Week 8
As my internship wraps up, I’m reflecting on how impactful working with the ABA Rule of Law Initiative has been.
During an all-staff meeting in early July, we were informed that retired Supreme Court Justice Breyer would head the board after the 2022 ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago in August, where he would also receive the 2022 ABA Medal, the ABA’s highest honor, due in part to his support for the ABA and the Rule of Law. It feels a bit surreal to be working with an organization headed by a former Supreme Court Justice, and his appointment as head of the board reinforces how influential the ABA is in the field of justice and the rule of law.
Additionally, ABA ROLI is the organization that pioneered the field of Rule of Law, a field that I have been interested in since deciding to attend law school. It has been so impressive to witness firsthand how ABA ROLI uses the Rule of Law as a tool to advance human rights, aid constitution building, and support transitional justice internationally. ABA ROLI's collaborative approach to the international rule of law work is something I admire a great deal. Their approach requires an understanding of how systems in other countries work and why they work that way before offering views on how to approach these challenges. Understanding how systems work in other countries provides the most effective problem solving for international issues. In addition, many of ABA ROLI's international projects focus on offering suggestions and providing actors within the country with the tools to continue strengthening justice and the rule of law long after the project is over.
For example, my team members on the Afghanistan Response Project initially went to the United Arab Emirates Humanitarian City to help the pro-bono attorneys working with Afghan refugees to secure onward movement. On top of working to help Afghan refugees find places to resettle permanently, they also worked to assess needs and discover what kind of aid would be helpful going forward. Thus, the research project I worked on this summer is meant to be a tool to help Afghan refugees secure onward movement, even when ABA is not physically there providing aid.
I feel so honored to have worked on this project. Knowing that my work would be used to help Afghan refugees in need is highly moving. I also learned a great deal about international asylum procedures, which I hadn’t been familiar with before the internship, and I found it highly fascinating work. I also got to meet and work alongside so many amazing people, including several pro-bono attorneys with the Afghanistan Response Project. I have so much respect for the work that these pro-bono attorneys do in committing themselves to such challenging work. It is no secret that asylum/immigration law comes with many setbacks and challenges and can be emotionally taxing. The number of refugees needing legal help far surpasses the amount of pro-bono legal services available, and many regulations exist to complicate further the process of securing onward movement for refugees. Seeing how committed these attorneys remain to helping those in need despite all of the challenges is highly inspirational. It motivates me to know that my law degree may put me in a position to help those in need like this.
And finally, I’m so thankful to have worked with such a kind and welcoming team and to have met all of the amazing people I did. Being an intern after 1L year when it feels like you still have so much to learn can be quite intimidating. I am so lucky to have been on a team that immediately made me feel welcome and genuinely wanted me to get the most out of my internship.
My time with the ABA has been a fantastic experience. I got to learn about a field that I have always been interested in. It provided a very real look into the challenges that international rule of law work can pose, especially regarding refugee/asylum laws. It allowed me to develop new skills and strengthen my legal research abilities. It helped me to learn more about myself and what kind of work I am interested in pursuing after law school. I look forward to bringing these new skills, experiences, and perspectives with me as I begin my 2L year.