Rachel Hom, a third-year law student, is poised to follow her Wayne State University Law School success with the launch of a career in international law after graduation.

She's been hired by Deloitte Tax LLP, one of the largest financial advisory firms in the world, to work in the firm's Detroit office in the Renaissance Center.

"I am thrilled to join such a large and prestigious firm with a well-respected global presence," Hom said. "I secured the job through on-campus interviews during Wayne State's fall recruitment. I initially applied for the interview after the prompting of fellow classmates who worked at accounting firms in the city and thought I would find it a good fit. Their recommendations alone are reflective of the Wayne Law community, because it is truly that - a community."

Hom, who earned her undergraduate degree in political science and sociology at the University of Michigan, said one reason she chose Wayne for law school was for its "strong community presence." She's had a broad exposure to international law through her studies with the Law School's Program for International Studies, which drew her interest soon after she started at Wayne Law.

"Rachel's enthusiasm for international law is a real inspiration," said Professor Gregory Fox, director of the program. "She's applied for every opportunity in our international program, and excelled at them all. Her remarkable success not only reflects her own exceptional talent, but shows how a strong grounding in international topics during law school can lead to success in the job market."

"Each opportunity I've encountered in law school, locally or abroad, has significantly impacted my career path," Hom said. "One of the most influential international experiences was studying at The Hague Academy of International Law."

Hom completed her studies in the Netherlands last summer as a recipient of the Freeman Fellowship, which is awarded once a year to a student studying with the Program for International Legal Studies at Wayne Law so he or she can attend classes at The Hague Academy.

"It was awe-inspiring to be attending classes in The Hague taught by renowned international scholars, and equally as exciting to share desks with students and attorneys from all over the world," Hom said. "It was a truly international experience. There were over 250 students from almost 100 countries, and I was the only American. It was incredibly eye-opening to be the minority in such a large group, and to gain insight into the diverse cultures, attitudes and backgrounds of those around me."

While she was in the Netherlands, she met international attorneys who worked with Deloitte.

"Not only were they working with Deloitte, but most were also involved in Jessup International Moot Court in their home country, either in a student or coach capacity," Hom said.

She is chancellor of Wayne Law's Jessup team, which has always done well in regional competition, and this year, under Hom's experienced leadership, came out on top, and soon will be going on to international competition. The Jessup team is another facet of the Program for International Legal Studies at Wayne Law.

Hom also is involved with five different student associations, is a member of the Wayne Law Review, and in 2011, won an International Public interest Law Fellowship to serve as a legal intern with The Bahamas Crisis Centre. That opportunity also is a feature of the Program for International Legal Studies. Hom worked in 2010 as a foreclosure intern at Orlans Associates PC and in 2012 as a summer associate with Dickinson Wright PLLC.

All of these experiences have strengthened her interest in international law, she said.

"Unlike domestic law, international law provides constant change, conflict and uncertainty in its binding/non-binding governance on various state and private sectors," Hom said. "Determining which laws to apply and in what capacity is consistently challenging and very exciting."

She expects to work with client issues relating to tax and accounting events at Deloitte, she said.

"There will be the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the client's individual and business needs, and a chance to build strong, long-term relationships within a variety of situations," Hom said. "I look forward to gaining diverse exposure to many areas of tax and in whatever areas my supervisors at Deloitte believe they can best utilize my legal skills and training."

Photo caption: Wayne Law student Rachel Hom (center) stands with Yves Daudet, secretary general of The Hague Academy of International Law, and his wife at a reception at their home in The Hague.