An International Legal Journey: The Experience of Núria Casas Cano

I grew up in Spain, my home country, and had the opportunity to complete my education in French at the Lycée Français de Valence, where I passed the French Baccalauréat. This bilingual foundation led me to pursue my undergraduate studies at Sciences Po, following the Euro-American program in the Reims campus.

Very early in the program, I developed a strong interest in law-related courses, both in French and English. Most of my electives were focused on tort law, human rights law, and public international law. These areas made me develop a deeper interest in the role of law in shaping society.

In 2021, I spent my third year on exchange at the London School of Economics, where I explored the common law system in greater depth. That experience confirmed my decision to pursue a legal career and strengthened my ambition to work in French, English, and Spanish.

Since my education had been based in France, qualifying as a lawyer there felt like a natural next step. I therefore enrolled in the French track of the Master’s in Economic Law (Master Droit économique) to build a solid foundation in French law. My choice was also motivated by two additional factors. First, I wanted to continue studying in English, so I made sure to select a program that offered courses in both languages. I therefore took classes such as Dispute Resolution by Prof. Horatia Muir-Watt and Person, Personhood by Prof. Marie Mercat-Bruns, which offered a comparative approach and explored globally significant legal cases. Second, I was eager to gain exposure to legal practice, and the program’s structure—allowing for a gap year between the two academic years—seemed like the ideal opportunity to do so.

The first year of the Master’s in Droit Économique gave me a deep and comprehensive understanding of French contract, tort, public, and criminal law. It was a challenging experience, as I had to absorb a large amount of complex material in a short period of time. However, this pushed me to improve my organization and develop a clear sense of priorities. These skills proved especially valuable the following year, when I began interning at global law firms. I vividly remember these skills were put to the test while working on an investment arbitration case that culminated in an ICSID hearing in Washington, D.C.—an experience I was fortunate to attend in person as part of the team at Latham & Watkins.

In the second year of the program, I chose the Economic Litigation and Arbitration specialization led by Prof. Soraya Amrani-Mekki. This allowed me to finally gain a solid grasp of French civil procedure and to delve deeper into international arbitration—both commercial and investment. What made this year particularly enriching was the opportunity to explore something entirely different through my commitment to the Access to Justice Clinic Program. Every Tuesday morning, I provided legal assistance at the Maison de la Justice et du Droit in the 15th district of Paris, which broadened my perspective on law in practice.

Overall, both years were intellectually and professionally formative. I truly believe they provided a solid foundation and the essential skills that allowed me to prepare for the French Bar exam in a short period of time.

As I began planning the financial aspects of my Master of Laws (LL.M.), I started looking for scholarships for which I might be eligible. Since I do not hold French nationality, I hoped to find a program that would recognize my academic background in France and reward merit, regardless of nationality.

With this in mind, I applied to the “Jim Hurlock – White & Case Scholarship”, which aligns perfectly with those values. By the time I applied, I had already been accepted to Columbia Law School to pursue my LL.M., which made it all the more meaningful to submit the strongest application possible. I advanced through a first round of interviews and had the privilege of meeting founding figures of the firm in France, such as Mme Rosine Lorotte and M. Jean-Luc Boussard, who offered insightful feedback ahead of the next stage.

The second round was a panel interview in front of fifteen professionals, including lawyers and clients of the firm. It was an engaging and thoughtful conversation about my LL.M. project and my broader professional ambitions. The winners were announced that same evening, and I was fortunate to be among them.

I am deeply grateful for the funding and support that White & Case has provided and I am currently making the most of my time as a Columbia Law School student in New York City.

Early next year, I will begin an externship at the United Nations as a way to further engage with international legal work while also building on the LL.M. academic foundation.

Looking ahead, I plan to sit for the New York Bar Exam in July 2026. Passing the bar would allow me to qualify as a lawyer in New York and potentially work in common law jurisdictions in the future.

After the bar exam, however, my goal is to return to France to complete my training at the Parisian École de formation professionnelle des barreaux and begin practicing law, ideally with a focus on international law. I hope to build a career that allows me to operate across jurisdictions, combining my international experiences with my French legal education.

Of course, no one knows what lies ahead. While I aspire to work across multiple jurisdictions, I also know how easy it is to miss one’s sunny hometown. With that in mind, I would not rule out practicing closer to home after some years abroad.  

After nearly four years at Sciences Po Law School, it is impossible for me to choose just one moment. I therefore have selected three that stand out to me for very different reasons.

The first dates back to December 2021, when I applied for Allen & Overy’s Inclusion and Diversity Scholarship. I presented a project aimed at fostering the independence of young dependent adults in my hometown, Valencia, through supervised housing. This initiative was deeply personal to me, and I will never forget the recognition it received from the jury, presided by Romaric Lazerges. He welcomed my project wholeheartedly, and his encouragement has remained a meaningful source of support ever since.

The second memory comes from my second year, when I had the privilege of introducing André Potocki, former French judge at the European Court of Human Rights, during one of the Rendez-vous de la Justice organized by Prof. Soraya Amrani-Mekki. His reflections on the need to safeguard fundamental liberties and protect institutions like the European Court of Human Rights resonated deeply with me and reaffirmed why I chose to pursue law. I often think back to his words: « La Cour est un miracle qui est née d’un cauchemar, et ce miracle ne se reproduira pas. Si l’on déstabilise la Cour, elle ne s’en relèvera pas, et la démocratie en sera privée. »

Finally, one of the most memorable experiences happened recently, in January 2025, when I had the honor of returning to Sciences Po Law School as a lecturer, leading the second part of the Access to Justice Clinic Program. It has been incredibly meaningful to engage with students and guest speakers on the realities of access to justice in France across various legal areas. I truly hope to return to this role again in the near future and would wholeheartedly like to thank Prof. Marie Mercat-Bruns for trusting me with this opportunity.