1) Many people don't believe international law exists, and you will get used to that. That being said, when you say you want a career in international law, that doesn't communicate much. It looks like you're trying to identify some particular areas of interest, so that's good, but the areas you've named are a little all over the map.
2) I would encourage you to look beyond just UVA and GULC. As you haven't taken the LSAT yet, you should consider a few schools beyond the T14. I hope you'll do well, but in the event that you do not, you should have a few other schools in mind that have active international programming and curriculum. If you're looking at GULC and UVA, maybe you could consider a few other DC area schools.
3) Regardless of what schools you're considering, take some time to look through the courses offered at each. Most schools allow you to sort classes by subject area, and if you sort by or search for a key term like "international" or "foreign," you should have the opportunity to see a) substantively what the school offers and b) how much of it they're really offering in any given semester. If you're truly interested in focusing on international law, you won't want to go to a school that offers two international-related courses each semester. Also, I think this would be a great opportunity for you to see what it means to study international law.
4) You'll find that international law is generally split into Private International Law and Public International Law. Issues such as human rights and boundary disputes are common subjects of Public International Law. International business could mean many things, but it's almost certainly all traditionally considered Private International Law. The two are not always mutually exclusive. That is a common view, and it is true many who have dedicated their lives to human rights would wonder why you've handed them a resume full of corporate work. But not all Public International Law jobs are the same, and that is something easily overlooked by those who have no sincere interest in or knowledge about international law. You could work anywhere on the spectrum from grassroots, on the ground, getting your hands dirty, making no money, and working with victims face-to-face to working at a policy level. Working at the policy level - and, in the international law context, this does not necessarily mean the US Government - would not be impossible after working for a BigLaw firm for a few years. In fact, it's common.
5) Here are some things to research.
- International Arbitration. This area is growing, and it's growing quickly. Arbitration is used in both Private and Public International Law, and there are many firms who do both. Check out Arnold & Porter,
clifford chance, Freshfields, Allen & Overy, Cleary Gottlieb, and Linklaters, among others. You will find many firms list "International Law" as a practice area, and a few list "Public International Law" (A&P, for example). Some firms are particularly strong in sovereign representation (Public), if that's what you're after. Others are particularly experienced in commercial disputes (primarily Private, but there are often state-state disputes). Most are well versed in investor-state disputes which implicate bilateral investment treaties (Public and Private). Columbia is all over this field.
- Corporate Social Responsibility. If you really want to see someone who is working to bring Public and Private together, do a little research on John Ruggie at the Harvard Kennedy School. He was appointed to a special post at the UN and created a framework for CSR that was unanimously adopted by the General Assembly. His goal is to define the responsibilities of states, multinational corporations, and individuals in protecting human rights, communities, and the environment. Oh, by the way, John Ruggie is on the Board for
foley hoag.
foley hoag is a firm that punches in above its weight out of its Boston HQ. It's one of the few firms I know of that advertises CSR as an actual practice area. Along the same lines, do some research on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Many firms have this as a specific practice area, but almost all of them are defending corporations. Keep that in mind.
- If you're genuinely interested in treaties, there are a number of attorneys that work at the State Department, and their job is to interpret proposed treaties, report their interpretations to the Senate, and develop domestic implementation plans for adopted treaties to ensure compliance. There aren't many jobs here. There are, however, firms that are well-known as lobbying outfits. You could look down that road. I'm not sure what you'll find.
- If you're more into the NGO gig, start by checking out the Center for Constitutional Rights and EarthRights International. EarthRights, coincidentally, was co-founded by an UVA Law alumna. Actually, the CCR and EarthRights worked closely together on the recent Kiobel case. I suggest you read about the Kiobel case, which was just decided by the SCOTUS. It will encourage you that there is significant, high-profile, and rewarding international legal work to be done. It's just not very common. Oh, by the way, John Bellinger was highly involved in that case as the former Legal Adviser to the Department of State. John Bellinger is now a Partner at A&P.
Once you've done a little research, sorted out some possible paths, and gotten yourself motivated - go study for the LSAT and then crush it. You won't know which schools to consider until you've got a score in hand. And not a practice score.