<p>I'm attending Florida Atlantic University's honors college this fall, and I'm probably going to major in anthropology/law. I'm REALLY interested in international law, but I don't know how easily you can get a job in that, if many law schools offer it, etc. Any advice/help?</p>
<p>As one of my professors said, "The problem with international law is that there is no such thing."</p>
<p>But seriously, what exactly do you mean by "international law" and why are you so interested in it?</p>
<p>I did commercial litigation for a number of years, including a few disputes that were international in nature. As a BIG(f?)LAW associate, I ended up spending a lot of hours researching the Hague Convention on International Service of Process as well as drafting papers in response to a forum non conveniens motion. I also had the opportunity to go to London, which I ducked since document review is the same everywhere and I would rather be at home with my family. </p>
<p>All in all, it was pretty boring. Even if a matter starts out interesting, if it's broken up into pieces, and then broken up into more pieces, and everyone in the chain of command delegates the less interesting pieces, it ends up being pretty boring.</p>
<p>Right now, I do disputes that are small and local. It's a lot more interesting because the entire case is mine and my clients are not big corporations that I have to kiss up to. It's also a lot more satisfying to serve individual clients. And there's a lot more "color" in small disputes.</p>
<p>If I had a choice between regularly practicing before (1) the U.S. Court of International Trade or (2) the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, there's no question but that I would choose the TLC.</p>
<p>Just my humble opinion.</p>
<p>The United Nations interests me. I know a lot of people think that it's a stupid organization and its headed downhill, but I like the idea a lot. Probably shouldn't do law, then, should I? International RELATIONS sound better? I dont know yet, I'm still playing aroudn with career ideas.</p>
<p>I spent some time drafting and negotiating the Asia-Pacific contracts for a West Coast company. It meant working until four in the morning, Sunday to Thursday, when I was in the States, and up to six trips a year to Asia. That translated into a lot of really long plane flights. I once spent 21 hours in a 24-hour period flying back from India, just after after recovering from a serious bout with food poisoning. Most days overseas consisted of fourteen hours in a glass office tower, followed by room service back at the hotel. I did manage to see the Great Wall, the Taj Mahal, and Jerusalem on the company dime, though, and I can't complain about the frequent flier miles.</p>
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The United Nations interests me. I know a lot of people think that it's a stupid organization and its headed downhill, but I like the idea a lot. Probably shouldn't do law, then, should I? International RELATIONS sound better? I dont know yet, I'm still playing aroudn with career ideas.
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<p>My advice is to focus more on the tasks that you might find interesting as opposed to the organizations you might want to work for. A miserable job at the UN is still a miserable job.</p>
<p>JMHO.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the advice, guys. :D</p>