St. Thomas Law Student Interns at the United Nations in New York

Anastasia Latman

The opportunities afforded to students at St. Thomas Law include unique internships and externships. The Pax Romano internship at the United Nations is one such opportunity. This full-time, single semester assignment provides law students with placements at national missions to the United Nations in New York.

Third-year law student Anastasia Latman spent the summer in New York for what she described as the experience of a lifetime.

Anastasia was assigned to the Permanent Mission of Honduras in the role of advisor. She attended meetings and compiled analytical reports on what she observed.  The first official meeting that she attended centered around small arms trafficking and its affect on South American countries.  She also covered issues such as disabilities and women's rights.

She emphasized how her perspective of global concerns changed during her time at the UN. "I had the opportunity to listen to and understand the concerns and views of other nations and it became clear to me that I was living in a bubble," stated Anastasia. "It was really an eye-opening experience with international relations, legal issues and human rights issues."

United Nations Building in New York

Upon graduation from St. Thomas Law, Anastasia plans to become a prosecutor and said that the internship paved the way in helping her understand the major human rights violations that are happening globally, and how the international community is trying to solve these issues through the law.  She came out with an enhanced understanding of international laws and legal systems and was able to formulate ideas as to how she can work on these legal issues locally and hopefully someday make a difference on an international level.  

This fall, Anastasia will return to the UN during the General Assembly at the invitation of the Permanent Mission of Honduras.  Additionally,  two St. Thomas Law students will be assigned to the Holy See in New York with the likelihood of meeting the Pope himself.