Najwa Nabti, an alumna of the University Law School class of 2002, has been selected to clerk for the International Court of Justice, commonly known as the World Court, at The Hague.
Nabti is the recipient of the Orrick International Law Fellowship, which reimburses clerks chosen from the University of Virginia up to $40,000 for relocation costs, living expenses and housing. She is the second consecutive winner of the clerkship from the Law School. Last year's winner was Jamey Harris, who graduated from the Law School in 2005.
An international law firm, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, has committed $200,000 to the fellowship.
"Orrick has decided to [sponsor this program] because we're a global firm, and we're committed to international law. This was a good way to support that and to support students who have the opportunity to work at the World Court," said the firm's spokesperson Tim Larimer.
Nabti said she was excited about her selection.
"It's a very competitive process," Nabti said. "You're competing [for the fellowship] with any law student from U.Va. graduating anywhere from this year to five years ago, and the quality of people is very high. It's a very exciting opportunity and a great honor to represent U.Va. at The Hague."
According to Nabti, while clerking in the World Court, she will be working for one or two judges, will assist them in researching the legal and factual issues of cases, as well as assisting them in memo writing and the drafting of their decisions.
Nabti said her law studies at the University were focused mainly on international law.
"I lived abroad for a number of years, and my father's family is Lebanese. I grew up having some level of global awareness," Nabti said.
Nabti was one of only nine candidates chosen from several select universities around the world to clerk for the World Court.
"The world court invites schools to submit candidates. It's an invitational process, and U.Va. is proud to be one of the law schools in the United States to participate," said Deena Hurwitz, director of the Human Rights Program and International Human Rights Law Clinic.
"We're delighted that she won," said Cameron Cowan, a member of Orrick's executive committee. "The law school really supported her and thought she was a great candidate. We have a wonderful relationship with the law school and a commitment to international organizations ... any opportunity to give U.Va. students experience and have the candidates not worry about funding is a great opportunity."
Nabti will begin her work with the World Court in September.
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