Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

 

In this personal blog, student ambassador Sonya San Wan-Ling, a Bachelor’s student in Law from Malaysia here at the University of Limerick reflects on her time on placement in the public sector and of the Co-operative Education opportunity offered to students here at UL.

In this blog, I will tell you why I applied for an internship and why you should too. 

The Co-operative Education opportunity that UL has to offer during my third year of college was definitely one of my highlights during my studies at UL. At that time, I was working in the public sector under the Courts Service. However, as a law student, I was always intrigued by the responsibilities and roles of lawyers working in the private sector, especially in corporate law firms. With the inquisitive mind and enthusiasm that I had, I took the initiative to apply for a summer internship at one of Ireland’s largest law firms.  

Valuable Insights 

Working in a firm that has 800 employees was quite an experience for me. I was placed in the corporate department called the Financial Institutions Group. Although I started out in the department with zero knowledge of this legal area, I was later exposed to real life multinational transactions and dealings that take place. This was particularly insightful to me because I would not have learned this through my textbooks. 

Networking 

When it comes to building one’s career, it is always crucial to establish great connections with people. Taking part in internships will give you the chance to grow your network by meeting people who are working in your field. Not only would this lead to potential job opportunities, but also providing you the opportunity to engage with individuals who have diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Thus, broadening your horizon and challenging your thinking both personally and professionally.  

Discovering other Cities 

Since my internship was in Dublin, I had a good reason to explore a city other than Limerick. Living in Dublin for the month gave me a flavour of the hustle and bustle of the country’s capital city and allowed me to decide whether this lifestyle was for me. Over the weekends, I could easily take the coach and do a day trip to Belfast in Northern Ireland, or even hop on the DART to coastal sites such as Howth and Bray for a short getaway. 

Looking for internships can be difficult and stressful at times. However, I still remember the day I was walking down the Grand Canal Dock in Dublin, looking at the urban surroundings and thinking what it would be like to work in one of those glass buildings. So, I decided to do something to materialise this small aspiration that I had. My takeaway would be – there is most definitely an opportunity out there for all of us, even for international students, to chase after our dreams and to pursue a career in Ireland. So do not be afraid to take the leap!