Experiencing Europe

“I love traveling and different cultures and languages. I am fascinated by all that and wanted to work at an international law firm,” Porter said.

This summer, Porter spent the first few weeks in Northern Ireland. Accompanied by Duquesne Kline School of Law professors Marissa Meredith and Maryann Herman, she learned about dispute resolution and other international law topics.

“It was a great experience. Professors Herman and Meredith had it organized so well,” said Porter.

While there, the group traveled to Belfast and the United Kingdom. In Belfast, the students learned about international human rights. Students would attend weekday lectures for several hours, then explore their transatlantic surroundings.

“You learn a lot during four hours of lecture. I took notes and tried to absorb everything, from the guest lectures to the group activities,” Porter said.

Her study abroad experience with the group lasted three weeks, from May 28 to June 8. Prior to the trip, Porter decided she wanted to gain additional international law experience. With the assistance of Professor Meredith and Professor Kirk Junker, previous director of international programs at Duquesne Kline and now professor of law at the University of Cologne, they determined her interests and had Porter connected with an internship.

That second part of her journey was spent with Bridgehouse Law in Cologne, Germany. There, Porter who did not know the German language, thrived. “Everyone at the office knows English and I have tried learning phrases. They have all been very helpful,” she said.

Bridgehouse has other offices in Berlin and two in the United States. Everything Porter is writing is in English in American law. Her work overlaps with their German clients on international issues and she has received extensive experience law. Porter has diversified her portfolio through doing work with corporate, estates, and international custody law.

“It was fascinating. Study abroad was an amazing, life changing experience. I became closer to my classmates and to my professors. We got to know each other and had great excursions. It was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience,” she said.

Porter is not unfamiliar to traveling far distances domestically either. She moved from Florida to Pittsburgh to attend the Duquesne Kline School of Law, after researching schools online. She was drawn to the high bar passage rate and is captivated by the people at the school.

Porter said, “What I love about Duquesne Kline is the people. It is a community like environment where you have professors who truly want you to succeed.” She will begin her second year of law school back in Pittsburgh this fall semester.