Bond University Law alumnus Tsjatsja Westerveld is about to embark on the experience of a lifetime having secured the coveted Peter Nygh Hague Conference Internship in The Hague, Netherlands.
The six month stint will give the 22-year-old graduate lawyer the opportunity to work with some of the world’s leading private international law practitioners on developing and implementing global legal conventions.
With over 60 member states representing all continents, the Hague Conference aims for the ‘progressive unification’ of the various State private international law rules.
Tsjatsja, who is currently working at Allens Linklaters in Brisbane, explained an exchange she undertook at Leiden University in the Netherlands during her studies allowed her to form a great network of contacts which ultimately led to this opportunity.
“As part of the Bond University exchange program I moved to the Netherlands in 2010 to complete a semester at Leiden University,” explained Tsjatsja.
“During my time abroad I met many students who were interning at a number of international organisations in The Hague, in both public and private international law,
“The Peter Nygh Hague Conference Internship seemed like a perfect opportunity to gain invaluable experience working as part of an international organisation at the forefront of drafting international conventions in key areas of private international law, as well as providing me the opportunity to live in the cosmopolitan city of The Hague,” she said.
Tsjatsja was also heavily involved with the international mooting competitions at Bond University participating in the Willem C Vis East Moot Competition, winning the Beijing Foreign Studies University Intellectual Property Moot and coaching a student team who competed, and won the D.M. Harish Memorial Government Law College International Moor Court Competition in Mumbai, India earlier this year.
She attributes her success in securing the internships to the skills and confidence she gained during her studies at Bond University.
“Being involved in numerous moots under the guidance of Bond's staff allowed me to develop key research, writing and advocacy skills, which have definitely helped in job interviews,” she said.
“They were especially helpful during the four person panel interview for the internship - it was comparable to a moot before a panel of judges or arbitrators.”
Bond University’s Dean of Law Geraldine Mackenzie said it was a remarkable feat to have a graduate represented at the prestigious Hague Conference in the international legal capital.
“I congratulate Tsjatsja on her achievement; this will be a great experience for her and is a great example of the opportunities available to Bond Law graduates,” said Professor Mackenzie.
Tsjatsja will commence her internship in September taking her one step closer to her ultimate career goal of working in the area of dispute resolution involving international commercial arbitrations.