For Analiese Machado ’27, becoming a lawyer was a way to create meaningful impact while engaging in academic rigor. The field combines her love of persuasive writing, analysis and debate while offering freedom and variety within the niche areas of the law. This summer, she got to explore those specializations on an international scale.

McGeorge School of Law’s International Field Placement Program empowers students like Machado to gain hands-on experience with international legal systems and a deeper understanding of European cultural practices.

Through the program, Machado interned as a legal research assistant at the University of Parma in Italy where she worked with attorneys and legal scholars from around the world.

As part of McGeorge’s long-standing summer abroad program in Salzburg, Austria, students complete internships in Europe from May 26 to July 4, then and then take three classes in Salzburg from July 6 to July 25. This year, 12 students went on internships abroad with placements in Austria, China, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Germany.

Machado shared her experience working in Parma.

Why was attending the Salzburg graduate study abroad program important to you?

I am really interested in international law and think that travel is one of the most personally enriching experiences out there. I've had experience working in a law firm before, so it was important to me to broaden my horizons, gain more exposure to different perspectives and develop my cross-cultural competency.

Tell me about your internship in Parma.

My internship in Parma was absolutely a dream. I learned a lot about foreign and international criminal law, with a focus on extradition and prison islands.

I really liked getting to research and write about the penological theories underlying prison islands for my boss's book and learned a lot about how to navigate foreign dockets, source information not readily available online and creatively problem solve.

We worked closely with lawyers from around the world, and many from Italy, which was an interesting and rewarding experience. I also loved getting to do all this in Italy because it was always my biggest dream to travel there. One thing that shocked me was how much the other interns and I were able to explore Italy while still working remotely and independently. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

Why is this kind of international experience important?

We can learn so much from the way other countries do things. We don't exist in a vacuum. Understanding and reconciling vastly different perspectives is so important to being an effective lawyer and a good person. What is normal to us in the United States often is not normal to the rest of the world, and there is a lot of wisdom to be gained from seeing how people live and work in other countries. I also believe it is so important to go outside your comfort zone and try new things. It makes you smarter, more compassionate and more resilient.

What was the best part of your time there?

The highlight of my international travels was getting to explore Italy while developing a formal paper on my own novel research and theories.  It was a perfect combination of two of my greatest passions: travel and persuasive writing.

What advice would you give other students hoping to have an internship experience abroad?

My advice would be to apply early and have an idea of what you hope to gain out of the summer. Different internship options put you in very different places and doing very different things. My internship came with more flexibility and a focus on research and writing skills, but others would give you more of an insight into firm life and certain specific practice areas. The Parma internship was perfect for me because I have already worked in a law firm for years and got experience with many types of pleadings, so I was eager for a new experience and to develop other tangible skills.

From attending different conferences to signing up for workshops and making time to visit local attractions while abroad, student experience in the program can be diverse. To learn more, follow along with other McGeorge students’ experiences abroad online.