Seven University of Georgia School of Law students attended the American Branch of the International Law Association (ABILA)‘s International Law Weekend (ILW) in New York City, New York.

Attendees included 3Ls Gloria Maria Correa, Madison Graham, and Tiffany Torchia, and Masters of Laws (LL.M.) students Dzmitry Liasovich, Zulma Perez, Christian Schneider, and Fabienne Taller. Graham was one of 5 students selected to serve as a Student Ambassador for the event. All seven students received a Louis B. Sohn Professional Development Fellowship to support their attendance of this conference. Awarded by the law school’s Dean Rusk International Law Center, Sohn Fellowships enable students to attend professional development opportunities related to international law.

ABILA ILW’s 2024 theme was “Powerless law or law for the powerless?” and is described below:

International law faces an existential threat as history unfolds at unprecedented speed worldwide. Indeed, international law and international institutions at times appear incapable of protecting vulnerable persons against war, disease, hunger, exploitation, climate change, and other human and natural catastrophes. Some people–both individually and collectively–are openly eschewing legal values and frameworks in order to pursue results through other means, including dangerous and destabilizing ones. Is international law, in fact, powerless or does it remain a source of power that vulnerable persons can utilize to protect and advance their rights and interests? This year’s ILW is focused on engaged, interactive, and inclusive discussions about how international law can transcend perceptions and misperceptions of its powerlessness and fulfill its aspirations of balancing power through principles of justice, equality, and dignity.

Reflecting on the overall takeaways from the conference, Graham said:

As a student, this conference re-instilled the importance of the research process to me…I was reminded of how important it is to immerse yourself in the big ideas that other people are considering, learning about their work. Even in topics we may already be familiar with, there will always be someone who knows more – or, at the very least, is considering new angles. Put another way, I think conferences like this are integral to ensuring we are continuing to push the mental boundaries we inadvertently place on ourselves when we get into routines and habits of regular school and work lives. Conferences like these help us stay curious, and accordingly, help us re-examine what the law is capable of moving forward.

In describing the ways in which this experience benefitted her professionally, Perez said:

ABILA ILW 2024 was an extraordinary experience on many levels. Personally, I had the opportunity to connect with other professionals and leaders in the legal industry, reinforcing the valuable education I am receiving at Georgia Law by sharing insights with other attendees. Academically and professionally, it sparked my interest about some subjects that I hadn’t previously explored, and I am eager to explore further and apply this knowledge in my career. I now have a clearer understanding of how public and private sectors interact in a various issue, and I can see the professional opportunities that arise from this collaboration.

When asked about her favorite panel from the conference, Correa explained:

My favorite panel discussion was “Arbitrating with International Organizations” because the topic was completely novel to me. The panel discussed some relevant provisions on the International Law Commission’s work on “settlement of disputes to which international organizations are parties,” the practice of arbitral institutions like the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and how arbitration could be a useful tool to overcome barriers like immunity in disputes with international organizations.

To read prior posts about Georgia Law students using Sohn Fellowships to attend professional development opportunities, please click here and here.