Chris Klein (JD ’07): Targeting International Law
May 2007
As he looks back on the past three years at UM, Chris Klein (JD ’07) is enthusiastic about his experience: “I can truly say that UM Law has surpassed all of my expectations in allowing me to pursue my dreams. I have been able to receive a first-rate education in the law, while focusing on international law.”
Chris always knew that he had a calling for learning about other cultures and a desire for a career in law. Combining these two goals; however, began as a challenge. “As I sought career advice,” Chris explains, “I became discouraged because I was frequently told that I had to choose between a career in law or international relations. I was informed that the study of law and international relations were distinct and could not coexist.” Chris couldn’t accept this conclusion. “I was determined to find a law school that would allow me to build upon my dreams and create more options to achieve them. I was looking for a law school that would give me the opportunity to further nourish my passion for international studies, and after an exhaustive search, University of Miami School of Law resoundingly prevailed.”
Besides UM Law’s exceptional reputation in his academic area of interest, Chris chose UM for its unique location in a city considered to be “the gateway to Latin America,” the accomplished faculty, and diverse course offerings that allowed him to cultivate his desire to practice international law. While at UM, Chris took courses in International Law, International Business Transactions, Latin American Law, Doing Business in Latin America, Immigration Law, Transnational Litigation, Project Finance and Development in Latin America, and Basic Notions of Contracts in Latin America, the latter being taught in Spanish. He was especially influenced by UM Law’s elite adjunct faculty, such as Jairo Lanao, José Valdivia, Miguel Zaldivar, Pedro Martinez-Fraga, and Ryan Reetz.
Outside the UM Law classroom, Chris enhanced his experience while interning at Betancourt, Mena & Associates in downtown Miami. He was also able to explore how the law affects different communities and cultures as a Research Assistant to UM Law Professor Francisco Valdes, a leading expert in LatCrit (Latino and Latina Critical Legal Theory). As a member of the Hispanic Law Student Association, Cuban American Bar Association, and the Cuban Heritage Collection, Chris interacted directly with many culturally diverse groups. Finally, he was able to utilize his legal training to help others by providing immigration assistance to those in need.
Chris was born and raised in Mechanicsburg, PA, a small town located far away from the major metropolitan areas of the state. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from American University in Washington, D.C., majoring in International Relations with a focus on Latin American Studies. As a freshman, Chris created the internship program between the Embassy of Nicaragua and American University, allowing him to work firsthand with ambassadors from the Organization of American States (OAS) member countries. “Through this experience,” he says, “I realized that I wanted to forever make interacting with foreign cultures and people a part of my life.”
As a result, in his junior year Chris enrolled as an exchange student for a semester at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Costa Rica, where he took classes that focused on international law. He then spent the second half of the year in Madrid, Spain, where he became the first American intern at the Spanish law firm of Carrasco y Zarza.
Chris will return to his undergraduate alma mater in August to begin his L.L.M. program in International Studies at American University’s Washington College of Law, a program that is ranked among the top five in the country. Fewer than 20 applicants from the U.S. are accepted into the program annually, most of whom have been practicing law for several years. “To be admitted directly from law school is a testament to the vast international law experience that I was able to receive at UM Law.”
Today Chris is confident about his future. “I always believed, and still do, that the practice of law is a profession where positive changes can be made and where the effects of such are limitless. It dawned on me that if I could incorporate my passion for international law into a career, I would not only love my job, but I would also ensure that it would be a permanent fixture in my life. I am truly grateful to UM Law for preparing me well to take the next big step in my legal career.”
