Davidson Scholar Gains International Experience at Law Firm in Thailand

This summer, Davidson College Scholar Brooke Wilensky gained firsthand experience in international law through an internship in Thailand. The opportunity challenged her, strengthened her skills and affirmed her goal of becoming an international lawyer.

At Davidson, Brooke is majoring in political science and minoring in Russian studies. She hopes to bring a global perspective to her legal career and provide culturally informed guidance to clients across borders.

After Davidson selected her for a Freeman Foundation grant to intern in East Asia, Brooke joined Anglo-Thai Legal, an international law firm with a network in Asia and Europe. Before she arrived in Bangkok, she helped draft a client statement for an international fraud case. She later accompanied attorneys to a police station to file the complaint.

Although Brooke was the only intern who had not yet started law school, she learned to draft briefs, communicate with clients and collaborate with attorneys from around the world.

“I’m really proud that I was able to learn it so quickly,” she says. “I already have gotten to do it.”

Brooke credits Posse with helping her develop the confidence and cross-cultural communication skills she needed to navigate an unfamiliar legal environment. She also relied on her Davidson mentor, Professor Karli Henderson, while managing competitive applications and planning for the summer.

“Having her as a calming presence helped me get through summer application season,” says Brooke. Community has remained central to Brooke’s Posse experience. Two members of her cohort have become her closest friends, and their support continues to ground her.

“I would not have been able to do any of this without the really strong support system that I have,” says Brooke.

Brooke now brings those lessons to her role as chancellor of Davidson’s Student Government Association, where she leads by listening, building community and working collaboratively. She plans to seek out more international legal experiences before attending law school after graduation, with the goal of giving clients culturally informed guidance across borders.