Happy Holidays from AUWCL! We’re grateful for our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners who make our community strong and our mission meaningful. Wishing you a joyful season and a bright year ahead. #SeasonsGreetings #HappyHolidays2025 #ChampionWhatMatters

UN International Law Commission members, scholars, and students gathered at AUWCL for a conference hosted by Professor of Law and Dean Emeritus Claudio Grossman on the immunity of state officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction. #ChampionWhatMatters

Congratulations to Professor Jayesh Rathod for being named a 2025 Suzanne V. Richards BADC Foundation Grantee! A well-deserved honor for his incredible leadership of the Immigrant Justice Clinic and his dedication to social justice. #ChampionWhatMatters

Meet Ogochukwu Ekwuabu JD '08, assistant inspector general at the DoD OIG, reflecting on how clinics, mock trial, and trial advocacy have shaped her career—and why resilience, flexibility, and “trust but verify” are essential in the legal profession. Watch here: https://youtu.be/i4mhPlnam48

International media are highlighting a new AUWCL report challenging Colombia’s stability narrative. Professor Diego Rodríguez Pinzón’s analysis finds a prolonged homicide plateau and shifting violence hotspots with major policy implications. tinyurl.com/Colombia-Report

Congratulations to the AUWCL fall graduates! We are proud of all they have accomplished and we’re excited to welcome them into AUWCL’s global alumni community. Read the full story, which includes a link to more photos. #2025AUGrad

Under the leadership of Prof. Jamie Abrams (@jrabrams.bsky.social), Prof. Elizabeth Keith and Shalala Valiyeva visited @ADAUniversity School of Law in Baku to advance the AUWCL–ADA partnership and collaborate with visiting instructors (and recent AUWCL grads), Nathan Sebree and William Siefert.

AUWCL alum Thomas F. Morante ’77 exemplifies how an international mindset can transform a career. Read how AUWCL helped ignite his passion for international law and set the stage for a worldwide career: https://tinyurl.com/Tom-Morante-77

Every gift, regardless of its size, makes a meaningful difference in the lives of students. Your support fuels opportunity, expands access, and helps prepare tomorrow’s lawyers for lives of impact. Join us by making a gift today: give.american.edu/schools/Amer...

The @pijip.bsky.social at AUWCL hosted counsel of record and amici for post-argument insights on Cox v. Sony Music, a major IP case before the U.S. Supreme Court—part of an ongoing IP@SCOTUS series.

Prof. Sylvia Lu presented emerging regulatory approaches for agentic AI at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Her talk examined legal and societal harms associated with autonomous AI and outlined an innovation-oriented, harm-based legislative framework designed for state policymakers.

AUWCL faculty members are providing expertise on some of the most pressing issues across legal disciplines and current events. See where AUWCL faculty are making their mark in the media: #ChampionWhatMatters

AUWCL hosted the 4th Discussion Roundtable on Strategic Litigation on Gender-Based Violence in Latin America. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/ReLeG-Roundtable #ChampionWhatMatters #human #rights

We are proud to celebrate Professors Brenda Smith and Angi Porter (@angimaryssa.bsky.social) Porter, honored with Society of American Law Teachers (SALT) Teaching Awards for their extraordinary contributions to teaching, scholarship, and justice. #ChampionWhatMatters

A new AUWCL fellowship is opening doors for aspiring environmental lawyers, providing mentorship, training, and support at a critical moment for the field. Explore the full story at tinyurl.com/PEEL-Fellows. #ChampionWhatMatters #environmentallaw

AUWCL’s Kovler Project Against Torture student scholars took their research abroad, participating in the 83rd session of the UN Committee Against Torture. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/KPAT-in-Geneva

The Shuker Scholarship Wine Tasting celebrated this year’s recipients, Josie Tarin (3L) and Jason Osorio (2L). Thanks to all who support the continued growth of the Shuker Scholarship Fund. See additional photos here: tinyurl.com/Shuker-Scholarship

Congratulations to AUWCL students Shannon Moloney (JD Candidate) and Shalala Valiyeva (SJD Candidate), recipients of the NCITD International Trade Scholarships. The scholarship supports students who show a strong commitment to international trade. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/NCITDScholarship

Ten AUWCL students supported the World Bank’s Law, Justice & Development Week, assisting with logistics & delegate guidance. As co-sponsor, AUWCL also featured Interim Dean Heather Hughes at a reception at the French Ambassador’s residence. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/AUWCL-LJD-Week

Congrats to AUWCL’s ADRHS Arbitration team for winning the ABA Regional Arbitration Competition! Nicole Hurst (3L), Naziha Kabbani (2L), Jackie Vanacore (4L Evening), and David Stout (3L) will advance to the ABA National Competition in Chicago. Photos: tinyurl.com/ABA-ADRHS

AUWCL faculty are weighing in on some of the biggest issues we face today. From AI driven art theft to the future of the Supreme Court, here’s where faculty and staff made headlines recently:

It's not too late to register! Join @rlswrites.bsky.social @jessicalwaters.bsky.social & me @americanuniversity tonight for what promises to be an illuminating conversation, traversing criminal law, judicial ethics & reproductive rights, with NYT Magazine staff writer Emily Bazelon. Details below:

After fifty years, Prof. Ira Robbins reflects on the journeys, challenges, and joys of teaching law. From the Model Penal Code to habeas corpus, his stories capture the students who shaped him, the lessons learned, and why he is still here. https://tinyurl.com/Robbins-50yrs

American University hosted a campus-wide Veterans Day celebration at the Washington College of Law, bringing together the AU community to honor those who have served under this year’s theme, “Service to Our Nation.”

Meet Daphne Singer ’26, championing creative freedom in IP law. At AUWCL, she's taken advantage of D.C. access, law review, study abroad, presented at AIPLA, written a NYT feature, and has a forthcoming article in the Richmond Journal of Law and Technology. Read: https://tinyurl.com/Daphne-Singer

Over the weekend, 33 law school teams from across the country competed in AUWCL’s Burton Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition, arguing a case on the Establishment & Free Exercise Clauses. Read the story here: https://tinyurl.com/2025-Wechsler-Moot-Court

Join AUWCL’s Health Law & Policy Program and Gender, Theory, Law & Practice Program for “Preventing Stillbirth: Legal, Policy & Public Health Perspectives” on Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. Hear from experts in law, medicine & public health. Register today: https://tinyurl.com/FutureHealthcareSeriesFall2025

AUWCL co-sponsored the 2025 Law, Justice & Development Week at the World Bank, bringing together global leaders to advance legal solutions. Shout-out to our LLM students for their support. Highlights from the reception at the French Ambassador’s residence: tinyurl.com/AUWCL-LJD

Join AUWCL’s U.S. & International Anti-Corruption Law Program for the 2025 Frank H. Menaker Jr. Lecture on Corporate Integrity and Ethics on Nov. 13 at 4 PM with Mouhamadou Diagne, senior vice president for Integrity at the World Bank. Register: http://www.tinyurl.com/Menaker-Lecture-2025

Congrats to Decarceration and Re-entry Clinic students Ameerah Thomas and Brittany Walker, who represented their first client before the Maryland Parole Commission. Also pictured: Stanley Mitchell, director of Re-entry Services at L.I.V.E., and Professor Rachel Kamins

AU’s MFA in Creative Writing hosts an evening with Emily Bazelon, New York Times Magazine writer and Truman Capote Fellow at Yale Law School. Joined by Professors Rachel Louise Snyder and Jessica Waters. Nov. 12, 7 p.m., Kerwin T01 or via Zoom. @aucollege.bsky.social @au-spa.bsky.social

The 2025 Cicchino Public Service Awards, recognizing students and alumni whose commitment to public interest reflects the legacy of Prof. Peter M. Cicchino (1960–2000), honored Shanti Martin Brown ’09, Elizabeth Lewis ’15, & Tabitha Pitzer ’26. See photos: tinyurl.com/2025-Cicchino-Awards

AUWCL congratulates alumna Diane Seltzer ’91 on being named one of Washingtonian’s Most Powerful Women in Washington 2025, recognized as a Legal Power for her leadership in employment law and service as President-Elect of the D.C. Bar. Full list: https://tinyurl.com/PowerfulWomenDC

AUWCL Fall Speaker Series brings top scholars to campus, including Spencer Overton, Steve Vladeck, Britney Wilson, Sarah Davila, and Ana Santos Rutschman, discussing issues from tech and democracy to civil rights and global health law.

Law students took their studies global in Geneva! From the WTO & WIPO to learning from trade & IP experts, they earned credits on an accelerated schedule while exploring one of the world’s top hubs for law & business. Watch: https://youtu.be/IY1fottqzzc

Emma Brandon ’17, project officer at the International Nuremberg Principles Academy. credits AUWCL’s international training, the War Crimes Research Office, ICC Moot Court & Lawyering Peace for launching her path. In her own words: https://youtu.be/voCHPGI0a0c

A historic weekend for AUWCL Trial Advocacy! Mock Trial Team wins two national titles and three Best Advocate awards at the 2025 National Trial Competition and the Peter James Johnson Memorial Civil Rights Trial Competition. See more: tinyurl.com/WCLMockTrial2025

Smucker’s Uncrustables are back in court. Prof. @christinefarley.bsky.social breaks down the decades-long fight over who owns the rights to a crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwich—and what it reveals about patents, trademarks, and corporate power: tinyurl.com/FarleyOnSmuc... @pijip.bsky.social

Faculty are weighing in on today’s biggest stories; from crypto and AI to global justice and human rights. Here are some of the stories they contributed to:

Professors @christinefarley.bsky.social and @profseanflynn.bsky.social will represent @pijip.bsky.social at International Law Weekend 2025 in New York. Their panel explores how the Riyadh Design Law Treaty impacts SMEs, designers, and cultural expression. See more: tinyurl.com/PIJIP-ABILA #ILW2025

Prof. @bechamilton.bsky.social will join an expert panel at International Law Weekend 2025 in NYC to discuss “Narrative Strategies in International Environmental Law” on Oct. 24 at 4 p.m. Find out more: https://www.ila-americanbranch.org/international-law-weekend/

AUWCL’s Impact Litigation Program joined four past presidents of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in support of constitutional justice in El Salvador. Discover more: tinyurl.com/AU-Rule-of-Law

We made it to fall break! We hope you take some time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the beauty of the season. 🍂

Joy and pride filled the halls last weekend as hundreds of alumni returned for the 2025 Alumni Reunion. Thank you to all who joined us to celebrate the connections, achievements, and shared purpose that define AUWCL. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2025-Alumni-Reunion #ChampionWhatMatters

From AUWCL to the FBI, Eric Huang ’05, chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council, built a career shaped by curiosity, community, and professionalism. See how AUWCL shaped his journey: tinyurl.com/HUANG-WCL05

AUWCL professors are making headlines and shaping public discourse on topics ranging from Congressional control of the Supreme Court to judge vacancy issues in DC. Here’s where they made headlines recently:

WCL’s Native American Law School Association held a remembrance ceremony honoring survivors and families impacted by the residential school system—reflecting on loss, resilience, and a commitment to healing and justice. #ChampionWhatMatters More Photos: tinyurl.com/OrangeShirt25

Marcos Orellana’s work as UN Special Rapporteur on toxics & human rights was featured in two major UN reports. His research exposes war’s toxic legacy & champions justice for communities harmed by pollution. Check it out: https://tinyurl.com/UN-Toxic-Report

The 14th Annual Jaszi Lecture welcomed Prof. Wend Wendland, reflecting on WIPO’s 2024 treaty on traditional knowledge. We also honored Prof. Peter Jaszi and celebrated Sean Flynn’s move to Geneva to launch the Centre for Knowledge Governance. Photos: tinyurl.com/2025-Jaszi-IP @pijip.bsky.social

After seven years of work, Prof. Matthew Erie and the China, Law & Development Project have published “China in Compliance” in Regulation & Governance, examining how Chinese corporations/investors engage with host state rules, norms, and globally. MORE: tinyurl.com/China-In-Compliance