Gabriela González-Niño, Independent Legal Consultant

Gabriela González-Niño (LLM International Law, 2025) was selected by UCL Laws for the prestigious Inter-American Court of Human Rights Professional Visit Programme, which involved undertaking a fully funded summer placement in San José, Costa Rica in 2025. Following this transformative experience Gabriela has been dividing her time between independent legal consultancy and preparing to qualify in a second jurisdiction.

What motivated you to study the LLM International Law at UCL Laws?

Ever since deciding that I wanted to become a lawyer, I had dreamt of pursuing an LLM at one of the world’s leading universities. I have always believed it is essential to globalise our knowledge, especially for those of us working in institutions whose work affects lives across jurisdictions. At the same time, I had always wanted to live in London, a city I see as uniquely global and central to legal, political, and economic life, bringing together some of the brightest minds throughout history. Once I learned more about UCL’s vision, academic excellence, and history as, for example, the first university in England to admit women, the choice became clear.

Were there any particular professors, modules or extracurricular activities that influenced your personal or professional development?

It is sincerely impossible to choose. Professors such as Gracia Marín Durán and Martins Paparinskis deeply shaped my intellectual curiosity by encouraging us to think critically about complex issues of international law, from the tension between sustainable policies and trade law to the decisive role that seemingly secondary procedural issues, like the appointment of arbitrators, can play in the protection of foreign investment. Every interaction during my LLM made it the most transformative year of my life. 

At the same time, the UCL Public International Law Pro Bono Project had a particularly strong impact on my professional development. Discussing litigation strategy and drafting pleadings in a case before the Inter-American system, alongside fellow student advisers, enriched my perspective on the challenges that continue to trouble access to justice worldwide. In that context, the guidance of Professors Kimberley Trapp and Alex Mills was instrumental in helping us overcome such obstacles.

Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your time at UCL Laws that has had a lasting impact on you?

The exam term was unexpectedly the most memorable part of the year. I still remember arriving, sometimes overwhelmed and late at night, at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS) or the Student Centre and being quickly cheered up by friends. The burden of examinations felt lighter because of their company throughout the season in the form of messages, study sessions, and even support postcards received the morning before my exams. It all helped me adjust to a very different exam culture. I then realised the lasting impact UCL Laws had had on me: it showed me that large goals become easier to achieve in teams, and that the right environment can give you a lasting family away from home. By the LLM farewell boat party, we found ourselves hugging and crying as the last song of the night, “See You Again” (Wiz Khalifa), played, and we knew that it might be the last time we would all be together before parting ways.

You participated in the prestigious Inter-American Court of Human Rights Professional Visit Programme during your LLM. How was that experience?

UCL Laws is a real driver of career opportunities. In that sense, the Faculty regularly shares newsletters featuring openings across international organisations and leading firms, often alongside funding support that make those opportunities genuinely accessible. It was through one of those newsletters, during my second term, that I came across the Professional Visit Programme at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. I applied and was fortunate to be selected for a fully funded summer placement in San José, Costa Rica. In many ways, that summer felt like living a whole different year in just three months.

Personally, it was transformative, as I built friendships across Latin America and Europe with peers who share many of my professional and personal passions. 

Professionally, I was able to contribute to projects I had once only imagined being part of, from reviewing the official translation of a landmark Advisory Opinion to carrying out research with potential relevance across the region. This contributed significantly to my growth, as working in a context where my drafting may carry implications across more than 20 States made me especially conscious of the responsibility, care, and precision required in every task. Seeing a volcano for the first time also made my time at the Inter-American Court a true highlight of my life. 

Academically, the experience had an equally lasting impact. It strengthened my confidence as a researcher and opened new avenues, including teaching international law modules in Colombia as a guest lecturer, serving as a moot court judge, and continuing to develop my academic profile through publishing opportunities.

How do you believe your experience at UCL Laws differed from other institutions offering similar programmes?

UCL’s LLM was outstanding because of both its innovative module offering and its deeply research-oriented approach. I had the opportunity to study subjects such as Law and Policy of International Trade and the Environment and Foreign Relations Law, which are highly relevant in practice but rarely explored as standalone disciplines elsewhere. Foreign Relations Law, for instance, allowed me to connect my previous knowledge of public law and policy analysis with UK domestic legal frameworks through sessions led by leading practitioners. Equally distinctive was UCL’s research rigour, which shaped not only my dissertation through excellent supervision, but also every seminar and extracurricular discussion, deepening our study and broadening the range of our interests and contributions.

How has your career path evolved since finishing the LLM? How did UCL Laws prepare you for this?

Since finishing the LLM, my career path has become more international and ambitious in scope. One of the most valuable things UCL Laws gave me was the ability to work across jurisdictions. Experiences such as the Public International Law Pro Bono showed me how legal culture can materially change the answer to the same question. Working on a case alongside 14 other lawyers from different latitudes taught me to adapt quickly to international teams, and to navigate competing views. I saw the value of that almost immediately afterwards at the Inter-American Court. 

UCL also changed the way I approach networking, helping me build connections that continue to support me today. In that sense, UCL Laws helped me move from a regional to a more global career.

Can you talk a bit about your current role and what it entails?

I currently divide my time between independent legal consultancy and preparation to qualify in a second jurisdiction, this time in the common law system of England and Wales. I advise organisations across the Americas on matters related to human rights cases, particularly in support of victim representatives, while also supporting research and teaching for professors at a Colombian university. 

My days are quite varied, but usually begin with studying in the morning, followed by reading and writing for ongoing projects in the afternoon, with occasional meetings throughout the day. It is a flexible routine, which has also allowed me to spend invaluable time back home with my family.

What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far, or had the biggest impact on you? 

The experience that has had the biggest impact on me took place before the LLM, during a week I spent alongside victims of human rights violations committed in the context of the Colombian armed conflict. It was the moment I confirmed that I had chosen the right career. At the time, I worked in the International Section of the National Agency for the Legal Defence of the State, supporting Colombia’s representatives before arbitral tribunals, the International Court of Justice and the Inter-American Court. During a period of public hearings on friendly settlements, I had lunch with a victim who had been orphaned in childhood. He asked me whether I liked my job, given that practically nothing could truly restore what had been lost. That question stayed with me. Since then, I have never been able to separate legal work on paper from the real people whose lives it may affect. Then, knowing that law has the capacity to shape society at every level, especially for those who have suffered most from violations and war, has motivated me to stay on this path.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of doing the LLM at UCL Laws?

I would advise anyone considering the LLM at UCL Laws to take an active and intentional approach from the beginning. The programme is intense from the outset, so gathering as much information as possible before induction week can make the transition much smoother. Attending open days, public seminars, and networking through LinkedIn also gives you a clearer sense of the teaching style, the professors’ expertise, and what you hope to gain from the year. I would also recommend defining your goals early. UCL offers an extraordinary range of opportunities, from academic specialisation to over 300 societies, so being clear about your priorities will help you choose your modules and extracurriculars more intentionally.

What careers advice or guidance would you give to current students or recent graduates who are just starting out?

I once read that, “If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life”, and I believe there is truth in it. Law is not an easy journey at any stage, so it is important never to lose sight of why you started, whether that is to keep improving, to make your family proud, or to help people. Holding on to that purpose will not remove the hurdles of the LLM or the job search, but it will make them manageable. At the same time, make sure to spend time with your friends, discover London, and remember that some of the most important lessons of your life may come from university, but not always from the classroom.

Ask MANY questions. Send that networking email. And most importantly, never forget that you may regret the things you did, but you will always regret the things you did not do.
 

Find out more about Gabriela on LinkedIn.