Lauren Ravsten Robins, ICLRS Student Fellow

Working for LDS Church  area legal counsel in Johannesburg, South Africa, during summer 2014 gave BYU Law student Lauren Ravsten the opportunity to apply what she learned during her first year of law school to a variety of assignments. “I have been doing some legal writing, as well as reviewing contracts, and working with property issues,” Ravset said. “Pretty much, all of the classes I took my first year have come into practical use in this externship. It is comforting to know that what I am learning in the classroom is applied in real life.” BYU Law School’s Center of Law and Religious Studies was one of the main reasons Ravsten chose to attend BYU Law School. When this year’s round of internships opened, Ravsten jumped at the chance to work with the Church and expand her knowledge of legal issues. Ravsten’s department covers all of the Church’s legal issues in the Africa Southeast area, which includes as far north as Cameroon and Sudan and as far east as Madagascar. “This department makes sure that the Church follows all the laws of the different lands and also resolves any legal issues that might arise,” Ravsten said. With a career goal of working in international human rights, Ravsten says this internship has been perfect for what she wants to do. “I am working with several individuals on a variety of projects,” she said. “This varied experience opens my eyes to different aspects of the legal field. It also allows me to work on things that I have a passion for. It’s always interesting.”