Lawyer who uses a foreign language? Value of Arabic? Forum

[journolaw]

Hi

I'm a US citizen considering attending law school in 3-4 years to try to start a new career. I'm currently a journalist.

One legal career I'm considering is international corporate law. The idea of working with clients in other countries, of learning a new culture and of having the opportunity to take on major transnational clients appeals to me.

But is it at all practical? If I had 3-4 years of Arabic study -- with an Eastern dialect -- would this actually put me in a position to be able to do this type of work?

How can someone thinking about being a lawyer also think about incorporating foreign-language skills into a job?

[OmarLittle]

I'm wondering the same thing. I've put a lot of time into studying Latin American Spanish, and I'm hopeful that it will somehow help me in my career as well, in either international law or criminal law (ideally I would want to be that scumbag that defends war criminals, as evil as that sounds). I'd even pursue an additional language if it gave me a career boost.

[No13baby]

The easiest way to use a foreign language in your law practice is probably either immigration law or doing transactional work at a big firm, as OP suggested. Doing stuff at the ICC or the UN or whatever is not a realistic option.

[bp shinners]

Doing stuff at the ICC or the UN or whatever is not a realistic option.

Yea, getting those jobs is going to be very rare.

However, if you have a rare language skill, big firms will most likely make use of that. Arabic/Chinese are probably the most universally useful; Spanish is marketable in the LA market.

[journolaw]

I tried to make it clear that I do not have ambitions to represent war criminals at the Hague.

I am interested in this from a corporate transaction law perspective.

So look for example at the infamous Amy Chua's [url]CV:http://www.law.yale.edu/faculty/chuacurriculumvitae.htm[/url]

She teaches transaction and development law from an international perspective, and it's clear she's worked on both cases and written extensively on both subjects.

I understand TLS's instinct to snap any young person looking to finish Woodrow Wilson's life work to their senses, but it also seems like there must be lawyers who navigate the changing legal landscape prodded by globalization and by the increased presence of multinational corporations in the ME/Asia.

[No13baby]

I tried to make it clear that I do not have ambitions to represent war criminals at the Hague.

I am interested in this from a corporate transaction law perspective.

So look for example at the infamous Amy Chua's [url]CV:http://www.law.yale.edu/faculty/chuacurriculumvitae.htm[/url]

She teaches transaction and development law from an international perspective, and it's clear she's worked on both cases and written extensively on both subjects.

I understand TLS's instinct to snap any young person looking to finish Woodrow Wilson's life work to their senses, but it also seems like there must be lawyers who navigate the changing legal landscape prodded by globalization and by the increased presence of multinational corporations in the ME/Asia.

My response was meant more for the second poster, not you. Transactional work is probably the closest most people will ever come to "international law" and if you can get into one of the big firms what you want to do is probably plausible.

[OmarLittle]

My dream job of working with the ICC or UN is just that, a dream. They dont have to be "realistic options". I thought it was clear I was being a bit facetious.

Referencing the use of Spanish in legal work, am I wrong to assume the jobs that would require this skill would generally be low paying PI work? Somehow I doubt that the communities that would require the use of a Spanish speaking attorney have a lot of money to spend. I hope I'm wrong because my Spanish skills are an asset I have invested hundreds of hours into developing.

[theadvancededit]

Referencing the use of Spanish in legal work, am I wrong to assume the jobs that would require this skill would generally be low paying PI work?

Yes.

[EMZE]

Actually very interested in this as well. All I have to contribute to the question is a friend who retired from the military, went to Fordham Law, and now makes a ridiculous amount of money working for a US firm in China. He was a linguist in the Army, and I really don't know what exactly he does now aside from living in China and being a lawyer, but I do know those jobs exist.

I studied Arabic as well, of the MSA variety, along with Russian, Italian, and Pashto. The last 13 or so years I have spent focused on foreign languages/culture/consulting, so I think I can justify my interest going down this line of work... I also don't think there are a huge number of people that want to work overseas in countries that aren't vacation spots.

I didn't notice from the first post, but OP, as I am sure you know, if you are a female, it might be a tough market to crack in the middle east. My wife had a very tough time when we were in Egypt, despite a resume and skill set that puts me to shame in any society that places men and women on equal footing.

[thelogicalconstruct]

I have similar interests. I am first generation American with strong ties to Europe. I notice many American law firms have offices in various European countries. I am wondering how does that work? Can American lawyers practice law in other countries? What kind of law typically is practiced in these situations? I have duel citizenship so it wouldn't be hard for me to live in Europe. Any advice on this? How does it work?

[journolaw]

Good questions.

[PennQuaker]

Value of Arabic? Well, you could always defend terrorists...

[thelogicalconstruct]

Value of Arabic? Well, you could always defend terrorists...

Unnecessary comment. I noticed the CIA is hiring. They maybe interested.


What about American firms in Europe? Does anyone have any insight? What schools have better ties to those possibilities?

[superbloom]

I took Arabic for 3 years in undergrad. 3.8 GPA in those classes. Didn't seem to help much.

[xxxxxxxx]

Value of Arabic? Well, you could always defend terrorists...

why do u think Arabs are terrorist...
we have human right as you do
we have some good guys and some bad ones same as you do'
so plz stop ***** saying bad things about us with all my respect

[LSATWiz.com]

Value of Arabic? Well, you could always defend terrorists...

Never mind the fact that the vast majority are against terrorism and that the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia play a major role in international finance (and this is coming from someone who identifies with Zionism).

Arabic is probably useful if you're ever interacting directly with clients, but it's definitely not a necessary skill or something you'd get to take advantage of very often. Most communication overseas will be over e-mail.

Fluency in a foreign language is generally only critical if you're working with clients who are not fluent or literate in English. This really isn't going to happen if you do anything other than immigration or matrimonial law.