About Us
Advisory Board
PROLAW’s mission is supported by an exceptional Advisory Board, a diverse group of legal, policy, and academic experts. Their extensive experience helps shape the future of global rule of law initiatives. We are grateful for their guidance in empowering the next generation of leaders.
PROLAW also benefits from transformative support by philanthropic foundations, government partners, corporate innovators, and dedicated individuals. These partners share our vision of using legal education as a catalyst for sustainable development and social justice, enabling us to educate global leaders who will drive change worldwide.
Our esteemed faculty
Our courses are led by a distinguished team of faculty members who are experienced practitioners with extensive multijurisdictional expertise. They have actively supported national initiatives focused on enhancing the rule of law, and provide students with real-world insights, practical knowledge, invaluable networking opportunities and mentorship.
Juliet S. Sorensen
Director, Rule of Law Institute and Program in Rule of Law for Development
Professor Sorensen is a clinical professor of law and the director of Loyola’s Rule of Law Institute and Program in Rule of Law for Development. Previously, she was a member of the clinical faculty at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where she was associated with its Center for International Human Rights.
Thomas McInerney
Adjunct Professor, Rule of Law for Development Program
Professor McInerney is an international lawyer and strategist with over 20 years of experience in global governance, law, and development. His expertise covers anti-corruption, human rights, environmental law, and more. His research focuses on multilateral treaties and sustainable development.
Karen Shaw
Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and Accreditation; Adjunct Professor of Legal Writing
Dr. Shaw directs various academic and administrative projects and manages accreditation with the American Bar Association. She teaches courses in health law, legal writing, international development law, and socio-legal studies, and she advises on health literacy standards with the Health Literacy Solutions Center.
Our PROLAW Alumni Network
Our alumni-led network connects PROLAW graduates from over 60 countries, fostering a vibrant international community of rule of law professionals. Led by elected alumni representatives, the network organizes one-on-one mentoring for current students, holds online career seminars, and manages alumni social media groups for networking and collaboration.
LLM Alumni Network Co-Chairs
Anurag Devkota
Alum, Nepal
Human Rights Lawyer, Law and Policy Forum For Social Justice (LAPSOJ)
“PROLAW helped shape my career in the rule of law field. The needs-assessment, international development architecture theories and comparative lawyering skills obtained in the program were central to my work.”
Emily Patterson
Alum, USA
Co-Executive Director, State Capture: Research and Action
“The curriculum focuses on both the theoretical aspects of development and how to design effective and sustainable development programs, which allowed me to be more structured and impactful in my work.”
Ashot Agaian
Alum, Ukraine
Senior Legal Officer, The Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights
“PROLAW gave me a better understanding of development work. Having learned about the different legal systems and how the rule of law has developed, I can be more effective and successful in my project designs by tailoring the objectives and activities to the specific needs of the particular country.”
MJ Alumni Network Co-Chairs
Marine Harutyunyan
Alum, Armenia
Monitoring and Reporting Officer, International Development Law Organization (IDLO)
“The PROLAW MJ provides a core understanding of the law, helps you understand what rule of law is, how it contributes to the development of societies, and how it can be applied to further enhance the sustainable development in a given country.”
Rachel Abrego
Alum, USA
Program Manager, Human RIghts NGO
“Living and studying in a different country, and being part of such a multicultural learning experience, is transformational. The Rome location provides unique opportunities to network with rule of law professionals at development and humanitarian relief organizations.”
Innocent Chamisa
Alum, Zimbabwe
EvalForward CoP Facilitator, CGIAR Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES)
“With a scientific background in rural development and sustainable natural resource management, PROLAW’s practical learning experience was crucial to developing the skills I needed to impact communities as a food and agriculture expert.”
Led by a Board of Representatives composed of five to ten passionate alumni volunteers, the network actively organizes and manages a variety of initiatives. Current offerings include a personalized one-on-one mentoring program and engaging online career seminars for students. Additionally, the network facilitates social media groups that promote collaboration on careers, conferences, and projects, creating an enriching environment for professional growth and networking opportunities.
Current Alumni Network Board of Representatives:
- Alisa Muzergues (LLM ’17), Ukraine (Chair)
- Marco Soliman (LLM ’13), Egypt (Vice Chair)
- Emily Patterson (LLM ’18), USA (Secretary)
- Ramiz Husaini (LLM '22), Afghanistan
- Manthatisi Machepha (LLM ’20), Lesotho
- Ecaterina Nacu (LLM ’19), Moldova
- Ronald Serwanga (LLM '22), Uganda
Led by a Board of Representatives composed of five to ten passionate alumni volunteers, the network actively organizes and manages a variety of initiatives. Current offerings include a personalized one-on-one mentoring program and engaging online career seminars for students. Additionally, the network facilitates social media groups that promote collaboration on careers, conferences, and projects, creating an enriching environment for professional growth and networking opportunities.
Current Alumni Network Board of Representatives:
- Alisa Muzergues (LLM ’17), Ukraine (Chair)
- Marco Soliman (LLM ’13), Egypt (Vice Chair)
- Emily Patterson (LLM ’18), USA (Secretary)
- Ramiz Husaini (LLM '22), Afghanistan
- Manthatisi Machepha (LLM ’20), Lesotho
- Ecaterina Nacu (LLM ’19), Moldova
- Ronald Serwanga (LLM '22), Uganda