Internships, or how to learn outside the classroom

Elena Diez de Ulzurrun, 4th year student of Law and the Global Law Program; Inés Gentile, 4th year student of International Office; Jesús Rizo, 5th year student of the double Degree of Law and International Office and José Antonio Latorre, 4th year student of the same double Degree are four examples of the more than one hundred students of the School of Law who every year do internships during the summer to fill in their academic training at the University. 

"Applying what we have learned at classroom will always be a plus when it comes to finding employment", Roberto Cabezas, director of Career Services, the Careers Office of the University, recently assured. Elena, Inés, Jesús and José Antonio describe this internship period as a unique and enriching experience also at staff, which has given them the opportunity to learn, broaden their knowledge, meet and "share offices" with professionals in law and International Office in different fields.   

Elena Diez de Ulzurrun Salicio has worked at Uría Menéndez in the Madrid office, at department Corporate and M&A. "During my internship I joined one of the firm's teams under the leadership of partner Sara García Vázquez. At Uría we work in small teams so that the contact with all members is much more direct and is not only limited to your superior" she describes. Elena explains that the summer interns divide their time between sessions at training and the work they are assigned within the team. She has had to closely analyze banking regulation and corporate governance issues. "My work has allowed me to see how everything studied in Corporate Law is applied in the internship and how the different branches of law interact (e.g. with Administrative Law or Labor Law)". Elena adds the importance of knowledge of languages given the continuous relationship with international clients and values her internship period as a 100% positive experience. "I still don't know where my professional future is headed and I believe that summer internships provide an essential perspective to clarify the doubts that usually surround the performance of law in large law firms and law in general".  

From his work at Uría Menéndez he keeps the friendliness and the spirit of work as a team. "I also think it's important to have an open mind towards learning. A scholarship recipient above all is going to soak up as much knowledge as it can."

Inés Gentile García has spent the summer working at the Army Communication department . Throughout those months her functions have been varying: from the management of social networks, online communication, the attendance to international events and the training in protocol to receive allied armies. "My main interest is the combination of the defense area with International Office and communication. So all the knowledge I have learned has helped me to realize that this is what I would really like to do in the future," says Inés. attend During her internship, Inés had the opportunity to attend the NATO summit on June 29th in Madrid, where she collaborated in the essay of a page for the Army newspaper (ET).

Jesús Rizo Ortiz has done his internship in the legal advisory service of the Army in Madrid. Specifically, he has worked in the resolution of files according to law in subject of staff (promotions, renewals and resolutions of commitment, awarding of decorations, etc), in subject Disciplinary (imposition of sanctions for crimes under the Military Criminal Code, determination of the appropriateness or not of sanctions already imposed, etc) and in subject of Recruitment (attendance and partnership in Recruitment Boards of the Army as board member legal). "The internships have given me the technical knowledge of a field of law unknown to the general public, with an extensive and very interesting legislation. In addition to being a very attractive subject and institution, the people I have met have shown me a commendable attitude of service and love for their work ," he says.

mission statement Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See in New York

As a unique and demanding experience that has helped him to fill in his knowledge of geopolitics and to develop his diplomatic skills. This is how José Antonio Latorre describes his work at the mission statement Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York. "The mission statement of the Holy See is a diplomatic delegation that works actively with the United Nations. In this forum, the Holy See brings the millennial experience of the Catholic Church with humanity, and assists the international community in the promotion of peace, human dignity, and humanitarian financial aid ," he explains. 

During these months, José Antonio has been in charge of covering the meetings of the committee Security and the first committee of the General Assembly, and issues related to cybersecurity. "I have been able to learn about the internal dynamics and the process of resolutions. It's very interesting," he says. "Sharing my time with colleagues from mission statement has been an opportunity to grow and learn from everyone. The environment at work is multinational and everyone brings a unique and different background," he says.

In order for students like Elena, Inés, José Antonio and Jesús to get these internships the Careers Office of the School organizes annually conference de Process On Campus y Career Week where students participate in personalized interviews with national and international law firms and have the opportunity to attend to sessions with professionals from different fields who, in addition to their training, share their professional experience with the students. The School also offers the possibility of participating in the Opositor's Week for those interested in focusing their degree program towards the civil service.