Impacting the World through Internships

There are many critical factors that separate Ave Maria School of Law from all other law schools such as: • Three required classes in morals and ethics • Being consistently named the nation’s most conservative law school • We support a full time chaplain on campus • The Holy sacrifice of the Mass available two times a day on campus • A Crucifix in every classroom • Classes that begin with a prayer • Our students’ consistent top placement in national Moot Court competitions • A faculty with practicing Catholics • A commitment to only invite speakers and honor individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to our mission and values And, in addition to these mission driven attributes, Ave Maria School of Law provides three very unique opportunities for its students to learn and make an impact in national and international settings. One opportunity is through a Legal Internship program in the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations. Next is a Legal Internship program for a Catholic Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations in Rome. In addition, students have an opportunity to take a semester in Washington, D.C. with the Culture of Life Institute. Several of our students have stated that these internships available through Ave Maria School of Law constituted the top reason they chose our school. Although criticism of aspects of the United Nations may be fair, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations works to advance freedom of religion and respect for the sanctity of all human life-from conception to natural death and thus all aspects of authentic human development including marriage and family, the primary role of parents, and more. The Ave Maria Law Legal Internship program at the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York provides our students with the opportunity to gain invaluable experience assisting the work of the Holy See in its important work at the UN, seeking to bring the light of Catholic Social Teaching to the debates of the international community. The D.C. Legal Internship with Culture of Life Institute (DCCLI) in the Nation’s Capitol, Washington D.C. allows students to gain invaluable experience assisting the work of the United States Congress (and, in the future, in federal departments, agencies, or commissions) on issues relating to bioethics.

Let’s hear directly from some of our student interns on how this internship experience has increased their understanding and helped prepare them to advocate on important national and global issues.

CHRISTOPHER JAY (2018)

“I can’t overstate the importance of spending a semester at the United Nations with the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission. The UN was an immersion into the “big picture” intersection of law, politics, trade, and diplomacy. It gave me front-row access to watching how ideas — both good, and very very bad — are first proposed, then discussed, then disseminated out into the world. That semester was the essence of leadership training. When you work as an intern for the Holy See, you are an intern as to the Holy See, but you are a full-fledged delegate as far as the UN is concerned. This means that you have full access to anything and anywhere (aside from high-security events), including the General Assembly and Security Council meetings. Many within the UN push dangerous ideas; and many fight back with good ideas. My semester in Manhattan with the Holy See, in conjunction with law school, was one of the most powerful experiences of my life.”

CLAIRE GUGGEMOS (2020) Claire Guggemos completed a legal internship with The Culture of Life Institute in Washington, DC in the Spring 2019.

“I took on a wide range of responsibilities during my semester in D.C. I was able to attend House Committee hearings to aid my supervisor while he interviewed witnesses about current political issues pertaining to bioethics, marriage and the family, human sexuality and human life that I was researching at the time. I also reviewed proposed legislation and researched the possible consequences of its enactment. I gained a great respect for the work that congressional members and staff do. Learning about all of the background work that goes into writing and passing legislation was really interesting and provided me with a new outlook on the legislative process.”

“Part of my work for the Catholic-Inspired NGO Forum in Rome involved designing surveys for circulation to over one hundred nongovernmental organizations from around the world to map their common ground, challenges, and goals surrounding social and political issues in human rights, health, education, family, and migration. I compiled and analyzed responses as the foundation of arguments I drafted for final incorporation into a published best-practices manual for presentation to Pope Francis and for use by NGOs. Additionally, I researched the legal arguments used in European and foreign courts to promote new gender ideology agendas. The internships offered by Ave Maria School of Law are the top reason I chose to come here, and I am reminded every day that I picked the right law school.”

CARMEN TATE (2021)

The Rome Forum being recognized by Pope Francis. Professor Brian Scarnecchia (pictured second from left) is the founding member of the Rome Forum of Catholic Inspired NGOs. Also pictured are Carmen Tate (third from left), Class of 2021, and alumnus Geoffrey Strickland (third from right), Class of 2009.

These internship opportunities are just another aspect of the unique legal education offered to students at Ave Maria School of Law. However, they come at a cost. Our interns need financial help to participate in these invaluable experiences. Will you please consider a tax deductible donation to help them with the cost of travel, living expenses and mentoring? Your help assures that our students will be able to take advantage of these life changing experiences. All donor levels will receive a personal note from a student about their internship experiences. BLESSED PATRON: $2,500 VENERABLE PATRON: $5,000 SAINTLY PATRON: $10,000

Please contact Jeff McManus, JD for more information or to help sponsor a student: jmcmanus@avemarialaw.edu or 239-250-3536