Classroom Knowledge Goes to the Field

Molly Rochford ’19 has been a model of “can do” in her undergraduate years, taking advantage, for instance, of ILR’s relationship with the Cornell Law School.

This winter, she went to Paraguay with Professor Angela Cornell, director of Cornell Law’s Labor Law Clinic, and law students Federico Wynter and Carolyn Taglienti.

Using skills learned at ILR, Rochford researched unionization efforts in the capital, Asunción, and studied Paraguayan labor law and International Labour Organization jurisprudence in order to plan in-country interviews. Clinic members sought to understand freedom of association and the obstacles in law and practice in the Paraguayan culture.

Students spent hours with union leaders, labor lawyers and professors to understand problems faced by workers and to collect information to share with clients.

“Traveling to Paraguay was a remarkable opportunity. After three years of ILR classes teaching me about labor rights and violations of those rights, it was awesome to be able to put my knowledge to use in helping to prevent future violations.

“While many of the accounts we recorded were horrific, working side by side with my classmates from the Labor Law Clinic, my professor and local Paraguayan union leaders showed me the importance of maintaining the fight against labor injustices around the world.”

“This was a great experience to have in my senior year,” said Rochford, who is coxswain of the Cornell Lightweight Men’s Rowing Team. She shares the love of water with her twin, Caroline, who sails for Boston College, and her love of Cornell with her sister Madeline, HumEc ’15, and their mother, Cynthia Rochford, ILR '82.