The Cincinnati Center for the Global Practice of Law is designed to encourage, facilitate, and promote international engagement in all of the College’s activities. The Center connects students to opportunities that will help them develop the competencies needed to excel in the 21st century global legal marketplace.
After a long week of law school lectures, hours studying in the library, and part-time bartending shifts at the Aronoff Center, Kentucky native Drew Dear (JD, ‘25) and his Colombian roommate Daniel Borja Pineda (LLM, ‘25), like to gather over a box of fried chicken at a favorite local chain: Popeyes.
“It started because we were hungry and didn’t have any food in the apartment,” Drew laughed. “It turned into a whole group of international students and me going to Popeyes every Sunday.”
For Drew, this type of gathering is more than a meal—it’s a cherished time for cultural exchange and conversation with his peers and legal professionals from all over the world. And something he hopes won’t end after law school.
“I kept very, very busy during my time in Cincinnati and I made a lot of friends. I wanted to make the most of this experience. Going to Bogotá was super interesting. It made me understand how even in different political situations, the way the issues are dealt with is always very similar no matter where you are.”
Throughout his yearlong LLM experience at Cincy Law, Christian Caprari managed to fit in as much as he could, from insightful conversations with professors, to playing intramural soccer, to real-world opportunities like externships and even studying abroad in Bogotá , Colombia.
Christian said he did not take for granted the support he got from the LLM department and professors alike, who helped make his experience what it was.
“I have been passionate about human rights my whole life. From the time I was young, I just couldn't understand how people could take advantage of vulnerable people. It really struck a nerve with me.”
Along with a strong sense of community and belonging that she has found at Cincy Law, the opportunities Lauren has been granted have far exceeded her expectations. Notably, this past summer she completed an internship in Spain at the International Human Rights Conference: Human Rights Defenders Under Siege.
“Cincy Law opens up so many doors. I've gained a lot of confidence in myself. Having a support system and professors who believe in you is enough inspiration to keep me going. Now, it's just me worrying that I'm not going to be able to make a big enough impact, worrying I'm going to
get into the courtroom and fail my clients. But it’s about moving forward and believing that you're doing the best that you can and to keep trying to do right by people.”
“I have to play. Even if it means I got home at 11 o'clock at night sometimes, soccer really helped balance my brain and stay sane, especially during the first year of law school…Nothing or no one can prepare you for that first year. No matter what you're told, you just don't know until you're living it. It's a lot. There is a very rigid schedule and the to-do list is never ending until finals are over. You just have to put your head down and get through it. Thankfully for me, a lot of my student athlete skills were transferable which made for an easier transition.”
Growing up on a small island off the coast of South Carolina, Miranda Weslake (JD, ‘24) had a graduating class of only 14 students. After leaving home, in addition to playing ACC soccer at Clemson, she set out to explore life beyond her hometown. She participated in multiple study abroad opportunities throughout her undergraduate and Master’s degrees and looked for the same opportunities when applying to law school.
“I came to Cincy Law because of the international law opportunities that they offered. I spent a month in Madrid and completed the spring break course in Bogota, Colombia. That was the biggest study abroad opportunity I’ve had while at Cincy Law, it was awesome.”
Cincinnati Law offers an impressive range of opportunities for students to pursue their interests in the global practice of law outside the classroom.
Whether working to advance human rights abroad through the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights, competing internationally in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, developing the competencies needed to excel in the 21st century global legal marketplace through externship placements, or participating in the International Law Society, one of the largest student organizations at the law school, students have access to a robust selection of practical opportunities.
There are numerous avenues through which students can pursue research in the field of international law. Students can engage with contemporary scholarship through working on the editorial staff of the Human Rights Quarterly and the Immigration & Human Rights Law Review. Students can also pursue their own research under the guidance of a faculty mentor through an Independent Research Project.
Cincinnati Law offers a comprehensive curriculum for the globally-minded student. Students with a particular interest in practicing in an area of international law are encouraged to explore the Concentration in International Legal Studies, which is designed to allow students to demonstrate their knowledge of the field.
Our LLM program in the U.S. Legal System prepares its graduates to better represent U.S. and non-U.S. clients and sharpens their negotiation, litigation, and transactional skills. LLM students are integrated into our JD classes and can tailor their studies to their professional goals. Non-U.S. law school graduates may also choose to pursue one of our UC Law graduate certificate programs for international students.
Both LLM and JD students have the opportunity to take short courses abroad with one of our partner institutions, and the College regularly hosts scholars and practitioners specializing in various areas of international law as distinguished visitors, lecturers, and instructors.
The College’s alumni regularly go on to practice in areas of international law, whether working at large firms, small nonprofits, or government agencies. The College maintains ties to alumni practicing in the international arena in part through the International Advisory Council, a group of faculty, staff, and alumni concerned with advancing global engagement at the College of Law and expanding opportunities for students.
Students interested in pursuing international legal studies at UC Law are encouraged to request information about admission. You can also contact Center staff, listed below, to learn more about specific opportunities for international engagement at the College.
Professor Jacob Cogan,
In Between and Across: Legal History Without Boundaries (Oxford University Press, 2024), co-edited with Professor Kenneth W. Mack of Harvard University, available from the publisher here; and
Contemporary Practice of the United States Relating to International Law, 118 Am. J. Int’l L. 533 (2024), available here.
Professor Ryan Thoreson,
“Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling” Oxford Human Rights Hub blog: Trump’s Education Order Undermines Trans Children’s Rights (Feb. 4, 2025).
Judge Joseph P. Kinneary Professor of Law | Co-Director, Cincinnati Center for the Global Practice of Law | Affiliate Faculty, Department of History, College of Law | Affiliate Faculty, Department of History
529 College of Law Building
Assistant Dean for International & Graduate Programs & Director, Co-Director, Cincinnati Center for the Global Practice of Law,LLM Program, College of Law
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August 21, 2024
The University of Cincinnati College of Law will host Global Engagement Week, recognizing the importance of international connections and work within the legal community.
May 9, 2023
Students in the College of Law traveled to Bogotá, Colombia during spring break as part of a short course exploring international trade, human rights and transitional justice.
January 24, 2023
For law firm partner Frinwi Achu the UC Law LLM degree was critical to her career success.
December 1, 2022
UC Law graduate Juanita Acosta credits UC Law's LLM program for her professional success.
November 4, 2020
Before attending the University of Cincinnati College of Law, Nawfal Ali Aljabali had already worked to fight for human rights in the Middle East. Finding the work fulfilling, he knew he wanted to continue in this area. Aljabali chose to continue his education at UC Law so he could do more with his law degree, both in the United States and back home in Yemen.
May 17, 2019
The University of Cincinnati College of Law has fewer than 400 students, but some travel thousands of miles around the globe to enroll.
