fellowship report - nyu la · fellowship report 1. your name, year of graduation and e-mail...
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FELLOWSHIP REPORT 1. Your name, year of graduation and e-mail address. Najmu Laila Sopian LLM Class of 2016 [email protected] / [email protected] 2. Organization name (including division or project, if applicable), dates of work at organization, FULL address, telephone number and website. Organization Name : The World Bank, Legal Vice Presidency Operations Unit (LEGOP) Internship Dates : September 12 – November 23, 2016 Address : 1818 H Street, NW Washington DC 20433 Telephone number : (202) 473-1000 Website : www.worldbank.org 3. Your supervisor’s name, title, telephone number and e-mail address. Name : Vikhram Raghavan Title : Lead Counsel of LEGOP Telephone number : (202) 459-7492 Email : [email protected] 4. Name, title, and e-mail address for any NYU School of Law alumni who work there.
a. Name: Vikram Raghavan (Details are as specified above)
b. Name : Aristeidis I. Panou� Title : Counsel, Legal Operations (LEGOP). Telephone : (202) 509-3993� E-mail : [email protected]
c. Name : Shingira Masanzu�
Title : Counsel, Legal, Africa and MENA Regions (LEGAM) Telephone : (202) 790-1075� E-mail : [email protected]
5. Description of how you obtained the internship, including any application and interview tips (such as unusual questions you were asked). How I Obtained the Internship:
- I obtained the internship through the framework of International Finance and Development Fellowship offered by NYU.
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- The selection process includes writing statement of interest, submitting CV and applications. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed, first by the panel from NYU and then by the organization(s) they apply for.
- I applied for the Internship in October 2015. The interview was conducted by the NYU panel in November 2015 and then by the World Bank in December 2015. I receipt the confirmation of my final selection in January 2016.
Tips:
- In both of the interview sessions, the questions focused on my resume and future career plans. I was asked, among others, to justify my interest in the organization and how it aligned with or helped me realize my long-term goals. I think seminar on Law and Development that I took in the Fall semester and my previous research involving the World Bank’s projects in Indonesia really help me to have a better stand from the other applicants. These experiences give me strong motivation to commence the internship.
- I also took advantage of the services provided by NYU’s Public Interest Law Center (PILC). I scheduled appointments with PILC advisor to review my applications and for a mock interview. They helped me improve my application and prepared me for the interview with the World Bank people.
- I would advice applications to be prepared to discuss your experience and background relevant to the selected organization. It is important that the applicant understands the mission and work of the organization that he or she wants to intern with. Applicants may find it useful to check works on the World Bank Group in: “The World Bank Group A to Z” http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/896931468189267370/The-World-Bank-Group-A-to-Z-2016.
6. Brief description of the work and mission of the organization (you can copy from website). Copied from the Website: The World Bank Mission: The World Bank Group has set two goals for the world to achieve by 2030:
1. End extreme poverty by decreasing the percentage of people living on less than �$1.25 a day to no more than 3%
2. Promote shared prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom 40% for �every country
3. For more information, please refer to the World Bank’s website: �http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/what-we-do
The LEGOP Unit Specific Mission:
- Provides active support on a wide spectrum of issues related to the Bank’s operational and other policy matters.
- Assists in the advancement of the Bank’s operational policy reform agenda by contributing actively to the modernization and simplification of Bank policies.
- Facilitates policy implementation through advice in interpreting and applying the Bank’s
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policies for lending operations and contributes to the knowledge Bank by conducting research and sharing information related to the Bank’s operational policies.
- Provides significant support and input on legal and policy matters regarding investigations of fraud and corruption in Bank-financed projects.
- Provides policy advice to staff and management on the application and implementation of the Bank’s Access to Information Policy.
7. Description of the specific duties you performed, including a list of major projects. I was required to assist Vikram in his work. He handles a number of portfolios, including legal and policy issues relating to fragility, conflict, and refugees. He also handles policy questions regarding the Bank’s budget-support or development policy loans and conditionality. My duties generally involved research and drafting memos related to the Bank’s legal and policy framework:
o One major assignment included drafting a research paper on the World Bank Practice on Implied Powers doctrine.
o Another major assignment involved Unttrakhan Peri-Urban Water Supply Project in India. The Bank seeks to determine whether the proposed project fall within the exception to the riparian notification requirement under the Bank’s internal policy. I assisted in drafting the memo and comments on the proposed project.
o A third major assignment involved research and wrote a memo for the chief counsel of LEGOP on country practices and international legal framework regarding electronic signatures.
9. Overall evaluation of the internship experience, with an explanation for your choice. Would you recommend this internship to another NYU student, a) highly; b) with some reservation; or c) not recommend?
I would highly recommend the internship. The internship helps me gaining critical understanding of the work of international financial institutions such as the World Bank. This experience particularly useful for someone who wants to pursue a career in international development because it gives excellent practical exposure and insider perspective on many development projects conducted by the World Bank. 10. How did the internship influence your career plans? For example, did it advance your interest in a) the type of work in particular; or b) public interest / international work in general?
I have always been aspired to pursue a career in international development. The internship has definitely cemented my interest on law and development. 11. Suggestions for the employer and/or students on how to improve the experience.
Fellows should take advantage of being at the WB Headquarters by meeting as many as people and attending additional conference or sessions conducted at the WB. Fellows starting the internship in Fall would have more opportunities to get involve in the annual meeting of the WB Group conducted in September.
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12. If you worked outside of New York City, an approximate accounting of the cost of living including housing, any tips about finding short-term rental housing, and any other information that would be useful for others wishing to spend a summer or fall in that locale.
- DC is somewhat similar to NYC in terms of cost of living, although rents are still cheaper than they are in New York. Many people working in the Bank are living in Dupont Circle and Adam Morgan area, although many also living in Maryland or Virginia (Rossyln Arlington is quite nice area). However, if you decide to commute to work, there a few things to consider: (1) The traffic: daily traffic congestions in DC and surroundings area are surprisingly quite bad. (2) Public transportation: the DC and surrounding area Metro is much cleaner, but is generally more expensive and is not nearly as comprehensive and efficient as the NYC Subway. The bus system and the DC Circulator cover most areas of the city but they don’t come frequently enough (mostly every 15 – 30 minutes, depending on the area and hour).
- If you are students with children, childcare cost would be another issue to consider, unless you are going to bring your wife/husband/family to DC. However you would be able to talk to the World Bank Human Resources on how to accommodating your family during your internship. For more details: http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTSTAFF/EXTHR/0,,contentMDK:20382510~menuPK:64231686~pagePK:64233720~piPK:444052~theSitePK:444049,00.html
- If you are an international student, I think it is worth trying to contact your national community in DC. I get my accommodation from fellow Indonesians who are kindly renting out one of the rooms in their house for me.
- Other possible useful resources for accommodation hunters: 1. DC Craigslist: https://washingtondc.craigslist.org 2. Facebook Group “Gypsy Housing DC”:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gypsyhousingdc/ 3. NYU Housing or FB University Housing Groups 4. Other website: Airbnb, Short-term Housing
(http://users.erols.com/rbrwak/housing.htm), or Roomster (https://www.roomster.com)
13. How did you secure health insurance for the fellowship period, and are there any important health insurance issues that future fellows should be aware of?
The internship at the Bank requires students to obtain health insurance for the internship period, which does not covered by the IFD fellowship stipend. Actually it is not an issue for fellows starting the internship in the Summer because I believe the coverage from NYU student health insurance will continue through the mid weeks of Augusts.
For fellows starting in the Fall, the NYU student health insurance actually offers a continuation option in which students can extend the insurance for 90 days starting from mid August to mid November. However, you must choose the same plan in which you were enrolled
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in as a student and it is quite expensive. For example, if you enrolled in a comprehensive plan, the continuation plan for 90-days of coverage would be around $1000.
If you think you will not need that much health coverage during the period of internship, you can choose the more affordable insurance plan. My suggestion would be buying a plan from ISO student insurance. I paid $196.00 for a-3 month Basic Insurance Plan. Please refer to their website for more details: https://www.isoa.org/ 14. Did you receive additional funding for the internship? If so, please describe how you found out about the funding and any special steps you took to secure funding. No.
Fellowship Report 1. Your name, year of graduation and e-mail address.
Iqra Zainul Abedin May 2016 [email protected] 2. Organization name (including division or project, if applicable), dates of work at organization, FULL address, telephone number and website. World Bank, Legal Vice-Presidency – Operations Policy Division 29th August – 18th November 2016 1818 H St NW 202-473-1000 3. Your supervisor’s name, title, telephone number and e-mail address. Vikram Raghavan , Lead Counsel [email protected] 4. Name, title, and e-mail address for any NYU School of Law alumni who work there. Aristeidis Panous, Counsel [email protected] 5. Description of how you obtained the internship, including any application and interview tips (such as unusual questions you were asked).
- NYU panel interview in November - Shortlisted for the Fellowship - Skype interview with Aristeidis Panou and Maya Port on 11th December 2015
o Asked questions about my prior work experience o Asked to describe how I would tackle a research task o Asked about what type of work would interest me most out of the Operations portfolio
I would try to tailor the application to the Operations unit in particular and to the specific type of work that they do, so as to differentiate from the other fellowships available in the Legal Vice-Presidency 6. Brief description of the work and mission of the organization (you can copy from website).
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programs. It comprises two institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and the International Development Association (IDA). The World Bank is a component of the World Bank Group, which is part of the United Nations system. 7. Description of the specific duties you performed, including a list of major projects.
- Worked on a research project assessing the use of electronic signatures by the Bank’s proponents across a range of jurisdictions
- Worked on a project analyzing the overlap between conflict prevention and development - Worked on a collaborative project between the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank,
looking at Bank policy in relation to fragile, violent and conflict states - Helped prepare an internal risk workshop surveying the evolution of the Bank’s mandate
8.An assessment of the supervision and feedback received. In particular, please focus on overall feedback on your work product and skills, as it is rare to receive feedback on every individual assignment. Terrific feedback received. Vikram explains exactly what is required in detail and is always happy to take any questions or clarifications. He sometimes goes away on mission for a week or so and so independent work may be required at times, but he is always available over email. He is happy to discuss what sort of work you are most interested in when the fellowship begins. 9. Overall evaluation of the internship experience, with an explanation for your choice. Would you recommend this internship to another NYU student, a) highly; b) with some reservation; or c) not recommend? Highly recommend. 10. How did the internship influence your career plans? For example, did it advance your interest in a) the type of work in particular; or b) public interest / international work in general? I am really enjoying my fellowship and I am hoping to work in the area of public international law in the future. 11. Suggestions for the employer and/or students on how to improve the experience. For fellows: try get your health insurance extended as soon as possible as the World Bank don’t issue your contract if you don’t provide proof of valid US health insurance up until the end of the fellowship period. 12. If you worked outside of New York City, an approximate accounting of the cost of living including housing, any tips about finding short-term rental housing, and any other information that would be useful for others wishing to spend a summer or fall in that locale.
I’m sharing a house with other young professionals in Adams Morgan, paying approx. $1,600 per month. I would highly recommend staying in either Adams Morgan or Dupont Circle as it is very easy to reach the Bank (either by walking, bus or cycling). The World Bank also have an internal forum where rooms for rent are advertised, but you need to have access to the Bank intranet with your login credentials to access that list. The fall fellows could ask the summer fellow to keep a look out on that forum for suitable accommodation. 13. How did you secure health insurance for the fellowship period, and are there any important health insurance issues that future fellows should be aware of? I extended my NYU health insurance in June, however this was a slight inconvenience since the World Bank could not process my contract before I obtained the extension. 14. Did you receive additional funding for the internship? If so, please describe how you found out about the funding and any special steps you took to secure funding. N/A
Fellowship Report 1. Your name, year of graduation and e-mail address. Simon Hentrei, LL.M. 2016, [email protected] 2. Organization name (including division or project, if applicable), dates of work at organization, FULL address, telephone number and website. World Bank Legal Vice Presidency - Operations Policy Group 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC Tel : 202 473-1000 http://www.worldbank.org/ 3. Your supervisor’s name, title, telephone number and e-mail address. Vikram Raghavan, Lead Counsel (LEGOP) Tel : 202 459-7492 [email protected] 4. Name, title, and e-mail address for any NYU School of Law alumni who work there. Shingira Masanzu, [email protected] Aristeidis Panou, [email protected] 5. Description of how you obtained the internship, including any application and interview tips (such as unusual questions you were asked). The application process had two stages. First, I had an interview with PILC officials and NYU alumni. I was asked several questions regarding my motivation and understanding of general issues of global governance. After having been shortlisted for two positions at the World Bank, I had a nice skype conversation with three NYU alumni working at the World Bank. The interview focused on my interest in development issues, human rights, and my plans for the future. Afterwards, I had a phone call with a Lead Counsel from the Bank which again dealt with similar questions. 6. Brief description of the work and mission of the organization (you can copy from website). “The World Bank Group has set two goals for the world to achieve by 2030: End extreme poverty by decreasing the percentage of people living on less than $1.90 a day to no more than 3% and to promote shared prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom 40% for every country. The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. We are not a bank in the ordinary sense but a unique partnership to reduce poverty and support development. The World Bank Group comprises five institutions managed by their member countries. Established in 1944, the World Bank Group is headquartered in Washington, D.C. We have more than 10,000 employees in more than 120 offices worldwide.”
7. Description of the specific duties you performed, including a list of major projects. I worked exclusively with Vikram. There was enough work to perform with him and although other staff members asked me to support their work, Vikram thought it more beneficial to collaborate only with him. The legal notes I prepared dealt with international migration law, sovereign debt restructuring and implied powers. I also worked on a project where I had to assess the compatibility of an implementation agreement with the project and loan agreements. Beyond these mayor assignments, inter alia, I answered questions on how to improve framework and implementation agreements (for this I conducted comparative research with other development banks and made an analysis from an international legal perspective), commented on the World Development Report 2016 on Forced Displacement as a Development Issue, and prepared some briefings on the current situation of post-conflict countries, jus post bellum as well as on the ratification of the 1951 Refugee Convention. 8. An assessment of the supervision and feedback received. In particular, please focus on overall feedback on your work product and skills, as it is rare to receive feedback on every individual assignment. I received feedback for each individual assignment. This often went hand in hand with Vikram’s comments on the research papers, a process in which we improved the texts. I also received general feedback after the fellowship. 9. Overall evaluation of the internship experience, with an explanation for your choice. Would you recommend this internship to another NYU student, a) highly; b) with some reservation; or c) not recommend? The fellowship was a great experience and I highly recommend it. Some pros that I can mention are: work on diverse international legal issues, nice working-environment, exciting projects, great supervision and feedback, rich learning process, yet work intense. 10. How did the internship influence your career plans? For example, did it advance your interest in a) the type of work in particular; or b) public interest / international work in general? The fellowship confirmed my general desire to work for an international organization in the future, and deepened my interest in development issues. After some years of work in academia, I appreciated applying my legal knowledge in practice by contributing to several very exciting projects and answering topical day-to-day questions. 11. Suggestions for the employer and/or students on how to improve the experience. It would be more efficient to have access to a computer on the day of arrival. Also, LEG should make sure that fellows are on the legal email list to get general information about meetings and events in the legal department. Although fellows can easily get in touch with any of the staff members at the Bank, an introduction to colleagues in LEGOP during the first days would have been nice. 12. If you worked outside of New York City, an approximate accounting of the cost of living including housing, any tips about finding short-term rental housing, and any other information that would be useful for others wishing to spend a summer or fall in that locale.
Housing costs are a little lower than in NYC. One needs to calculate about USD 1000-1500 for rent. The most effective way to find accommodation is via the World Bank’s housing board. Since applicants do not have access to it, one may ask accepted fellows already working at the Bank or NYU alumni for information. 13. How did you secure health insurance for the fellowship period, and are there any important health insurance issues that future fellows should be aware of? I was still covered by my NYU health insurance during the fellowship period. However, I got the information from another fellow that the HCC Life Insurance Company offers health insurance (basic coverage) for a monthly rate of about USD 60 . 14. Did you receive additional funding for the internship? If so, please describe how you found out about the funding and any special steps you took to secure funding. -
Fellowship Report 1. Name: Osarugue Courage Obayuwana Year of graduation: May 2015. Email address: [email protected] or [email protected] 2. Organization name (including division or project, if applicable): World Bank’s Legal Vice Presidency Unit. My specific assignments are under the Legal Operations Policy Group (LEGOP). Dates of work at organization: 8th September – 18th November 2015. FULL address: My address within the World Bank is 6-354 LEGOP and the World Bank itself is located at 1818 H Street, NW Washington DC 20433, United States of America. Telephone number: (+1) 202- 473-1000 Website: www.worldbank.org 3. Supervisor’s name: Vikram Raghavan Title: Lead Counsel, Legal Operations (LEGOP). Telephone number: (202) 459-7492 Email address: [email protected] 4. Other NYU Alumni working here: a. Name: Vikram Raghavan (Details are as specified above) b. Name: Aristeidis I. Panou Title: Counsel, Legal Operations (LEGOP). Telephone number: (202) 509-3993
E-mail address: [email protected]
c. Name: Shingira Masanzu Title: Counsel, Legal, Africa and MENA Regions (LEGAM) Telephone number: (202) 790-1075 E-mail address: [email protected] 5. Description of how I obtained the internship, including application and interview tips, the timing of my search and when I secured the internship
I obtained the internship on the platform of NYU’s International Finance and Development Fellowship.
I commenced research about the fellowship early in the fall of 2014 before the applications opened. I asked questions at NYU’s Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) and read about some of the previous fellows. I also familiarized myself with the previous year’s application form/requirements and outlined the organisations I desired to work with. I would therefore recommend early preparation.
I took advantage of NYU’s Office of Graduate Affairs (OGA) which is specifically designed to serve the particular needs of LLM and exchange students. They are happy to provide guidance on, vet, and review statements of interest. They helped me improve mine before I put in my application.
I also recommend applying to as many organisations as are suitable. Consequently, applicants may have multiple statements to write. Again- start early.
During all my interviews (3 in total), my interviewers wanted to see how much I knew about the organisation to which I was applying and questioned to see whether the organisation was well suited to my previous and future interests. Be prepared.
I applied in October 2014 and received confirmation of final selection in January 2015. 6. Brief description of the work and mission of the organization. “End extreme poverty within a generation and boost shared prosperity”. 7. Description of the specific duties performed, including a list of major projects.
Liaising with Bank counsel in evaluating the achievement of the Bank’s development objectives in specific country assignments.
Participation in a Remedies Reform Project which includes a review of the Bank’s remedial alternatives.
Drafting and research in a project to revise the Bank's procurement legal framework.
8. An assessment of the supervision and feedback received. In particular, please focus on overall feedback on your work product and skills, as it is rare to receive feedback on every individual assignment. Considering that my assignments are still ongoing, I am presently unable to properly assess feedback. However, my comments and suggestions are well received at brainstorming sessions and are usually incorporated into the assignments. 9. Overall evaluation of the internship experience:
I derived great value from the opportunity to contribute to long-term policy and operational frameworks of the World Bank. Being able to make such far-reaching impact gave me a sense of fulfilment. I would highly recommend the internship to a public-sector oriented student.
10. How the internship influenced my career plans: The experience has heightened my interest in public sector development work, particularly in transnational settings. I have a clearer idea of public sector career options available to me. 11. Paper topic: did the internship provide you with any ideas for topics for your substantial writing requirement or a Note and if so, please briefly describe. Not really. 12. Suggestions for the employer and/or students on how to improve the experience:
Increase the internship period. Large institutions tend to be laden with bureaucracy and coordination challenges; interns may therefore not get the opportunity to see tasks through to the end in the 10-weeks or so allotted.
13. If you worked outside of New York City, an approximate accounting of the cost of living including housing and any tips about finding short-term rental housing, and any other information that would be useful for others wishing to spend a summer in that locale. My approximated cost of living in Washington DC is $950/month, covering accommodation, feeding, and transportation.
For females with a placement in Washington DC, the following websites may be helpful: http://www.tmhdc.org/ http://centromaria.vzwebsites.com/
These are female-only housing options that provide affordable short-term accommodation with daily meals. I stayed in one of them and my commute to work was about 24 minutes (15 minutes train ride and about a 9 minute walk).
14. Additional Funding: No.
Fellowship Report 1. Your name, year of graduation and e-mail address. Indiana Watkins, LLM 2015 Email: [email protected] 2. Organization name (including division or project, if applicable), dates of work at organization, FULL address, telephone number and website. World Bank Legal Vice Presidency – Operations Policy team 3. Your supervisor’s name, title, telephone number and e-mail address. Vikram Raghavan Lead Counsel [email protected] 202-458-4535 4. Name, title, telephone number and e-mail address for any NYU School of Law alumni who work there. Maya Port Counsel 202-458-0959 [email protected] Shingi Masanzu Counsel 202-473-0328 [email protected] Aris Panou Counsel 202-473-5137 [email protected] 5. Description of how you obtained the internship, including any application and interview tips (such as unusual questions you were asked). Please also include the timing of your search and when you secured the internship. I obtained the internship through the IFD Fellowship process. I first did an interview with the NYU panel. Then I did a phone interview with 3 World Bank lawyers (all former NYU students). Then I did a final phone interview with Vikram Raghavan. In the interviews (especially the NYU interview) be prepared to justify why you specifically want to do an internship in the development field, rather than another area of law. This answer will be especially
important if this internship would be a change in your career trajectory, or doesn’t seem to match up in an obvious way with the other experiences on your resume. 6. Brief description of the work and mission of the organization (you can copy from website). The World Bank provides finance, eg loans, to developing countries to support projects in areas like education, health, public administration, infrastructure, financial and private sector development, agriculture, and environmental and natural resource management. It also provides technical assistance. The goals of the World Bank are:
• End extreme poverty by decreasing the percentage of people living on less than $1.25 a day to no more than 3%; and
• Promote shared prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom 40% for every country.
7. Description of the specific duties you performed, including a list of major projects.
• Reviewed and commented on sections of the forthcoming World Development Report 2016: Internet for Development.
• Researched and summarized the legal principles relating to refugees and internally displaced people.
• Prepared advice on the legal principles applicable to a particular project relating to internally displaced people.
• Researched and wrote memo on the history and evolution on the Bank’s policy on financing humanitarian relief (how the Bank bridges the gap between relief and development, especially in light of the traditional prohibition on financing humanitarian relief).
• Researched and prepared a memo on Bank’s immunity under its Articles of Agreement, including drafting history and comparison with the immunity contained in the IMF articles.
• Commented on project documents for a proposed urban development project in India. • Drafted a substantial paper on the Bank’s remedies. This involved:
o Analyzing Bank contracts/documents such as – standard loan agreement, General Conditions, Guidelines (Anti-Corruption Guidelines, Procurement Guidelines, Disbursement Guidelines) Bank policies, Bank procedures.
o Compiling examples of cases where remedies had been used by the Bank. o Researching remedies as a general concept and in international law. o Meeting with various Bank lawyers to discuss the way the Bank’s remedies operate in
particular contexts (eg trust funds, Program for Results, procurement, environment) and to discuss their operational experiences with remedies.
o Researching significant case studies, eg Padma River Bridge and Chad-Cameroon.
8. An assessment of the supervision and feedback received. In particular, please focus on overall feedback on your work product and skills, as it is rare to receive feedback on every individual assignment. I had a good level of supervision and received useful feedback. Vikram was also happy to answer questions and discuss tasks, so you could have a good idea of what was needed from you. Vikram travelled for some of my internship, but this was not a problem because he was contactable via phone/email and Aris provided a lot of guidance.
9. Overall evaluation of the internship experience, with an explanation for your choice. Would you recommend this internship to another NYU student, a) highly; b) with some reservation; or c) not recommend? I had a great experience and would recommend the internship highly. I found the work very interesting. The work of the Bank’s legal team is extremely varied, because it is made up of so many different groups. You will only work in one team, but if you speak to enough people, the internship gives you a flavor of the different types of work that World Bank lawyers do, and gives you an idea of Bank culture. 10. How did the internship influence your career plans? For example, did it advance your interest in a) the type of work in particular; b) public interest work in general; or c) pro bono work while in the private sector? The internship has advanced my interest in development work. It also provided me with a useful insight into the work I can do in the private sector that is nonetheless similar and relevant to the work of development banks. 11. Paper topic: did the internship provide you with any ideas for topics for your substantial writing requirement or a Note and if so, please briefly describe. Yes. One of my tasks peaked my interest in the difference between humanitarian relief and development finance, so I chose this topic for my writing requirement. 12. Suggestions for the employer and/or students on how to improve the experience. I suggest that interns be proactive about trying to meet as many different people as possible within the Bank, even outside legal. People at the Bank are very accommodating and are usually happy to meet for a chat. This makes your experience more interesting because you get to meet lots of fascinating people. Obviously, it is also a great opportunity to network. A practical suggestion to interns is not to choose to start the internship immediately after graduation (eg the week after), if you can avoid it. Graduation and moving are tiring, so I would highly recommend taking at least a short break before you start your internship. 13. If you worked outside of New York City, an approximate accounting of the cost of living including housing and any tips about finding short-term rental housing, and any other information that would be useful for others wishing to spend a summer in that locale. Housing is not outrageous, but it is certainly not cheap. Craigslist is the best place to go to get an idea of the prices, and make sure you start your search early. I lived in the North West, which was a good location. Some neighborhoods in that area are Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Adams Morgan, Woodley Park. You can also stay in the NYU summer accommodation if your fellowship is over summer, but before you commit to that, compare the prices with Craigslist. This year, NYU was only offering shared bedrooms (2 people per room, 4 people per apartment). For the same price you could find single rooms in share-houses on Craiglist. Transport – roughly $20 a week to get to work and back if you are taking the metro. The bus is cheaper.
Other costs of living eg food/drink are similar to New York. 14. Did you receive additional funding for the internship? If so, please describe how you found out about the funding and any special steps you took to secure funding. No.
Fellowship Report 1. Your name, year of graduation and e-mail address. Michael Riegner, LLM 2014, [email protected] 2. Organization name (including division or project, if applicable), dates of work at organization, FULL address, telephone number and website. World Bank, Legal Vice Presidency, Operations Policy Unit, September 1st – November 7th, 2014; 1818 H St NW, Washington, DC 20433, (202) 473-1000, http://www.worldbank.org/ 3. Your supervisor’s name, title, telephone number and e-mail address. Vikram Raghavan, Lead Counsel, 202 458-4535, [email protected] 4. Name, title, telephone number and e-mail address for any NYU School of Law alumni who work there. 5. Description of how you obtained the internship, including any application and interview tips (such as unusual questions you were asked). Please also include the timing of your search and when you secured the internship. Went through the official NYU International Finance and Development fellowship application, interview and selection process starting in late 2013 and completing in early 2014. Questions focused on resume and future career plans which would benefit from fellowship, 6. Brief description of the work and mission of the organization (you can copy from website). http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/what-we-do 7. Description of the specific duties you performed, including a list of major projects. Drafting of think piece for the General Counsel; drafting of legal agreements for a water project in an Indian state; drafting of an update for a legal note on Bank policy in the security sector; preparation of talking points for various meetings of the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel; research on and drafting of legal memorandum on interpretation of the Bank’s Articles of Agreement with regard to third-party benefits from Bank loans; attending and reporting on various meetings and research presentations, e.g. on law reform in Sudan 8. An assessment of the supervision and feedback received. In particular, please focus on overall feedback on your work product and skills, as it is rare to receive feedback on every individual assignment. I received feedback on most individual tasks performed (if only briefly) as well as on overall work; feedback and supervision was helpful and provided opportunity for learning;
9. Overall evaluation of the internship experience, with an explanation for your choice. Would you recommend this internship to another NYU student, a) highly; b) with some reservation; or c) not recommend? Fellowship achieved my goal of getting practical insight into operational and policy work at an international development institution, enabled me to continue an academic career with much more sensitivity for the practical relevance of issues. I would recommend this fellowship to anyone interested in development and/or international institutions. 10. How did the internship influence your career plans? For example, did it advance your interest in a) the type of work in particular; b) public interest work in general; or c) pro bono work while in the private sector? Confirmed my interest in an academic career in international law, specifically international institutional law and development 11. Paper topic: did the internship provide you with any ideas for topics for your substantial writing requirement or a Note and if so, please briefly describe. Paper topic was fixed before internship started and proved to be relevant throughout. Students should check with supervisor regarding their paper, namely when it will be published, as to confidentiality and reputational sensitivities related to publications coming out of the fellowship. 12. Suggestions for the employer and/or students on how to improve the experience. Students should get an idea of the Bank’s internal legal system and the evolution of its policies before starting the fellowship, as you really have to hit the ground running and there is little time to learn basics as you go along. A formal introduction to the people in my department in the first week of my fellowship would have been nice, but fellows can – and should – take that into their own hands if supervisors happen to be too busy at that point in time. 13. If you worked outside of New York City, an approximate accounting of the cost of living including housing and any tips about finding short-term rental housing, and any other information that would be useful for others wishing to spend a summer in that locale. Washington DC is slightly cheaper than New York. Housing is available on Craigslist and Airbnb. There is also an internal housing market on the World Bank bulletin board – ask your contact persons at the Bank and their younger colleagues, namely legal associates, to have a look for you. 14. Did you receive additional funding for the internship? If so, please describe how you found out about the funding and any special steps you took to secure funding. NYU IFD fellowship grant was integrated in the fellowship.
Fellowship Report 1. Your name, year of graduation and e-mail address.
Nawi Ukabiala, May 2014, [email protected] 2. Organization name (including division or project, if applicable), dates of work at organization, FULL address, telephone number and website.
World Bank, Legal Vice Presidency, Operations Policy Group
1818 H Street, Washington, D.C., 20433,
(202) 473-1000
http://www.worldbank.org 3. Your supervisor’s name, title, telephone number and e-mail address.
Vikram Raghavan
Lead Counsel
202-458-4535
[email protected] 4. Name, title, telephone number and e-mail address for any NYU School of Law alumni who work there.
Maya Sheli Port, [email protected]
Shinghi Masanzu, 202-473-0328, [email protected]
Aris Panou, 202-473-5137, [email protected]
Elizabeth Hassan, 202-473-3996, [email protected] 5. Description of how you obtained the internship, including any application and interview tips (such as unusual questions you were asked). Please also include the timing of your search and when you secured the internship.
I secured the internship through the NYU IFD Fellowship protocol. I submitted my application on November 1, 2013. My advice regarding the application is to highlight previous experience that will be relevant to the fellowship you have selected and emphasize that experience. The initial interview with NYU was administered by Amy Heading, Pro Bono Manager; Sonal Sharma, LL.M. ’13; Igor Alexandre Maceo, LL.M. ’13; Professor Angelina Fisher. For this interview my advice is to be prepared to discuss how your academic and professional background is relevant to the internship you have selected. Be prepared to cogently explain why you are interested in the organization and how the internship fits into your broader career plans. Next I had a telephone interview with three World Bank lawyers all of who were previous NYU graduates. I believe this interview took place in mid-January. My advice for this interview is similar to my advice in the NYU interview. In this interview it is also particularly important to project humility, a willingness to learn, and the ability to be a good subordinate. I received a favorable decision on January 28, 2014.
6. Brief description of the work and mission of the organization (you can copy from website).
World Bank, Legal Vice Presidency, Operations Policy Group:
Provides active support on a wide spectrum of issues related to the Bank’s operational and other policy matters.
Assists in the advancement of the Bank’s operational policy reform agenda by contributing actively to the modernization and simplification of Bank policies.
Facilitates policy implementation through advice in interpreting and applying the Bank’s policies for lending operations and contributes to the knowledge Bank by conducting research and sharing information related to the Bank’s operational policies.
Provides significant support and input on legal and policy matters regarding investigations of fraud and corruption in Bank-financed projects.
Provides policy advice to staff and management on the application and implementation of the Bank’s Access to Information Policy.
7. Description of the specific duties you performed, including a list of major projects. My duties generally involved research and drafting memos related to the Bank’s legal and policy framework. One major assignment included drafting a memo on the legal and policy implications of Bank financing of civil drones in projects. Another major assignment involved two projects in India. The state in which the projects were being administered bifurcated into two states and I assisted in amending the legal documents to reflect the bifurcation. A third major assignment involved research on the security to development causal relationship.
Assignment Description
Creation of flier for BBL on Disputed Borders in FCS
List of FCS with Disputed Borders containing an explanation of the dispute (Victor Mosoti)
Preparation of PPT for BBL on Disputed Borders in FCS
Meeting with Victor Mosoti
Attended two SPF Meetings
India LGAF Reports Project
Reviewing and revising reports for Andhra Pradesh, W. Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Karnataka
Skype meeting with Trevor Dodge to discuss with revisions. Law and Policy Digest
Revisions to draft chapter on disputed areas (Victor Mosoti)
Revisions to draft chapter on expenditure eligibility (Marjorie Mpundu)
Legal Memo on Concept Note for Global Monitoring Report 2014
Memo on OECD paper entitled “Scoping the New Measure of Total Official Support for Development (TOSD)”
Drafting PPF Guidance to Staff on Country Partnership Framework Products
Memorandum on Legal and Policy Implications for the World Bank Financing of Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Meeting with Adam Shayne
Meeting with Jon Lindsay
Telephone meeting with Gennady Pilch
Review and Suggested Revisions of Criminal Justice Legal Note w Security Annex
Drafted corrigendum to the financing agreement for the
Uttarakhand Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project
Restructuring of projects affected by Andhra Pradesh Bifurcation
Drafted outlined of legal and policy considerations for restructuring
Prepared drafts of amended and restated loan agreements, amendment letters for project agreements, and new project agreements for the following projects.
o Andhra Pradesh Municipal Development Project o Andhra Pradesh Rural Water Supply and Sanitation
Project o Andhra Pradesh Community-Based Tank
Management Project o Andhra Pradesh Water Sector Improvement
Project
Teleconference to advise task teams of APMDP and APRWSSP projects
Oral History Interview with Nicolette DeWitt
Drafted interview questions
Karnataka Urban Water Supply Modernization Project
Draft loan and project agreements
Security-Development Nexus Research
Conducted a partial review of relevant literature on the sec-dev nexus
Meetings with Spyridon Demetriou (2), Luigi Giovine, Bernard Harborne, Marcelo Fabre, Jimena Garrotte,
8. An assessment of the supervision and feedback received. In particular, please focus on overall feedback on your work product and skills, as it is rare to receive feedback on every individual assignment.
Mr. Raghavan was my sole supervisor. Supervision and feedback was generally very constructive but a bit frenetic at times. The overall feedback from my supervisor was favorable and gracious.
9. Overall evaluation of the internship experience, with an explanation for your choice. Would you recommend this internship to another NYU student, a) highly; b) with some reservation; or c) not recommend?
10. How did the internship influence your career plans? For example, did it advance your interest in a) the type of work in particular; b) public interest work in general; or c) pro bono work while in the private sector?
The fellowship also affirmed my intention to one day pursue a career as a policy-maker at a major international organization.
11. Paper topic: did the internship provide you with any ideas for topics for your substantial writing requirement or a Note and if so, please briefly describe.
Yes. I initially planned to discuss the role of the World Bank's Legal Office in the cooperative
dissemination of global norms. However, due to my experience I may write a paper about the
relationship between security and development actors in achieving peace and economic
prosperity.
12. Suggestions for the employer and/or students on how to improve the experience.
All fellows should be assigned to computers as access to a Bank computer enhances efficiency considerably. The use of the “virtual computer” through a person laptop is slow and cumbersome. If possible administrative measures, such as the generation of a Bank email address, should be taken prior to arrival. Fellows should be clearly instructed on all administrative procedures, such as obtaining a Bank ID card, prior to arrival.
13. If you worked outside of New York City, an approximate accounting of the cost of living including housing and any tips about finding short-term rental housing, and any other information that would be useful for others wishing to spend a summer in that locale.
NYU-DC Housing is very convenient and, overall, a cost-effective option.
Housing: $2,750
Food, groceries, and housekeeping supplies: $2,250
Transportation: $120
Laundry: $100 14. Did you receive additional funding for the internship? If so, please describe how you found out about the funding and any special steps you took to secure funding.
No.
International Finance and Development Fellowship Report 2013
1. Student details
Name: Maya Port
Year of graduation: L.L.M., 2013
E-mail address: [email protected]
Organization name: World Bank - Legal Vice Presidency Unit, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, D.C.
www.worldbank.org
2. Supervisor’s details
Name: Vikram Raghavan
Title: Lead Counsel, Legal Operations and Policy Group
E-mail address: [email protected]
3. NYU School of Law alumni working in the World Bank Legal Vice Presidency Unit
Shingi Masanzu, Associate Counsel
Elizabeth Hassan, Associate Counsel
Omri Sender, Associate Counsel
Aristeidis Panou, Consultant
Matthew Moorhead, Associate Counsel
Escarlata Baza Nunez, Consultant
4. Description of how you obtained the internship, including any application and interview tips
(such as unusual questions you were asked). Please also include the timing of your search
and when you secured the internship.
I applied for the fellowship through the NYU School of Law International Finance and Development
Fellowship program for LLM students. The application was due around November 2012, followed by
an interview with an NYU 3-person panel in around December 2012. The interview questions largely
focused on my interest in working at the World Bank (which was my first of three preferences for
fellowship positions in different international organisations), and how the fellowship would fit in to my
career plans. I only recall one substantive question regarding the work of the World Bank, along the
lines of “what is one challenge currently facing the World Bank”. Following this interview, I was
placed on a shortlist and had a telephone interview with Vikram Raghavan from the World Bank in
around late January 2013. I was notified that I secured the fellowship in around February 2013.
5. Brief description of the work and mission of the organization (copied from the website)
The World Bank Group has set two goals for the world to achieve by 2030:
End extreme poverty by decreasing the percentage of people living on less than $1.25 a day
to no more than 3%
Promote shared prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom 40% for every
country
The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around
the world. We are not a bank in the ordinary sense but a unique partnership to reduce poverty and
support development. The World Bank Group comprises five institutions managed by their member
countries.
Established in 1944, the World Bank Group is headquartered in Washington, D.C. We have more
than 10,000 employees in more than 120 offices worldwide.
6. Description of the specific duties you performed, including a list of major projects
Assisted with several Bank financing operations in South Asia, including drafting legal
agreements, drafting amendment and cancellation letters for restructuring projects, reviewing and
commenting on project documents, and drafting briefing notes.
Researched and drafted several memorandums, briefing notes and knowledge products relating
to the Bank's legal and policy framework, Bank practice and procedure, and development policy,
including the Bank’s engagement in fragile and conflict-affected situations, Bank projects in
disputed areas, combating fraud and corruption in Bank-financed projects, and the history and
interpretation of the Bank’s Articles of Agreement, as well as national-level legislative and policy
frameworks affecting Bank operations and/or with development impact, including in relation to
land reform, PPPs, food security, conflict and fragility.
Assisted with several aspects of Law, Justice and Development Week 2013, the annual
international conference organised and hosted by the World Bank Legal Vice Presidency,
including coordinating sessions and drafting speeches for the General Counsel to deliver during
the conference.
7. An assessment of the supervision and feedback received. In particular, please focus on
overall feedback on your work product and skills, as it is rare to receive feedback on every
individual assignment.
I received very constructive and prompt feedback from my immediate supervisor as well as broader
members of the legal team with whom I worked. The feedback was for both specific tasks and my
general skills and approach to work.
8. Overall evaluation of the internship experience, with an explanation for your choice. Would
you recommend this internship to another NYU student, a) highly; b) with some reservation;
or c) not recommend?
I would highly recommend this fellowship experience to another NYU student. I got involved in a
broad range of legal and policy work, gained a solid grounding in the Bank’s legal and policy
framework, as well as the institutional challenges facing the Bank and its staff from an internal
perspective, and the development challenges facing the Bank’s clients. Having said that, it is very
much up to the individual to make the most of the wide range of opportunities offered at the Bank
beyond his/her immediate tasks, including seminars, training sessions, conferences, team meetings,
and generally getting to know the members of the legal team personally and professionally. The legal
team is very professional, dedicated, hard-working, experienced and sophisticated, as well as being
very welcoming and helpful. I made great friends and professional contacts. The type of work you
will do depends on your level of experience and expression of interest, but is somewhat limited given
the nature of any internship, and so sometimes I did feel under-utilised given my substantial prior
work experience as a lawyer in my home country. The type of work you will do also depends on your
immediate supervisor, who is primarily responsible for getting you involved in different projects, often
relating to his/her specific portfolio. In that sense, I was fortunate to work with someone who
straddles both the operations and policy work streams of the legal team, is very senior and highly
respected, and is proactively involved in interesting policy work and knowledge leadership. The
fellowship is an excellent entrée into the particular legal and policy framework in which the Bank
operates, so is particularly useful for someone who wants to pursue a career at the Bank, another
multilateral development bank, or an inter-governmental organisation. It is probably not as useful for
someone who wants to pursue a career in “pure” public international law or human rights law or
advocacy. Particularly as the Bank is in the middle of an institution-wide restructure and “change
process”, I was exposed to the institutional, bureaucratic and practical challenges of working in the
Bank (or a similar organisation).
9. How did the internship influence your career plans? For example, did it advance your interest
in a) the type of work in particular; b) public interest work in general; or c) pro bono work
while in the private sector?
The fellowship definitely encouraged me to further pursue my career plans to work in public
international law and development, and particularly within an international/inter-governmental
organisation. The legal team is involved in a very broad range of work, from inter- and intra-
institutional matters (eg employment matters, advising the Administrative Tribunal, corporate
governance matters), policy matters (both the Bank’s policy framework and broader development and
legal policy matters affecting the Bank and its clients), and financing operations. I got a good
understanding of what the various units within the legal team do, and am encouraged about the broad
possibilities for a lawyer within an international development bank or international organisation.
10. Paper topic: did the internship provide you with any ideas for topics for your substantial
writing requirement or a journal article and if so, please briefly describe.
The fellowship provided some ideas but I haven’t yet finalised my paper topic.
11. Suggestions for the employer and/or students on how to improve the experience.
Possibly working with a broader range of lawyers in other units of the legal team, particularly when
my immediate supervisor was overseas for an extended country mission, but depending on the
student’s particular areas of interest/expertise and the need to balance competing workloads. More
encouragement to participate in legal team events, training sessions and seminars even if not directly
related to the fellow’s work or position as a temporary member of the team.
12. If you worked outside of New York City, an approximate accounting of the cost of living
including housing and any tips about finding short-term rental housing, and any other
information that would be useful for others wishing to spend a summer in that locale.
The cost of living in DC is not too dissimilar from New York City, although like any city that depends
on the individual’s particular choice of location for living and discretionary expenses. The stipend
from NYU was definitely not enough to cover my expenses for the 3 month fellowship. I completed
my fellowship from September to November, which made it more difficult to find short-term rental
housing because I didn’t have access to NYU or other student summer housing. I luckily found short-
term rental housing via Craigslist. I recommend starting early on researching which neighbourhoods
you would like to live in, based on commuting distance to the Bank and lifestyle preferences, and
searching for housing. DC is full of young professionals and students looking for short to medium
term rental housing, so it can be difficult to find something quickly. However, I understand that
summer housing is easier to find as there is a lot of student housing available at the various
universities in DC. Also, be prepared that summer in DC is brutally hot and humid!
13. Did you receive additional funding for the internship? If so, please describe how you found
out about the funding and any special steps you took to secure funding.
No.
Fellowship Report 1. Your name, year of graduation and e‐mail address.
Name: Niruphama Ramakrishnan; Year of Graduation: 2013; Email: [email protected] 2. Organization name (including division or project, if applicable), dates of work at organization, FULL address, telephone number and website. Organization Name: The World Bank Division: Legal Vice Presidency (LEGVP) Address: 1818 H St and 18th St, Washington, DC Telephone: 202 458 4535 Website: www.worldbank.org 3. Your supervisor’s name, title, telephone number and e‐mail address. Name: Vikram Raghavan Designation: Lead Counsel, Legal Vice‐Presidency, LEGOP/LEGES Telephone: 202 744 4976 Email: [email protected] 4. Name, title, telephone number and e‐mail address for any NYU School of Law alumni who work there. Vikram Raghavan – Lead Counsel ([email protected]) Frank Fariello – Lead Counsel ([email protected]) Aristeidis Panou ‐ Legal Associate ([email protected]) Matthew Moorhead – Legal Associate (mmoorhead@worldbank) Elizabeth Hassan – Legal Associate ([email protected]) 5. Description of how you obtained the internship, including any application and interview tips (such as unusual questions you were asked). Please also include the timing of your search and when you secured the internship. I applied to the IFD Fellow selection process in November 2012 and secured the confirmation of the internship in January 2013. After submitting the application package, I had one round of interview at NYU and a second telephonic interview with World Bank. One of the main questions asked at both interviews was ‘Why World Bank?’ as opposed to other institutions such as IMF or IDLO. So it is important for applicants to be clear about their choice of institutions and the reasons prior to applying. 6. Brief description of the work and mission of the organization (you can copy from website).
The Bank focuses on reducing poverty, increasing reconstruction and development across the globe and promote shared prosperity. 7. Description of the specific duties you performed, including a list of major projects. I interned under the supervision of Vikram Raghavan who carried multiple portfolios. My assignments depended on his focus at that point in time. It included reviewing agreements, preparing presentations and drafting summary notes for digest. He is extremely thorough and punctual and expects the same from his interns. My key assignments included
Assisted in the organization of Land Reform Workshop, June 2013
Researched and prepared presentation on developments prior to Bretton Woods
Prepared a note on World Bank in Conflict Security and Military States
Prepared an entry for the Law Digest on Special commitment by the Bank for Letter of Credits 8. An assessment of the supervision and feedback received. In particular, please focus on overall feedback on your work product and skills, as it is rare to receive feedback on every individual assignment. The supervision and guidance was very helpful. I received feedback on the individual assignments and helped me refine my work over the course of the internship. During the course of the internship it will be essential to multitask between different types of assignments without compromising the quality of work. 9. Overall evaluation of the internship experience, with an explanation for your choice. Would you recommend this internship to another NYU student, a) highly; b) with some reservation; or c) not recommend? I highly recommend this internship. It is a great opportunity to understand the institutions and their work from within. Also there were several events at the Bank including talks and discussion conducted for the staff. These elaborate on the various aspects of the Bank’s work which are important to attend. 10. How did the internship influence your career plans? For example, did it advance your interest in a) the type of work in particular; b) public interest work in general; or c) pro bono work while in the private sector? This internship most importantly helped me understand the nature of daily work in international organizations. While we see the end product in public domain, the process of preparing these documents and white papers is equally important to understand the larger development context. 11. Paper topic: did the internship provide you with any ideas for topics for your substantial writing requirement or a Note and if so, please briefly describe. The assignments during the internship provide multiple options for the paper. 12. Suggestions for the employer and/or students on how to improve the experience.
The term of my internship was 3 months. It would be more helpful if the term of the internship is longer especially considering workflow in summer may be slower than usual. 13. If you worked outside of New York City, an approximate accounting of the cost of living including housing and any tips about finding short‐term rental housing, and any other information that would be useful for others wishing to spend a summer in that locale. The cost of living in Washington DC is similar to that in New York. I stayed at the International Student House near Dupont Circle which was very convenient and affordable. 14. Did you receive additional funding for the internship? If so, please describe how you found out about the funding and any special steps you took to secure funding. I did not receive any additional funding for the internship.
Fellowship Report 1. Your name, year of graduation and e‐mail address. Matthew Moorhead, LL.M. 2011, [email protected] 2. Organization name (including division or project, if applicable), dates of work at organization, FULL address, telephone number and website. World Bank, June 6 to September 30 2011. 3. Your supervisor’s name, title, telephone number and e‐mail address. Vikram Raghavan, Senior Counsel, 202 744 4976, [email protected] 4. Name, title, telephone number and e‐mail address for any NYU School of Law alumni who work there. Aris Panou, Legal Associate, 646 392 6939, [email protected] 5. Description of how you obtained the internship, including any application and interview tips (such as unusual questions you were asked). Please also include the timing of your search and when you secured the internship. I applied for the fellowship, then called the International Law and Development Fellowship, through the law school. The applications were due in November, I think. Vikram gave me a phone interview. He was particularly interested in candidates that could demonstrate strong English writing skills and good research experience. He was attracted to my background as a judge’s clerk, and asked me to provide an extra written reference from a judge. 6. Brief description of the work and mission of the organization (you can copy from website). The World Bank is the world’s foremost international organization with a mission for reconstruction and development. Relatively recently, it’s expanded its role from giving out loans to being a source of knowledge and data. 7. Description of the specific duties you performed, including a list of major projects. Vikram gave me excellent exposure to really interesting work. I reviewed project proposals and loan applications from all over the world, and prepared memoranda on the Bank’s policies in post‐conflict situations. Vikram also took care to give me work that would be useful experience when I was considered for a post‐fellowship position. To that end, I helped edit and collate a book of constitutional law in developing countries. 8. An assessment of the supervision and feedback received. In particular, please focus on overall feedback on your work product and skills, as it is rare to receive feedback on every individual assignment.
Vikram does exciting work for the Bank, and is happy to delegate interesting tasks. He takes care to be thorough in his feedback and clear in his instructions. At the same time, within sometimes tight deadlines I was free to manage my own time. 9. Overall evaluation of the internship experience, with an explanation for your choice. Would you recommend this internship to another NYU student, a) highly; b) with some reservation; or c) not recommend? Extremely highly. This was a wonderful experience. 10. How did the internship influence your career plans? For example, did it advance your interest in a) the type of work in particular; b) public interest work in general; or c) pro bono work while in the private sector? The fellowship led directly into a paid contract position at the Bank, working as a researcher for the Deputy General Counsel in charge of research and knowledge production. This was not assured, and was only confirmed in the final week of my fellowship. Employment decisions in the Bank are made slowly, by many people, and are opaque, even to insiders. That said, having a foot in the door is a huge advantage if your goal is to get a real job or contract at the Bank. 11. Paper topic: did the internship provide you with any ideas for topics for your substantial writing requirement or a Note and if so, please briefly describe. My time was almost completely taken up by my assigned responsibilities, which I prioritized because I was focusing on keeping everyone happy and getting a job at the end of the fellowship. 12. Suggestions for the employer and/or students on how to improve the experience. The best advice is what everyone says about most internships, I think. Focus on keeping your supervisor 100 per cent happy with your output and responsiveness, but make time to get to know as many people as you can. Concentrate on appearing competent and agreeable, and network, network, network. At the Bank, that means make coffee dates with whoever you can, and show your face at training and information seminars. The networking culture in DC came as a shock to me, but it can’t be helped. You have to do it. It can be an enjoyable way to meet interesting people. Or it can be an almost unbearable social torture made barely tolerable by alcohol. 13. If you worked outside of New York City, an approximate accounting of the cost of living including housing and any tips about finding short‐term rental housing, and any other information that would be useful for others wishing to spend a summer in that locale. The housing situation in DC isn’t nearly as dire as I’d been led to believe. Because I was organizing everything on the run from New York, I went for a slightly more expensive housing option and arranged a sublease through an agency that does subleases for visiting businesspeople. The agency is called Signature Properties, and they were fine. 14. Did you receive additional funding for the internship? If so, please describe how you found out about the funding and any special steps you took to secure funding.
I did not. I did have to request that the full funding be released to me before the end of my fellowship, because my fellowship was extended to the end of September and I was running out of money.