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A pre-law excursion to Wales offers more than global adventure

UF students explore post-Brexit legal issues while studying abroad

When faced with heartbreak in graduate school, Matthew C. Jones did what many only dream of during those hard moments in life: He escaped to a different country.

Jones had previously studied abroad in London. While there, he visited Wales for merely a weekend, but it left a big impression on him. Inspired, he applied to Cardiff University and was awarded a full-ride scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in Welsh and Celtic studies. The year abroad revitalized him.

“I fell in love with life again,” Jones said. Determined to make Wales a permanent part of his future, he spent the following years exploring ways to preserve the magic he had discovered there. Eventually, this commitment evolved into a desire to share the experience with others.

Jones got to work building connections across the Welsh government, higher education administration, private law, and entertainment sectors. He even gained fluency in the Welsh language. Things really started to take off when he arrived at the University of Florida, where his role as an assistant instructional professor in the University Writing Program provided a platform to forge more robust transatlantic connections.

a large group of students pose for a picture atop a mountain with a blue sky
Photo courtesy of Matthew Jones.

Recognizing the absence of a study abroad program tailored for pre-law students at UF, Jones seized the chance to create one. He proposed and spearheaded the development of a UF in Wales program, collaborating with his many friends across the pond to bring the program to life.

Launched in May 2023, the program offered 20 students the opportunity to engage in Welsh culture by focusing on legal aspects post-Brexit and post-EU. Jones ensured that each student’s experience was customized to their specific interests. “Every assignment was crafted for full immersion in the individual legal interests they aimed to cultivate,” he said.

Internship opportunities in relevant organizations allowed students to establish connections with influential figures in Welsh legal fields, leading to the formation of mentorships. Reflecting on the significance of these relationships, Rori Becker, a double major in criminology and English, noted, “They have broadened my horizons on the possible academic routes I can take.”

a young woman poses with hands on hips in front of a large academic archway
Photo courtesy of Rori Becker.

Becker, inspired by her time in Wales, aspires to attend law school and pursue a career in criminal defense litigation. “One part of the legal profession that has always drawn my interest is the ability to directly impact people’s lives,” Becker said, “but from the majority of internships I’ve had in the United States, there’s very minimal impact you can have as an undergraduate student.” Not so in Wales, where she had the chance to work directly and independently with at-risk communities in Cardiff.

Caroline Wilber, who graduates with a dual degree in psychology and criminology this spring, has already received several offers from respected law schools. She attributes her pursuit of a career in family law to the transformative experiences she found abroad.

a young woman in a green sweater poses in front of a mountain landscape with a blue sky
Photo courtesy of Caroline Wilbur.

“My experiences in Wales strengthened my passion for service and advocacy,” she said, “and the internships I took part in gave me real-world experiences that will be helpful throughout law school and my future career.”

The six-week-long program concluded with an alumni reception, providing students with a chance to network and envision their paths ahead. “The event was a chance for them to look into the future,” Jones said. “They could see their own ambitions become real.”

Jones hopes this is just the beginning of a lasting friendship between UF and Wales. As his students graduate and pursue the next steps in their careers, he’s confident in the positive impact the trip had on each of them.

“Right before my eyes, they blossomed into the professionals they’ve been aspiring to become,” he said. “They came back transformed in the end, and it’s just the start of something extraordinary.” 

Learn more about the UF in Wales program here.

Read more from the Fall/Winter 2023 issue of Ytori magazine.