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A Rwandan attorney pursuing LL.M. at Pacific McGeorge

Patrick Gihana is a Rwandan attorney who is pursuing his LL.M. degree this spring at Pacific McGeorge. In this article, he shares his thoughts on the positive attributes of the law school’s Transnational Business Practice program.

People often ask me the question, “How did someone from Rwanda end up studying at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California?”

A few years ago when I was working as Legal Counsel of the International Economic Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in Rwanda, I decided that I wanted to pursue my legal education at a school that would help me expand my horizon in the international field. Choosing a school that would satisfy my needs was a challenging task for me, but the LL.M. Program in Transnational Business Practice at Pacific McGeorge intrigued me for the following reasons:

• A curriculum heavily oriented toward international business practice
• The option of spending one semester at Pacific McGeorge in Sacramento and another semester at Salzburg University in Austria 
• The possibility of serving an internship in a law firm in one of 40 countries
• The opportunity to be involved in the international activities of the Center for Global Business & Development.

When I started the LL.M. program, I was impressed by the various international projects and initiatives in which Pacific McGeorge was involved. The 2008 U.S. News and WorldReport ranks the law school’s international program 16th in the country, and for good reason. Pacific McGeorge’s rise in those rankings began in 2003 with the founding of its Center for Global Business & Development that pulled together all the law school’s international strengths.  Through its institutes, the Center “seeks to build a strategic alliance with other law schools around the world, conduct training programs and sponsor conferences that focus on advocacy skills, the independence of the judiciary, the reform of legal education, and promote legislation that is beneficial to a developing economy.”

Since the beginning of this year, international students have had the opportunity to attend interesting conferences and lectures by distinguished guest speakers such as the UN senior advisor Gillian Sorensen; Dr. Dan Terris and Professor Cesare Romano, the authors of The International Judge: An Introduction to the Men and Women Who Decide the World’s Cases; Richard. J. Goldstone, former presiding justice of South Africa’s Constitutional Court; and Fausto Pocar, a Italian jurist who has played a key role in international criminal tribunals involving Yugoslavia and Rwanda.  In addition, a conference on experiential education in China offered a rare glimpse at that country’s dynamic legal education advancements. 

There are more than 50 international students representing 24 countries on campus. The school does an amazing job facilitating their adjustment to the American life style. For example, the International Programs Office organized English classes to help international students improve their language skills, and to prepare international students to take American exams.  The office organizes field trips to show international students the country, and actively assists students with the paper work related to their U.S. administrations. This rich multicultural environment present here profits each international students. It also gives students the ability to interact with American students who are very open and receptive to new friendships.  Friendship with the American students not only facilitates the adjustment of an international student’s life, but also brings to the American students an awareness of the reality of the global village. Dealing with people from different cultures and varied backgrounds is a good experience, which can also be useful in the future for all who want to follow an international career.

The richness and depth of the internship program, which was established in the 1970’s, is also a great plus. International students who are enrolled in the LL.M. program including an internship will benefit from a placement in a law firm among 40 countries around the world. Of course, most international students from foreign lands would prefer to work in U.S. law firms so that they can become familiar with the American perspective on international business.

Center events help students expand their knowledge beyond the classroom.  It also gives them exposure to many aspects of the law. For the following reasons, International Students should be particularly encouraged to participate in the activities being offered by the Center. International students often are directly affected by the issues that are discussed in the seminars, conferences, and symposia. Their involvement in those events gives them the opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives on those issues. Most international students here at Pacific McGeorge are enrolled in LL.M. programs. They are able to work with the Center, writing articles, research papers, and making presentations on global issues to fellow students and faculty.

I look forward to maintaining a close relationship with the school following graduation. The law school’s alumni are expanding worldwide and helping to facilitate school initiatives on various international projects. International students are welcomed as ambassadors by Pacific McGeorge

Thus far, I have lived an incredible experience at Pacific McGeorge as an international student. Beside the satisfaction with the academic program, I have been amazed by the kindness and understanding of people who work at Pacific McGeorge. From the international program service, the student center, the Library, the Career Development Office and the Public Safety Department, I have met people who were ready to help me, to ask me questions about my background or to explain me how to do things in the American way. I am very proud to be part of such school and hope that all students at Pacific McGeorge are aware that they are privileged to be in one of the best institutions in the U.S.

Finally, I believe that the school will soon be recognized internationally as a leading institution in dealing with issues related to global business and development. It is my vision that Pacific McGeorge will serve as an international hub that will help develop and implement policies beneficial to the global economy, the global environment and social well being.

Patrick Gihana
L.L.M in Transactional Business Practice Candidate
Pacific McGeorge