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• HOW TO APPLY FOR A DOCTORAL DEGREE

Doctoral Degree

- application for semester 1, session 2024/2025 is now open..

* Deadline for Coursework / Mix Mode is 30 August 2024 * Application for Research Semester 2, Session 2023/2024 is still open until  31 May 2024

1) Applications must be submitted online through our application portal at https://apply.um.edu.my 2) Choose programme(s) 3) Complete your application - Personal details, academic qualifications, etc. 4) Upload document - Passport, photo, academic transcript, certificate, etc. 5) Pay processing fee via Payment Gateway FPX, Debit/ Credit Card, Flywire. Payment of processing fees: (a) Malaysian applicants: RM50.00 (b) International applicants: RM300.00 6) Submit your application and receive acknowledgement of your application via email. 7) Check the application status on the application portal. 8) Accept the offer on the application portal.

UM EXPERT APPLY Note : Universiti Malaya will not process any incomplete online application including those without processing fees.

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• J.D./Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Policy
• Joint Degrees & Concentrations

Due to the demand for researchers and policymakers with interdisciplinary training in both law and environmental science, we offer a joint degree program that enables students to earn a J.D. from the School of Law and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Policy (ECR) from the   Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy  and  Rosenstiel School for Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science

Who Should Consider this Joint Program?

This program enables students with strong interests in both environmental policy and law to prepare for careers in either the private or public sector in a shorter amount of time than if pursuing both degrees separately.

As an intensive program, it provides high-level knowledge and research experience and is especially suited to those seeking to:

• Implement and impact environmental policy and regulation at the state or national levels
• Engage in cutting-edge research related to environmental policy in an academic setting
• Serve as environmental legal consultants or litigators
• Work with international agencies, governments, or organizations
• Gain expertise in environmental science for those with the desire to go into environmental law
• Understand legal fundamentals in order to work on marine conservation and coastal conservation issues, and need to understand some legal fundamentals in order to formulate policy recommendations for these regimes.

Snapshot: Timing, Credits Saved, Scholarship

Begin Taking Graduate Courses

Depends which program begins first

Shortest Completion Time

12 semesters

J.D. Credits Required

Graduate PGM Credits Required

Number of Credits Saved

21 (9 J.D., 12 Ph.D.)

Masters Scholarships

Ph.D. Fellowship and $25,000 law school tuition for 2 years

Schedule & Credits

The joint program enables students to obtain both a J.D. and a Ph.D. in 6 years. Students fulfill all requirements of the current J.D. and ECR Ph.D. programs, including completing and defending a doctoral dissertation. One full year of the six will be spent taking courses in the School of Law, and the additional five years are spent taking both Law and ECS courses.  Click here to see schedule and credit specifics  about entering the program through the School of Law and for information about entering through the PhD program.

Scholarships and Tuition

Students will receive 4 years worth of stipends and tuition waivers from the ECR program for their PhD work, with the obligation to serve as a Teaching Assistant for 1 year out of the 4. The Law School will provide a $25,000 tuition scholarship for the first year in Law School, and then, assuming the student is in the top half of his/her class, a comparable scholarship ($25,000) pro-rated for subsequent years depending on the number of law school credits by semester.

Application Process

Students wishing to pursue the J.D./Ph.D. program must be admitted to both the J.D. and ECR Ph.D. programs separately. J.D. students wishing to pursue the J.D./Ph.D. program must apply to the ECR Ph.D. program for admission no later than Fall semester of their second year of law school. Enrolled law students who are subsequently accepted into the joint program must notify the law school registrar before taking their first ECR credits.

In order to be accepted to the Law School, students must take the LSAT and complete the online Law School application. In order to be accepted to the Ph.D. program, students must take the GRE and complete the ECR Ph.D. application.

Acceptance by one program does not in any way indicate or guarantee acceptance by the other degree program.

For More Information

J.D. Program Terrell E. West II Associate Registrar Office of the Law Registrar Phone: 305-284-2685 Email:  [email protected]

Ph.D. Program Andee Holzman Associate Director Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy Email:  [email protected]

Dr. Jennifer Jaquet Abess/EVR Graduate Program Director Email: [email protected] Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy Phone: 305-284-8259 Web: www.cesp.miami.edu

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DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD)

This is a pure research programme and there are no course modules for this programme. Candidates are required to attend and pass Research Methodology course within the first two semesters of candidature and all the graduation requirements before being conferred the Degree. The medium of thesis is in Malay or English,or Arabic, but under special circumstances, the Senate may approve the use of a language other than Malay, English or Arabic for the thesis concerned.

The candidates will carry out focused research in their area of specialization, which is of immediate relevance to local interest. They will be alert to the challenges faced in the international arena through the seminars, conferences and many more.

Students may also choose to undertake research in the one of the following areas of specialization:

• Fiqh and Usul Fiqh
• Shariah Law and Comparative Law
• Islamic Economy and Comparative Economy
• Islamic Management and Islamic Finance
• Siasah Syar’iyyah and Islamic Governance
• Aqidah and Islamic Thought
• Al-Qur’an and al-Hadith
• Islamic History and Islamic Civilization
• Da’wah and Human Development

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• Shariah Advisor
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Course Structure

This PhD programme is purely based on individual supervised research. At the end of the candidate's study, a thesis must be submitted and upon successful defense of the paper, the candidate will be granted PhD status. All research proposals must be approved and supervised by the Faculty. PhD candidates’ thesis must not exceed 100,000 words. They are required to complete their studies within 12 semesters.

Language Requirement

Entry requirement, intake schedule.

• Application and admission are open throughout the year.

Please Click Here For Information

How To Apply

CLICK HERE to Apply

Last Update: 22/05/2022

How to Find a Strong Human Rights Law Program

Target law schools with human rights law clinics and journals, as well as a broad selection of relevant courses.

Find a Strong Human Rights Law Program

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An introductory course on human rights law is a start, but a good human rights law program should have a variety of related course offerings.

Key Takeaways:

• Look for more than an introductory course on human rights law.
• Find out what law faculty know and are doing that's relevant.
• Find out what the school's students specializing in human rights law do after graduating.

Clinical opportunities, quality professors and active student organizations are important criteria when choosing a law school with a solid human rights program, experts say, and students should carefully research programs to find their best fit.

The Human Rights Clinic at the University of Miami School of Law "played a major role in my decision of where to attend law school,” says Gita Howard, a human rights attorney who graduated from the Florida law school in 2021.

Howard’s initial interest in pursuing international human rights law was formed during the many summers she spent in India growing up. She says she developed a nuanced understanding of global issues and a drive to create a positive global impact.

“International human rights law seemed like a tangible and meaningful way to pursue my passion for social change.”

Finding a strong human rights law program is important to prepare students for a successful career as a human rights lawyer, experts say. Here are the top features they say students should be looking for in a program.

A Broad Selection of Human Rights Law Courses

An introductory course on human rights law is a start, but a good human rights law program should have a variety of related course offerings, experts say.

Prospective students should research whether the program offers courses “on the full spectrum of international human rights law,” says Diane A. Desierto, professor of law and global affairs at the University of Notre Dame Law School in Indiana, where she also is faculty director of the LL.M. in International Human Rights Law and founding director of the Global Human Rights Clinic.

Such courses should include civil, political, economic, social, cultural, developmental, environmental and labor topics, “as well as the frontier courses on the expanding applications of international human rights law across public law and private law ,” she says.

Desierto says students should also find out whether a program offers legal and interdisciplinary methods, as well as theoretical and experiential opportunities to gain expertise in international human rights law.

Experienced Human Rights Law Faculty

Other features to look for in a program are faculty actively working on human rights law projects, faculty publishing human rights law papers and scholar-practitioners.

Notre Dame's program, for example, enables students “to customize their learning, training, and mentoring according to specific professional objectives across different forms of human rights law practice,” Desierto says. The small class sizes mean students have access to one-on-one mentoring and customized learning from different experts throughout the university and its global campuses abroad.

Students already in law school who want to specialize in human rights "should be researching which faculty are specializing in human rights in their scholarship and courses,” says Anna Ivey, founder of Ivey Consulting, which helps people apply to selective U.S. colleges and law schools.

An Impressive Job Attainment Record

Desierto says it's important to look into whether a program invests in the well-being and success of their students during and after graduation.

“Our program does this extensively during the student's matriculation into the program, as well as in supporting postgraduate clerkships and internships in international, regional and national courts and tribunals and organizations,” Desierto says. The program measures success by how its students "flourish and succeed in their work of striving for human rights outcomes in their respective countries and communities."

It's also important to find out whether alumni are working with major human rights institutions. Ivey recommends students check law schools' social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, "to see what alums work in the field to get a sense of the alumni network for that specialization.”

A Human Rights Clinic or Law Journal

Participating in a human rights law clinic or contributing to human rights law journals is important on the resumes of aspiring human rights lawyers, as positions in the field are competitive, experts say.

“Human rights clinics provide a really critical opportunity for students to develop their knowledge of human rights law, as well as practice the necessary skills to succeed in the field under the guidance of experts,” Howard says.

For example, the Human Rights Clinic at the University of Miami provides students with experiential learning opportunities in U.S. and international human rights litigation and advocacy, allowing students to work with the United Nations and the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights.

“Its inspiring professors and meaningful projects gave me the skills, support and network necessary to pursue a career in human rights law,” Howard says.

Apart from looking at whether a law school offers clinics or journals dedicated to human rights law, Ivey recommends looking at whether such a journal “hosts some kind of annual symposium on the topic.”

Other activities, such as participation in relevant student groups, are important, experts say. For example, Howard served as president and co-founder of the Human Rights Society, an advocacy organization at her school.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Law school can be expensive and human rights law may not pay as well as other law specialties, so scholarship opportunities are an important consideration, experts say.

Experts say a law school’s investment in human rights law can be seen in scholarships offered to students in the discipline. Students can check a school's website for scholarship information. Notre Dame's program typically provides full scholarships for 15 to 20 students, Desierto says.

There are also fellowships available during and after law school. Twice, Howard was a HOPE Fellow, receiving funding to pursue public interest summer jobs while in law school. She spent her first summer interning at the Tibetan Legal Association in Dharamsala, India, and her second summer as an intern for the U.N.'s Office of Legal Affairs in the general legal division.

“After law school, a common way to break into the human rights field is through a fellowship with a human rights organization,” Howard says.

Howard received a Human Rights Program Fellowship from her law school with a placement at Human Rights First, a nonprofit, nonpartisan international human rights organization. After her fellowship, she was brought on as an associate attorney. She notes that fellowship opportunities often require funding from a student's law school, as well.

“It can be helpful for students to research whether fellowship funding is currently or potentially available at a prospective law school,” Howard says.

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PhD and Other Doctoral Degree Programmes

Admission Requirements, Specializations and Potential Supervisors List of PhD Programmes for Academic Year 2024/2025 1st Semester

Admission Requirements for Other Doctoral Degree Programmes  for Academic Year 2024/2025

Admission Requirements

General Entry (for Master’s Degree Holders)

Possess a Master’s degree or academic background recognized as equivalent by the University of Macau.

Accelerated Entry (for UM Master Students)

Have been registered in a Master’s Programme at the University of Macau for at least one year. Have successfully finished the coursework part with outstanding performance and have demonstrated strong research ability.

Direct Entry (for Bachelor’s Degree Holders)

Possess a Bachelor’s degree with outstanding performance and have demonstrated strong research ability.

Proof of English Proficiency  ( Details )

Applicants who received their Bachelor’s/Master’s degree from a university where the medium of instruction was not English are required to provide any of the following as proof of English proficiency:

• Obtained a TOEFL* score of 550 (paper-based examination) / 80 (Internet-based examination) or above or,
• An IELTS* overall score of 6.0 or above with no sub-score lower than 5.5 or,
• College English Test (CET) score is acceptable to some academic units, please visit corresponding website of each academic unit for details.

*Note: TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date.

Admission Guidelines

Macao Students

Mainland china students, hk/taiwan students, international students.

List of PhD and Other Doctoral Degree Programmes

Mayes, ’74, Receives Distinguished Alumni Award

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Michigan Law Recognizes Outstanding Students

Rigorous Academic Opportunities

International Transactions Clinic Students Travel to Kenya with Ross International Investment Fund

Biennial Simpson Lecture Explores Different Connections between History and the Law

In A2Z , Dean Sarah Zearfoss employs her years of experience working as the Dean of Admissions to help students prepare better applications for law school. 

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From the development of its first curriculum in 1859, Michigan Law’s aim has been to provide a legal education that is both theoretical and practical. 

We strive to make it possible for the best and brightest to attend Michigan Law, and to attract and retain world-class faculty to teach them.

Join us in our mission to build the future of legal education.

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The people are the best thing about Michigan Law. The culture fostered by the people here make this place so magical. Melissa Menta Class of 2026

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In our Better Know a Professor video series, we speak with Michigan Law faculty members to understand their approach to teaching, legal areas of interest, and what they value most in their relationships with students. 

If you want to understand the scholars and legal experts you’ll learn from as a Michigan Law student, these interviews are an invaluable source of information. 

News and Events

Michele Coleman Mayes, ’74, Receives Michigan Law’s Distinguished Alumni Award

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Alumni & friends service day, spring 2024 senior day.

The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anisininew, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More

Faculty of Law

University of manitoba.

University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2

Programs of study

The University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law houses three programs, including Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM) and Canada’s first interdisciplinary Master of Human Rights (MHR) degree. Students enrolled in these programs obtain the highest quality of education, studying with accomplished professors and engaging in experiential learning beyond the classroom. 

• Juris Doctor program
• Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration program
• Master of Laws
• Master of Human Rights

Programs of Study

Indigenous Initiatives: Please visit the Indigenous Initiatives page to learn more about Indigenous-related curriculum, admissions and extracurricular opportunities.

Juris Doctor - JD

First year registration:  You will receive instructions to your UM email on how to register for classes.

The Faculty of Law offers a three-year Juris Doctor (JD) program, which provides students with a strong foundation of doctrinal and perspective courses, and experiential learning to help prepare them for the legal profession. Students will develop writing and critical analysis skills under faculty guidance, expanding their perspective and ethical understanding of the role of legal professionals.

• Admission to first year
• Admission to upper years
• JD program concentrations
• Academic Calendar course descriptions
• Extended course descriptions (restricted)
• Register for the JD program
• Student Supports
• Clinical Learning
• JD Policies and Procedures

Deadline to apply: December 1, annually. First year students apply in early September. Upper year students apply in early November.  Apply now

Start or continue your application

Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration - JD/MBA

(in effect for 2024 Fall Term)

As one of Canada’s U15 universities, the University of Manitoba is proud to offer students the opportunity to concurrently complete the curriculum requirements for a Juris Doctor (JD) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree over four years.

• Admission and Fees
• About the Program
• Graduation Program

Master of Laws - LLM

The Master of Laws program is an advanced, thesis-based, research-intensive program allowing students the flexibility to choose the area of research they want to focus on. Throughout the program, students will work closely with excellent, dedicated professors with a diverse range of research interests.

• Admission to Master of Laws
• Program information
• Course Streams
• Thesis Advisor FAQs
• Thesis Student FAQs
• Register for the LLM program

Deadline to apply: December 15, annually. Apply Now .

Master of Human Rights - MHR

The University of Manitoba’s Master of Human Rights (MHR) program is the first of its kind to be offered in Canada. This interdisciplinary professional program will train students both practically and academically for careers in human rights work. The program is a collaboration of the faculties of Arts, Education, Law and Social Work.

• Admission to Master of Human Rights
• Program Cost, Content and Course Listing
• List of Potential Faculty Advisors
• Practicum Information
• Program Faculty and Staff
• Human Rights Tour
• MHR Student Portal (restricted)

Frequently Asked Questions

• Practicum Student FAQ
• Practicum Faculty Advisor FAQ
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• Thesis Student FAQ

MHR Program InfoSession Recording

Deadline to apply: December 1, annually. Apply Now .

Start of Continue Your application

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Connect with us about programs

Program admissions.

Faculty of Law 224 Dysart Road University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

Doctor of Philosophy in Law

Introduction.

Since 2007, the Faculty of Law at the University of Macau has been offering a Doctor of Philosophy in Law program. The courses in the program are taught in English, aiming to enhance the students’ academic proficiency, research skills, and global perspectives. Upon successful completion of their studies, the graduates will be equipped with the essential skills required for engaging in theoretical legal research and practice in Macau or other regions. For their thesis, students have the options to compose in either Chinese, English, or Portuguese.

Programme Intended Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an thorough, advanced and integrated knowledge of the literature of the academic field of their specialization;
• Compare the primary legal sources, principles and processes of diverse legal systems and their respective cultures;
• Apply different research methodologies to legal research on the theories, historical developments, and practical implications of the legal sources relevant for their research;
• Produce new knowledge through original research made available in different formats of publishable quality.

Specialization

• Jurisprudence and Legal History
• Constitutional Law, Basic Law and Administrative Law
• Civil, Procedural and Commercial Law
• Criminal and Procedural Law
• International Law
• Comparative Law
• European Union Law
• International Business Law and Dispute Resolution
• Law on Technology and Medicine

For general PhD information, please visit the Graduate School

• General Regulations Governing PhD Programme
• Supplementary Guidelines regarding the Thesis Format (for Chinese Language)
• PhD Programme Study Plan
• PhD Programme Course Description
• Supplementary Guidelines Governing the PhD Programme of the Faculty of Law

Biden Graduated 76th in a Class of 85 at Syracuse University College of Law in 1968?

A meme about joe biden's placement in his 1968 graduating class went viral in april 2024., jordan liles, published april 22, 2024.

About this rating

In April 2024 – just months away from the November U.S. elections –  a meme was virally shared on Facebook , X and other websites showing a past photo of President Joe Biden with the words, "Graduated 76th in a Class of 85." As of this writing, it was unclear who created the meme or where it was first posted. Searches with reverse-image search tools showed few results.

One of the popular posts appeared as follows:

"Did Biden graduate 76th out of a class of 85?," a reader asked Snopes in email. "Saw it posted by a friend on Facebook today 4/19 with an image of a grad that looks kinda like him shaking hands with someone else. Both in regalia. Black & white photo."

This claim was true. Biden finished 76th academically in a class of 85 at Syracuse University College of Law in 1968. This fact was previously confirmed in decades-old reporting from  The Associated Press ,  The New York Times ,  The Washington Post  and others. Many of the dated reports publishing this news cited records that Biden himself released in the late 1980s.

The picture featured in the meme showed Biden with the Rev. William J. Byron, the former president of the University of Scranton. It was captured at the 1976 undergraduate commencement ceremony where Biden – then a U.S. senator – received an honorary degree and addressed students with a speech. Byron died at the age of 96 on April 9, 2024, just days before the meme went viral.

The Syracuse University College of Law Alumni Association once published a letter  mentioning Biden's low placement in his graduating class. "But statistics often prove not to be the predictor of one's abilities or prospects," the letter read. "And, indeed, it was after leaving Syracuse that his life and career took off."

On this same subject, Snopes previously reported on Biden's past false claim where he said he finished in the "top half" of his class at Syracuse. That and other false claims about his past – including a plagiarism scandal – reportedly factored in to his decision to drop out of the 1988 presidential race.

Snopes contacted Syracuse University College of Law to request records regarding this matter. We will update this story if we receive any further details.

"Biden Made Tall Claims, Article Says." Charlotte Observer via The Washington Post , 21 Sept. 1987, https://www.newspapers.com/image/625387830/?terms=biden&match=1.

"Biden Urges Students to Be Engaged Citizens at 1976 Commencement." Royal News | The University of Scranton , 18 Nov. 2020, https://news.scranton.edu//articles/2020/11/news-biden.shtml.

Joseph R. Biden Jr, Class of 1968 . Syracuse University College of Law Alumni Association, https://law.syracuse.edu/wp-content/uploads/VP_Biden_Citation.pdf.

Liles, Jordan. "Did White House Announce Biden's IQ Is 187?" Snopes , 30 Jan. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/biden-187-iq/.

"Rev. William J. Byron, S.J., The University of Scranton's 21st President Dies." Royal News | The University of Scranton , 9 Apr. 2024, https://news.scranton.edu//articles/2024/04/news-president-byron.shtml.

"Sen. Joe Biden Claimed during a Campaign Appearance in New Hampshire Last Spring That He Finished in the Top Half of His Law School Class, Although Records Indicate He Finished near the Bottom." The Associated Press , https://apnews.com/article/cd977f7ff301993f7976974ba07c5495.

"The Candidates For Vice President." Newsday , 2 Nov. 2008, p. K7, https://www.newspapers.com/image/730761354/.

Toner, Robin. "Biden Assails New Report of Dishonesty." The New York Times , 21 Sept. 1987, https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/21/us/biden-assails-new-report-of-dishonesty.html.

Waxman, Olivia B. "Why Joe Biden's First Campaign for President Collapsed After Just 3 Months." TIME , 30 July 2019, https://time.com/5636715/biden-1988-presidential-campaign/.

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Jordan Liles is a Senior Reporter who has been with Snopes since 2016.

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• Miami Law Clinic Aids in Federal Action Curtailing Unnecessary Intimate Exams

Miami Law Aids in Federal Action Curtailing Unnecessary Intimate Exams

By Catharine Skipp [email protected] 04-16-2024

In April, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued guidelines to hospitals and medical schools to address the practice of performing intimate exams, like pelvic exams, without the expressed written consent of the patient. 

A New York Times investigation found the practice was widespread, often on women under anesthesia, and frequently used as a training exercise even though often medically unnecessary. Hospitals not adhering to the new rules risk losing their participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs.

The guidelines grew from an initiative begun by Professor  Caroline Bettinger-López  while she was on leave while serving as a  senior advisor  on Gender and Equality at the U.S. Department of Justice. She was integral to the 2023 Gender Policy Council that released the  National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence : Strategies for Action. It was the first-ever national plan to advance an unprecedented and comprehensive approach to preventing and addressing sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and other forms of gender-based violence. 

Bettinger-López, also founder and director of the  Human Rights Clinic , provided guidance for an externship with DOJ with 2L Nicole Azarian, who was concurrently interning in the  Human Rights Clinic , and partnering with the Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime and another law student at Duke Law School, Catherine Gorey.

"Nicole and Catherine took a deep dive into researching this issue, culminating in a detailed memo and a presentation to a group of interested parties within the federal government," said Bettinger-López. "And remarkably quickly for government processes, the Department of Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, issued a new guidance on the issue, mandating explicit informed consent from patients for intimate examinations, aiming to ensure that patients maintain their right to bodily autonomy."

The Human Rights Clinic, part of Miami Law's  Human Rights Program , promotes social and economic justice globally and in the U.S. Students gain firsthand experience in cutting-edge human rights litigation and advocacy at the local, national, regional, and international levels. 

The clinic, one of nine, is just a part of Miami Law's  experiential learning  offerings, central to the School of Law's mission to prepare students for modern legal practice.

“One of the reasons that I chose Miami Law is for its experiential learning opportunities," said Azarian. "During my 2L year, I will have the opportunity to compete in the International Criminal Court in The Hague with the International Moot Court Program , have worked as an intern with the Human Rights Clinic, and was able to do an externship with the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime. My law school dreams have come true!

"Seeing the research I conducted with Catherine Gorey of Duke University School of Law and Caroline Bettinger-López, whom I met through Miami’s Human Rights Clinic, make a real difference within federal government has been an unbelievably rewarding and inspiring learning experience,” she said.

 Read more about Miami Law's clinics.

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ASU Law’s youngest-ever graduate goes above and beyond

Charmaine Chui is the youngest-ever graduate of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University at age 19.

Editor’s note:  This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2024 graduates.

At just 19 years old, Charmaine Chien-Yu Chui will become the youngest graduate in the history of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University when she crosses the stage in May to receive her Juris Doctor.

The Los Angeles native, who grew up in Alhambra and was homeschooled by her mom, graduated from California State University, Los Angeles at the age of 16 with dual degrees in psychology and criminal justice before deciding to come to law school. She entered ASU Law with the prestigious O'Connor Honors Fellowship and earned the Thomas Tang Scholarship from the Arizona Asian American Bar Association at the end of her first year; she leaves with the distinction of earning one of the highest number of pro bono hours in her graduating class: 182. 

Even though Southern California is home to several law schools, Chui said choosing ASU Law for law school was a no-brainer. 

“When I was applying to law schools, I knew I wanted to attend a school where I could get to know my professors and would not be stuck in giant lecture halls as a student ID number,” she said. “The smaller class sizes at ASU Law meant that I always felt welcome talking to my professors. Additionally, the Washington, D.C., program convinced me to commit to ASU. I'm so glad to have been able to enjoy the community of a ‘smaller’ school while still having access to the courses and externship opportunities that allowed me to pursue a public service career.”

Chui took advantage of plenty of experiential opportunities during her three years at ASU Law, including externships at the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Arizona, Central District of California Bankruptcy Court, Arizona Court of Appeals and the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice for Victims of Overseas Terrorism in Washington, D.C. After she graduates, she will take on her new role as a judicial law clerk at the Arizona Supreme Court with Justice James P. Beene. 

As busy as she was throughout law school, Chui said she always reminded herself that she was a whole person and not solely a student. She encouraged other law students to do the same. 

“It can be so easy to fall into the mechanical grind of law school,” she said. “Hold onto the reasons that motivated you to attend law school and continue advocating for the causes you're passionate about. Don't lose yourself to the casebooks.”

Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the law?

Answer: I initially planned to become a forensic psychologist at university, where I was part of a research lab that primarily studied eyewitness identification procedures and juror bias. Listening to my professor talk about the various trials he testified in helped me realize that the legal issues were really what interested me. My Introduction to Criminal Law class, taught by a judge who was a former prosecutor, solidified law school as the next step for me. After that realization, pursuing my interest in criminal law throughout law school came naturally. 

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU Law — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?

A: My experiences have shown me the importance of clear and accessible communication. The goal is almost always to help someone else understand your position, and the easiest way to do that is to opt for simplicity whenever possible. It was a welcome change after being entrenched in a field where students were almost encouraged to speak and write complexly at the cost of clarity.

Q: What about advice for those considering ASU Law?

A: My time at ASU Law has firmly convinced me that it's always possible to have an amazing experience as long as you actively pursue the opportunities that interest you. I would strongly encourage any student to take advantage of the various experiential learning opportunities and extracurricular activities the law school has to offer. Meeting friends from different law schools also highlighted the importance of understanding the culture of a law school before committing to the school. I'm very glad I picked a school with a welcoming and supportive environment.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: Being in Washington, D.C., for my final semester has reminded me of how much I value reliable public transit. I loved taking the metro in Taiwan and Hong Kong when I was growing up. Public transit opens up so many opportunities for people to pursue their careers, engage with the community and access resources like health care and educational programs. I think the benefits of a reliable transit system could help combat other societal issues and support underserved communities. Additionally, as a person who dislikes driving, I love being able to explore the city without having to worry about parking, gas and one-way streets.

Q: What does graduating mean to you and your loved ones?

A: We're all very excited! I'm the first in my family to attend law school. I never considered becoming an attorney when I was younger, and I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to pursue my dreams. I wish my grandparents were able to be here for graduation, but I guess I'll just have to bring my regalia back to Taiwan the next time I visit!

More Sun Devil community

Matt Carter Staff Spirit Awards program honors legacy of ASU employee

In December 2023, the W. P. Carey School of Business lost colleague and friend Matt Carter. Carter joined the school in 2013 and was a member of the facilities department throughout his time at ASU…

Education grad strengthens family's legacy at ASU

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2024 graduates. For Ahlias Jones, his Sun Devil family legacy runs deep. His mother, father, sister and two brothers all…

ASU Law grad takes sports dreams to the legal field

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2024 graduates.  Kurt “KJ” Russell Jr. had big dreams of playing in the NBA for his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.…

Minnesota Law

Professor Ilan Wurman to Join Minnesota Law Faculty

The University of Minnesota Law School is thrilled to welcome Ilan Wurman to our faculty as an associate professor of law, with tenure, beginning in the 2024-25 academic year.

Wurman is currently an associate professor at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where he teaches administrative law and constitutional law. He writes primarily on the Fourteenth Amendment, administrative law, separation of powers, and constitutionalism. His academic writing has appeared in the Yale Law Journal , the Stanford Law Review , the University of Chicago Law Review , the University of Pennsylvania Law Review , the Virginia Law Review , the Duke Law Journal , the Minnesota Law Review , the Notre Dame Law Review , and the Texas Law Review among other journals. He is also the author of A Debt Against the Living: An Introduction to Originalism (Cambridge 2017), and The Second Founding: An Introduction to the Fourteenth Amendment (Cambridge 2020). His third book, The Constitution of 1789: An Introduction, is also forthcoming with Cambridge University Press.

He has a B.A. in Government and Physics from Claremont McKenna College and a J.D. from Stanford Law School.

Professor Ilan Wurman.

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Law school emphasizes ‘belonging’ in diversity initiatives

Kristen Kelly (second from left in blue jacket), associate director of the law school's Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging, enlists some law students in emphasizing the "belonging" in the office's newly installed sign. Photo: Douglas Levere

By CHARLES ANZALONE

Published April 23, 2024

In what it calls a “subtle, yet important evolution in its commitment to a truly inclusive community,” the School of Law has renamed its diversity, equity and inclusion office to highlight its focus on fostering “belonging.”

“This change is not merely semantic,” says Luis Chiesa, the Dr. Teresa A. Miller Professor in Law and vice dean for the department now known as the Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging (DEB Office). “It reflects a deeper, strategic shift toward recognizing and cultivating an environment where every individual feels that they are an integral and valued member of our community.

“The concept of belonging extends beyond the traditional framework of inclusion, embodying a more comprehensive approach to ensure that all community members feel welcome, valued and connected.”

Inclusion might open the door for participation within a community, says Chiesa, “yet belonging ensures that once inside, individuals feel a genuine connection, appreciated for their uniqueness and able to contribute authentically.

“It addresses the emotional and psychological needs of individuals, ensuring they can engage fully and without reservation, a critical step toward harnessing the full potential of our diverse community.”

Reflecting this philosophy, the DEB Office has organized several initiatives designed to weave the School of Law’s commitment to belonging into the fabric of its institutional culture.

Facilitating open dialogues through inclusive lunchtime discussions:

Recognizing the power of open dialogue by breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of community, the DEB Office has started diversity, equity and belonging-themed lunchtime discussions. These lunches aim to provide a space for faculty and staff to engage in conversations about their experiences, challenges and aspirations related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Similar lunches are offered to students, providing them with a forum to speak openly and decompress.

“By removing structural agendas and allowing conversations to flow organically,” Chiesa says, “we create opportunities for authentic expression and mutual understanding, reinforcing the importance of every voice in our community.”

Deepening connections with a daylong retreat :

The DEB Office’s off-campus retreat serves as a cornerstone event, Chiesa says, bringing together faculty and staff in a “dedicated forum to reflect on and discuss strategies for enhancing diversity and fostering a stronger sense of belonging within our community.” The retreat emphasizes the value of seeing and learning from one another in a setting removed from the day-to-day pressures of academic life, fostering deeper connections and a shared commitment to the law school’s collective progress.

Addressing societal issues through educational programs :

Anticipating and responding to broader societal challenges, the DEB Office organized a series of educational programs addressing topics ranging from antisemitism to Islamophobia. Open to all members of the law school and university communities, they serve as platforms for critical engagement with pressing issues affecting the community and society at large.

“By confronting these topics head-on, we signal our commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for dialogue and learning,” says Chiesa.

In February, the DEB Office collaborated with the law school’s Office of Student Affairs to organize “A Celebration of Free Speech.” This event gave various voices within the law community a platform to explore and reflect on the importance of free speech and its implications for diversity, equity and belonging.

“The goal,” says Kristen Kelly , associate director for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging, “was to provide a unique opportunity for students, faculty, staff and community members to engage in meaningful dialogue about the critical role free speech plays in fostering an environment where everyone can show up as they are, further embedding the principles of belonging in our institutional culture.”

Creating pathways and expanding access:

The DEB Office also oversees and implements the Discover Law Undergraduate Scholars Program , a four-week summer program, directed by Kelly and designed for historically underrepresented undergraduates or first-generation college students who have completed their freshman or sophomore year. This summer, the program will welcome its 11th cohort of academically promising students with an interest in learning more about law and the legal profession.

The program offers rigorous courses taught by law professors, mentorship from local lawyers and guidance on the law school admissions process. Participants develop critical thinking, writing and advocacy skills; gain insight into the demands of law school; and learn strategies for LSAT preparation. Additionally, they explore career paths in law and examine how identity impacts participation in the legal discourse community through reflective seminars.

As of fall 2023, a total of 186 scholars have completed the program, and according to Kelly, “46 scholars are enrolled in law school or have graduated from law school, 23 are pursuing or graduated from other graduate degree programs, while 17 scholars are currently enrolled or graduated from UB School of Law.

“We continue to strengthen our community partnerships and expand our recruitment efforts to ensure a robust candidate pool and, as result, we anticipate a diverse 2024 cohort,” says Kelly.

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Class of Spring 2024: CECS graduate Issa Hachem

One of three siblings to graduate from um-dearborn, computer engineering graduate issa hachem says getting to the commencement stage has been a family affair..

First-generation college students often speak of the burden of having to figure out financial aid, majors and minors, and all the other mechanics of a college experience without the help of a parent who’s done it before. But that learning curve can be seriously flattened if you have older siblings blazing the trail for you, says spring ’24 graduate Issa Hachem. The computer engineering senior had three older siblings who, as he did, attended Henry Ford College for two years, then finished a four-year degree. (His two older brothers are also UM-Dearborn graduates.) Issa’s older brother, Mohamad, even studied a similar discipline, which helped him avoid his brother’s mistake of taking a bunch of classes that didn’t transfer. “It’s like the family hand-me-downs, but with advice,” Issa says. “Each kid coming up has it a little bit easier than the last.”

Indeed, the Hachem family is building an impressive story of collective achievement — one in which the American Dream label, however overused, feels apropos. Issa’s mother, Eman, came to the United States from Lebanon when she was a teenager, and his father joined her a few years later. Neither of Issa’s parents had the opportunity to go to college, but he says it was always the goal that the kids would. After graduating from UM-Dearborn, Issa’s oldest brother went to medical school and is finishing his residency in June. His sister is a NICU nurse and is pursuing a master’s in nursing education. His other older brother works as an engineer at Bosch, where Issa is currently interning in the same department. Following the well-honed Hachem formula, the youngest is now finishing his second year at Henry Ford and will be starting his computer engineering program at UM-Dearborn this fall.

Issa’s own college journey has had its unique twists. He’s worked full time or part time at six different jobs while he’s been in school. He’s also part of the unique mini-generation that started college during the COVID pandemic. He didn’t even have an in-person class until he transferred to UM-Dearborn in 2022. Issa remembers it being a pretty big adjustment. His first semester, he did well in three of his four classes, but he struggled in his “Engineering Statistics and Probability” course — the most failed course in his program. “It was almost the end of the semester, and I had to make a decision: Do I quit my job? Do I work really hard and try to not fail this class and potentially sacrifice my As and Bs? Or do I maintain the As and Bs in the other classes and retake the other class later?” For a new student, it was a veteran way to assess the situation. He ultimately decided to abandon ship on the statistics course. When he retook it a few semesters later, he aced it — which wiped out the failing grade and gave a big boost to his GPA. 

After that rocky first semester, Issa found his stride in his computer engineering program. He says it’s hard to pick a favorite course or professor. Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Paul Watta’s habit of giving students a quiz every lecture stressed Issa out at first. But he grew to love Watta’s demanding style and the fact that his classes were packed with hands-on projects. Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Hafiz Malik also made an impression. “This dude — I remember he just rolled up the projector screen and went full chalkboard for two hours straight,” Issa says. “I had so many questions, and he answered every single one of them in a way that made perfect sense. The guy is a genius.” (Issa later completed a directed study in computer vision with Malik.) He and Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Samir Rawashdeh bonded over their shared interest in assistive technologies for people with disabilities. (He also loved that Rawashdeh’s passion for engineering bled over into cool side projects, like the  Star Wars robots Rawashdeh builds for his kids .) Issa, himself, has been living with significant hearing loss since early childhood. For his senior design project, which Rawashdeh oversaw, Issa and his teammates built a device to assist hearing impaired people with their directional hearing — something that Issa’s top-of-the-line hearing aids can’t even do. “I got the idea when, one day, my friends and I were sitting around the garage and this cricket was chirping,” he explains. “And so we’re trying to find this cricket, and my friends all knew right where to look. And I was, like, ‘Guys, I have no idea where this cricket is!’ That’s when I realized just how bad my directional hearing was.” Their device is a 360-degree microphone array that can be worn tucked inside a ballcap. When it picks up sound, it buzzes on that side of the array, giving the user a discreet, easy-to-interpret tactile sensation of where the sound is coming from, enhancing spatial awareness for hearing impaired people. Issa and his teammates' project won the Best in Electrical and Computer Engineering Award and the Alumni Advisory Council Innovation Award at the 2024 Senior Design Competition. 

Issa says it’s a little surreal to be wrapping up a senior design project and to have graduation just a few days away. The approaching milestone has definitely given him a new perspective on things — particularly regarding the role his family has played in getting him to where he is. He laughs a little now at the teenage version of himself — the kid who thought he was “coming from the trenches” because he had a family that provided him everything he needed but not everything he wanted. Now he sees how having a dad who was an auto mechanic and DIY’d almost everything in their home nurtured his love of engineering. He appreciates the hours his mom, the self-taught family accountant, spent filling out his FAFSA forms. And he sees how his college experience likely wouldn’t have gone as smoothly as it did without his older siblings’ hand-me-down wisdom. 

“In high school, I think I was worried about all the wrong things. I was comparing myself to the kids whose dads owned businesses and could buy them expensive clothes and pay for college like it was nothing,” Issa says. “I thought I had nothing. I had this mentality that I had to grind. But now I see I really didn’t need to do that. When I was kind of overwhelmed working full time and trying to go to school, my family always had my back. They helped me realize that, no matter what, I was going to have a roof over my head and food to eat. Now, I see all that other material stuff didn’t matter. And I see some of the kids from high school who had it easy — they’ve switched majors three times and are still trying to figure things out. So I guess I’m just more grateful for my family and my friends. Any success I have — I wouldn't have it without them.”

Story by  Lou Blouin

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