Today’s interview is with Lena Bleckmann, a foreign law intern working with Foreign Law Specialist Jenny Gesley in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress.
Describe your background.
I grew up with an older brother and sister in Schleiden, Germany, a small town in the Eifel hills. The region is especially known for the Eifel National Park and its captivating landscape. During my high school years, I had the chance to live in a larger city for the first time, when I spent a semester abroad in beautiful Vancouver, Canada.
What is your academic/professional history?
In 2014, I started studying law at the University of Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university. After spending a semester abroad at the Université de Lorraine in Nancy, France, I moved to Bonn, the former capital of Germany, to continue my studies and work at the University of Bonn’s chair for labor law and social security law. This is also the legal area I specialized in during my studies. After completing my first German State Exam in 2020, I continued working at the university while pursuing my doctoral studies (Ph.D.). The topic of my thesis was a comparative study of employees’ risk of remuneration during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and France. In 2022, I started a two-year legal traineeship program which is necessary to qualify as a lawyer in Germany. The program gave me the opportunity to work at a court, at the public prosecutor’s office, in a law firm, at the German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and, last but not least, here at the Law Library of Congress.
How would you describe your job to other people?
As a foreign law intern in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress, I assist my supervisor Jenny Gesley in providing legal expertise regarding German-speaking jurisdictions and the European Union. A central aspect of my work is researching and drafting comparative studies in response to requests from Congress, courts, executive agencies, or providing research assistance to the public. Additionally, I write articles for the Global Legal Monitor and blog posts about recent, interesting topics for In Custodia Legis.
Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?
From the beginning of my legal studies, I developed a keen interest in legal research and comparative law, especially during my semester abroad and my doctoral studies. Also, my legal traineeship at a German federal ministry fueled my interest in working at the interface of politics and law. The work at the Law Library of Congress, with its focus on high-quality research benefiting the public and political actors alike, seemed to me like the perfect combination of these key interests. And I was not disappointed – the internship at the Law Library proves to be a unique opportunity to refine my research and writing skills and gain insights into the workings of the U.S. government.
What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?
While I was aware of the Law Library’s immense collection – the largest in the world – and its mission to provide research to Congress and other institutions, I was fascinated to discover that whenever the House or Senate are in session, regardless of the time of day, it is mandatory for a research expert to be on site in case information from the Library is needed. To me, this truly highlights the vital role the institution plays in supporting the daily operations on Capitol Hill.
What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?
I enjoy spending time outdoors and exploring local cafés. Also, I rarely leave the house without a book. So, while most of D.C. understandably prefers to stay indoors in the cool air-conditioning this summer, I am on a quest to find the city’s best places to read in the shade and enjoy a good cup of coffee.
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