By: Caroline Bellot
I spent this summer as an intern with the Center for Advocacy, Law, & Justice in the United Kingdom. Coming into the internship I expected to sharpen my legal skills, but I didn’t anticipate just how much I would also learn about what it means to live as both a lawyer and a Christian on mission.
Much of my daily work revolved around contracts, estate law, and property transactions. Drafting agreements, researching estate issues, and working through real estate questions gave me a practical foundation in areas of law that touches people’s everyday lives. My fellow interns and I also took on a global trademark project, which stretched me to think about intellectual property across borders and the way international systems overlap. These assignments grounded me in the technical side of legal practice, but they also served as a reminder that the law, at its best, is a tool to help achieve security.
This week I really settled into the rhythm of my internship. We worked mostly on contracts and management agreements, in addition to doing deep-dive research on visas. Immigration law has always interested me, so it was exciting to see how we could utilize something as specific understanding the legal definition of “clergy” to protect people’s legal status in crisis visa situations.
The highlight of the week, however, was traveling to Geneva for the 18th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations. Being in the iconic UN human rights chamber was already powerful, but we also got to listen as representatives from Indigenous communities brought forward their concerns and appeals. Sadly, time ran out long before all voices could be heard. Still, it was amazing to witness how international bodies provide space for people whose voices are too often overlooked.
Sovereignty was a recurring theme that I witnessed in the conversations. Indigenous groups consistently emphasized their struggle to be recognized as sovereign peoples in the eyes of international law. It struck me how something so foundational, being acknowledged as a people, can be withheld, and how that lack of recognition affects almost every other right and freedom.
I also had the opportunity to speak with a representative from the Commission on the Status of Women. She was a likeminded believer and encouraged us to keep showing up in forums like the United Nations that don’t necessarily share our values. It was really special hearing about all of the progess that the commission has made through the dedication and prayers of Christian participation. She also encouraged us not to underestimate how necessary young voices are in spaces that seem beyond our access, and empowered us to speak up even in the presence of experts. That conversation reminded me that advocacy isn’t just about what we say; sometimes it’s about being present, listening well, and helping foster understanding between disparate perspectives.
Alongside the professional tasks, this summer was full of opportunities to see how advocacy takes shape on a global scale. From sitting in on cases before the Royal Courts to sessions at the United Nations in Geneva, I witnessed firsthand how voices from different cultures, faiths, and contexts come together to seek justice. The refrain I kept hearing—whether about freedom, ministry, or Indigenous rights—was that advocacy is not just about polished argumentation, but about healing. As lawyers, we get to help pursue the healing of the nations.
Getting to visit the United Nations was the honor of a lifetime. Thank you for providing me the opportunity to go, Center for Global Justice!
This post was written by a student at Regent University School of Law. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.