Today’s interview is with Robin Zamora, a foreign law intern working with Foreign Law Specialist Jenny Gesley in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress.
- Describe your background.
I was born and raised in Leipzig, Germany, which is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig serves as the seat of the German Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht, BVerwG) and hosts the 5th and 6th criminal chambers (called senates) of the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH). I am a dual German-American citizen and have lived in both Germany and the United States.
- What is your academic/professional history?
I began my legal studies in my hometown at Leipzig University, Germany’s second-oldest university, before transferring to Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University in Frankfurt, state of Hesse. There, I specialized in international and European law and passed the First State Examination in Law in 2022. The First State Examination in Law consists of a compulsory state exam and a university specialization exam. I then continued my studies in the United States, earning an LL.M. in U.S. law from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School in 2024.
I am currently completing my legal traineeship (Referendariat) at the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt. As part of the two-year program, I have gained practical experience clerking for a civil law judge, a state prosecutor, and working with a legal counsel at the state school authority. I expect to complete the program and become a fully qualified lawyer in Germany in spring 2027.
- How would you describe your job to other people?
As a foreign law intern in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress, I support my supervisor, Foreign Law Specialist Jenny Gesley, in responding to requests from members of Congress, executive agencies, courts, and the general public concerning the jurisdictions of German-speaking countries and the European Union. My responsibilities include conducting in-depth legal research, preparing detailed reports, and performing comparative legal analysis. In addition, I write articles on new legislation and notable legal developments in these jurisdictions for the Law Library’s 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 really enjoy researching legal issues across different jurisdictions. I also hope to strengthen my legal writing and communication skills. The opportunity to work across from the U.S. Capitol makes this role even more meaningful, and seeing the Capitol dome inspires me every day.
- What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?
I was fascinated by the vast collection of German legal materials in the Law Library, especially the extensive legal commentaries. It was impressive to realize how many resources are available for those researching German law.
- What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?
Most of my co-workers do not know that I am an amateur photographer who loves capturing architecture.
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