Working at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) allowed me to gain experience in areas of law that are not part of the mainstream curriculum at McGill's Faculty of Law, namely the law of international organizations and international administrative law.
My supervisor treated me as a member of the team and assigned me interesting and challenging projects that are typically given to policy analysts. Among other things, I was tasked with drafting the first report to map out the components of the OECD’s internal justice system (dispute resolution mechanisms, safeguards for data privacy, etc.) and providing recommendations for reform. The recommendations were informed by benchmarking studies that considered the OECD’s legal framework for staff when compared with those of other international organizations. I also supported efforts to develop new texts governing the OECD’s legal and policy framework by working with colleagues in Human Resources Management and Legal to revise and amend the OECD Staff Regulations. McGill's focus on legal pluralism and comparative law helped me to quickly familiarize myself with the legal aspects of international organizations and actively contribute to these projects.
My internship at the OECD also provided me with some excellent opportunities to be involved in the exchange of ideas on best practices and innovations for addressing key global challenges. I was fortunate to attend the first major international conference on blockchain’s impact on public sector governance. The conference featured many high-level panels on blockchain’s potential application to pressing and emerging legal issues, such as tax crime, cybersecurity, government transparency, and sustainability. These kinds of exchanges also took place on a daily basis with fellow interns. Being surrounded by talented people working in different domains promotes interdisciplinarity, which is critical for solving complex global problems.
As a budding lawyer who is deeply interested in issues related to the rule of law and economic development, I am very grateful to have had the rare opportunity to intern at the OECD. The experience has provided me with a greater understanding of the many moving parts of international development law and has allowed me to take a practice-based approach to my education.
It goes without saying that the generous support offered by the Shull Yang International Experience Awards alleviated the financial burden associated with taking part in an internship program, especially when the placement is in a city as expensive as Paris. I would not have been able to pursue this opportunity without your generous support. My internship at the OECD was an invaluable opportunity to explore the interdisciplinary dimensions of law and legal practice, gain relevant work experience, and to develop a more nuanced understanding of global issues.
