As a Minnesota Law Student, Lauren Henry ’11 envisioned being a criminal defense attorney who strives to uphold constitutional protections and advocate for criminal justice reform. Working in the seat of power of Palau — a small island nation in Micronesia — was not on her radar.
But during two stints over five years, Henry has done just that. Currently, she serves as senior legal counsel to Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr., a role akin to White House counsel. From 2015 to 2018, Henry worked as chief legal counsel to the Palau House of Delegates, where she drafted legislation and legal opinions on diverse domestic and international issues.
How did Henry find herself in Koror, Palau? Looking to shift away from criminal work, she was intrigued by Palau’s job posting and the legal and public policy opportunity. Though the country is four flights and 15 time zones away, its government structure is modeled on the United States, due to its close relationship as a former trust territory. Palau won independence in 1994.
