Rule of Law and ROLI in Roma

Participants in the PROLAW program pose for a group photo in Rome, Italy.

By Margaret Wiggins

At ABA ROLI, our staff know full well how quickly the Rule of Law field evolves in its strategies, focus areas, and urgencies. To get ahead of this fast-paced and ever-transforming field, four junior staff decided to spend a year in Rome, undertaking Master’s-level studies in Rule of Law for Development. Drew Smith, Rachel Abrego, Lyndsey Raynor, and Zlata Unerkova have dedicated a year to mastering both the academic foundations of the Rule of Law field, and the practical skills to take a leadership role in designing and managing a program from inception to implementation. At the University of Chicago’s PROLAW program, Lyndsey “truly found a passion for promoting the rule of law, thanks to not only the wonderful professors and staff, but classmates from around the world,” while Rachel gained “insights into best practices and creative thinking that might have taken years of learning on the job.” The students will graduate with a Master’s of Jurisprudence, equipped with the skills and expertise to advance their careers as Rule of Law technical experts.

At the University of Chicago’s John Felice Rome Center, these four students pursued and developed their individual interests, while gaining a deeper grounding in the relevant tenets of international law and human rights. Several students singled out a class in Program Design and Proposal Development as especially helpful in building their professional portfolios. The class required the students to develop a proposal from scratch, working independently through the entire programmatic process including program design and assessment methods. While central to the implementation of rule of law programs, such proposal development skills often take years to learn on the job. In this context, the students worked with and gained input from an expert at the International Development Law Organization. Drew followed his regional interest and authored a prospective plan to create a Code of Local Authorities promoting decentralizing efforts in Tunisia. For Zlata, a highlight was her Rule of Law in Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding class. “Coming from a region historically dominated by conflict,” said Zalta. “[I appreciated the opportunity to] acquire skills in devising strategies for strengthening the rule of law in highly combustible post-conflict environments.” Outside of the classroom, Lyndsey combined her interests in communications and law in her position as PROLAW Administrative Fellow. She designed a “school-wide social media campaign in order to help the law school promote the program during admissions.” After working in ROLI’s Outreach team, Lyndsey hopes to continue seeking out opportunities to utilize her communication skills in promotion of rule of law development.

Thanks to a unique partnership between ABA ROLI and the University of Chicago, these four ROLI staff members received scholarships for tuition fees. After recognizing a need to build the capacity of practitioners operating in a field defined by rapid globalization of ideas, communications, and technology, PROLAW Director William Loris identified young professionals already engaged in the rule of law field as the “ideal students” for the program. Mr. Loris explained PROLAW’s goal to equip rule of law professionals with the knowledge and tools to work across different legal systems with sensitivity, adaptability, and competence. ROLI Deputy Director Jeff Borns comments, “We are very pleased that ABA ROLI staff have been provided this wonderful opportunity and we look forward to continuing our partnership with PROLAW.”

After completing two semesters of coursework – one focused on academic study and one more practice-based – the three students completing the program this year now turn their attention to their final capstone projects. Drew, who completed the program last year, collaborated with a Tunisian NGO to develop his draft Code of Local Authorities into a complete program design awaiting only the right grant opportunity to bring it to fruition. Following a long-term interest, Rachel will utilize a sociology lens to explore the role civic education programs might play in instilling a greater appreciation for the rule of law among populations in countries where it is threatened. While Rachel, Lyndsey, and Zlata work on their capstone projects, they are also actively networking in Rome and investigating job opportunities. Watch this space in a few months for an update on Rachel, Lyndsey, and Zlata’s completed capstone projects and career moves!

The Rule of Law for Development Program (PROLAW) “prepares professionals to advance the rule of law throughout society and across sectors, at home and abroad.” A program of Loyola University Chicago, PROLAW is taught at the John Felice Rome Center – a major hub for international organizations. The program can be completed with either an LLM or Masters of Jurisprudence, depending on students’ previous courses of study. Upon completing the program, “students are able to inspire, lead and manage efforts to strengthen the rule of law and prospects for national development.”

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of ABA ROLI.