This week’s interview is with Kirsty McClay, who got what can either be considered one of the most coveted or one of the most dreaded intern spots in the whole Law Library – she got to work with me.
Describe your background.
I’m originally from Antrim; a small town in Northern Ireland, where I grew up with my parents, and more recently my five year old sister.
I’ve been living in Belfast, our capital city, for two years now and I’m hoping to spend a few years living in London when I return to the UK.
What is your academic/professional history?
I’m currently studying for my LLB in Law with Politics at Queen’s University Belfast and will be entering my final year of study in September. After that, I plan to either complete an LL.M in Corporate Governance or be taken on for a training contract with a commercial law firm in London. I’ve completed previous internships with the legal department of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the body responsible for social housing in Northern Ireland, The Northern Ireland Assembly, and with Systech Solicitors, a leading European Law firm.
How would you describe the internship to other people?
This summer I have been helping out with legal research at the Law Library of Congress, writing legal reports, and of course helping with anything else that needs doing around the office!
Why did you want to work at the Library?
Working at the Law Library is a unique experience, especially for a law student from a jurisdiction so far away. I’m also really interested in politics, so the chance to do some work for Congress was an opportunity I couldn’t afford to miss!
What is the most interesting fact you’ve learned about the Library?
I didn’t fully appreciate the abundance of materials in the Library until I heard that the Library of Congress has approximately 838 miles of bookshelves. I’m a bit of a bookworm so I couldn’t wait to get access to at least some of these!
What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?
One of my lesser known hobbies is dog showing; so not many people know that I have four rottweilers and a bulldog at home. I’m also on a waiting list for a papillion puppy for after I graduate from university.