Law Students

Interview with Harvard Law Student Mona Williams: 2L Chayes Fellow

By C. C.

Q: What will you be doing this summer?

This summer I will be working in Kinshasa, DRC with Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) as a legal intern for their Building Recovery and Reform through Democratic Governance (BRDG-DRC) project which is funded by USAID. The new Congolese Constitution of 2006 has mandated a reform of the judicial sector, in order to ensure a more robust, independent and fair judicial system. To that end I will be working with the Judicial Reform Advisor to plan and execute trainings and project activities in the both national and provincial judicial sectors.

Moreover, I will be monitoring Parliamentary committee sessions and providing DAI with written analyses of the committees? goals and performances in order to guide the BRDG-DRC project on potential legislative strengthening workshops.

Q: How did you come to select your internship and why?

I was interested in DAI in general and its BRDG project in particular for several reasons. First, I strongly believe in DAI?s mission, which is to affect positive change by providing societies with tools to help them achieve stability and become more just and better governed. I came to law school to learn how I could use the law to continue my desire and commitment to affect positive change in people?s lives. More specifically, I view the law as a way to expand my commitment to human rights by exploring the ways in which existing legal structures make room for human rights law.

Second, the BRDG project?s location is very appealing to me for academic and personal reasons. My mother is from the DRC, and although I have yet to travel there, it holds a compelling interest for me because my origins are there and because I have traveled to and engaged in research in Senegal and Ghana. My research has signaled to me the importance of human rights and law, and I believe that DRC, because of its history and political climate, is ripe for transformation. I strongly feel the need to be part of this transformation because there is so much work to be done, and I see the law as an extremely important facet in Congo?s transition to a democratic society.

Q: What is one thing about Harvard Law School (HLS) that you think everyone should know?

One of the most unique aspects of HLS is that no opportunity is closed to you as long as you take the preliminary steps. There are so many resources, including professors, other students, and OPIA that will help you fulfill your professional and/or academic goals, whatever they may be. Moreover, the SPIF program along with the Chayes and Human Rights fellowships make it possible to pursue international opportunities almost anywhere in the world.

[thanks to irene2005 and harvard via cc]

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Full post as published by Law Vibe on August 20, 2009 (boomark / email).