W&L Law Students Organize International Anti-Corruption Conference The students are participating in an innovative practice-based course that engages them in research and analysis of international acts pertaining to good governance and corruption.
Six Washington and Lee law students traveled to Albania this semester for an anti-corruption conference they helped organize as part of an innovative practicum course.
The course, titled “Anti-corruption Law and Global Good Governance,” engages students in problem-based learning concerning the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and UK Bribery Act. It is taught jointly with students from University of Tirana Law School in Albania using facilities and remote technology available at W&L Law.
As part of the course, the W&L students undertook extensive legal and factual analysis on corruption and good governance issues in the Caribbean and Pacific Islands and then presented those findings at the conference in Albania.
The students partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center in Doha, Qatar; the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Albania and the University of Tirana Law Faculty in planning and executing the conference, which brought together about 50 European professors who teach anti-corruption law in their universities. The W&L students spoke at the conference and also served as rapporteurs, or official reporters, on different sessions. The students who participated are Thomas DeMatteo ‘17L, Tacho Fernandez Sanchez ‘17L, Solomon Gonzalez ‘17L, Andrew Smeltzer ‘17L, Hollie Webb ‘18L, and John Fluharty ‘17L. Katie Sheild ‘18L also traveled with the group, providing administrative support for the conference.
During their stay in Albania, the students met with the Chief Justice of Albanian Supreme Court and discussed the prospect and challenges of judicial reform in the country. They also shared their experience from Washington and Lee Law’s clinical legal education with students and faculties at Tirana University’s newly established criminal law clinic.
Disclaimer: This event is partially funded by the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Tirana. The opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author/s and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of State.
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