The IRC in New York’s youth programming includes Leaders in Training (LIT), a group of highly engaged clients in their junior and senior year of high school supported by IRC staff in college and career readiness, civic engagement, and socio-emotional wellness throughout the year. This tightly knit group of fourteen New York City high school students speak different languages and come from different home countries, but all have big dreams and ambitions for their futures.

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LITS tour the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer offices to learn the many roles necessary in a law firm.
Photo: Rosalie Arndt/IRC

In realizing those dreams, the LITs engage in different events throughout the year, as led by Rosalie Arndt, youth education coordinator at the IRC in NY. Rosalie works with the LITs to identify their career goals and seek out opportunities for career day visits where the LITs interact with New York professionals in different sectors while practicing their own interview and professional skills. After a few LITs expressed interest in legal careers, Rosalie set up the first career day of the 2018-2019 academic year for a trip to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, an international law firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions and a supporter of the IRC in NY.

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An LIT shows off his interview best in preparation for the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer visit.
Photo: Rosalie Arndt/IRC

In preparation for the office visit, LITs reviewed the logistics for professional interactions, including the differences between business formal and business casual wear, the importance of eye contact, posture, and proper handshakes, and etiquette. The LITs also practiced their interview skills, including brainstorming questions for interviewers and researching potential employers or networking resources. 

As the LITs had a day off from school on November 6th, Rosalie scheduled the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer visit for that morning and accompanied twelve of the LITs on their way across town. Once at the office, the LITs met with three Freshfields employees and learned not only about the work undertaken by lawyers at the firm, but about the many different roles that comprise a large organization, from accounting to human resources. 

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LITs participated in roundtable interview-style discussions to build skills while learning about the legal field in New York and internationally.
Photo: Rosalie Arndt/IRC

Rosalie and the youth program are looking to grow career day visits in New York this year, as LIT interests include cybersecurity, dentistry, orthodontia, social work, nursing, teaching, advocacy, and international business. If you would like to connect for a career day opportunity please email [email protected].

If you would like to support the LITs and the IRC in NY’s youth programming, please click here.