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Lorri Ann Drazan and Courtney Knox with Ambassador Mull Sebujja Katende from Uganda at the Ugandan Embassy in Washington, D.C.

East Africa

Primarily centered in Uganda, the Center for Global Justice’s East Africa Initiative is focused around advancing the rule of law and protecting the vulnerable. Most of East Africa’s legal systems are based on the common law, the foundation of the English and American legal systems. We desire to use our legal skills to support those already working in East Africa to build nations that will uphold justice, adhere to the rule of law, and respect basic human rights.

In Uganda, Regent Law sponsors two fellows who complete year-long fellowships with International Justice Mission (IJM). The program is for students who want to begin an informed relationship with the people and legal challenges of East Africa. In Uganda, the fight against corruption and for the rule of law is vital, as are struggles for the human rights and legal empowerment of the Ugandan people. Uganda provides a rich learning environment for students who are passionate about global justice and interested in East African legal issues.

In addition, the Center student staff works on a number of projects for different organizations in Uganda, including the Director of Public Prosecutions and IJM. The student staff researches and completes legal memos on issues such as land grabbing and domestic violence. The Center also sponsors numerous internships in Uganda every summer where students work on combatting child sacrifice and land grabbing, among other issues

Center Administrative Director Ernie Walton with HILS Dean Eric Enlow

Handong

Handong International Law School (HILS) is based in Pohang, Korea and provides an American-style J.D. program for students from all over the world. Regent Law and HILS have a great partnership, working together in various capacities. One such collaborative endeavor is through the Center for Global Justice. Every year, the Center provides grants to a number of HILS students who secure internships with human rights organizations.

Past interns have served in Mongolia, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Pakistan, and work on issues like protecting persecuted believers, combating sex trafficking, reforming corrupt judicial systems, and securing asylum for refugees.

Mongolia Summer Abroad

Next trip: Summer 2021

Based on our previous experiences in Mongolia, HILS has developed a short-term Mongolia Law and Economic Development Program in conjunction with Regent University School of Law in Virginia, Shihihutug Law University in Ulaanbaatar, and the National University of Mongolia School of Law in Ulaanbaatar. The program focuses on current law and development challenges facing Mongolia.

  • Regent School of Law will join with HILS law students to participate in one full day of legal education training seminars with Mongolian professors and law students at Shihihutug Law University and the National University of Mongolia School of Law.
  • The legal education seminars will be focused on the law and development challenges currently facing Mongolia.
  • After the legal seminars, we will visit various organizations in Ulaanbaatar and hear from leaders of those organizations about what they do and how it relates to Mongolia law and development.
  • Tentatively, we are planning to visit a Mongolia Member of Parliament’s office, the Mongolia Constitutional Court, the Mongolia Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Center, the Mongolia National Legal Institute, and the Mongolia Stock Exchange.
  • Participants will also enjoy a two-day Mongolia countryside cultural experience, less than an hour and a half outside the city, where we will stay in ger lodges, ride horses, eat Mongolian traditional food, etc.
  • After the program, we would look to place the participating Regent Law students in short-term legal research internships, either in Mongolia, or in Korea.

Background: Since 2011, HILS professors have visited Mongolia at least once a year to participate in academic legal education conferences, to conduct legal education training for legal professionals and law students, to connect with HILS alumni and potential future employers of HILS alumni, and to recruit future HILS students. The institutions that HILS professors have worked with in Mongolia include: the Mongolia National Legal Institute, the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Arbitration Center, the National University of Mongolia School of Law, Mongolia International University, Lex Academia, the Office of a Mongolia Member of Parliament, and Shihihutug Law University.