<p>Could someone give the basics about this career possibility? Info on the internet is pretty vague, so I'd appreciate anything you can offer. I'd be specifically interested in situations that would require foreign language opportunities (I'm learning Japanese, and plan on picking up at least Spanish too.) Thanks!</p>
<p>As mentioned in another thread, you're not going to learn a language at this point to a level where it would actually be of any use to you. I don't really know what you mean by "international business" in any event.</p>
<p>Are we talking about taking at least three intensive years of Japanese plus at least a summer of immersion? It's impossible to become literate without at least that much commitment, and your language skills probably won't help you get hired unless you can read contracts and so forth.</p>
<p>My shaky Japanese (two college years) has helped my career in that it impressed the hell out of a partner I was working for when I chit-chatted with some Japanese clients before a meeting, and impressing the hell out of any partner is always good. (I think she didn't realize how basic my skills were, especially because the clients, God bless them, went berzerk yelling "Joozu! Joozu! Bikkuri-shima****a!" and praised me to the skies, which, as you will discover, happens whenever an American says anything beyond "konnichiwa.")</p>
<p>That being said, this played no role at all in my being <em>hired</em>...it only helped me win points with this partner.</p>
<p>German is at least as helpful as Spanish. Firms definitely inquired about my language skills when I was interviewing, but just like with Japanese, you need to be truly fluent and fully literate for it to make a real difference, because if you aren't, they're going to need an interpreter anyway, so you won't save them any money.</p>
<p>ROFL, god bless collegeconfidential language control for bleeping ーした。</p>
<p>And to clarify, I'm 17 at the moment (though I'll be 18 very soon) and would estimate my ability as JLPT level 3. I also plan to double major, with one subject being Japanese, and spend a minimum of a semester abroad. I would also like to become a JET CIR in the year following my undergrad graduation before I head off to graduate school. So YES, I do in fact wish to acquire a fluency approaching native-level, and would relish the opportunity to live/work in Japan (or at least deal with Japanese clients.)</p>
<p>And Hanna, I've already had quite a bit of experience with Japanese students at a local Japanese University's international branch. However, since it's a mostly 19-20 year old girls, the comment is usually "すご〜い！ or the ever-present "あなたの英語は上手だね！</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion of German, Hanna, I know that German is the 3rd biggest economy in the world, so that would make sense. I just thought Spanish would be nice considering the easy access to speakers, TV shows, and realitive simplicity compared to our friend 日本語。</p>
<p>P.s. Americanski: I understand you're just trying to offer advice, but could you please not post comments like "I don't really know what you mean by 'international business' in any event?" It doesn't help answer my question, and it merely takes up space. Sorry if I've offended you at all, that wasn't my intention.</p>
<p>Sorry I offended you, but your question is really too vague to know what you're talking about. Maybe that's why you haven't been able to find anything about it on the internet.</p>
<p>Okay, I'll try to clarify.</p>
<p>I'm interested in knowning what exactly is involved with International Business law. I.e. import export, international real estate, legality of/taxes on transnationally traded goods, intellectual property rights on a global scale, etc. It's such a big subject that I was hoping someone had some specific knowledge on one aspect of it. Also, where would one likely work (i.e.country), from whom would you work, what is a typical day-to-day schedule, the educational track the took to get there, and anythings else any one could offer.</p>
<p>With all of that in mind, I'd like to use my language skills, which I thought would be an assest (i.e. creating/translating legal documents) and was wondering if they would, in fact, help. Thanks!</p>
<p>If you want to work on international commercial transactions (which is what I think you're saying you want to do), go to good schools, get good grades and one career path would be to get a job at any one of the many international law firms typically based in large U.S. cities (e.g. Cleary Gottlieb, Sullivan & Cromwell and White & Case, among others, in NYC), at the U.S. based office of a British or other foreign law firm (e.g. Clifford Chance, Freshfields) or at a firm with a substantial international trade regulatory practice (firms specializing here are typically based in or have offices in Washington D.C.). Don't overlook project finance work either! </p>
<p>Many of the large, complex corporate law matters today have some international component to them as corporations, markets, industries and economies have become increasingly globalized. Law firms are hungry for talented associates with strong language skills, but these jobs require real fluency and cultural awareness, including the ability to negotiate subtle business points in that foreign language. Many attorneys who work at international law firms have the opportunity to take a foreign assignment at some point in their careers, and to live abroad. It would be up to you to bring that desire to the attention of the partners. </p>
<p>You might want to do some research on multinational corporations, international trade and project finance as a starting point. I hope that this was helpful.</p>
<p>It was very helpful, thank you!</p>
<p>If any one else has something they could offer, that would be great. </p>
<p>Thanks again for the info, sallyawp. I'm pretty new (i.e. naive) to possible careers in law, and everything you offered helps.</p>