Menna Khaled Al-Khalil, a graduate of American University of Sharjah (AUS), was elected as vice president of the International Law Students Association (ILSA), a group that organizes the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (Jessup).
Menna competed in AUS’s Moot Court team the last two years and was captain of the 2015-16 team. AUS was the top team from the Arab world in both competitions.
“Menna’s election brings notice to AUS’ strong program in international law and politics,” Dr. Kevin Gray, assistant professor of international studies, said. “As the UAE is increasingly becoming an important center for international commerce and as a destination of choice for international arbitration through the DIFC Courts, AUS is uniquely poised to train students for exciting new careers. Many of our students, after competing in the Jessup, ICC or Ferrell Moots have gone on to law school and promising careers in international law.”
Al-Khalil said she was humbled to be the first Arab selected to the board. She hopes to promote international law and enhance cooperation between legal entities the world over.
“ILSA is not yet rooted in the Middle East,” she said. “As such, I particularly aim to expand and extend ILSA’s activities, internships, scholarships, programs and opportunities to lawyers and law students in the Middle East.”