Open to 1Ls and 2Ls
June 28 - August 6, 2010
The application period begins on January 19, 2010; the deadline
is anticipated to be February 11, 2010. The application
procedure is given below. Applicants will be notified about
decisions, including interview schedules, in mid- to late February,
by email. Final decisions will be made by or before mid-March
2010.
Program Components:
- Introduction to Thai law at Thammasat University Faculty of Law in Bangkok.
- Six (6) weeks of work at an international law office in Bangkok.
- Support grant of about $1,400 from the East Asian Legal Studies Center.
- The estimated budget for the internship is about $2,250. Internships normally do not pay an additional salary.
Eligibility and Other Requirements:
- 1Ls and 2Ls are eligible.
- You do not need to speak Thai and you do not need previous travel experience to apply for this program.
- Three to four J.D. students will be selected to participate.
- Participants must have or get a passport to travel to Thailand, and participants must obtain a visa if selected. The Center will assist with this process.
- The UW requires 2 months of mandatory travel insurance which currently costs $37/month.
Required Application Materials
The application period begins January 19 and is anticipated to
end February 11, 2010. (The deadline might be slightly adjusted
depending on the schedule of the Center's board of directors.) To
apply, submit the following four items, by paper format or email
attachment, to the East Asian Legal Studies
Center. If you submit by email attachment, combine the first
three items into one Word (.doc, not .docx) file; forward your
unofficial transcript in the same format that you receive it
(usually a pdf file).
1. A "top sheet" that you make yourself, as follows:
At the top of the page, type APPLICATION FOR THAI INTERNSHIP.
Below this, include:
• Your name, full mailing address, email address, telephone
number, and UWID number;
• Your current year in Law School (1L or 2L) and your expected
graduation date;
• Your passport status: Do you have one? If yes, from what
country and when does it expire?
2. Cover letter addressed to Professor Charles Irish and
Professor John Ohnesorge explaining why you are interested in the
program.
3. Current resume.
4. Unofficial Law School transcript requested from your "MyUW"
web site and sent to you as a pdf file, which you then forward to
the Center.
Applications will be considered starting January 19. (Please do not submit applications before Jan. 19, 2010.)
If you have questions, contact S. Katcher, skatcher@wisc.edu, Associate Director of the Center.
From one of the previous interns:
The Bangkok internship program, coordinated between the Law School’s East Asian Legal Studies Center and Thammasat University in Bangkok, was, quite simply, the best way to spend my 1L summer. I gained substantive legal experience in an established, full-service law firm and lived in a vibrant Southeast Asian city.
I worked at International Legal Counsellors, Thailand, a corporate law firm located in Bangkok’s financial district. Before starting work, I participated in a two-day orientation program coordinated by Thammasat, which included a thorough introduction to Thai business, trade and intellectual property law and tours of local courts. At the intellectual property court, we sat in on a cross-examination, with an English translator, and attended a de-briefing discussion session with one of the judges afterwards. This provided an illuminating glimpse into Thai courtroom etiquette and legal culture.
My work at ILCT was concentrated in its transactional practice. One of the firm’s major clients was implementing the security system at the new Bangkok airport, which involved companies of various nationalities. I drafted several contracts, including subcontracts and sublease agreements. I also assisted in the firm’s revision of its business law handbook, requiring research into Thai statutory law on foreign property ownership, expatriate labor issues and other cross-border legal matters.
The firm culture was open and friendly. I attended labor court, the trademark registration office and an international law symposium with the firm’s attorneys. Everybody, from the office administrator to the senior partners, was extremely helpful and gracious, making my initial adjustment to Bangkok life seamless.
Additionally, the professors at Thammasat were open and helpful. One of my most memorable weekends in Thailand was spent at a professor’s home outside of Bangkok. She coordinated a cultural tour of Ayutthaya, the ancient capital, and other natural and cultural sights, and invited us to spend the night at her home. It was a great way to acquaint ourselves with each other and our Thai hosts.
Thailand deserves its reputation as one of the world’s premier travel destinations. Besides its natural beauty and amazing cuisine, it boasts one of the world’s friendliest and most easy-going people.
For descriptions of other interns’ experiences, see the newsletters of the East Asian Legal Studies Center, available online at www.law.wisc.edu/ealsc