What a great week to return from your Mexican vacation! International Law Week consists of daily events the week of March 9-13, 2009 - the week directly following Spring Break. When all of the upperclassmen arrive back to the Law School with their sunburns and stories and the lowly 1Ls emerge from the bowels of Burns Library after the journal competition (or, for some, after starting their outlines in preparations of finals), they will be in the midst of this exciting week. Hopefully it will ease the depression of returning back to the grind.

International Law Week is the International Law Society's most exciting and rewarding annual event. Over the course of five days, International Law Society members and GW Law affiliates are invited to participate in many academic and professional conferences. The International Law Society executive board has spent countless hours programming lectures, social events, and "field trips" throughout the week, which will culminate in an Embassy Gala on Friday evening. Some of the other events include: career planning sessions, visits to the State Department, roundtable discussions with NGO officials, and informal receptions with practitioners. The International Law Society has had a very successful year and is celebrating their achievements by sponsoring these programs.

On Monday, March 9 at 3pm, the honorable Ambassador Lintu will make a private presentation at the Finish Embassy. At 5pm in the Student Conference Center, an Eastern European legal practitioner will discuss the functional realities of practicing law in the former Soviet Bloc. At 8pm in the Student Conference Center, international law practitioners will be part of a roundtable discussion regarding their careers in the international law field.

On Tuesday, March 10 at11:30am in the SCC, Mr. Jean-Jacques Verdeaux, Senior Counsel in the Legal Department of Procurement & Consultant Services, and Mr. Joe Rio, an international development consultant, will participate in a panel discussion about the World Bank and International Development. Later that day, there will be a discussion of Pro Bono Training on Worker's Rights, as the International Law Society has teamed up with the Employment Justice Center's Worker's Rights Clinic to provide legal assistance. In conjunction with the East Asia Law Society, there will be a panel discussion on the topic: "The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on China and the World."

On Wednesday, March 11, Nadira Bayat of the South African Embassy will hold a discussion on the legal system of South Africa. There will also be an insider's tour of the U.S. Department of State followed by a briefing on several issues concerning the Center currently. Attorneys in the Legal Adviser's Office will discuss legal careers in the State Department including internship and full-time employment opportunities. A film screening at the Embassy of France is going to be that evening at 7pm followed by a trip to a French café.

Thursday, March 12 begins with a discussion on the legal and political questions in Bulgaria held by the honorable Ambassador Petkov at the Embassy of Bulgaria. There will be a panel of asylees from a wide range of countries who have sought refuge for various issues. Thursday will end with a Happy Hour at Bodega, a Spanish tapas bar in Georgetown.

On Friday, March 13 there will be an insider's tour of the Supreme Court. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the Clerk of the Court and view other areas of the court open to the public.

The week culminates with a celebratory evening at the Embassy of Ukraine within the Forrest-Marbury House, located in the heart of Georgetown. Embassy staff will be in attendance and the honorable Ambassador Oleh Shamshur will make remarks during the gala. Cocktail attire is required. Linda Riter said, "A fun fact about the embassy gala: the gala sold out on the first day of ticket sales! We are getting in touch with the embassy to see if more tickets might be released and starting a waiting list for students who didn't get their tickets in time. We are very excited about this development, and think it demonstrates just how great the week is going to be!" Some tickets are available for reservation through a sign-up sheet on TWEN or can be purchased on Thursday, February 19 and Monday, February 23 in the Hard Lounge.

For some events, RSVPs are required and dress codes may be in effect. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner will be served at each event. Contact International Law Week Coordinator, Linda Riter, for more information.