Summer Experiences: Daniella Apodaca, ’25, Research Intern, British Institute of International and Comparative Law (London)
Daniella Apodaca, ’25, spent the summer as a research intern at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) in London. The experience has left her with a deeper understanding of international law and some on its underlying concepts.
How did you connect with this summer opportunity?
An internship with BIICL is one of many opportunities available through the University of Chicago Law School’s International Human Rights Fellowship Program. I knew I wanted to work abroad for my 1L summer, so early in winter quarter I discussed my options with Aican Nguyen, the international programs director at the law school. This role felt like the best fit for my interests, because I was interested in spending my summer learning about international law broadly.
How does your experience connect with what you currently envision doing with your law degree?
This experience has given me a much deeper understanding of international law, both public and private. I hope to practice in international arbitration following graduation, and I think this internship has been incredibly helpful in exposing me to that field specifically, as well as to the general legal frameworks that I might encounter in practice.
Please describe a “typical” day at work.
My workday begins at 9:30 am. Although BIICL is flexible with regard to remote work—many researchers at the institute are part-time or might not even live in London—I enjoy going into the office because it is in the heart of the city. I will usually start on whatever research project I am working on for the moment for my supervisor. In addition to producing research, BIICL organizes many talks, lectures, and trainings every week, and therefore a normal day might also include attending one of these. This has been a massive perk of the internship, as BIICL events usually feature leading experts in a field, and the events are always compelling. I take a break for lunch along with my fellow coworkers, and then we continue to work on our respective projects in the afternoon. On days when my supervisor is in the office, I will have a check-in chat with him as well. I leave the office at 5:30 pm, usually armed with some recommendations from my supervisor or others in the office about what to discover in London that day!
What is something you learned or experienced that was surprising or particularly compelling during this summer position?
I had the opportunity to take a short course titled “The War in Ukraine in Context” taught by Professor Roman Petrov and Dr. Kateryna Busol, two Ukrainian legal experts who are currently serving as British Academy Research Fellows at BIICL. The course met over the course of a few weeks and provided me with extensive background for the ongoing war in Ukraine. One of my important takeaways from the course was that Russia and Ukraine have had a troubled relationship since the 1600s, and that the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was not an unprecedented act but an escalation of continuous aggression by Russia in Ukraine.
What are a couple of your key takeaways from the experience so far?
I have learned that while “international law” is quite a nebulous concept, any discussion of international law should be grounded in a specific framework or instrument (e.g., the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). I have also taken away that while these frameworks are critiqued for being “soft” law, they are important because they are often the only way for nations to coordinate and to hold each other accountable for duties and rights that belong to humanity as a whole.
What advice would you offer another law student contemplating working in a similar position next summer?
I would encourage them to go for it! I think 1L summer should be about exploring an area of law in which students are genuinely interested, even if that interest is academic rather than professional. The relative prestige of an internship should not be a primary consideration for 1L summer, because we are all going to have substantive experiences that we can speak about when interviewing for future jobs. Finally, 1L summer is an amazing opportunity to pursue an internship abroad because it might be some students’ last chance to do so!
How are you spending your free time this summer?
I have spent it discovering London’s many museums, gorgeous parks, amazing restaurants, theater scene, and music venues. By chance, I have many friends in London this summer and I have really prioritized having fun after a year of hard work. Some of my favorite moments so far have been paying a visit to Oxford, where I did my master’s degree, and attending Wimbledon!
What are you most looking forward to in returning to UChicago Law this fall?
I am very much enjoying summer right now, but I am excited to be back at UChicago Law in the fall to reunite with my law school friends. I am also looking forward to picking classes, some of which I hope will be in international law.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I’m happy to discuss my experience further with anyone who wishes to know more.