Italy Firm Daily: #1 Pre-Law Summer Abroad Program

When I was coming into the Lex Fellowship program for pre-law I definitely experienced a lot of nervousness. However, the staff members guided me through the process to make me feel ready. This program reinforced my passion for law and helped me explore other types of law that I never thought I would enjoy. It’s a great experience to get a global perspective on law. You also get a lot of public speaking skills by engaging in negotiations and mock trials constantly. It may seem intimidating at first, but always remember we’re all there to learn!

I can’t recommend the Milan Lex Fellowship enough! From day one, the program throws you into real-world legal work while also giving you a taste of Italian culture. I rotated through multiple law firms, sat in on meetings, and even got to contribute to case studies. The mentorship from U.S. law students was super helpful—they helped me understand not just the law, but also how to navigate professional environments abroad.

The cultural excursions were the perfect balance to the intense work days. Milan is beautiful, and getting to explore it with classmates and professionals made the experience unforgettable.

Yes, the program is fast-paced and the fee isn’t cheap, but the value—both professionally and personally—is worth it. I left with stronger legal skills, a global perspective, and a network of contacts I’ll carry forever.

10/10 would do it again!

When I arrived in Genoa, I was two days early for the program. Driving in from a very far distance, I saw the water, the sea during the sunset! Finally, when I made it to the location for my program, I had three roommates: one from Maryland, one from California, and one from Canada (New Brunswick). We were all quite different, but all had something to share.

The first night we met up with the girls, who had a separate dormitory, and had dinner (I had veal ravioli). The program consisted of many moments like this: family-style meals and my favorite part, law firm visits.

I think I enjoyed my experience more than some of my peers because I am bilingual in Italian and was able to understand much more, but we did have our hostess, who regularly translated for us. I learned a lot about the Italian legal system compared to the American system. In addition, we had a class where we prepared for the LSAT and reviewed the ins and outs of law school. Additionally, we had weekend trips planned by the hostess that included train rides to Portofino and kayaking by the South of France.

All of this was included, and really, if you decide to go, take the opportunity to have fun, and you will! Also I loved the transportation system in Genoa specifically over the rest of Italy, and i loved taking runs throughout the city.

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I really enjoyed the trip and met some amazing people. I would say that the cost of the fellowship did not reflect the housing amenities or the food options, but I was overall very pleased with how the trip turned out. I would say that it exposes you to a different culture more than provided an educational environment. Along with this, they did not pile extensive learning onto you and introduced certain concepts with support to answer any questions we may have. Overall I had an amazing time and met some amazing people that I would absolutely do again.

During my time in Genova, I had the privilege of meeting with distinguished lawyers and reputable law firms that specialized in fields from criminal defense to transportation to maritime!
One of the most impactful aspects of this internship was the chance to engage with legal professionals who shared their real-world experiences and offered guidance on navigating the legal landscape. Their mentorship and advice have been instrumental in shaping my aspirations and career goals. On another note, I was able to meet with a Solicitor and a Solicitor Apprentice who were traveling all the way from Greater London, England, due to the friendly and accepting ambiance of Genova!

It was extremely educational in terms of law firm and practice area exposure, as we visited 10 different prestigious Italian law firms. This also is great for boosting skills for law school, as you mainly do oral debates. It was great for networking, and the legal training sessions were extremely helpful. But, I recommend this for students who have not taken an LSAT, as they discuss it, and those who are not too young, as this is an intensive and more independent oversees experience. My city managers were a wonderful resource, though, and if you are younger and feel confident this is right for you, go for it!!

Our city managers made this experience the perfect blend of leisure, exploration, recreation, and education. The law firms were extremely professional, encouraging, and accommodating We got to expand our palates with a variety of new foods. We learned how to navigate unfamiliar cities with their public transportation and by traveling on foot. Our legal studies lessons were informative and fun, exposing and challenging us to new areas of law and experiences. We were encouraged to learn and grow.

Spending a week in Milan going to different law firms each day was such a great experience. First it allowed me to travel and experience another culture and secondly I was able to get a taste of different types of law such as business, litigation and environmental. This allowed me to determine which type of law I am and not interested it. I highly recommend doing the Lex program if you are unsure about which type of law you want to focus. This is also great to make connections with professionals