Pathways: Careers in International Trade & Law

In-Person Spring Session

Join the WITA Academy for our Pathways: Careers in Trade Law session and networking happy hour at the offices of Cassidy Levy Kent. Students will hear from leading trade policy professionals about career pathways in international trade and law, with insights on how they got their start, entered the field, and how their careers have evolved along the way.

Program Agenda:

5:00 – 5:30 PM ET – Registration & Welcome

5:30 – 6:10 PM ET – Panel Discussion: Careers in Trade Law

• Shanni Alon, Attorney, Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce (B.A. George Washington University; J.D. George Washington University Law School)

• Ian Widman, Senior Associate, Cassidy Levy Kent (B.S. North Carolina State University; J.D. George Washington University Law School)

• Moderator: Maggie Monday, Associate, Cassidy Levy Kent (B.A. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; J.D. George Washington University Law School)

6:10 – 6:30 PM ET – Q&A Session

6:30 – 7:00 PM ET – Networking Happy Hour

Speaker Biographies

Shanni Alon is an attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance in the Office of the General Counsel in the U.S. Department of Commerce. She graduated in 2023 from The George Washington Law School and has her B.A. from The George Washington University. During law school, Shanni interned at DOJ and DHS and participated in The Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinic.

Maggie Monday is an associate in Cassidy Levy Kent’s Washington office. Ms. Monday advises on a range of issues including trade remedy actions before the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Trade Commission, the U.S. Court of International Trade, and U.S. Customs compliance.

Ms. Monday completed her studies at the George Washington University Law School, where she was an Associate for the George Washington Law Review. During law school, Ms. Monday worked as an intern in the Office of Chair Jason E. Kearns, U.S. International Trade Commission, and as a student attorney for GW Law’s Prisoner and Reentry Clinic. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Monday worked as an international trade specialist for Cassidy Levy Kent, and, during her undergraduate studies, as an intern in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Ian P. Widman is a Senior Associate in Cassidy Levy Kent’s Washington, D.C. office. His practice focuses on customs, international trade matters, and the representation of clients before U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Prior to joining Cassidy Levy Kent, Mr. Widman served as an Attorney-Advisor for the Office of Trade, Regulations and Rulings, at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

There, he drafted precedential rulings on customs topics such as antidumping and countervailing duties, foreign trade zones, drawback, and quota. From drafting regulation to interacting with the trade in advisory committees, he gained insight into how the government facilitates and enforces its customs laws.

His interest in trade began before law school, when Mr. Widman served as a Licensed Customs Broker in the automotive industry. There he focused on trade compliance, free trade agreements, and export controls.

Mr. Widman received his J.D. from George Washington University Law School. He has continued his relationship with GW after graduation by serving as a journal adjunct for the Business and Finance Law Review, a guest lecturer, and now as an adjunct professor teaching legal writing.

About The International Trade & Law Series

The WITA Academy has launched a new Pathways to Opportunity Program on Careers in International Trade & Law.

WITA Academy Pathways programs seek to bring the best and brightest, next generation workforce into the trade policy community – diversifying its network of professionals with new talent that may not have previously sought careers in international trade. 

This new initiative features both virtual and in-person events in Washington, DC, with sessions on public and private sector career pathways. The series is geared towards pre-law and law students. The Spring session will be held in-person at Cassidy Levy Kent on March 17.

All programs are free to attend for interested students.

Bringing Trade Education and Career Development Opportunities to Communities Across the United States and Around the World

The mission of the WITA Academy™ is to provide trade education and career development opportunities in international trade to individuals across the United States and around the world. By expanding the network, the WITA Academy™ builds a stronger and more dynamic trade community.

The WITA Academy™ is a program of the Washington International Trade Foundation. Through its programs, the WITA Academy is committed to strengthening the trade community by bringing together a broad range of perspectives and creating opportunities for engagement amongst the trade community. These educational and professional development programs ensure the continued growth and success of the trade community, shaping the future of trade policy.

Thank you to our WITA Academy Sponsors