5 Questions for Anastasia Voronina LLM '14
Voronina chose Duke Law for her LLM to gain knowledge of the U.S. legal system, an invaluable asset to the future of her career working in an international environment.
1. Where is home? What is it famous for?
I am from Russia, Moscow. Russia is famous for various things. I would mention our outstanding writers, like Leo Tolstoy and Fedor Dostoevsky, Russian unique architecture, that was heavily influenced by various periods in our long and complex history. Moscow is mostly famous for its Red Square, but there are surely a lot of other things to see and visit, including Tretiakovsky Gallery, that has a unique collection of masterpieces. If you are in Russia, also do not miss the opportunity to try our national food: borsch, blinni and pirozhki.
2. Why did you choose the U.S. for your LLM?
U.S. legal education gives a civil-law country trained lawyer a unique opportunity - to learn about common law, to trace its development from a traditional British concepts to a modern complex system of U.S. law. Moreover, U.S. is a great economy and for a lawyer working in an international environment, knowledge of the U.S. legal system for sure is an invaluable asset in the future career.
3. What do you like most about Duke so far?
There is nothing I do not like about Duke. The campus is amazingly beautiful, the professors are outstanding, the approach is highly individualized, and the whole atmosphere and vibe is very comfortable. Almost every week there is a lecture or a workshop that you just cannot miss. The library is surely something Duke can be very proud about, studying here is as enjoyable as it can be.
4. What advice would you give to international students hoping to study in American law schools?
Do your research, choose the schools you are mostly interested in, and then do some more research. Open sources will give a great insight on the methods of teaching, you will be very familiar with the professor and the courses. This information will help you choose the school that not only fits you perfectly, but the one where your background is appreciated.
5. You have done postgraduate research and writing on international legal cooperation as it pertains to outer space. What prompted your interest in this subject?
Legal cooperation is the essence of the modern international law. Each state is involved in the cooperation to some degree, and each state is affected by acts of the whole international community. This is even more true for the international cooperation in the outer space. Cooperation in outer space is tightly connected to various areas that are crucial for humanity in the modern era: environment protection, disarmament, national security, even weather forecasting. I find it fascinating to explore the general processes of international relations that in the end affect each and every one of us.