Desiree LeClercq

Georgia Law Professor Desirée LeClercq featured in Economic Policy Institute article

University of Georgia School of Law Professor Desirée LeClercq was recently featured in an article published by the Economic Policy Institute. The article, entitled “U.S. Customs blocks about $0.8 billion worth of goods a year on suspicion of forced labor,” was written by Ed Gresser on April 8, 2026.

LeClercq joined the University of Georgia School of Law in 2024 as an assistant professor. She teaches Contracts, International Trade and Workers Rights, International Labor Law, U.S. Labor Law, and Public International Law. She also serves as a faculty co-director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center and as the faculty adviser for the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law, the Labor and Employment Student Association, and the International Law Students Association. 

Georgia Law Professor Desirée LeClercq publishes article in the International Economic Law and Policy Blog

University of Georgia School of Law Professor Desirée LeClercq recently published an article entitled The Section 301 Surge Continues: Investigating the Adoption/Enforcement/ Administration of Forced Labor Import Bans in the International Economic Law and Policy Blog.

LeClercq joined the University of Georgia School of Law in 2024 as an assistant professor. She teaches Contracts, International Trade and Workers Rights, International Labor Law, U.S. Labor Law, and Public International Law. She also serves as a faculty co-director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center and as the faculty adviser for the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law, the Labor and Employment Student Association, and the International Law Students Association. 

Georgia Law Professor Desirée LeClercq elected to the International Labor Rights Case Law Editorial Board

University of Georgia School of Law Professor Desirée LeClercq was elected to the editorial board of the International Labor Rights Case Law (ILaRC) journal. The ILaRC journal is a leading academic publication that annotates and analyzes global jurisprudence regarding fundamental rights at the workplace.

LeClercq joined the University of Georgia School of Law in 2024 as an assistant professor. She teaches Contracts, International Trade and Workers Rights, International Labor Law, U.S. Labor Law, and Public International Law. She also serves as a faculty co-director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center and as the faculty adviser for the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law, the Labor and Employment Student Association, and the International Law Students Association. 

Georgia Law Professor Desirée LeClercq speaks at the Texas International Law Journal symposium

University of Georgia School of Law Professor Desirée LeClercq presented as part of the Texas International Law Journal symposium titled “Critical Perspectives on AI: Security, Governance, Labor and the Environment,” held in February at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law.

LeClercq joined the University of Georgia School of Law in 2024 as an assistant professor. She teaches Contracts, International Trade and Workers Rights, International Labor Law, U.S. Labor Law, and Public International Law. She also serves as a faculty co-director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center and as the faculty adviser for the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law and the Labor and Employment Student Association. 

Georgia Law partners with the Washington International Trade Association to present second annual webinar about careers in international trade 

The University of Georgia School of Law partnered with the Washington International Trade Association (“WITA”) to present a second annual webinar about careers in international trade and law. This webinar was part of WITA Academy’s ongoing Pathways to Opportunity Series: Careers in International Trade & Law, through which law students and undergraduates are able to learn about career opportunities in international trade and law from law firms and trade professionals.

Moderated by Georgia Law Professor Desirée LeClercq, this year’s panel included:

  • Introductions from Diego Añez, Executive Director, WITA Academy; Managing Director
  • A panel discussion featuring:
    • Bethany Davison, Associate, Mowry & Grimson (B.S. Georgia State University; J.D. Georgia State University College of Law)
    • Samuel Negatu, Director, Government Affairs, Consumer Technology Association; former Senior Advisor, U.S. House of Representatives; former Assistant General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (B.A. University of California, Santa Barbara; J.D. Washington University in Saint Louis)
    • Brian Soiset, Attorney, U.S. International Trade Commission; former International Attorney, U.S. Department of Commerce (B.A. University of Georgia; J.D. William & Mary University; LL.M. Queen Mary University of London)
    • Paul Thornton, Attorney, Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce (B.A. Hampden-Sydney College; J.D. American University Washington College of Law)

During the panel discussion, students were able to gain insights from trade law experts, engage with policymakers and legal practitioners, and explore career opportunities in international trade law from government, companies, and law firms. Students gained a unique perspective on the wide-ranging career paths available in the trade law and policy community, creating connections with key players across both the public and private sectors.

A recording of the panel is available to WITA members. To join, email: events@wita.org

Georgia Law Professor Desirée LeClercq presents about trade policy at UC Berkeley School of Law

University of Georgia School of Law Professor Desirée LeClercq presented “Workers’ Empowerment as U.S. Trade Policy” as part of the Work Law Colloquium at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in February 2026.

LeClercq joined the University of Georgia School of Law in 2024 as an assistant professor. She teaches Contracts, International Trade and Workers Rights, International Labor Law, U.S. Labor Law, and Public International Law. She also serves as a faculty co-director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center and as the faculty adviser for the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law and the Labor and Employment Student Association. 

Georgia Law Professor Desirée LeClercq presents on international law at AALS Annual Meeting

University of Georgia School of Law Professor Desirée LeClercq presented as part of the panel “The Trump Administration and International Law 2.0” at the Association of American Law Schools Annual Meeting in New Orleans during January.

The panel focused on concerns about the second Trump administration’s impact on the international legal order, including U.S. engagement with international bodies and the potential effects on areas such as international criminal law and human rights law.

LeClercq also moderated the panel “Teaching Human Rights: From Specialized Courses to Doctrinal Integration”, which explored innovative approaches to teaching human rights, including strategies for standalone courses and ways to integrate human rights perspectives into first-year doctrinal courses and other core parts of the law school curriculum.

LeClercq joined the University of Georgia School of Law in 2024 as an assistant professor. She teaches Contracts, International Trade and Workers Rights, International Labor Law, U.S. Labor Law, and Public International Law. She also serves as a faculty co-director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center and as the faculty adviser for the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law and the Labor and Employment Student Association. 

Georgia Law Professor Desirée LeClercq delivers keynote on supply chain management and forced labor bans in Taiwan

University of Georgia School of Law Professor Desirée LeClercq delivered a keynote address at the International Conference on Corporate Sustainability Regulations and Governance on Labor Rights in Global Supply Chains, held in Douliu, Taiwan, on 19 December 2025.

Her keynote, “Supply Chain Management under the Trump Administration: from Trade Agreements to Forced Labor Bans,” examined how shifting U.S. trade policy and enforcement tools shape corporate supply chain strategy, with a focus on labor rights compliance and emerging forced labor restrictions. A short video from her time in Taiwan was shared in an Instagram reel.

LeClercq joined the University of Georgia School of Law in 2024 as an assistant professor. She teaches Contracts, International Trade and Workers Rights, International Labor Law, U.S. Labor Law, and Public International Law. She also serves as a faculty co-director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center and as the faculty adviser for the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law and the Labor and Employment Student Association. 

Georgia Law Professor Desirée LeClercq featured in the Financial Times

University of Georgia School of Law Professor Desirée LeClercq‘s research on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was highlighted in the Financial Times Trade Secrets newsletter, written by Alan Beattie and published 15 December 2025.

LeClercq joined the University of Georgia School of Law in 2024 as an assistant professor. She teaches Contracts, International Trade and Workers Rights, International Labor Law, U.S. Labor Law, and Public International Law. She also serves as a faculty co-director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center and as the faculty adviser for the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law and the Labor and Employment Student Association. 

Georgia Law Professor Desirée LeClercq publishes on the ILO’s right to strike in EJIL: Talk!

University of Georgia School of Law Professor Desirée LeClercq published “The ILO’s Right to Strike: Distinguishing Non-Binding Principles from Binding Conventions at the ICJ” in EJIL: Talk!, the blog of the European Journal of International Law.

In the post, LeClercq analyzes the International Court of Justice’s proceedings connected to the International Labour Organization’s request for an advisory opinion on whether the right to strike is protected under Convention No. 87. She focuses on how non-binding ILO principles interact with binding conventions, and what that distinction could mean for interpreting Convention No. 87 in international law and in related policy contexts.

LeClercq joined the University of Georgia School of Law in 2024 as an assistant professor. She teaches Contracts, International Trade and Workers Rights, International Labor Law, U.S. Labor Law, and Public International Law. She also serves as a faculty co-director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center and as the faculty adviser for the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law and the Labor and Employment Student Association.