain as much practical experience as possible. Your externship is an opportunity to build a strong foundation for your future career, so embrace it fully and do your best.
Conclusion
In wrapping up this journey, it is clear that an externship offers far more than just a glimpse into the professional world—it is a transformative experience that shapes both your legal skills and your career outlook. From mastering the art of reflection to navigating a new legal system and honing language skills, every challenge encountered is an opportunity for growth. As you prepare to take the next steps in your career and academic pursuits, remember that the insights and experiences gained during your externship will serve as a solid foundation for your future successes.
To speak of my experience, this journey, once daunting, now sits neatly on the shelf of my professional life, ready to support the next steps in my LLM studies and beyond. I got my second happy ending. But just as one chapter closes, another begins. Is there a prospect of a third happy ending to this story?
I received a job offer from my externship firm, which I happily accepted. There will be more to share about that in the future, in a different time and place, but for now, let’s savor this accomplishment and look forward to what comes next.
Salome Adeishvili, Georgetown Law Two-Year LLM, 2023-25
Post by Salome Adeishvili, who just completed her first year of Georgetown Law’s Two-Year LLM and will graduate in Spring 2025. Salome is from a small town called Samtredia in Georgia. Fun fact from Salome: Samtredia translates as “three pigeons.” 🙂
May 2024
Dear Diary (and Future Readers),
Are you interested in finding an externship in the US? My diary is here to guide you. I am excited to share my experiences and insights that led me to secure an externship as a Georgetown Law student. In my diary, you will be able to follow my steps closely. This established path aims to make your future endeavors smoother and more rewarding. I will outline four crucial steps in chronological order to help you navigate the process successfully. The first step involves preparing all the necessary documentation. The second step covers the process of finding an externship. The third step focuses on preparing for the interview. The fourth step outlines the administrative steps required to make your externship official.
Preparing your documentation
The first step is crucial for building a strong foundation: gathering the necessary documentation. This documentation includes your resume, professional references, personal statement, and writing sample.
Begin by refining your resume using the available resources at Georgetown Law’s Office of Graduate Careers. Start this process early in your first semester, as perfecting a resume takes time, and you will need it ready when it is time to apply for externships.
Next, gather your professional references. List at least three references, selecting a mix of professors and former or current employers.
Then, draft a general personal statement in advance to adapt it based on different positions. This allows you to easily adapt it to fit the specific interests and requirements of each firm or organization you apply to.
Finally, have a writing sample ready. Many organizations will request one. Obtaining a writing sample from your courses in your program is quite efficient. If you are in the One-Year LL.M. at Georgetown Law, try to take a class in your first semester with a paper requirement (e.g., USLRAW or a seminar course.) If you are in the Two-Year LL.M. Program, you can use your USLRAW memo or your second-semester Fundamentals Legal Writing II paper.
The Process of Finding an Externship
For the second step, set aside a specific time each day to focus solely on finding externships across various platforms. Make this a daily habit and prioritize it over other commitments, including midterms, exams, assignments, or social activities. Begin this process early in the semester, ideally 3-4 months before you wish to start your externship, whether in summer, fall, or spring.
When searching for externships using different resources, use keywords like “summer externship/internship for law students,” with or without mentioning a specific organization. If you are interested in a particular field, include related keywords. For example, I was looking for opportunities at an immigration law firm, so I added “immigration” to my above-mentioned keywords.
One set of resources is available exclusively for Georgetown Law students: Symplicity, a Georgetown Law database of employers and job opportunities, and TIP Symplicity, the pre-approved externships database created especially for Georgetown Law students. Another set of resources is widely available, LinkedIn, a professional networking platform that connects you with industry professionals and job postings, and Indeed, a comprehensive job search engine. Combine these with other relevant job search platforms to maximize your chances of finding externship opportunities.
Also, manage your applications with an Excel sheet/Word document to track companies, deadlines, documents, and follow-ups. Regularly update your spreadsheet and stay proactive to enhance your chances of securing an externship. Consistent effort and dedication will significantly increase your chances of finding the perfect externship.
Preparing for the Interview
For the third step, take advantage of Georgetown University’s services and schedule a mock interview with the Office of Graduate Careers. While you may have previous interview experience, different countries often have unique ways of talking about their experiences and potential value to a company or organization. To highlight these qualities, utilize the resources provided by the university to ensure you are well-prepared.
Make Your Externship Official
After successfully securing the position, if you plan to accrue credit in an externship, ensure you complete all the necessary administrative steps. Fill out an LL.M. Externship Application Google form and request that your future employer complete the Supervision Agreement for Externship Field Supervisor form and send it to Molly Jackson. This ensures your hard work is recorded and Georgetown University Law Center awards you two hours of academic credit.
In conclusion, navigating the externship journey as a Georgetown Law LL.M. student involves laying a strong foundation by preparing essential documentation, dedicating consistent time to the Process of Finding an Externship, utilizing university services for interview preparation, and finalizing administrative requirements to make your externship official and to ensure credit for your hard-earned result. By following these steps diligently and leveraging all the available resources, you can enhance your chances of securing a rewarding externship experience that aligns with your career goals and aspirations.
**********
P.S. Would you prefer to get paid for your work? If so, you should consider an internship. The main difference between an externship and an internship is that an externship provides university credits, while an internship usually offers a salary. The first three steps of the process are the same for both, but unlike an externship, an internship does not require university registration since it does not offer academic benefits. So, which option do you prefer?
P.P.S. To avoid any confusion, I also want to add that F-1 students are not permitted to work/intern/extern off-campus without approved optional practical training (OPT) or curricular practical training (CPT) work authorization.
We were both extremely proud and at the same time verklempt while attending the retirement ceremony for Prof. Craig Hoffman, one of the original pioneers of legal English, the founder of the Georgetown Two-Year LLM Program, the progenitor of the Legal English faculty, a beloved teacher (or “rock star” as Dean William Treanor put it) to hundreds of Georgetown LLM students, and an inspiration and mentor to so many of us who have been fortunate to have had the privilege of working with him. We will miss him dearly but look forward to building on his legacy and continuing to collaborate with him and seek his insights (whether he wants us to or not. :-))
Prof. Hoffman with members of the Legal English faculty. (From L to R: Heather Weger, John Dundon, Craig Hoffman, Patricia Dutra, Stephen Horowitz and Julie Lake. Not pictured: Michelle Ueland, Benjamin Cheng and Yi Song.)Prof. Hoffman getting the rock star treatment from some of his students.
Prof. Cheng was on leave this semester while he and his wife were blessed with the birth of their second child, Matteo. We and our students all look forward to working with Prof. Cheng again in the fall (and also look forward to Matteo’s first visit to campus!)
The newest member of the Georgetown Legal English Team: Prof. Matteo Cheng!
We have had another successful academic year! We would like to use this opportunity to give some “shout outs” (i.e., recognize the colleagues and students who made this year possible) and update you on our work.
Shout Outs
Most notably, we want to express deep gratitude to Craig Hoffman, whose innovative mind has created a supportive space that recognizes and empowers the voice of Multilingual Lawyers from around the world. Being part of his Legal English vision has enriched our understanding of what student-centered learning means and given us a platform to build meaningful programming.
To honor his legacy, we warmly congratulate our multilingual students in the Two-Year LLM Program. First, to our graduating cohort! Keep us informed of your ongoing adventures. Second, we recognize the hard work of those who have just completed their first year! It has been an honor to be a part of your journey to practice law in a multilingual world. See you next year.
Finally, we want to thank our colleagues, past and present, for continuously innovating and pushing the boundaries on legal education practices: Profs. Benjamin Cheng, John Dundon, Stephen Horowitz, Mari Sakai, and Michelle Ueland.
Our Ongoing Work
Our professional journey during the last several months has had plenty of amazing highs, starting with the lawyer-linguist partnerships and classroom spaces that we shared with the multilingual lawyers in the Two-Year LLM Program. These months have also been filled with milestones to propel us forward: including providing a Legal English curriculum to a brilliant team from the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine, forming a working group with Ukrainian linguists teaching in the law context, receiving both the Jim Weaver and ALWD grants that will help us continue to innovate our Legal English pedagogy, and introducing our asset-based Legal English approach at TESOL 2024 International Convention.
Prof. Julie Lake (4th from left) and Prof. Heather Weger (2nd from right) led the Georgetown Legal English team that hosted staff from the Office of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General for a five-week intensive language program.
This summer, Professor Dundon is returning to IE Law School in Madrid, Spain, where he will teach a class on contract drafting to students in IE Law’s LL.M. program. He’ll also teach a similar class on the same subject matter this summer in Taipei, Taiwan, with one section taught to law students at National Chengchi University and another taught to practicing lawyers organized through the Taipei Bar Association.
Professor Dundon will present his research at two linguistics conferences, both in the United Kingdom. His first presentation, at thei-Mean 7 Conference on Meaning in Social Interaction in Bristol, UK, will concern the procedural and evidentiary rules in the U.S. legal system that result in interactional asymmetries in trials. His second presentation will be at the 5th European Conference of the International Association for Forensic & Legal Linguistics in Birmingham, UK, and he will summarize his recent research on production format in U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments.
Finally, Professor Dundon will teach U.S. Legal Research, Analysis & Writing during Georgetown Law’s Summer Experienceprogram for newly-matriculated LL.M. students.
*Organized a second round of Legal English training sessions which included 1) a series of Pronunciation/Speaking Presentations sessions led by Legal English Specialist Linda Pope; 2) a session titled “The Flipped Classroom: A Student-centered Approach for Instruction” led by Prof. Susan Dudley of the University of Richmond Law School; 3) a session titled “Case Analysis & Written and Oral Advocacy” led by Joel B. Kohm, a retired Canadian barrister and solicitor and founder of Kohm Arbitration & Mediation Inc.; and 4) A session titled “Resolving legal disputes without going to trial: ADR, negotiation and mediation” led by Prof. Barrie Roberts, author of The Getting to Yes Guide for ESL Students and Professionals.
*Helped launch a new training focused on the teaching of Legal Research & Writing and recruited a team of US and Canadian legal research and writing experts to participate. (In collaboration with Artem Shaipov of the USAID-funded Justice For All (Ukraine) program.)
*Helped arrange for Prof. Nadiia Maksimentseva, who specializes in constitutional and election law, to give a presentation sponsored by Georgetown Law’s American Constitution Society titled “Derogation of Human Rights and Freedoms During Martial Law in Ukraine.” (Special shout out to my TA Conor Bigley, an ACS officer this past year, for all his help in making this happen.)
*Continued the weekly Legal English Conversation sessions which matched 20+ Ukrainian law and legal English faculty with 20+ US/EU law and legal English faculty. In addition to legal English practice, the weekly Zoom sessions have evolved into a place to share ideas and understanding feel connected as a community. Legal English Conversation for Ukrainian Faculty is taking a break for the summer but will continue in the fall. (If interested in getting involved in any way, feel free to email me at stephen.horowitz@georgetown.edu.)
*Continued offering a self-guided online pre-LLM legal English program (i.e., Fundamentals of the US Legal System; Reading Cases; Legal Writing; etc.) on the USLawEssentials platform to help prepare Afghan candidates getting ready to start an LLM program at a US law school.
Bar Exam Support for LLM Students
*Will again co-teach a 4-week bar essay skills course (for MEE and MPT) this summer with USLawEssentials using a “pay what you can” model to make legal English support accessible to all LLM students who need it.
*Attended the ABA International Section Conference in Washington, DC on May 10 to see Dana Katz, Daniel Edelson and others on a panel presentation titled “Lean on Me: Guiding Legal educational and Career Pathways for Afghan Lawyers and Judges Starting Over in the United States.” After the presentation, I was honored to get to meet in person several of the Afghan judges whom I’d met via Zoom to conduct legal English assessments with and also several of the U.S. legal professionals who have been serving as mentors to the Afghan judges and lawyers.
*For a third year in a row hosted the Two-Year LLM students (along with Legal English faculty and members of the Office of Graduate and International Programs) for an end-of-semester, good ol’ American-style cookout + potluck that included cornhole, soccer, and s’mores! Looking forward to continuing this fun and wonderful tradition for many years to come.
