An Interview with Sarah Ettedgui, Foreign Law Intern

Today’s interview is with Sarah Ettedgui, a foreign law intern working with Nicolas Boring at the Global Legal Research Directorate, Law Library of Congress.

Describe your background.

I was born in Montreal, Quebec, in Canada. My mother is Sephardic (Jewish of Moroccan and Spanish descent) and my father is Salvadoran, which has enabled me to learn four languages – French, English, Hebrew, and Spanish.

What is your academic/professional history?

I completed a psychology degree (B.Sc.) in 2014 and a civil law degree (LL.B.) in 2017 at the University of Montreal. I passed the Quebec bar examinations last December and will begin my legal apprenticeship (articling) in January 2019. I am currently completing a common law (J.D.) degree at the University of Montreal.

While working on my civil law degree, I participated in a summer exchange program in international and comparative law at the University of Costa Rica. My team’s personal project focused primarily on a comparative approach to intellectual property rights and, more specifically, on patents granted to pharmaceutical companies.

How would you describe your job to other people?

I am an intern for the Global Legal Research Directorate and work under the supervision of Nicolas Boring, foreign law specialist for French-speaking jurisdictions. We receive requests from the U.S. Congress, executive agencies, the federal judiciary, as well as from the public, and conduct research in our assigned jurisdictions, which include France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and other French-speaking countries, mainly located in Africa.

As part of my duties and responsibilities, I am to provide legal briefs and report on the most recent legal developments in my assigned jurisdictions. In addition to this, I am to write articles for the Law Library’s blog In Custodia Legis and for the Global Legal Monitor.

Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?

I wanted to work at the Law Library of Congress because I knew it represented an opportunity to perform meaningful and unique work in a collaborative environment. The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library and one of its missions is to preserve and promote knowledge and creativity, not only for lawmakers and jurists, but also for the benefit of the public. I wanted to contribute to this specific mission while developing my own legal and research skills by having my work reviewed by a highly qualified team of foreign legal specialists.

What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?

Considering my cultural background and identity, I have always been interested in Judaic studies and Jewish history. I came here knowing that the Library of Congress had the world’s largest library collection, including an impressive Hebraic collection. I was still stunned when I got the chance to witness some of the collection’s treasures, following my meeting with Dr. Ann Brener, Hebraic Area Specialist of the African and Middle Eastern Division of the Library.

The Library holds thousands of volumes printed either partly or entirely in Hebrew, including a 15^th century copy of Maimonides’ משנה תורה (Repetition of the Torah) and a 16^th century copy of מורה נבוכים (Guide for the Perplexed). Being able to see, read, and hold those books, which are a part of my heritage, was not only interesting, but very touching as well. I feel very privileged to have amazing colleagues, such as Ms. Ruth Levush, who made my meeting with Dr. Brener possible.

What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?

I am proud to be the oldest daughter of a family of seven children (Miriam, Bina, Rachel, Ethan, Golan, and Ness). I wanted to mention this because my greatest wish is for all of them to one day grow up, read this blog, and find their own way to educate themselves, and also preserve and promote knowledge for others.