International students who enroll in Minnesota Law’s LL.M. program are already trained lawyers in their own countries. They arrive in Minneapolis to study American law with the goal of better preparing themselves for careers when they return home, wherever that might be. Since the LL.M. program began 26 years ago, it has graduated approximately 850 students from 84 countries, many of whom today are making notable impacts in global business and policymaking. Using their LL.M. degrees, they’re running companies, practicing law around the world, and advising governments and international organizations on public policy.

“Most of our LL.M.s are here because they'd like to gain some expertise in American law in order to apply it to their legal work overseas,” says Kara Galvin, director of International and Graduate Programs. “But in addition, the soft skills they gain are invaluable. What these international students achieve here only solidifies their drive, and proves that they can do anything when they return to their international careers.” 

Advising on Global Policies in Chile 

Karina Uribe Peña, LL.M. ’17, for example, transitioned from Minnesota Law to become legislative advisor for the National Congress of Chile, where she works on major global policy issues such as combatting money laundering, nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and antiterrorism. Uribe Pena also teaches international law at the University of Valpraiso and, in her free time, works on human rights issues. 

A large part of her professional work, she explains, involves coordinating international relations with other countries and with international organizations. “My time in Minnesota was incredibly valuable for my professional training,” she says. “I work now with different international institutions, and most of these relationships require speaking English—even better if it’s legal English. Moreover, working in Minnesota in the human rights field has helped me share those experiences in my job as well as with my students in the university.” 

Also invaluable, says Uribe Pena, are the soft skills she developed at Minnesota Law. “Sharing time with people from different cultures, now many of them my friends, developed in me an ability to work effectively across cultures and make social relations in different contexts. Those soft skills really matter in my work here in Chile.”

Leading a Multinational Company 

Pavel Shteling, LL.M. ’12, is CEO of Norwegian Park LLC, working out of St. Petersburg, Russia. The company operates a growing number of activity parks in Russia and Scandinavia (currently 25 and expanding). These activity parks attract a million visitors annually. 

After graduating from Minnesota Law, Shteling interviewed with Norwegian Park for a job as legal advisor, but soon discovered the company was looking for a new CEO. 

“The condition was that the CEO should be from outside, with good English skills, a good education, and have some management experience. I didn’t meet all the requirements, but they decided to give me a try, a probation period as CEO. I had to prove myself.” 

Shteling did just that, and was offered the job permanently after four months. Shteling’s experience in the LL.M. program prepared him well to become a CEO doing business internationally, not to mention dealing with legal issues around contracts and property law, among others. 

“Being CEO is very challenging work, but my LL.M. degree and international experience definitely gave me a huge advantage,” he says. 

The LL.M. program fully prepared him “to formulate an opinion, defend a point of view, and seek relevant information,” he says. “Almost daily in the LL.M. program, I participated in discussions, worked on group projects, and not only mastered theoretical knowledge, but got practical, hands-on experience. All these skills have actually been very valuable for my current leadership role.”

Chuck Leddy is a Boston-based writer.