From Yaoundé to Paris: Sofie Baker Djoumessi’s International Journey

I hold a Master’s degree in Public Law and Administrative Careers from the University of Dschang in Cameroon.

Aiming for an international career, I took the competitive entrance exam of the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC), renowned in Central and West Africa for training diplomats. There, I completed a Master’s degree in International Relations with a focus on International Disputes.

In 2014, after working for several years as an associate in international arbitration at a law firm in Yaoundé, I faced one of the most decisive choices of my career: joining the Cameroon Bar, which I had just passed the exam that was held ten years after the previous session, or enrolling at Sciences Po’s Law School, where I had just been admitted to the Master in Economic Law, specialising in Global Governance Studies (GGS), after a highly competitive selection process.

It was a cornelian dilemma and choosing Sciences Po was not an easy decision. It meant returning to full‑time studies after a first professional experience, but above all leaving my family and my homeland and my country behind. Looking back, I can say that this choice profoundly transformed both my professional and personal trajectory, and I have never regretted it.

Above all, I was struck by the constant effort to balance theory and practice, an equilibrium that is not easy to achieve in traditional law programmes and, more broadly, in social sciences curricula. At Sciences Po, this commitment to grounding knowledge in real‑world applications is ever‑present, driven both by academic lecturers and by experts who are often leading practitioners in their fields.

If I had to choose one symbolic moment, it would be the closing remark of Pierre‑Louis Perrin, professor of corporate law, which still resonates with me today: “Le droit mène à tout ”(ie. literally “Law leads to everything.”).

This idea, that law can be a powerful lever across a wide range of sectors, is fully reflected in the careers of Law School graduates, now working in major public and private institutions around the world.

I began my career in in international litigation and arbitration. After enriching experiences in law firms, including Hogan Lovells, DLA Piper, and Stephenson Harwood, I wanted to be involved earlier in the decision‑making process, contributing to strategic choices and helping prevent disputes rather than simply managing them.

For several years now, I have been working as an in‑house counsel in international business law, with a focus on contract structuring and negotiation, regulatory compliance, and of course the management of litigation and pre‑litigation matters, from the inside! Working within companies has also allowed me to develop cross‑functional skills, particularly in governance matters and in supporting C-suite executive teams on corporate matters.

After several years in major French and international groups, I now oversee contracts and strategic partnerships within a subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole Group, supporting development projects at the intersection of law, business strategy, and risk management.

Stay the course! Admission to the Law School - and the programme itself - is demanding, often stressful, and full of challenges. Perseverance and consistent effort are essential. This experience will allow you to develop exceptional legal and even non‑legal skills, as well as a unique personal maturity. You will work alongside professionals from diverse backgrounds who will inspire or strengthen your vocation. The Law School embodies excellence in the service of your future.