Center for International Legal Education - CILE

Celebrating our LL.M. and S.J.D. graduates aboard the Gateway Clipper has become one of our favorite traditions.

This evening, we had the pleasure of gathering on Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers to celebrate the accomplishments, hard work, and journeys of our graduating students while enjoying the beautiful skyline views of the city.

We are incredibly proud of our graduates and grateful for the global perspectives, dedication, and friendships they have brought to Pitt Law and CILE. We look forward to seeing all they will accomplish next.

Congratulations again to our LL.M. and S.J.D. Class of 2026!

Today, we proudly celebrate the achievements of our LL.M. and S.J.D. graduates at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Your dedication, resilience, and commitment to advancing legal education and international understanding have brought you to this important milestone. We are honored to have been part of your academic journey and look forward to seeing the impact you will make around the world as scholars, advocates, and leaders.

Congratulations on this remarkable accomplishment — the entire Center for International Legal Education (CILE) at Pitt Law community is incredibly proud of you!

Congratulations, Class of 2026!

On Friday, April 24, S.J.D. candidates from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law participated in the National S.J.D. Roundtable hosted at the American University Washington College of Law.

Barli Fadl, Laras Susanti, and Olha Tsyliuryk presented their ongoing doctoral research, engaging in thoughtful discussions with faculty and peers from across institutions. The roundtable provided a valuable platform to exchange ideas, receive feedback, and further refine their scholarship.

We are proud to see our doctoral students contributing to important conversations in international law and representing PittLaw and the Center for International Legal Education (CILE) at Pitt Law in such a meaningful academic setting.

We are pleased to share that JURIST is celebrating its 30th Anniversary with a special webinar series dedicated to the rule of law, human rights, and international justice.

The series opens on March 18, 2026 (12:00 PM ET) with a distinguished guest: Retired Justice Richard Goldstone of the Constitutional Court of South Africa — a globally respected voice in international criminal justice and accountability.

This anniversary series will feature at least six webinars throughout 2026.
✔️ Free for law students
✔️ Open to the broader legal community (suggested donation for non-students)

At CILE, we deeply value initiatives that foster global dialogue on justice, accountability, and the protection of human rights. We encourage our students, alumni, and colleagues to join this important conversation.

🔗 Register and learn more via the link or QR code in the announcement.

Center for International Legal Education (CILE) at Pitt Law, together with JURIST and the International Law Society at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, invites you to a special screening of the documentary “Stand Tall for the Rule of Law.”

📅 Tuesday, March 3
⏰ 12:30–1:30 p.m.
📍 Barco Law Building, Room 111

Filmed following the Stand Tall for the Rule of Law Summit in Lviv, Ukraine, this powerful documentary highlights urgent international law challenges arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the global legal community’s response. The screening will be followed by a faculty discussion featuring Professor Ron Brand, Academic Director of CILE, and Professor Charles T. Kotuby Jr., Executive Director of CILE.

As we reflect on the ongoing importance of defending the rule of law worldwide, we look forward to meaningful dialogue with students, scholars, and practitioners.

RSVPs are encouraged: [email protected]

Professor Brand and his wife, Mrs. Brand, welcomed JD, LLM, and SJD students to their home yesterday for a meaningful evening of connection and conversation.

The gathering celebrated the rich diversity of cultures, perspectives, and experiences that our students bring to Pitt Law. It was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our community, share a meal, and reflect on the value of building relationships beyond the classroom.

We are grateful for their continued hospitality and for moments like these that bring our academic community closer together.

The Center for International Legal Education at the University of Pittsburgh is proud to support this roundtable discussion featuring Ruth Bajada, Deputy Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation in Washington, on “The U.S., the EU, and the Past and Future of the International Legal Order.”

📅 Thursday, January 29, 2026
⏰ 4:00 – 5:30 PM
📍 University Club, Conference Room A

Panelists:
Ruth Bajada; Prof. Ronald A. Brand (CILE Director); Prof. Randall Halle (Jean Monnet EU Center of Excellence); Dean Carissa Slotterback (Moderator)

This event is part of the European Studies Center lecture series “The International Legal Order.”

Please submit questions in advance: bit.ly/ILO2026

The Center for International Legal Education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law invites you to a timely webinar on the Hague Conference Consultation Paper and the Working Group Draft Text for a potential convention on parallel proceedings and related actions.

🗓 Wednesday, January 7
⏰ Noon–1 p.m. EST

Presenters:
• Anna-Kristina Fox, U.S. Department of State
• Ada Bosque, U.S. Department of Justice
• Professor Ronald A. Brand, Pitt Law

🔗 Scan QR code to Register
🔗 Access the Draft Text & Consultation Paper: (https://www.hcch.net/en/projects/legislative-projects/jurisdiction/public-consultation)

This session explores the Hague Conference’s ongoing work following the 2005 Choice of Court Agreements Convention and the 2019 Judgments Convention. The Permanent Bureau now seeks input on the latest Draft Text. Submit comments by January 26, 2026 (9 CET).

Center for International Legal Education (CILE) at Pitt Law is thrilled to share highlights from the past year. Our annual CILE Notes features student accomplishments, faculty achievements, and collaborations with colleagues and partners around the world.

We are proud of our students’ outstanding achievements, including prestigious scholarships, fellowships, and participation in international moot court competitions.

We are also grateful for the strong partnerships we’ve built with institutions and organizations worldwide, which help us expand our impact and create meaningful opportunities — from study-abroad experiences to forward-thinking research initiatives.

With excitement, we look ahead to continued growth and new possibilities.

Link to the full CILE Notes below:

d31hzlhk6di2h5.cloudfront.net

Professor Ronald Brand, the Mark A Nordenberg University Professor and Academic Director of CILE, served as the anchor panelist on November 5 at the 2025 International Bar Association Conference in Toronto, discussing “EU Jurisdiction over Non-EU Defendants.” Other panelists and moderators were Stefano Modenesi (Italy), Sara Chisholm-Batten (UK), Alexander Hansebout (Belgium), Olivier Laude (France), and Cara Cameron (Canada). Professor Brand set the stage for discussion, but introducing the Brussels I (Recast) Regulation rules on jurisdiction and the discriminatory approach in that instrument towards defendants from non-EU countries, providing the historical context leading up to the 2025 European Commission Report on whether such discrimination should be eliminated.

For three decades, Pitt Law’s Center for International Legal Education (CILE) has advanced legal education and the rule of law around the globe.

During our anniversary celebration, we were honored to welcome Dr. Vjosa Osmani (LAW ’05, ’15) — President of the Republic of Kosovo — as our Lunch and Keynote Speaker.

A tireless champion of democracy, women’s rights, and rule of law reform, Dr. Osmani’s leadership embodies the global impact of a Pitt Law education.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PKAps_2-IA