This article shares the experience of Alexia Bonnici, lawyer at David Zahra & Associates Advocates in Malta, who participated in the ABL Secondment Program at Ruddy Gregory PLLC in Washington, D.C. It offers a first-person perspective on the professional and personal impact of undertaking a secondment within the ABL network and reflects on the value of cross-border exposure in legal practice.

In the days leading up to my secondment, I was a whirlwind of emotions — nervous, anxious, and undeniably excited. I’m someone who thrives on structure and familiarity; change has never been something I’ve welcomed easily. Although I had previously lived abroad through Erasmus —a European university exchange program through which I spent a semester in Rome attending Roma Tre University as part of my studies at the University of Malta — this experience was different. This time, I was travelling alone to another continent, far from home, with a journey that took over ten hours.

I remember being filled with so many fears about the unknown: How would I adjust? Would I feel lonely? Would I manage to settle into a completely different culture? And beyond that, I was also worried about the work itself — would I be able to adapt to a new legal system? Would I find it difficult to navigate laws and processes I knew nothing about?

Yet, the most surprising part of this entire journey was discovering just how quickly those fears faded away — how what I thought would be so daunting turned out to be so easy, so natural, and so rewarding.

I still remember stepping off the plane, wide-eyed and overwhelmed. Everything was new — even something as simple as figuring out where to buy groceries felt like an adventure. But within a day, all of that nervous energy transformed into pure excitement.

I was staying in a lovely studio apartment within a small residential community surrounded by green spaces, a coffee shop, a convenience store, and even a hairdresser. The moment I walked in, I felt a sense of comfort that surprised me. My new home was cosy and peaceful — a little sanctuary where I could truly unwind.

Getting around from Rosslyn, Arlington to Washington, D.C. turned out to be incredibly easy — much easier than I expected, even compared to many European cities. The metro was straightforward, the city itself clean and welcoming, and every corner seemed steeped in history and charm. From my daily commute to walks through Georgetown, to exploring the capital’s landmarks — everything felt exciting yet strangely familiar. That was my first real lesson: that sometimes, what we fear most can turn out to be exactly what we needed.

When I first stepped into Ruddy Gregory, I instantly felt at ease. The team had already met me for drinks a few days earlier, and we had hit it off immediately. Everyone was warm, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. The firm reminded me so much of David Zahra & Associates Advocates — a small, tight-knit team where colleagues are also friends, where collaboration is natural, and where everyone works together on the same level.

From the very beginning, the team made sure I didn’t just experience the work side of Washington but the cultural side too. They sent me curated lists of places to visit and events to attend — and they even organized many of these themselves! I found myself at baseball, American football, hockey, and NBA games — all sports I never used to follow yet absolutely loved experiencing live. These moments, shared with new friends, helped me feel truly part of the Ruddy Gregory family.

They even arranged a day trip to Philadelphia, and later, a two-day ABL networking trip to Toronto. It was an unforgettable experience — I got to meet professionals from all over, grow my network, and even visit Niagara Falls, which had always been high on my bucket list. Another dream came true when I spent a few days in New York City, exploring everything from the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty to the 9/11 Memorial and Central Park. Each trip left me in awe — not only of the places themselves but of how much this experience was opening my world.

Ever since I was young, I dreamed of becoming a lawyer, and I was always fascinated by Washington, D.C. I grew up watching legal dramas set in D.C. and walking those same streets — past the White House, the Capitol, and the Washington Monument — I felt immense gratitude. It was surreal to realize that I was actually living and working in the city I had admired from afar for so long.

Professionally, the experience was like a crash course — almost like completing a second master’s degree in real time. Working within a completely different legal framework challenged me to rethink how I approached analysis and problem-solving. Every new project required me to start from scratch: to research unfamiliar concepts, understand the corporate law principles behind them, and build my understanding step by step.

I realized that in Malta, after six years of studying and working, I sometimes jumped straight into tasks with the confidence of familiarity. In contrast, in DC — in an environment where everything was new, from the laws, to the systems, to the terminology —  I had no choice but to slow down, look deeper, and rebuild my thinking from the ground up. It taught me how valuable it is to pause, question, and approach each task with fresh eyes.

At David Zahra & Associates Advocates, I am always encouraged to do exactly that — to go back to fundamentals and never assume. They gave me the foundation, but in Washington, I had the chance to polish it. Since I didn’t have my usual resources or research platforms, I had to learn how to find my way differently. I developed new habits, explored new tools, and learned how to research on a completely new level.

That shift reminded me that learning doesn’t end when you graduate; it only begins. This experience strengthened my technical skills, yes, but it also deepened my curiosity. It made me realize how much more there always is to discover — and that’s something I’ll carry with me throughout my career.

Outside of work, I found myself living a more balanced and active lifestyle than ever before. I joined spinning classes on weekends, walked for hours along the Georgetown waterfront, explored countless parks, and simply allowed myself to enjoy being in nature.

In Malta, I’ve always loved my work and have been fortunate to be part of a firm that truly values wellbeing. Still, life at home can get busy, and I sometimes found myself swept up in the rhythm of work and social life. My experience in DC reminded me how important it is to slow down and make time for myself too. That balance — between work, activity, and reflection — made me feel calmer, more energized, and even more ready to give my best every day. It’s a mindset I want to keep nurturing.

More than anything, I learned to embrace change. I arrived in Washington expecting to be overwhelmed by difference — but instead, I found connection, familiarity, and joy. I grew to love it. That was perhaps the biggest surprise of all: that the world isn’t as foreign as we imagine it to be when we’re open to it.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without my colleagues — both at Ruddy Gregory, who welcomed me like family, and at David Zahra & Associates Advocates, who made this opportunity happen in the first place.

From the moment this secondment was discussed, the team at David Zahra & Associates Advocates encouraged me wholeheartedly. They supported me at every stage, always there whenever I needed guidance or reassurance. This opportunity wasn’t something I had to go searching for — it was given to me through their belief in me and their commitment to my growth. They organized everything so seamlessly and made the transition as easy as possible, turning what initially felt like an intimidating idea into something exciting and achievable.

I’m so grateful to have had their support throughout, and genuinely proud to have represented David Zahra & Associates Advocates. They told me this would be a once in a lifetime experience and they were absolutely right.

Their encouragement and belief in me gave me the confidence to embrace this opportunity fully, and I’m deeply grateful to them for making it all possible. Having such a supportive team behind me made this experience even more meaningful.

Now that my secondment has come to an end, I look back on those months with so much gratitude. I ticked off bucket-list destinations, developed my legal skills, built lifelong friendships, and learned more about myself than I ever expected to. Washington, D.C. was everything I hoped for and more — and as much as I loved every moment, I was equally excited to return to Malta, to my family, and to my colleagues at David Zahra & Associates Advocates. This experience has shaped me in the best possible way, and I’m grateful to be home carrying everything I’ve learned with me.

Lastly, I want to encourage anyone who has the chance to take part in a programme like this through the ABL, to do so. These experiences don’t just make us better lawyers — they make us more open, more curious, and more well-rounded people. It’s an opportunity that truly broadens your perspective, both professionally and personally.