Reviews

Real stories from real participants, parents and university partners who share their experiences as well as their advice. Learn more about the benefits Connect-123 interns and volunteers receive on our programs around the world!

Scroll down to view all – or filter by destination, opportunity or both.

Destination

Opportunity

Rebecca Willis

Law Intern | Barcelona
University of Glasgow
12 July 2019

As a philosophy student planning to convert to law, I was keen to gain some professional experience in the field. I had struggled to find similar opportunities at home in the UK and was stuck in a sort of ‘Catch-22’ situation - to gain experience, experience was necessary. Connect-123 offered exactly what I was looking for! With their connections in Barcelona, they were able to offer me a two month internship at an immigration law firm. I have learnt so much in my time here and have been given a lot of responsibility, despite speaking hardly any Spanish. Additionally, Connect-123 has made the transition to living in a new country much easier. They have organized many social events and it has been easy to make friends with other interns in the city. I am grateful for the experience that Connect-123 enabled me to have, and the valuable first step it has given me in setting up my future career.

Internships in Barcelona

Kolleen Jabbour

Law Intern | Barcelona
Concordia College
4 August 2018

My experience with Connect-123 was one of the best things that ever happened to me! At first, I was super stressed and hesitant to go to another continent and to work in a city that I’ve only seen in pictures and movies. I was nervous to be in a place where I know absolutely no one. However, Connect-123 facilitated things for me and guided me through every step of my journey. Indeed, Connect-123 found me the job that I was looking for and always comforted me when I was feeling anxious. It was so easy to socialize with the coordinators of the program, they went above and beyond to make people feel welcomed and to assure that they have a great time in the city they would organize all sorts of activities and inform us on the events happening in the city! I spent two months working in an immigration law firm. I became comfortable with everyone I was working with and they were all there if I needed help or if I had any questions about work, the city or anything! Indeed, I feel like I found a new family, I built great relationships with my coworkers and found a place that I could call my second home. It was an experience of a lifetime. I loved my stay in Barcelona to the point where I was considering living there. Barcelona will always hold a special place in my heart. I am forever grateful and thankful for this experience!

Internships in Barcelona

Jessica Foo

Law Intern | Dublin
SUNY at Oneoneta
11 July 2018

Connect-123 helped make my law internship in Dublin one of the best episodes of my life. They eased me into settling into a new environment, explained anything I was apprehensive about and made me feel comfortable and excited. We were always informed about any events that were being arranged. I loved going to them because of all the different people I would meet and all the new places I would get to visit. I interned at a law firm with solicitors and was able to learn so much. The people at the office were exceptional, there was always someone who would be willing to help or answer my questions. They were so kind and made me feel welcome. I was a little skeptical at the beginning of my journey. I was looking for a program that would allow me to gain some experience in the legal field and was unsure about doing an internship abroad, however, I am very glad that I did it. It has been an amazing experience and I have met some incredible people along the way. I loved my time in Dublin and hopefully, I'll return one day.

Internships in Dublin

James Addington

Law Intern | Buenos Aires
University of Canterbury
6 April 2018

After completing my studies at the University of Canterbury I wanted the challenge of living and working abroad in a foreign language. With the help of Connect-123 and the New Zealand Embassy to Argentina, I undertook a three-month legal internship in Buenos Aires. The experience has exposed me to the Argentine legal and commercial landscape and helped improve my Spanish. Buenos Aires is an epic city and I would 10/10 recommend this program!

Internships in Buenos Aires

Valeria Isgro

Law Intern | Dublin
University of Genoa, Italy
5 November 2017

If you are looking for an opportunity to gain life experiences, Dublin is the right place! Thanks to Connect-123, your internship will be absolutely perfect and in line with your expectations. I stayed in Dublin for 2 months from January to March. In the time I was there, I worked in a law firm of solicitors. My main tasks were answering the phone calls, helping clients in need, managing post and email conversations, and attending courts. I was surrounded by competent people, who helped me feel comfortable in and out of the office. Along with an internship in your field, Connect-123 also offers various opportunities to discover Ireland with other people in the program! I recommend this journey to anyone who is looking for a memorable learning experience; mine was unforgettable!

Internships in Dublin

Jaimie Grace

Law Intern | Dublin
Texas State University at San Marcos
5 May 2017

Connect-123 was an amazing experience that allowed me to live in Dublin and work at an Irish law firm. Not only was I able to experience day to day life in an office, I was able to attend a number of court cases my firm was involved with. Besides an amazing work experience, Connect-123 gave me the opportunity to travel around Ireland and other parts of Europe. I can honestly say this was one of the best experiences of my life!

Internships in Dublin

Tiana Winstead

Law Intern | Shanghai
Rhodes College
13 July 2015

Whether it was the people, the place, or the food my time in Shanghai was nothing short of enchanting and exciting. No matter the time, place, or day I knew that I could always do something new. Shanghai for me was an indescribable experience that mesmerized me, particularity its ability to fulfill all of my desires in just one city! I could find myself bargaining with street venders, eating giant ice-cream macaroons, climbing the stairs of a Buddhist temple in the rain, or on the rooftops enjoying the sunset over the skyline. However, the best experience was my law internship with some of Shanghai’s top-notch international lawyers! My time and experience with these lawyers has by far been my most valued personal and professional exposure. My tasks included daily updating the firm’s social media pages, translations of legal documents, conducting presentations, and just being a part of a team! The lawyers were so kind, inclusive, caring, and best of all they were genuinely interested and invested in my future and me. My internship opportunity would not have been possibly without the help of Connect-123! With the help of Connect-123 I was picked up from the airport with ease, lived in an amazing apartment, and land the internship of my dreams! Additional, the weekly dinners and outings with other Connect-123 internships were a great way of establishing a friend group in a foreign country. By the end of my time in Shanghai, I not only had a great career experience but I made friends that I have stayed in contact with for months after I returned home.

Internships in Shanghai

Jesse DePauw

Law Intern | Cape Town
Michigan State University
5 April 2013

There is truly no way to do justice to the eye-opening nature of my trip to Cape Town. I knew that it would be a great experience, but I had no idea how much the city would infect me with its allure and make me regret that impending flight home! Everyone at Connect-123 was more than accommodating. They were there every step of the way, which proved vital to my experience, since my placement was a difficult one to secure. They used every resource they had in fighting to get me into the placement I desired; I cannot thank them enough for their efforts. I worked at a law firm for the three months I spent in South Africa. Working here was truly a dream come true. As I had already been accepted to law school before starting my internship, I knew that the training I would receive in Cape Town would only contribute to my knowledge of the legal sector. It may seem that legal training in South Africa would not apply to the U.S., but that is just not the case. Everything I did during my internship, whether it was drafting orders and opinions, serving summons and filing applications with the court, or just reviewing case law to prepare for meeting with clients, all of the things I was asked to do tested my ability to work efficiently and contributed to my knowledge of legal processes. The atmosphere was amazing. Everyone was so helpful and willing to explain what they needed; I never felt that I was alone in anything I was doing. It truly was everything I could have hoped for and more. My time in South Africa allowed me to explore the vast cultural differences and immerse myself in a world I so eagerly desired to know. I was able to travel all over the country, experiencing the best South Africa had to offer, such as bungee jumping off a 216m bridge, attending 3-day music festivals, and feeding / playing with elephants up close in person! The team at Connect-123 (Celine, Charné Jackie, Jess, Miche, all you guys!) was so active in organizing activities, showing us the city, and making sure we were involved and happy with our placements. I never expected to be so guided every step of the way! There is no way that I will be able to stay away from Cape Town; I’ve already started planning my return trip! I hope everyone who reads this will consider how wonderful this city has been to me and how much it and Connect-123 can make your Study Abroad experience as epic as mine has been!  

Internships in Cape Town

Karlayne Powell

Law Intern | Buenos Aires
7 January 2013

This past year I had the opportunity to travel to Argentina to work as a legal intern through Connect-123. My experience with Connect-123 was more than just incredible; not only did they find an extremely hands-on internship, but also a conveniently located apartment, all with exceptional assistance from the program coordinators. I worked in a middle-sized law firm located in the heart of Micro Centro in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The staff was incredibly friendly and accommodating, the hours were flexible and the interns had their own work space, which included a desk and computer. Interns had the ability to work directly with one of the founding partners of the firm; who was willing to put their trust and confidence into the work of the interns. The employer was able to speak English, which is always helpful to those who aren’t well versed in Spanish, but there is also an opportunity to practice Spanish. As an intern, I had the opportunity to participate in conference calls with clients overseas and carry out preliminary depositions with in-office clients. Primarily, I worked on translating by-laws of companies managed by the firm, as well as writing memos and possible proposals for solutions to client’s problems. At times, I was able to go around the city, and view several processes of the Argentine system, such as the notarization and legalization of documents. The apartment I lived in was a fifteen minute bus ride to the internship site, and was off of the main shopping/café street in the Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires. The location was essential because I could walk anywhere and do anything, with access to a variety of buses as well. The best thing for me about Connect-123 was the assistance. Any company may be able to find a job or apartment, but Connect-123 goes a bit further. My coordinators were so helpful; from getting settled, to figuring out where to buy bus passes, no issue was too small for them to handle. In addition to visiting other parts of the city, and having different night activities, the coordinators also gave guidance on upcoming attractions in Buenos Aires each month. Connect-123 allowed me to have a unique experience without the hassle and worries of finding a legitimate internship with substance and a non-shady apartment with sincere roommates.

Internships in Buenos Aires

Martin Iroche

Law Intern | Cape Town
University of Manchester, UK
25 September 2012

Doing an internship this summer in Cape Town was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  More specifically, doing this internship through Connect-123 was the perfect way for me to experience all that Cape Town has offer and at the same time complete an internship that will hold me in good stead for the future. The Connect-123 staff was always very helpful and were ready to offer advice or just have a casual chat with you whenever you stopped by at the office. I spent my summer working at a Non- Governmental organisation not too far from where I lived. Admittedly, it was a bit slow to start, but after about a week, I got into the flow of things and started to thoroughly enjoy working there. I worked with a diverse group of people, which added to the great experience as I headed a number of projects, set up various meetings and visited local townships as part of the internship. The people at the office were very friendly and helpful which made working there all the better. Cape Town is a beautiful city and there is always something to do, as there is an activity for everyone. If you are into food, the arts, drama, sports or just relaxing and having drinks with friends then Cape Town has all that covered. I was never bored during my stay in Cape Town as the Connect-123 team were constantly organising different activities that we could partake in. I would definitely recommend doing an internship in Cape Town through Connect-123 as it was an interesting and beneficial experience that will only enhance ones chances it today’s tough job market.

Internships in Cape Town

Kevin Murphy

Law Intern | Cape Town
University of Denver
2 May 2011

My internship in Cape Town, South Africa last summer, the Summer of 2010 was an extraordinary experience.  The social interactions and cultural observation were invaluable.  Not only was the cultural transformation occurring from the World Cup occurring, but I was able to participate in some very socially valuable activities. My day-to-day activities in South Africa consisted of going to the University of Cape Town Law School.  Specifically, I worked under the supervision of Professor Debbie Collier, who works in the Department of Labor and Development.  Debbie also sits on the board of a non-profit organization that specializes in community farming. I assisted Debbie with a lot of her research, and was lucky enough to co-author an article that examine a new personal information privacy law and our article focused on this law’s impact on employee privacy in the workplace. In addition to that wonderful opportunity, I was able to assist the non-profit in assessing whether they should apply to be approved through what is known as the “Black Economic Empowerment Program (BEE).”  This program allows companies and non-profits to basically gain points through the amount of empowerment their company provide to minorities in South Africa. We ultimately decided not to, but it was not a waste of time.  They saved considerable resources by having me do it as opposed to an attorney and also by not following through on what we found would ultimately not provide them with the level of BEE certification that they wanted.

Internships in Cape Town

Caitlin Friel

Law Intern | Cape Town
Law Society of Ireland
17 November 2010

I had just qualified as a solicitor in Ireland and I decided to take a few months off and go travelling. I had always wanted to volunteer abroad and through a friend at home I made contact with Connect-123. From the start Connect-123 was extremely helpful. They found a position for me with an organisation founded to deal with the high levels of sexual harassment in South Africa’s rural farming communities. The organisation raises awareness of the prevalence of sexual and domestic violence in the Western Cape. During my time with them, we, along with other organisations made a submission to the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities on the lack of implementation of the Domestic Violence Act. The joint written submission was submitted to Parliament on the 26th October, 2009 and the oral submission to Parliament took place on the 29th October, 2009. My host organisation brought a beneficiary along to tell her story of how she tried to access the law to protect her from domestic violence and how it failed her. Her story was powerful and had a greater effect on Parliament than we could have ever imagined. It is our hope that steps will be taken to improve the implementation of the Act and protect the most vulnerable members of society. I had the most amazing experience in Cape Town. Not only did I get a chance to work with a great organisation, I also met amazing people who are truly inspiring. Cape Town’s setting is absolutely stunning. It is surrounded by the ocean and has the breathtaking Table Mountain right in the city. There is so much to do in the city, from high adrenaline activities and hikes up Table Mountain to chilling out on the beach and visits to vineyards, not to mention the great night life on Long St!!! I found Connect-123 extremely helpful and the employees very approachable. They organised events most weeks which was a great way for all the interns and volunteers to meet each other. I would recommend this programme for anyone who is interested in volunteering abroad. I cannot wait to go back and visit the Mother City and catch up with all the friends I made over there.

Internships in Cape Town

Diane Zhang

Law Intern | Cape Town
Georgetown University, Graduate
24 August 2010

After deciding to take a year off before work after I completed law school in May of 2009, I decided to look at legal internship opportunities in Cape Town, South Africa. Connect-123 found an internship for me where I could use my legal writing and research skills—as well as work in an area of law in which I have much interest but rare opportunities to work with in my future career.  For six months, I worked at the Cape Town office of a human rights commission. The commission was created by the Constitution of South Africa and established to entrench constitutional democracy through the promotion and protection of human rights in the nation. During my time there, I was involved in both parliamentary and monitoring projects. I had the opportunity to attend many meetings of Parliament, in which bills addressing issues from personal privacy to domestic violence were debated. The commission works closely with government in commenting and advising on various human rights issues present in new legislation, and being able to be involved in these new bills were highly rewarding. On the monitoring side, I was involved in monitoring a temporary safety site for approximately 2,000 Zimbabwean nationals that have been forcibly displaced in the rural town of De Doorns as a result of xenophobic violence. I worked on a report detailing conditions at the camp and making various recommendations concerning site facilities, safety, and security. Connect-123 enabled me to pursue my interest in constitutional law in the context of a foreign country’s history and culture. To do this in South Africa was particularly exciting, as it is a country that has made great transformations over the past few decades. To be able to witness the country’s preparations for an international celebration as it hosted the World Cup in 2010—while being involved in human rights laws seeking to redress its legacy of apartheid—was extremely rewarding.

Internships in Cape Town

Katie Jhanke

Law Intern | Cape Town
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Graduate
23 August 2010

My experience with Connect-123 was wonderful.  I would recommend interning in Cape Town and the program to any law student (or other student).  Planning my summer abroad, the staff at Connect-123 was fabulous.  With the tough legal market, I knew I needed a placement that would provide me with substantive and practical legal research and writing experience.  After conveying that sentiment to my assigned Connect-123 team member, she sought out and provided me with wonderful options.  The placement process went smoothly with Connect-123 facilitating communication and helping to ensure that all necessary paperwork was in order. Additionally, before I even got to Cape Town, the Connect-123 staff was organizing group outings and other logistics.  I still remember getting an e-mail about one of the outings while sitting in the library studying for final exams and getting so excited for what was waiting for me on the other side of finals… While many people kept saying, “You’re going where this summer?” I knew that it was gearing up to be a summer of a lifetime. My summer in Cape Town was phenomenal.  My internship placement Connect-123 helped arrange was a perfect fit for what I was looking for.  I was able to attend court, perform research for cases the organization was considering taking on, provide advice for issues arising in the walk-in legal advice clinic, attend advocacy events, and even go to a protest with youth speaking out against sexual violence!  The work I did was life changing and will undoubtedly affect me throughout my legal career.  Additionally, the attorneys and staff I worked with were amazing people who I continue to keep in touch with long after my departure from South Africa. In addition to the great internship placement, the Connect-123 program provided me with an instant network of friends and activities to take part in.  The staff made sure that participants did not miss out on the Cape Town “essentials” (the penguins, seals, etc.) and was open to organizing other events that people suggested.  Everything ran incredibly smoothly and I could not imagine trying to plan my summer without Connect-123’s help. Finally, since returning to the United States, my experience in Cape Town continues to have a positive impact on my life.  Professionally, interviewers ask me about my summer in Cape Town during each and every interview I have.  Additionally, researching an entirely different country’s legal system has sharpened my legal research and critical thinking skills. Personally, I made some wonderful friends while in Cape Town who I am sure will remain in my life for a long time to come. Since returning to Chicago, friends I met through Connect from as close as Southern Illinois and Michigan to as far away as Ireland and Scotland have come to visit.  No matter how long it has been, we always reminisce about our times in Cape Town and what a remarkable summer it was.

Internships in Cape Town

Kelly Paradis

Law Internship | Cape Town
George Washington University
31 July 2007

Connect-123 is the most organized and efficient program that I have ever been a part of. They put a great amount of time and thought into every detail, helping you instantly feel at home. The program’s small numbers and planned group outings create an intimate, fun environment and opportunity to meet new people. My internship applied to my studies more than I ever anticipated, and I was given tasks and responsibilities that taught me so much and greatly expanded my interests. On top of that, Cape Town is truly an amazing city with so much to offer. I did everything from shark cage diving to wine tasting and constantly found myself wishing for more time. I feel extremely fortunate that I was given this opportunity, and I know that it will be a life changing experience that I will never forget.

Internships in Cape Town
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