Katie Barglind ’16
Department of State Summer Intern
U.S. Consulate General
Frankfurt, Germany

Describe your summer work experience.
I spent the summer in Frankfurt, Germany, where I was an intern at the U.S. Consulate in the Non-Immigrant Visa Unit. This was an extremely exciting opportunity. The job exposed me to a broad range of duties: from the mundane, like hours of fingerprinting; to the more challenging and interesting, such as legal research and writing for documents to be shared with U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide; to memorable meetings and conferences with high-ranking diplomatic officials.

The most interesting project I worked on was a diplomatic cable sent to all U.S. embassies and consulates regarding Treaty Trader and Investor visas, involving citizens of countries with which the U.S. maintains treaties of commerce and navigation. My research and paper analyzed the process by which officers adjudicate this category of visas, what they have done to make the process more efficient, and what changes or issues can be expected in the future.

What has surprised you about the work you are doing?
I was surprised by how many important legal questions came up on a daily basis in my unit. The majority of these questions were based on legal interpretations of the Immigration and Nationality Act. However, we also worked closely with another unit, the Fraud Prevention Unit, to effectively detect, prevent and investigate cases of potential fraud. I shadowed an FPU employee and witnessed firsthand how the separate units, sections and government agencies work together. I have learned that bureaucracy and diplomacy might not always be efficient, but there are sometimes significant and legitimate reasons why these barriers exist.

What classes have been particularly useful in preparing you for the work you are doing this summer?
Since I did not take an immigration law class, many of the policies and laws were new to me. However, the writing and research processes I learned in multiple law school classes, as well as working on the Wisconsin International Law Journal, have been extremely helpful in this internship.

How do you think this work experience will shape the rest of your time at UW Law School?
My experience in Frankfurt will definitely change the way I approach my last year of law school and my future career path. The people I met at the consulate live extremely interesting lives. They have traveled to many countries, speak multiple languages, and have challenging and rewarding careers. My internship with the State Department has solidified my desire to work in international law, and perhaps one day as a Foreign Service officer.

Submitted by Law School News on August 5, 2015

This article appears in the categories: Summer Job Series, UW Women in Law - Featured Profile