Season 4: Episode 9: Liting Zhu
Consultant at the World Bank
Liting Zhu
Consultant at the World Bank
How to land jobs at the World Bank and IFC as a LLM?
Networking did not come naturally to Liting, a commercial litigator and counsel for a finance firm in China. Yet she successfully navigated her way into the World Bank and IFC. In her interview, Liting shares a practical, step-by-step guide on how to start building your network as an internationally trained lawyer.
How did she secure positions at IFC and the World Bank after graduation?
What’s her networking strategy that helped her land positions twice at major international organizations?
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Where did your journey in the law begin?
Actually, my background is quite different since my major in high school was chemistry, which is far from law. However, during my childhood, I enjoyed watching legal TV series from Hong Kong. I was fascinated by how lawyers, especially litigators, work.
Before attending NYU, I had nearly eight and a half years of work experience in Shanghai, my hometown, as a litigator and in-house legal and compliance counsel in finance. I decided to leave my job in Shanghai and pursue an LLM degree in the U.S. because I wanted to build a career here.
You are working at the World Bank and you have worked at International Finance Corporation (IFC) before that. Could you talk about your job search process?
During my LLM at NYU, I was looking for opportunities both in Manhattan and outside New York. Our law school offered many opportunities in both the private and public sectors. One program, called the International Finance and Development Program, focused on public sector roles, including positions with the UN, the World Bank, IMF, and other UN agencies outside the U.S. My goal was to stay in the U.S., so I applied for this program.
After being shortlisted and interviewing with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and other legal professionals, I was fortunate to secure an opportunity. After graduation, my law school sponsored a three-month fellowship at the IFC. During this time, I built connections with internal staff and external contacts, as the IFC is a part of the World Bank system.
To turn my short-term position into a long-term role, I found the process to be quite natural. In the work environment, we met people, and my supervisor introduced me to other colleagues. I invited them for coffee or lunch, which helped build a working relationships. I shared my experiences, goals and career plans, expressing my desire to stay and find a more stable position at the World Bank. Regardless whether other colleagues can offer you a job, being friendly and learning from others' diverse backgrounds can be very beneficial.
You have successfully landed positions in IFC and World Bank through networking. Could you share your advice on how to effective network for internationally trained lawyers?
For me, having been born and worked in China before I turned 30, I sometimes don’t feel confident speaking with native English speakers. They often have a more critical thinking approach and can speak fluently, while I tend to think a lot before I speak.
First, I lowered my expectations. Not everyone will be eager to share information or experiences with you. If you send out cold emails and only get one response out of ten, that’s okay. Consider it a gift rather than a failure.
Second, start with small talk or topics unrelated to your career to break the ice. Asking about weekend plans, or holiday activities can help. We’re all social beings and enjoy discussing personal interests like scuba diving or snowboarding, our life outside of work.
Third, be confident and don’t just seek something from the other person. Share something valuable in return. Whether it’s a recommendation for a good restaurant or an interesting story about China, showing genuine interest and offering something of value can build stronger connections.
Finally, keep in touch. From my experience, building relationships takes time. It might take a year or more, but staying in touch and sharing your milestones, like graduation or passing the bar, can keep the connection alive. I build those relationships over time. Then fortunately opportunities found me.
What qualities do you think employers are looking for when they're hiring internationally trained lawyers?
My answer is that it depends on the job description and your supervisor or employer. I think a common advantage is being proactive. Although I have many years of work experience in China, it cannot be directly transferred to the U.S. workplace.
So being proactive and ask questions is important for the recruiter or for your employer to see that you are willing to learn and you can.
Make the most of your previous experience and academic background. It’s a lifelong career journey where we must continually move, learn, and contribute.
One more thing that comes to mind is the value of grades from LLM years. Employers often consider them, especially during selective processes. For big law firms and boutique firms, they may want to see your legal writing skills and request a writing sample. So, make sure you have a strong writing sample ready, and remember that grades can play a significant role in getting shortlisted and securing an interview.
Anything else you would like to share with the new generation of internationally trained lawyers?
Remember to have hope. If you have hope and believe you can succeed, that success mindset is crucial.
