Two California Western students -- Al Macina and Elizabeth Pietanza -- experienced two different kinds of internships in Chile to develop practical skills, engage in public service, and learn about the development of law in Chile. Their internships are part of the Proyecto ACCESO program.  Read more about the Chile internship.  For information about the California Western internship program contact Ruth Briscoe.

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FINAL WEEK
Al describes a politically-sensitive murder trial. (More)

Elizabeth reviews the relationship between rule of law, criminal law reform and free trade. (More)

Week 11
Al participates in a radio interview and discusses the role of media advocacy as part of a defense strategy.

Elizabeth talks about the opportunities for interns studying international commercial law. (More)

Week 10
Al experiences a real-life scene from Law & Order -- Chile style while re-enacting a barroom murder. (More)

Pirated goods are easy to find on the streets of Chile and Elizabeth writes the country is trying to strengthen its intellectual property laws. (More)

Week 9
Elizabeth writes how Chile is trying to avoid the "social dumping" made possible by free trade and reflected in labor practices that result in Chilean agricultural works earning $6 a day (More)

Al discusses the implications of Chile's new DNA database. (More)

Week 8
Chile has emerged as a political and economic leader in Latin America, a position that contrasts with the perception held by many Americans, Elizabeth writes. (More)

Al discusses Chilean law on terrorism, and describes exciting weekend adventures. (More)

Week 7
Chileans have a different perception of lawyers than Americans do and Elizabeth explains why. (More)

Chile's February summer vacation means a heavier -- and more intriguing -- caseload for Al. (More)

Week 6
Al discusses how legal reforms impact procedures for introduction of evidence. (More).

Legal education in Chile has undergone significant changes and Elizabeth reviews how it coincides with legal reforms. (More)

Week 5
Al learns that "monkey-puzzle" trees, empanadas and dropped "s" are part of the legal intern's experience in Chile. (More)

Elizabeth writes that globalization can impact any attorney - even American attorneys who think their practice is solely domestic. Learning how to build trust in international legal settings is crucial. (More)

Week 4
Elizabeth discusses the impact of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act on Chilean business and legal practices. (More)

Al explains how the Public Defenders Office was formed after a tough political debate. (More)

Week 3
Al talks with Claudio Pavlic of the Chilean Public Defenders Office about the status of professional responsibility among Chilean attorneys. (More)

Elizabeth explores how Chile is trying to synchronize promoting trade and protecting the environment. (More)

Week 2
Weaknesses in Chile's legal system show up when Al attends a trial of Mapuches accused of stealing a small amount of wheat. (More)

Elizabeth looks at how criminal reform and economic reform work together in Chile, which counts the U.S. as its largest trading partner. (More)

Week 1
Al arrives in Temuco, Chile - the birthplace of Chile's criminal procedure reform movement --and meets the lawyers at the Chilean Defensoria (Public Defender's Office). (More)

Elizabeth meets her colleagues at Deloitte in Santiago -- and overcomes the jitters of first day on the job in a new country. (More)