Chayes Fellow Catherine Cooper ’14, on working with the Public International Law & Policy Group, Washington, DC

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“I am working on PILPG’s Syria project, which involves advising clients from the Syrian opposition and civil society on matters related primarily to the possible upcoming peace negotiations, but also other legal issues such as new constitutional frameworks and transitional government institutions. Thus far, I have drafted memos on fascinating topics such as power sharing arrangements in comparative state practice and opportunities to facilitate the return of refugees and IDPs in peace agreements.

I have also enjoyed PILPG’s excellent professional development program, which enables summer associates to take advantage of all the opportunities in DC to network with those working in public international law. The attorneys at PILPG understand how difficult it can be to get a first job in the field of public international law, so they have been very helpful by putting me in touch with contacts in government agencies, law firms, and NGOs. PILPG also encourages the summer associates to attend hearings on the Hill or panels at DC think tanks on issues that are relevant to our clients.

Overall, I have had a really amazing experience at PILPG. I have enjoyed my work so much that I am currently discussing fellowship options with PILPG for after graduation. I plan to strongly encourage other HLS students to apply for PILPG’s summer associate program when I return to Cambridge in the fall.”

Catherine is one of 23 HLS students working this summer in 18 countries under the auspices of the Chayes International Public Service Fellowship. Please visit our Chayes Fellowship page to learn more!

Chayes Fellow Lara Berlin, HLS/Fletcher School Concurrent Degree Candidate, on working with Inter Mediate, United Kingdom

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“My time in London has been really wonderful. I’m living in King’s Cross with mostly French students (which is a cultural experience I hadn’t anticipated in London!). My internship has been a terrific learning experience. I’ve been working on projects ranging from country specific issues (legal and historical) to more comparative work on peace processes around the world. I’ve gotten to be involved on a number of the different projects that Inter Mediate is working on, so I feel that I’ve gained perspective on many different dimensions of their work. Wonderfully, because it’s a small team, they have been amazingly inclusive of me. I also just got back from IM’s “Away Day,” in which I got to participate in all of the strategic level conversations about the strengths and weaknesses of the organization as it stands, and where it intends to go. To be invited to participate in those senior conversations as an intern speaks to the value the organization places on everyone’s opinion and investment in the mission.

Outside of work, I’ve gotten the chance to explore the city a bit, visit museums and palaces, and learn about some British quirks. I’ve done some hiking on the coast and spent a weekend on the beach in Brighton. I look forward to going to Scotland, too. So, it’s been a rewarding experience outside of work, as well.”

Lara is one of 23 HLS students working this summer in 18 countries under the auspices of the Chayes International Public Service Fellowship. Please visit our Chayes Fellowship page to learn more!

 

Chayes Fellow Iram Huq ’15, on working with the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia

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“There is so much interesting work to be done here that it is impossible to sample all of it without staying for a longer period of time. There are many challenges to a successful prosecution of senior Khmer Rouge leaders, and the legal team does an amazing job of leaping over the many hurdles between them and their objectives.

I had a great introduction to the Court in my first week, when I spent my time attending hearings and read the constitutive documents of this hybrid tribunal.. I was shocked by the raw and brutal stories narrated by victims of the Khmer Rouge. Someone had warned me that Cambodia is a depressing place, and I really do not want to perpetuate that belief. This country is beautiful, joyful, resurgent, and proud. The very fact that it has the tenacity to pursue a long and expensive prosecution of its former leaders is evidence of how pragmatic and hopeful its citizens are. By sharing their experiences, Cambodians have designed a mutual self-help system that allows them to restore their faith in humanity. Nothing is more optimistic than that.

Since that first exposure to the context of the trials, I’ve spent a lot of time working on little parts of the prosecution process. I work for one of the “investigating” judges. The judge I am interning under has an entire team of investigators and analysts working for him to sort and collect evidence. I’m on the legal team, and my primary job is to fit pieces of evidence it into set paradigms of criminality (war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, violations of the Cambodian Penal Code etc.)

The most interesting part of this experience (apart from reading authentic documents dating back to 1975) is the weekly meeting that Judge Harmon holds with his legal, analytical, and investigating teams. During these meetings, everyone explains what they are working on, and I get a sense of how each task fits into the bigger scheme. At this stage, we are discussing possible theories of the case, and this will have an impact on how all the evidence is assessed and recorded.

Of course, interning at the UN was not the only reason I wanted to work in Cambodia. Indochina is one of the most interesting places on earth, and I’m very lucky that Harvard Law School and the Chayes Foundation gave me the opportunity to revisit it. This is the only country in the world that sports a ruin (the famous Hindu temple of Angkor Wat) on its flag. And yet, Cambodia is resolutely forward-looking – you can see developmental projects everywhere, even in remote villages. I am continuously surprised, excited, and engaged. For the intrepid traveler, Cambodia is heaven.”

Iram is one of 23 HLS students working this summer in 18 countries under the auspices of the Chayes International Public Service Fellowship. Please visit our Chayes Fellowship page to learn more!

Chayes Fellow Lindsay Henson ’14, on working with the Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers’ Association, Bangladesh

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“My summer internship with Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA) has been going well so far. I’ve gotten to work on a number of interesting projects including research on child marriage, two reports monitoring the implementation of Bangladesh’s new domestic violence law (passed in 2010) and human trafficking law (passed in 2012) that will be published, and updating and reorganizing BNWLA’s Legal Service Delivery Manual used by all lawyers in BNWLA’s 40+ legal service delivery centers located throughout the country. I also had an opportunity to visit BNWLA’s shelter home for victims of violence and attend a session at the Supreme Court. Going forward, my projects will include assisting with a two-day regional trafficking workshop with BNWLA’s partners in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal and conducting comparative research on child marriage legislation in order to make recommendations for new legislation on the topic for consideration by the High Court.

Outside of work, living in Dhaka has been an exciting adventure. My living situation is absolutely ideal. I live in a great little neighborhood that is near an outdoor market and a 15-minute cycle rickshaw ride to the office. When I first arrived, the language barrier was more of a challenge than I was anticipating as most people that I interact with on a daily basis don’t speak much English. Let’s just say my phrasebook has come in handy on more than one occasion.” 

Lindsay is one of 23 HLS students working this summer in 18 countries under the auspices of the Chayes International Public Service Fellowship. Please visit our Chayes Fellowship page to learn more!

Chayes Fellow Akhila Kolisetty ’15, on working with Timap for Justice, Sierra Leone

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“I spent this summer in Gondama, a rural town in southern Sierra Leone. Although the summer was not without its challenges,  it was a fascinating look into the challenges of women’s rights in Sierra Leone, as well as the interaction between customary law and formal law throughout much of the country. My work mostly involved engaging in mediations and investigations of family law, domestic violence, and contract disputes. We also conducted legal awareness sessions in nearby rural communities on the Domestic Violence Act, Devolution of Estates Act, and other key women’s rights and human rights laws. Finally, we worked to assist individuals obtain redress due to injustices in the local courts, which apply customary law, and abuses by the local police. I also had the opportunity to create a module to train paralegals to conduct court monitoring.

Ultimately, I enjoyed working at the grassroots level to gain a deep understanding into the types of conflicts and disputes that arise in Sierra Leone, as well as the way legal institutions could be improved to ensure better access to justice, particularly in family law cases.”

Akhila is one of 23 HLS students working abroad this summer in 18 countries under the auspices of the Chayes International Public Service Fellowship. Please visit our Chayes Fellowship page to learn more!