Alumni Perspective: Ikechukwu Obioma '20
For international students such as myself, pursuing an advanced degree in a foreign country requires a significant commitment in terms of time and resources. As motivations for pursuing an LL.M degree differ, we make our choice on the right institution that best aligns with our goals and aspirations. However, we all have to deal with the uncertainties of transitioning to a new educational, social and professional environment. I was interested in pursuing an LL.M. in international trade and investment law. In addition to having one of the best trade and investment law programs in the US, I chose to pursue my LL.M at WCL for the following reasons -
1. Reputable and Flexible LLM program – WCL’s international law program is one of the best in the country with over 100 course offerings covering a broad range of topics in international trade law, international investment law, international business law, human rights and environmental law, to technology, privacy and national security. I knew that being at WCL would give me the flexibility to deepen my knowledge and adjust my interests as I discover new and exciting areas.
2. Highly experienced professors and adjuncts – Having practiced law for a few years, it was important for me to attend a graduate program that had a good balance of experienced academics and leading practitioners to effectively bridge the gap between academics and practice. I was impressed by the caliber of adjunct professors at WCL, drawn from top tier law firms, international organizations, non-profit organizations and U.S. government agencies.
3. Diversity – WCL is one of the most diverse law schools in the country with over 50 nationalities represented by the faculty and student body. I knew that I would benefit from the expanded network and perspectives that comes with engaging with such a cosmopolitan community.
4. I was also drawn to WCL’s small class sizes which allows students to receive individualized attention and interactions with faculty and staff which I felt would be lacking in larger programs.
5. Location/externship opportunities - I knew that WCL’s location in DC would provide me with ample networking opportunities due to the number of events that take place in DC annually as a result of its concentration of international organizations, corporate offices, think tanks and non-profit organizations. I also wanted to have the opportunity to do externships during the semester and internships in the summer and take advantage of WCL’s links to a large number of organizations in Washington DC, the United States and globally.
6. Scholarships and financial aid – Financing graduate is a capital intensive endeavor. The fact that WCL has a variety of scholarships available for its various programs was a factor in my decision to come to WCL. WCL offers an appreciable amount of full and partial tuition scholarships to undertake the LLM program.
Looking back now as an alum of this LL.M. program and these reasons have materialized. I have met students from different nationalities who are on the same or a similar journey and are very generous with sharing their experiences. As expected, the courses offered at WCL are wide-ranging and the faculty are very knowledgeable in their respective areas. Internship opportunities are constantly circulated to students and a number of students in the LL.M program have completed or are completing externships in line with their interests at various organization including law firms, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Centre for International Environmental Law. Apart from these internships, there are a number of research assistantships and dean’s fellow positions available on campus that international students can take advantage of to gain U.S. work experience.
WCL hosts a lot of events throughout the year which provide great opportunities to interact with other students and professionals in DC working in diverse fields. WCL also has a good alumni community who are involved with current events at WCL. In addition to being available to offer advice on navigating the US academic and professional environment, Alumni also share available internship and job opportunities in tandem with WCL’s office of career and professional development. Studying at WCL has been invaluable to my personal and professional development and I really enjoyed the experience.
"I knew that being at WCL would give me the flexibility to deepen my knowledge and adjust my interests as I discover new and exciting areas."
Ike Obioma '20