Season 4: Episode 7: Giovanna E Gismondi
Visiting Associate Professor at George Washington University Law School
Giovanna E Gismondi
Visiting Associate Professor at George Washington University Law School
How to become a law professor as an internationally trained lawyer?
Giovanna knew that she wanted to become a law professor when she arrived in the U.S. for her LLM at Georgetown. She had worked and taught law in Peru for seven years. She received her LLM after 9/11, it became extremely difficult for LLM students to find jobs and sustain their work visa in the U.S. Just before Thanksgiving, she found out about a teaching position at University of Oklahoma. Upon doing research, she learned that the program had historically hired a LLM from Harvard every year. That year the Harvard candidate couldn’t make it. She applied. Not only that, she decided to travel to the University of Oklahoma and meet with the dean in person! It was during Thanksgiving, the dean wasn’t on campus that day. She talked to a professor, who promised to pass along her CV.
Then she didn’t hear back until the summer, right after graduating with her LLM. Later she learned that her determination and commitment convinced the law school that she’s the best person for the job. That position got her foot in the door in academics. Now, she’s been teaching international law for 22 years.
How did she break into academics as an internationally trained lawyer?
Who’s her role model in the law?
What advice does she have for internationally trained lawyers on how to improve spoken and written English?
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Where did you grow up, and why did you choose to study law?
I grew up in Callao, a district near Lima, Peru, right by the Pacific Ocean. It was a convenient location since my dad was in the navy, and Callao is a naval base city. I grew up near the ocean. I’m the first-generation lawyer in my family. Since I was young, I knew that being a lawyer could make a positive impact on society. I was always interested in issues of justice, so after graduating from high school, it became clear to me that I wanted to be a lawyer.
Why did you choose to study law in the United States?
When I finished high school, I went to law school. I went through all the fields of studies of law - criminal law, commercial law, agricultural law, aerospace law, every single possible field. In the end, I realized that the one I really liked was international law. So, I decided to pursue graduate studies in law. My advisor in the 1990s told me, "If you want to pursue a graduate degree in international law, go to the United States. That's the best place for it." That’s why I moved to the U.S. to pursue my LLM in international law at Georgetown.
What languages do you speak?
I speak English and Spanish, and I also speak Italian, but I haven't practiced my Italian in a long time. I wouldn't say I'm fluent in Italian, but when I travel to Italy, I do understand it and can speak it.
What’s your motivation in studying Italian?
I initially thought I would get a graduate degree in Italy. When I finished law school, I thought, "I want to pursue international law, and Italy sounds appealing because of the old European law schools." But after talking to my advisor, who was a professor of international law, he advised me to go to the U.S. for my studies.
Could you share with us how did you find your first teaching job in the U.S.?
When I graduated with my LLM in 2001, it was just after September 11, and it was very difficult for international students to get jobs. In fact, 99% of all LLM graduates went back to their countries because immigration policies became very rigid. I found out that the University of Oklahoma was looking for someone to teach an international law course, specifically focusing on the WTO. They usually brought in an LLM from Harvard each semester, but that year, for whatever reason, the Harvard student didn't come.
So, during the winter break, I traveled with my CV in hand to introduce myself to the dean. I didn't know anyone at the law school, and the dean wasn't there, but I gave my CV to a professor who was there. I explained that I was studying in Washington, D.C., I hadn't graduated yet, but I would be finishing my LLM in May.
That summer, I received a call offering me the position to teach as a part-time lecturer. I taught the WTO course for the first time in the Fall of 2002. After that, they asked me if I could teach another course, and I ended up teaching International Human Rights as well. Over time, I taught two courses, realizing they needed me and I was meeting their expectations. I worked hard to ensure every class was exactly what they wanted and what I wanted it to be.
I taught WTO law for the first time in 2002, and then the next semester, I taught international human rights law. In the following semester, I taught two courses, so the number of courses I taught expanded over time. This is how I began my teaching career as an academic.
I narrowed my focus to international human rights law, which I taught for 20 years in the United States. During my doctoral years at Georgetown, I transitioned from international human rights law to international environmental law. My focus is on the overlap between human rights and the environment, particularly how environmental conditions can affect fundamental human rights.
Is there anything like American TVs or movies that inform and inspire you about the American legal profession?
Yes, I used to watch a program called Court TV, which is translated into Spanish, and I liked all the crime shows. A lot of which are based on real cases. It's not just about the crime; I enjoyed the movies that follow the trial, investigation, and prosecution.
I've watched a lot of American crime films that include the investigation and trial, piecing the story together. I started watching these when I was in Peru. To me, it's fascinating not only because of the stories but also because of the criminal proceedings and the jury system. We don't have juries in Peru. But here, in the U.S., there's a whole dynamic around criminal proceedings that I find really interesting.
Who is your role model in the law?
I admire all professors who teach law for their dedication to teaching and research. That said, if I were to go back to my LLM studies, my role model was and still is Professor Edith Brown Weiss. She taught international environmental law, and I know she’s now retired. Her teaching and perspectives greatly influenced my professional career as an academic. In fact, I now teach international environmental law myself.
What advice would you have for multilingual lawyers on how to improve their spoken and written English?
I advise LLM students to reach out to their American colleagues - and talk to them. Spend time with them. Even outside of classes, make friends who speak English and try to avoid relying on your native language.
