Human Security Law Center

The Human Security Law Center was added in 2005 to William & Mary's array of well-respected programs for specialized study.

Developed in the shadow of a complex global landscape, the Human Security Law Center's core objective is creating citizen lawyers with an appreciation for national security issues through educating and exposing students to the interplay between national defense and the protection of civil rights.

The program is enhanced by a wide range of related courses that provide a strong basis for legal education in this area of study. Further, reflected in its Distinguished Lecture Series and in the symposia that the program co-sponsors, the Human Security Law Center proudly provides a forum for healthy discussion of national security law related matters. 

In conjunction with the Center for Legal and Court Technology, the program is able to explore courtroom technology and advanced legal forensics to meet the growing needs of international law and alternative dispute resolution. 

For students who want to gain experience through international public interest internships, William & Mary School of Law offers summer fellowships to provide funding.

These aspects of the program work together to generate an academic structure for a sophisticated and practical understanding of national security law and human rights issues that face the national and the international community.

The director of the Human Security Law Center is Nancy Combs, Vice Dean and Professor of Law.  Prior to joining the faculty, Professor Combs served as legal advisor at the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal in The Hague, The Netherlands. Since joining the faculty, she has written extensively on topics in international law and international criminal justice, publishing two books and numerous articles and essays. She currently serves as member of the International Expert Framework, an international working group that is developing general rules and principles of international criminal procedure. 

.