Rising 2L Andrew Kim is spending the summer in South Korea, where he is working as a legal intern for Mathpresso, an edtech startup that developed QANDA, an AI-based learning app for K-12 students. He has enjoyed the international legal experience, as well as the time to catch up with friends and family in South Korea.

How did you connect with this summer opportunity?

I have found this opportunity through an Internet search.

How does your experience connect with what you currently envision doing with your law degree?

I believe now I have a more realistic view of working as an attorney. I am interested in corporate law practice in a law firm, and my experience in Mathpresso (QANDA) provided me with a foundation for a corporate law work, as I think I now understand what types of legal advice corporations would ask a law firm.

Please describe a “typical” workday on the job.

I am free to start work anytime between 8 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., but I usually go to work at 8 am. I normally have a daily task assigned by the team leader, such as reviewing/drafting contracts and conducting legal research on the company's current issues. However, I also have a long-term goal of conducting in-depth research and analysis on topics such as fair use.

What is something you learned or experienced that was surprising or particularly compelling during this summer position?

I thought that I could not do any of the Korean law work since I was being trained in a U.S. law school. However, I was surprised that I could assist Korean lawyers doing Korean law since now I know how to approach legal problems and apply the law to real cases. If somebody asks me for advice before starting his/her law school journey, I would tell him/her that try to nurture his/her legal mindset by thoroughly practicing case briefs. In retrospect, a case briefing is the most effective way to familiarize oneself with studying law.

What are a couple of your key takeaways from the experience so far?

Always keep in mind what your client wants or what your company’s goal is. A lawyer’s job is to give his/her client what they want by applying the law to their cases.

How has your summer experience compared with your expectations?

I am 100% satisfied with my summer experience. I wanted to get an idea of working as a foreign attorney in Korea, and I think I have achieved my goal so far.

How do you like living and working in South Korea? 

It was great to be back home and see my family and friends.

What advice would you offer another law student thinking about working in a similar position next summer?

If you are interested in working at a company as a corporate counsel, and if you are interested in working in startups, I recommend applying for this job. Since Mathpresso is a startup, you get to do many different things, from market research to legal analysis.

How are you spending your free time this summer?

I have been spending my time with my family and friends. One of the reasons why I chose to spend my 2022 summer in Korea is to stay with my family and to catch up with my old friends. Apart from that, I have been applying for 2023 summer associate positions in the U.S. and interviewing with some firms.

What are you most looking forward to in returning to Minnesota Law this fall?

I am looking forward to taking specialized courses such as tax law.