Prior to law school I worked in the New York offices of Japan’s largest advertising agency. I was fascinated by the legal work behind the sponsorship and broadcasting deals that I was working on, and decided to apply to law school in order to become a lawyer in Japan. Michigan was an easy choice under the leadership of Dean West, who is one of the most highly regarded scholars of Japanese law in the U.S. Furthermore, Michigan’s extensive internship opportunities meant I could return to Japan during law school. I interned at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, which opened many doors for me in Japan and was an important line on my resume during my job search. It also provided valuable experience understanding the banking world, which has been essential in the early months of my career. While at Michigan Law, I also interned at a firm in Santiago, Chile, and spent a semester at KU Leuven in Belgium. At DLA Piper, I work with lawyers in other offices all over the world, and having all these experiences in my back pocket has helped me better understand how the world operates. I can confidently say that my time at Michigan Law helped me develop a global mindset that has been critical for success in my work and in my personal life.
