FRANCISCO SEPULVEDA BURGOS
LL.M. in International Legal Studies (Specialization in International Arbitration), Class of 2018/2019
Graduate of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica of Chile
On Friday, February 8, 2019, Bjorn Arp spoke with Francisco about his experience at AUWCL:
Bjorn: Why did you choose AUWCL for your LL.M.?
Francisco: There are many LL.M. programs in the U.S., but AUWCL was unique. They really helped me to tailor my studies so that I could successfully reach my goals. I knew I wanted to specialize in international law—international arbitration to be precise—and AUWCL is ranked as a top university in this field. This, together with the location in Washington, D.C., which is a global hub for international practitioners, convinced me that this is the right place.
Bjorn: How is your experience with your fellow students?
Francisco: I am having a great experience with my fellow students. We have a multicultural community from 51 countries. I am learning so much from each of my peers. They are all interested in various legal fields, have interesting background, and we also have a lot of fun together.
Bjorn: How are the subjects and courses useful to your education?
Francisco: I like that there is a wide variety of courses to choose from, and there is a very detailed curriculum in arbitration, which interests me. The highly accomplished faculty not only teaches the law, but also provides insights into the legal practice before international tribunals and fora. In addition, AUWCL organizes fascinating moot court competitions and other clinical programs that provide me with the hands-on experience I was looking for.
Bjorn: How has your experience been with the faculty?
Francisco: I like that most of them are practitioners and that they are very open to receive the students, either in person or by phone or email. They support me beyond the classroom, with professional advice and encouragement for my interests. For example, I have an excellent career counselor, Professor Celeste Greenwood, who has been especially useful for finding my internship this semester.
Bjorn: What professional opportunities have you gained with this LL.M.?
Francisco: For one thing, this LL.M. provided me the opportunity to gain an internship with a company dedicated to identifying and minimizing the risk of investment arbitration for States. In addition, I have had the opportunity to do a lot of networking with arbitration practitioners. Together with the knowledge on arbitration and international law that I obtained here, I already feel like an integral member of the international arbitration community.
“The highly accomplished faculty not only teaches the law, but also provides insights into the legal practice before international tribunals and fora.”
Francisco Sepulveda Burgos, LL.M. 2019
