Kaitlyn DeSouza, ’28, took her passion for international law to Ancón, Panama, a historic neighborhood located in the heart of Panama City, to work as a research intern at the Institute of Democratic Studies. As part of her role, DeSouza has been working on a research paper with the goal of publishing it at the end of the summer.  

How did you connect with this summer opportunity? 

During my first quarter, I met with Aican Nguyen, the director of International Programs at the Law School, and I told her I was interested in international law and spending my summer working abroad. She directed me to the JD International Human Rights Summer Internship Program. Applicants to the program can view a list of various host organizations around the world where students can choose to pursue their internship, and INED, which is part of the Electoral Tribunal of Panama, was listed as one of these organizations.  

How does your experience connect with what you currently envision doing with your law degree? 

I want to eventually work in international law, so the experiences that I am having here and the people I’m able to meet and learn from are extremely interesting to me personally and have helped me develop skills, knowledge, and networks that are invaluable for a career in this field. Working with Panamanians as well as other Latin Americans has allowed me to improve my cross-cultural professional skills and to develop my ability to communicate complex legal concepts in Spanish. This will help me not only at my next job at Simpson Thacher, where I hope to join the Latin American practice group, but also in any future work I decide to do in international and human rights law.  

Please describe a “typical” day at work. 

I generally have consistent work hours, and a typical day is from 9 to 5. Most days I work alone on my research, but I have conversations with my colleagues, as I share an office with about five other people, including the other intern from UChicago Law. I occasionally have meetings with the director of the Institute to update him on my research and ask him questions, and my supervisor and colleagues are very helpful in passing me articles and books that they’ve read and written, and in providing me with resources I might need for my research.

Additionally, so far, about once a week, we’ve gone on a short field trip in the morning to a nearby site that is either important to Panamanian history or that could be useful to us in our research, such as libraries, the National Archives, and historical museums. We also periodically attend presentations or seminars by visiting researchers at INED, as well as events hosted by outside organizations that the director invites us to, including a Parlatino conference where we were able to hear various international diplomats and researchers speak.   

What is something you learned or experienced that was surprising or particularly compelling during this summer position? 

It has been very compelling to learn more about the history of Panama. Before, I only really knew about the Panama Canal, so to come here and learn that Panama has such a rich history in developing international law and making contributions to both Latin American and global practices has been very interesting. I was also not expecting to learn so much about other Latin American countries and international law more broadly. Through speaking with my supervisor and colleagues, attending presentations by international scholars, and research, I have gained valuable knowledge and perspective on various regional issues and Latin America’s place within the global international law community.  

What are a couple of your key takeaways from your experience? 

I have never worked on research projects like the ones that I’ve been doing here, and so I have definitely learned to conduct research in a different way. This has also been the first position in which I have had complete freedom to choose my primary research topic. Through this experience, I have learned a lot about what topics and areas of the law interest me and how to develop an original research question and craft creative arguments. The goal is to publish an article by the end of the summer, so hopefully I will have also gained experience with the publication process and become more knowledgeable about what it takes to produce a professional research article. 

What advice would you offer another law student contemplating working in a similar position next summer? 

My main advice would be to make sure you have a working knowledge of the language of the country where you will be living and would be able to communicate with your colleagues. Be flexible and open to new experiences, customs, and points of view and don’t forget to bring cash! Take advantage of the resources and knowledge available in the country that you’re working in that you might not be able to find in the US. 

How are you spending your free time this summer? 

During the week, I take advantage of exploring different parts of the city, from restaurants to museums. And when the World Cup games were playing, I enjoyed going out and watching them with my fellow UChicago intern. On the weekends, we travel to places outside the city such as nearby islands, beaches, and nature sites. So far, we have visited Taboga Island, Bocas del Toro, and San Blas.  

What are you most looking forward to in returning to UChicago Law this fall? 

I am most looking forward to seeing my family and friends again. Although I love being abroad, I have missed home. I am also looking forward to applying what I have learned about Panamanian and international law at UChicago this fall, where I hope to both take international law classes and draw comparisons and contrasts with US law to see what can be learned from those differences. Additionally, I am excited to use the research I have conducted and the conversations I have had here to contribute to the journal that I am involved with.  

Is there anything else you’d like to share? 

I am very happy that I chose this internship and very grateful for the opportunity! To any students, please take advantage of the opportunities and resources available through the Law School. Ask questions and do not be afraid to pursue unique internships or career paths that you are passionate about.