Rule of Law Academy

Call for Applications

The Rule of Law Academy will bring together 18 law students from around the world (12 international/6 german students) for intensive study in a block seminar. The program introduces students to comparative law methods and engages them in deep study of a common constitutional law issue or topic that is central to the rule of law, encompassing issues of state organization or basic rights. The Rule of Law Academy is administered by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. in cooperation with respected academic partners: The Washington & Lee University School of Law, Virginia USA (represented by Prof. Russell Miller) and BSP Business and Law School, Berlin Germany (represented by Prof. Dr. Alexander Thiele). The seminar will take place in Berlin during the week 23 February to 2 March 2025.

The program of the Rule of Law Academy will involve intensive reading assignments followed by guided discussions around the seminar table. That reading material will focus first on the theory and method of comparative law and will then feature several sessions considering a selected substantive topic of constitutional law related to the rule of law. The classroom component of the seminar will end with student-led group presentations that call on the students to reflect on the new substantive material they have encountered as well as on their engagement with the different legal systems and legal cultures represented in the program. The seminar’s academic dimension will be reinforced by a visit to the German Bundestag and probably to the German Federal Constitutional Court.

Participants 2024

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Houssein A. Al Malla

Houssein is a Research Fellow and Doctoral Researcher at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies. Currently, he is investigating the legal frameworks governing sanctions, their enforcement mechanisms, and the evolving nature of sanction evasion strategies. At the University of Hamburg, Houssein is also lecturer of Foreign Policy Analysis and Global Security Studies.

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Johannes Anton

Johannes Anton is a legal trainee in Bavaria. He studied law at the University Bayreuth with additional training in economics and worked at a chair for International and European law. He is currently at the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer and is preparing for the second state exam.

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Sabrina Callendar-Clewett

Sabrina Callender-Clewett is a 2L at Washington and Lee University School of Law, and previously received her undergraduate degree from Colgate University majoring in Philosophy with a double minor in Economics and Environmental Studies. Before attending law school, Sabrina worked as a corporate paralegal in Washington, D.C. for three years.

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Phillip Shaffer Day

Shaffer Day is a 2L at Washington and Lee University School of Law. Prior to law school he graduated from Washington and Lee University with a BS in Accounting and received a Masters of Science in Accounting from Wake Forest University. Currently, he is serving as a Junior Editor on the German Law Journal.

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Benedict Ertelt

Benedict Ertelt is a PhD student in the field of constitutional law at the chair of Prof Dr Britz (Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen). In addition to his doctorate, he teaches public law at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and works as a research assistant in an international law firm in the field of public commercial law and environmental law.

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Lukas Graute

Lukas Graute is a law student at the Humboldt University in Berlin. He has worked and studied abroad for three years, with academic stays at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. In addition to preparing for the German bar exam, he works in an international law firm and holds a scholarship from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

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Maxwell M. Hanamirian

Maxwell Hanamirian is a 3L at Washington and Lee University School of Law. He also received his B.S. in Business Administration from Washington and Lee University. Maxwell is the Lead Executive Editor of the German Law Journal.

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Maeve Harris

Maeve Harris is a third-year law student at Washington and Lee University School of Law where she also serves as a Senior Articles Editor on the German Law Journal. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Virginia.

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Mitchel Namalwa Kakai

Mitchel Kakai is a final year law student at Kenyatta University with a passion in International Human Rights Law. Her most recent milestone is her upcoming book chapter, published by the Pretoria University Law Press in 2024, which delves into the comparative application of Botswana and Kenya's constitutions in safeguarding the rights of sexual and gender minorities in Africa.

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Judith Kärn

Judith Kärn enjoys interdisciplinary research at the interface between law, politics and administrative sciences. She studied political and administrative sciences and law. She pursues her passion for law and public administration as a Junior Researcher at the Deutsche Universität für Verwaltungswissenschaften in Speyer.

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Yi Qian Lai

Yi Qian Lai is currently a senior year LLB student at Singapore Management University. Having participated in a few moots during her university days, Yi Qian is interested in areas of international law, international affairs, and different legal systems. During her free time, she loves to travel, read, try new things, and catch up on sleep.

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Woly Lo

Woly Lo is currently in the 2nd year of her thesis at the Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences at Cheikh Anta Diop University. She has a Master's degree in Human Rights, Humanitarian Action and Peace from the same university. She is particularly interested in human rights and constitutionalism, international jurisdictions and the protection of vulnerable groups.

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Maria Loewen

Maria Loewen is a fourth-year law student in Hamburg and has just finished her major in Private International and Comparative Law, such as Dispute Resolution. She has recently started preparing for her first state exam, whilst continuing her work as a research assistant at a chair for Law and Innovation.

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Oswaldo Ruiz Mera

Oswaldo Ruiz is a law student at University San Francisco de Quito and is on the Chancellor's list for Academic Excellence. Oswaldo has focused his studies in Constitutional Law and International Human Rights Law where he has obtained a sub-specialization from the same university. Oswaldo is a teaching assistant in the area of constitutional processes and is also a research assistant in the area of human rights.

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Mikayla M. Nasis

Mikayla Nasis is a second-year law student at Washington and Lee University School of Law. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Texas A&M University. She is a Junior Editor for the German Law Journal.

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Sasipa Pruksadachan

Sasipa Pruksadachan is a Ph.D. candidate in comparative Rule of Law at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen. She/They eagerly anticipate participation in the Rule of Law Academy, bringing interest in comparative legal culture to enrich the dialogue and learning experience.

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Dumitrita-Gabriela Rogojînaru

Dumitrița Rogojînaru is currently pursuing an LLM in New Technologies at the University of Bucharest. With a background in advocacy and active citizenship, she is deeply passionate about exploring how fundamental principles, justice, and digitalization intersect and complement each other.

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Will Stanley

William Stanely is a second-year student at Washington and Lee University School of Law. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a degree in history in 2018, and from James Madison University with a master’s degree in history in 2020. At Washington and Lee, he is a junior editor on the German Law Journal, and a member of the National Security and Military Law Society

Participants 2025

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S. Lilli Marshall

Lilli is a second-year law student at Washington and Lee School of Law and serves as a junior staff writer for the German Law Journal. Originally from Melbourne, Florida, Lilli’s passion for comparative constitutional law was influenced by current global challenges to democratic institutions and the rule of law, particularly in light of the January 6th events and their aftermath. Her research focuses primarily on the resilience of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany, specifically in light of Poland’s recent developments.

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Felipe Franco-Gutierrez

Felipe Franco-Gutierrez is a Colombian lawyer and international affairs professional, with an M.A in International Affairs from American University School of International Service (U.S.A) and postgraduate degrees on human rights and administrative law from Colombia and Sweden. He currently works as a project coordinator of the Rule of Law Programme for Latin America at Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and is also a university lecturer on public international law and international human rights law.

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Tatiana Al Hasrouti

Tatiana Al Hasrouti is a Lebanese trainee lawyer at the Beirut Bar Association and a graduate student specializing in Middle Eastern studies at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Milan. With a strong background in NGO work and a commitment to upholding the rule of law, she is deeply engaged in MENA affairs and human rights. Her thesis examines the concept of militias in post-war Lebanon, highlighting her dedication to addressing complex regional challenges.

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Lukas Dreßel

Lukas Dreßel studies law at the University of Bayreuth, majoring in human rights. Lukas previously graduated in Law and Economics (LL.B.) with a focus on Business and Human Rights and a minor in Computer Science. His interest in comparative law, constitutional law, and EU Business and Human Rights legislation is fueled by his experience in industry and think tanks.

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Mark Anderson

Mark Anderson is originally from California and he is a graduate of UC Berkeley, where he studied English and History. His primary interests within the field of law are constitutional law and criminal law, and he intends to pursue government or public interest work after graduation.

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Rugenge wa Nciko

Rugenge wa Nciko is an LLB candidate at Kabarak University Law School and serves as a board member of the Kabarak Legal Aid Clinic (CLACLE). Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rugenge is deeply committed to advancing human rights and criminal justice within the DRC, across Africa, and globally. His research, advocacy and campaign interests aim to address pressing social justice challenges and to contribute meaningfully to policy discourse on human rights and democratization.

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Tshering Doelkar

Tshering Doelkar is a fourth-year law student at Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law, with internship experiences at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) (Virtual), the Royal Court of Justice in Bhutan, and the Bhutan Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (BADRC). With a passion for international environmental law, common law systems, and international alternative dispute resolution, Tshering is dedicated to deepening their expertise in these areas. Aspiring to enhance their understanding of comparative law and constitutional principles, Tshering looks forward to the guided discussions offered by the Rule of Law Academy.

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Robert Brandts

Robert Brandts is a law student at Humboldt University of Berlin, holding a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Centre for International Studies at TU Dresden. His previous experience includes academic stays in Bogotá (Colombia) and Santiago de Chile. He works at a chair for constitutional law and holds a scholarship from Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

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Jonas Reichert

Jonas Reichert studied law at Humboldt University of Berlin, La Sapienza in Rome and at King’s College London. He works as research assistant at Hermann Pünder’s chair of public law at Bucerius Law School (Hamburg) and teaches fundamental rights, administrative law and state responsibility. His research concentrates on the public finances of the European Union.

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Kailee Jackson-Russo

Kailee Jackson-Russo is a 2nd year law student at Washington and Lee School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, USA. Before law school, Ms. Jackson-Russo worked for several nonprofits focused on community building through domestic violence prevention, public health initiatives, and ending femicide. She is looking forward to continuing her policy and legal work with the insights from the Rule of Law Academy.

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Leposava Ognjanoska Stavrovska

Leposava Ognjanoska Stavrovska holds a PhD in EU Law and European Integration from the Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" and currently teaches at the International Balkan University in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her research focuses on the role of rule of law as a founding value in the European Union, with a focus on EU enlargement policy in the Western Balkans. During her doctoral studies, she received a scholarship from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung's Rule of Law Program for Southeast Europe.

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Selin Tuğçe Şimşek

I graduated in Law and English Translation in Turkey and currently work as a freelance lawyer registered with the Izmir Bar Association, as well as an English legal translator. I am now pursuing a master’s degree in Transnational Law at the University of Bremen, focusing my thesis on the U.S. and German Constitutions. In addition to my expertise in law, I am also actively interested in politics.

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Hannah Bradley

Hannah Bradley is a law student at Washington and Lee University from Virginia, United States. She previously earned her bachelor's degree in political science with focuses on leadership and national security from Christopher Newport University, where she graduated with honors from the President's Leadership Program.

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Xander Davies

Xander Davies is a student at Washington and Lee University, School of Law and a Junior Editor of the German Law Journal. His work includes research into how the United States Constitution might limit extraterritorial laws passed by the United States through the recognition of limited international grants of jurisdiction.

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Narin Nosrati

Narin Nosrati is a Ph.D. Candidate and Research Assistant at the Chair of Public and International Law at LMU Munich. She studied law at the University of Bonn and Paris-Saclay, completed a traineeship at the Court of Justice of the European Union, and undertook a research stay at the European University Institute. She also serves as an editor for the European Journal of Consumer Law and the European Legal Studies Journal.

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Will Vardy

Will Vardy is a current J.D. student at Washington & Lee University’s School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, in the Southeastern United States. He previously completed graduate studies in national security at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C., from which he also received his bachelor's degree in political science. He is also a published historian on counterinsurgency—focusing primarily on the Lusosphere; his most recent book, Concrete Inferno: Terror and Torture under Brazil’s Military Regime, 1964–1985, was published in 2023 by Rowman & Littlefield.

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Rafaa Mazrui

Rafaa Mazrui is currently a candidate in the Advocates Training Program at the Kenya School of Law, preparing for her bar exams in 2024. She holds an LL.M. in European Legal Perspectives with a specialization in International Economic Law from the University of Cologne, Germany, and completed her LL.B. at Kenyatta University, Kenya. With a professional background as a consultant at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Rule of Law Program for Sub-Saharan Africa, she is dedicated to promoting legal reforms that support human rights and governance across the continent. Beyond her professional pursuits, Rafaa enjoys cooking, reading, and interior designing in her free time.

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Helen Obermeier

Helen Obermeier is a legal trainee at an international law firm in Düsseldorf, having studied law at the University of Münster, specializing in private international law. Her interests focus on international legal practice, the strengthening of legal principles, and exploring the intersection of law and political and economic dynamics. She has also participated in a political leadership program, further refining her understanding of the legal dimensions of public affairs and political processes.