Law student’s internship opens doors to career and Japanese culture
For Auckland University of Technology student Tim Llanes, interning at the international law firm Hogan Lovells offered more than just a chance to apply his academic studies to real-world practice and launch his legal career—it also took him to Japan, a country he had long dreamed of visiting. In this article, Tim describes his experiences as an intern and his adventures exploring Tokyo and beyond.
Tim (right): "Looking back, I can see how much confidence I have gained from what I learnt at Hogan Lovells, and the mentorship that I received"
Growing up, I developed a great appreciation for Japanese pop culture and cuisine. So, I’ve always wanted to visit Japan for as long as I can remember, but I’ve never had the opportunity to do so.
For context, when I received the email promoting internships offered by the Asia New Zealand Foundation I was at the tail end of my studies at AUT and uncertain about which career path to pursue, having studied both business and law.
Reading about the Hogan Lovells internship, I discovered that it would be based in Tokyo, joining the firm’s mergers and acquisitions team — it sounded almost too good to be true. I could kill two birds with one stone: get that adventure in Japan that I had always wanted, and also gain experience within a top commercial law firm.
Tim: "This experience has shifted my perspective on working overseas and I will definitely be back to Asia at some point in the future."
I applied and was successful.
After sorting out some admin stuff, with the help of the Foundation, I hopped on a flight bound for Tokyo and proceeded to spend the next three months having the time of my life.
Prior to my internship, I had limited experience working within a legal environment. Despite this, I was involved in meaningful work at Hogan Lovells from the get go.
I worked really closely with the corporate and finance partner and took part in a lot of projects with the mergers and acqusitions team. From doing tasks such as conducting legal research to preparing presentations for clients, there was never a dull moment.
My team was frequently involved in cross-border deals, highlighting the vast opportunities available for those looking to invest in or expand their businesses across the region.
This work ended up being the perfect opportunity for me to gain practical real-world experience, where I was able to collaborate with multiple people in the firm and overseas. As a result, I gained a lot of insight into the intricate workings of mergers and acquisitions and cross-border transactions from an Asia perspective.
Tim would work during the week and head out and explore Tokyo and the surrounding districts on the weekend
Apart from work, I was able to take day trips to explore several places like Mount Fuji, Nikko, Kamakura and Yokohama. During the week I was a studious and hardworking intern, on the weekend I transformed into an eagre tourist - keen to learn as much about Japan as I could and see as many sights as possible.
Tokyo is filled with tourist attractions, offering countless ways to spend your free time without ever leaving the city. Each neighborhood has its own distinct culture and personality, making it easy to immerse yourself in a variety of unique experiences.
If you want to try out food, there are plenty of restaurants in Shinjuku. If you wanted to see a more historic side of Tokyo, then you could go and visit Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. Even though I was here for three months, I felt like I hadn’t even scratched the surface of what Tokyo had to offer!
I also experienced a traditional Christmas in Tokyo and had KFC for dinner (a traditional Christmas meal in Japan) with the other interns Luca and Matt. For New Years, I took a few days off and headed to Kyoto where I met up with some friends from New Zealand.
Tim: "Even though I was here for three months, I felt like I hadn’t even scratched the surface of what Tokyo had to offer!"
My final days at Hogan Lovells were a bittersweet. I truly loved the experience, and I was proud of the work that I had achieved in my time with the firm, but, then again, I was also happy to be heading home to friends and family.
Looking back, I can see how much confidence I have gained from the experience.
What I learnt at Hogan Lovells, and the mentorship I received gave me invaluable insight into the economic significance of Asia. I have no doubt it has given me skills employers are looking for and will help kick start my career.
This experience has shifted my perspective on working overseas and I will definitely be back to Asia at some point in the future.
For anyone wanting to understand what life is like in an international corporate law firm, I would highly recommend applying for this internship at Hogan Lovells.
The Foundation's Business Programme supports New Zealand companies to better understand Asia so they can make the most of opportunities in the region. It also supports to grow the next generation of Asia-savvy business leaders.
Our internship programme helps interns build a better understanding of the people, place and culture of their Asian host country, while developing industry-specific skills that will benefit them as they progress in their careers.
