I have recently completed my internship at the Solicitor’s office, and I could not be more grateful for this opportunity. I’ve spent the last eight weeks as part of the International Internship Program: Dublin developing professionally and personally while completing a full-time internship at a law firm. As I prepare to depart from Ireland, I’ve been reflecting on just how much I’ve learned since I’ve gotten here.
In my internship, I’ve worked with some amazing people. It’s been so great getting to know the office staff and fellow interns over these past weeks. We’ve had so many discussions about such a vast array of topics that have given me an opportunity to hear a plethora of different perspectives from around the world.
The work at my internship has also been really fulfilling. The opportunity to regularly attend court and get a feel for the Irish legal system has been incredible. At first, attending court made me extremely nervous, and I felt very out of place. I’m happy to look back and see just how much I’ve grown in this short time to feel more comfortable in the courtroom setting. This is also true of the office setting, where I have a better understanding of the tasks that are assigned to me. Working in this law firm has given me a much deeper view of the legal field, which I am immensely grateful for. This internship has affirmed my passion for law, and I am looking forward to applying my international perspective of law to my future legal career.
The internship itself was an experience of a lifetime, but I’ve also been fortunate to have amazing experiences outside of the workplace this Summer. There were so many wonderful people I met through the EUSA program, and I’m so grateful to have been with an amazing cohort. It’s been great to have the opportunity to explore the city with friends, and it’s certainly made this program even more enriching. I have been in constant awe of Dublin, and I love walking around the city to discover new places, or return to my favorite spots. Grafton Street, the main street of Dublin’s city centre, has been a favorite of mine throughout the trip. I love walking up the street to browse through shops and listen to the buskers perform. After work, I’ve made it a priority to see something every day. Sometimes this is the same area, since the city centre is accessible and always has something interesting to see. I’ve also challenged myself to explore new areas. One day after work, I took a bus down to Bray and completed the “Bray to Greystones Walk,” a 7km hike along Wicklow County with gorgeous views. This was one of my favorite experiences since I’ve been here,
Something I’ve really enjoyed doing since I’ve been here has been traveling to nearby cities and exploring new places. Within Ireland, I’ve been to several cities, including Galway, Doolin, Cork, Blarney, and Belfast. I’ve also been able to take some trips off of the island to Edinburgh, London, and Paris. Exploring new places has been a highlight of my trip. As much as I love Dublin, I’ve also loved getting a preview of other places since I’ve been here.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this program has been having the opportunity to see Irish history in real life. This past semester, I took a course on Irish History, and I think this has enriched my experience immensely. Ireland is very connected to its history, so I constantly see references to names of people and events of the past. I’m so glad I was given a foundational understanding of this history through this course.
I’d like to extend a thank you to the Irish Room Committee for generously gifting me a Nationality Room Scholarship that has opened up so many doors for me this Summer. I would also like to thank all of the people I’ve met through the IIP Program and through my internship who made Dublin the experience that it was for me. I’d also like to thank my family and friends who have supported me throughout this experience.
One of my goals throughout this program was to learn more about the career I’d like to pursue, and this internship has given me more clarity in the type of work I’d like to do. I’ve learned so much throughout these past few weeks, and I am so excited to carry this experience with me as I pursue future academic and professional endeavors.