27 November 2018
Giovanna Roggero
My two weeks in Raleigh were a real learning experience, from many different points of view. I really had the chance to be part of the American life, get to know a lot of interesting people, share with them ideas and opinions and put in practice a real cultural exchange.
The period I chose to stay in the US was a very special one, because Midterm elections were about to held and the electoral campaign was at its height. It was exciting to see this event with my own eyes and experience in person such a particular historical moment, talking to people about their political positions on different kind of issues and the political situation of the United States in general.
In this context, I attended a Judicial Candidates’ Forum where, during the debate, I learned more about different positions of Democrats and Republicans on the administration of justice. I talked with lawyers and judges about the different ways to become a judge in North Carolina and Italy, discussing advantages and disadvantages of North Carolina’s system – where some of the judges are elected – compared with Italy, where all candidates are required to pass written and oral examinations.
Without doubt, the best part of my whole experience in Raleigh during my stay was our colleagues from my hosts at Morningstar Law Group. They welcomed me very warmly and made me feel at home from the very first moment. They were always available to answer my questions about US legal system and to talk about practical aspects of working as a lawyer in the US, especially with reference to litigation field, which is my core activity in Italy.
In this regard, I was lucky also to attend two hearings before the Court: a civil motion and a criminal trial. There, I could really see the practical functioning of US court procedure, especially with regard to the role of the jury, which is probably one of the most significant differences between US and Italian proceedings.
Another interesting event I attended was the “Bar Awards” organized by the Wake County Bar Association and its Foundation which raises money for the Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) Raleigh office. LANC has the worthy goal of providing free legal services in civil matters to low-income people, in order to ensure equal access to justice. Together with the silent auction, the event included a very entertaining and enjoyable show performed by lawyers, who sang and played (very well) rock and soul music.
In conclusion, my work placement with Morningstar Law Group was for me a wonderful and enriching experience and I highly recommend the Jorge Mañá Young Lawyers Award to any young lawyer from WLN looking for a unique opportunity to grow both professionally and personally.
I would like to thank once again the WLN Board and all colleagues from Raleigh and Durham offices of Morningstar Law Group for making this experience so memorable.
For more informaton on this placement, contact:
Giovanna Roggero, Avvocato
Bureau Plattner, Milan
e: giovanna.roggero@bureauplattner.com
t: +39 02 25060760
For more information on the Jorge Mañá Young Lawyers Award, contact:
Stuart Miller, WLN Managing Director
t: +44 7812 062487
