My LIA journey started in November 2025, when I began exploring research opportunities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Having completed my research component a few months earlier, I was greatly looking forward to continuing my engagement as a Laidlaw Scholar and applying the leadership and global skills I nurtured through my research, the Oxford Character Project, and U of T's Laidlaw Leadership Sessions.

Key to my preparation for my LIA planning were certain leadership sessions, in which myself, along with U of T's 2025 Laidlaw cohort, learned from our supervisor, Shraddha, about the details and logistics of our LIAs. During these conversations, what really stood out to me was how the LIA was a privilege and prime opportunity to gain experience and skills, and that we would only get out of it what we put into it. Inspired by this message, I started an intensive search for opportunities which aligned with my interests and aspirations. During this search, I pinpointed various legal and research organizations and reached out to them, while keeping a record of my progress using a spreadsheet. To make a long story short, in December, after reaching out to the ILF, I was contacted by the Foundation's HR Manager, who I met with soon after. A few days later, I met alone with the ILF's Communications Director, and a few weeks after that, I received an official offer to join the Foundation in New York City during the summer.

Key to my LIA preparation was the development of my U of T Laidlaw Pre-LIA deliverables, namely, the Project Outline, which allowed me to articulate the projects I would undertake during my internship. Coming into the LIA, my projects were very similar to the outline I had created and helped guide me through the internship.

LIA Logistics

The ILF is located at 39th Street and 8th Avenue, which meant that my train ride from 125th Street was about 30 minutes. Fortunately, my residence and my internship placement were connected by the 1 unbroken train route, making the ride quite convenient. I got off at the 42nd Street Station, which was located at Times Square, placing me near the most popular place in Manhattan. Within a few days, I knew how to get around the area, and soon after had the chance to explore a few food spots near my workplace.

The ILF's office was located in a shared office space and is composed of one room. A few months ago, the Foundation's office was significantly larger, but, unfortunately, federal funding cuts during the past year forced the Foundation to downsize its office. The space, however, was homely and worked well for the team that was in the States. For context, the ILF operates internationally, with the bulk of its employees working around the world. Its NYC office serves as its headquarters, and is where HR and the Executive Director work to provide direction for the offices abroad.

Getting Into The Work 

My work during my LIA was split into two major parts: the first was contributing to fundraising efforts, and the second was helping launch the ILF's social media presence. The first, and smaller, portion involved organizing the ILF's donor rolodex by conducting research into our connections and highlighting potentially beneficial relationships. While tedious, this work proved enjoyable because of how it enabled me to do my own learning from the careers of copious accomplished individuals whose experiences in law, public service, and humanitarian efforts were inspiring and educational. Conducting such research would serve the ILF's mission by pinpointing opportunities for further growth, and help me by showing me various potential careers and trajectories.

The other portion of my work consisted of relaunching the ILF's social media presence, and specifically its Instagram page. This work began with discussing our overall plans with our supervisor to pinpoint exactly what we wanted our work to do in relation to our audience. This process required identifying our target audience and understanding the role our content would have in propagating the ILF's mission. We then moved on to drafting composite stories - amalgamations of true case studies that created fictional stories that kept confidential information private. As this was the first time such stories were attempted, both myself and my fellow Laidlaw intern, Taylor, worked closely with our supervisor, who provided us with ample feedback to help us polish our stories. I found the process of developing these stories extremely informative, as they provided me with some of the best insight I got into the work of the ILF. While I had gone through training and knew about the ILF's impact through conversations with long-time staff, it was only when I started reading case studies written firsthand that I truly saw the role the ILF played in bridging access gaps to justice around the world. For example, through the writing process, I learned that the ILF often introduced brand new legal approaches to courts (with the lawyers having learned them from ILF Fellows). Besides the composite stories, I oversaw the development of substantial social media content, including videos, reels, and reel covers. This content was created using archived videos from the ILF's past and current information about the ILF's success, with the ultimate purpose of providing our viewers insight into the history of the ILF and its impact. Similar to the creation of the composite stories, this process gave me prime access to the ILF's past and its work abroad, especially as there was content capturing the ILF's international offices, their daily operations, their work on real cases, case summaries, and the work of the ILF's fellows.

Besides the creative communications and advocacy work I did, one of my favourite parts of the internship was the opportunity to represent the ILF at United Nations forums. As the ILF is an ECOSOC-recognized and UN-partner NGO, it has access to various events in and out of the UN Headquarters. I had the privilege of attending the 2026 Annual Rule of Law Forum, the 2026 Sustainable Development Goal 16 Conference, and, after some networking at the Rule of Law Forum, a closed session on disarmament. The chance to engage in such spaces was one of the aspects of the internship I was most looking forward to, and the experience truly lived up to my expectations, as I had the chance to see leaders in diplomacy, international law, government, and the UN speak and interact. The opportunity also bred copious connections and conversations, which were greatly beneficial to the internship experience and my own career.

Connecting my LIA with Lessons on Leadership and Moral Fibre

I found that working with an NGO like the ILF truly epitomized the mission behind the Laidlaw program and its featured incubators, like U of T's leadership sessions and the Oxford Character Project. With the ILF, I was working to contribute to the mission of not just enhancing justice around the world but doing so while serving indigent and marginalized communities, who otherwise may face the harshness of international justice systems without any form of defense. I quickly found that the people who made up the ILF - from its NYC leadership to its fellows - were extremely passionate about the mission of the ILF, and I was truly fascinated as I heard stories about the bravery of our Executive Director, Jennifer, who travelled to dangerous places under harsh circumstances in service to the ILF's mission. The example of Jennifer's leadership spoke to me, as it reflected the conception of leadership which the Laidlaw program seeks to develop among the Scholars: someone who is courageous and willing to take on challenges in service of others. Even though I was not working in an office abroad or in a foreign court defending a client, I had a strong understanding of the sheer impact the ILF created: thousands of clients defended, copious offices, and legal precedents established in nations around the world. Such impact was amplified by how the ILF was helping individuals who, without such help, could face disastrous consequences, namely years behind bars, sometimes without actual justification. Being a part of this mission gave me insight into the importance of such NGOs, into the value they provide to vulnerable communities, and into their contribution to global initiatives, such as SDG Goal 16. One reason I love the Laidlaw programme so much is because of its emphasis on becoming a leader who drives positive change, and who is not afraid to live by their values and stand up against efforts to diminish those values around them - and as I believe the ILF represents that ideal so well, I truly look at my LIA experience as one that has captured the essence of the mission of the Laidlaw Foundation.

I'm extremely grateful for the privilege that I had to intern with the International Legal Foundation. The skills and experiences I gained during my tenure will remain with me as I pursue a career in law. In fact, this opportunity has solidified my intention to make pro bono work a staple in my career, regardless of the specific legal discipline I eventually pursue. Many thanks to the International Legal Foundation and the Laidlaw Foundation for making this experience possible!