Dear ILS Members,
For those of you who signed up during the Student Activities Fair, welcome to the International Law Society! We’re thrilled to have you join us as we embark on what promises to be an exciting Fall semester. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Center for International and Comparative Law (CICL), and we have plenty in store to celebrate this special milestone.
As new members, I encourage you to get involved and take advantage of the many opportunities we offer. We currently have openings for 1L and 2L Representatives, as well as an Ambassador position. These roles are a fantastic way to make an immediate impact within ILS. The 1L and 2L Representatives will assist with logistics and help us spread the word about upcoming events. The Ambassador takes on those responsibilities and also helps create some of our work products, like podcast episodes and Instagram posts.
If you’re interested in applying, please submit a one-page letter of interest and a resume by Monday, September 23. to our email: ilsubalt@gmail.com
These roles provide an excellent opportunity for leadership, collaboration, and a chance to contribute directly to our activities.
I also want to highlight two important upcoming events:
John Sumner Stead Annual Lecture – September 26th
This year’s Stead Lecture will feature Martti Koskenniemi as our guest speaker. Last year’s lecture was a major success, and we’re aiming to make this year’s event even bigger. This is the biggest event of the year for our international law community, so you won’t want to miss it! Seriously, feel free to bring friends and family—anyone is welcome. There will be food and drinks after the talk, and it’s sure to be a great time! Make sure to RSVP by September 18th. Sign up by clicking this link.
State Department Trip – Tentative for October-November
We are also in the process of organizing an exciting trip to the State Department in Washington, D.C. We are considering Fridays after midterms, with possible dates ranging from October 11th to November 8th (not Halloween weekend, obvi). For now, we need to gauge how many people would be interested in attending. Once we finalize a date, we will circulate another signup sheet. Signing up now is crucial so we can plan our budget and notify the State Department of the group size. Please indicate your interest using this link.
Additionally, I want to remind you about the incredible opportunities available through the American Society of International Law (ASIL). As academic partners, thanks to CICL, we can offer you free ASIL memberships. I’ve attached a document with details on how to sign up.
Finally, don’t forget to follow our LinkedIn page and add your membership to your profile. It’s a great way to enhance your professional presence and looks impressive to potential employers.
If you've been following our Instagram stories, you’ve probably seen our efforts to keep students informed about the latest global events. We also have a podcast titled "Law Without Frontier," where we dive into pressing international issues and share insights from leading experts. These initiatives are more than just informative—they’re opportunities for you to actively participate and help shape content that educates and inspires others about critical global challenges.
We’re looking forward to seeing you at our events and working with you to make this year a memorable one for the International Law Society!
Best regards,
Ahmad Choudhary
ILS President
Martti Koskenniemi Bio:
Martti Koskenniemi is Professor Emeritus of International Law at the University of Helsinki. He is a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy and a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has worked as a diplomat with the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and was a member of the International Law Commission (UN) from 2002-2006, where he chaired the Study Group on the Fragmentation of International Law. He has been a visiting Global Professor of Law at NYU since 1997 and has held several visiting professorships across the world, including Paris, Brussels, Cambridge, Zurich, and Melbourne. His main publications include From Apology to Utopia: The Structure of International Legal Argument (1989/2005), The Gentle Civilizer of Nations: The Rise and Fall of International Law 1870-1960 (2001), and To the Uttermost Parts of the Earth: Legal Imagination and International Power 1300-1870 (2021). His most recent publication is a joint work with Professor David Kennedy (Harvard), Of Law and the World. Critical Conversations on Power, History and Political Economy (2023).
Geena Michaelides
ILS Secretary
ilsubalt@gmail.com
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