Goodbye NCSC!
It seems crazy that my time at NCSC is coming to an end! I have certainly had a packed summer with the International Programs Division, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. To wrap up my blog I wanted to outline some of the key lessons I’ve learned this summer.
Going into this internship- I had a rather rigid understanding of “the rule of law.” As I mentioned in the blog titled “Defining The Rule of Law”, there are many definitions of the rule of law, but they all tend to focus around a form of governance in which all people, institutions, and entities are held accountable to a legal system that is equally enforced. Until very recently, most development organizations believed that in order to strengthen the rule of law, development programs must be targeted at institutional change. Alongside the establishment of “people-centered justice” (USAID’s new outlook towards development projects), development organizations and implementing partners have begun to vie development needs more wholistically. The rule of law can require the strengthening of legal and justice-sector institutions, but in can also require investments in civil society, outreach with local NGOs, commitments to inter-generational change, etc. Leaving this internship, I can envision the rule of law as a complex relationship amongst justice institutions and actors.
This internship also allowed me to advance many of my practical skills. I have not had an abundance of opportunities throughout my 1L year to practice my presentation skills, but this internship gave me the opportunity to create and deliver two large-scale presentations- a two hour lecture on the presidential election system in the U.S. and judicial resolution of electoral disputes, and a one hour lecture on issues related to judicial accountability. I also had the opportunity to enhance my research and writing skills by contributing to the organization’s policies and procedures, helping to complete funding applications, assisting with employee contracts, and more. Perhaps most importantly, this internship taught me how to manage multiple substantive projects at once and how to effectively prioritize these projects. Throughout 1L year, I was mostly able to handle each major assignment or exam one step at a time. While at NCSC, I had to handle various assignments simultaneously- which taught me many important lessons regarding time management and project efficiency.
Ultimately, I have come out of my internship experience at NCSC with a greater understanding of the rule of law, and more confidence in my research, writing, and oral communication skills. I could not be more thankful to the Professor Warren, the Center for Comparative Studies and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding, and my wonderful supervisors at NCSC for making this summer possible!