Young lawyers today crave foreign experiences. EJ members across Europe have found various solutions to organise a fruitful time in lawfirms abroad. Here are a few examples.
In the middle of 2012, Irish lawyer Elizabeth Fitzgerald strolled through the streets of Madrid as if she were born there, introducing her new city to her folks : « My best memory of my time in Madrid was being able to show visting friends and family around the wonderful city as a sort of insider. My whole time in Madrid was a positive experience from beginning to end ! » Laura Bernat (EJ Spain) explains how it happened : « The Madrid bar contacted us about the Leonardo Program, an EU-sponsored exchange plan for young professionals, and we made it possible : a three months stay in the Mariscal law firm, with EJ members in Madrid ». Little to say that Elizabeth was happy about it : « I would highly recommend that others try this experience. To work in a law firm outside your jurisdiction is endlessly stimulating. Even the easiest task has an interesting nuance ».
EJ Spain used Leonardo, which requires the candidate to speak the local language. You do not have to be fluent, however ; Elizabeth confesses : « my level of Spanish was far from fluent and I was afraid of misunderstanding instructions ! My colleagues were extremely patient, and my Spanish vastly improved over the three month placement ». However, the experience went much further than a language course and training in foreign law. Teresa Cabezas, from the Madrid bar (ICAM), says « It is very important to have experiences abroad, it improves personal experience as well as professional, they face different cultures, habits, ways of doing things. It's multi-sided ».
« Even the easiest task has an interesting nuance »
Teresa is the one who initiated the process, deciding to contact EJ Spain to implement Leonardo locally. « I worked with EJ members at Mariscal before and they were great. You know, it is not a secret that we are going through hard times in Spain and my goal was that lawyers in Madrid could also have a useful experience for their curriculum and practices ». Elizabeth experienced it too : « I arrived just before the big protest in Madrid and I went out for a walk, unaware of what was going on. The police locked down my area, and I found this really interesting coming from Ireland, which is also suffering from severe financial problems but without significant protest movements. It was fascinating to see the differing reactions from different parts of society ».
Eurojuris members accros the Continent have been emphasising the need for an experience abroad, and the Leonardo program used by EJ Spain is only one example. In the Netherlands, Joan Whittingham (EJ Belgium) has benefitted from JUMP, an initiative from the EJ youth network, Jurismus. « It is the best opportunity to learn other ways of working », she says. How does it work ? « You contact Jurismus with a CV and your motivations, and they will find a firm abroad for you. Just contact them ! » The length of time you spend in the foreign firm is flexible, and is discussed by both parties, a flexibility that allows candidates to experience different kinds of exchange. Another tool to help you find where you will spend some time abroad...
