International Law Alumni profiles
The following student profiles and photos have been provided to us by those who studied on the LLM International Law at The School of Law. To submit your Alumni Profile, please email Dr. Marco Roscini.
Melek Dilsen Seymenoglu
Year of Graduation: 2008
Name of Award: Master of Laws (LLM) in International Law (Distinction)
Im working as a legal counsellor at the Legal Department of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs now. My main responsibilities at work are the drafting and negotiation of the International bilateral and multilateral treaties and monitoring the ratification process of them.
Other than international treaties, I also do provide legal opinions to the political departments of the Ministry on the various subjects of international law and I represent the Ministry before the administrative courts and at the international meetings. The LLM programme on international law has enabled me to combine my experience as a legal counsellor with academic studies and contributed my professional background greatly. I hope to further my academic studies in International Law in near future.
Nomie Apollon, LL.B., LL.M.
Year of Graduation: 2007
Name of Award: Master of Laws (LLM) in International Law, with Distinction
The LLM in International law, with modules such as State crime and Transnational crime, proposed different ways of seeing law. As well, having for classmate individuals from different background has surely enriched the program, notably by sharing different point of views.
The teachers are quite committed and will make their best to communicate their passion for their respective subject. In sum, I am convinced that this LLM will positively allow me to pursue my legal practice and will undoubtedly enhance my credentials.
Chichi Umesi
Year of Graduation: 2007
Name of Award: Master of Laws (LLM) in International Law
Coming from a background in Languages, and worked in the management consulting field, I had worried about my inadequacy in this new field and my adaptability in class all I had was the firm interest. When classes commenced, these worries? Quickly out the window! I found the system, lecturers, lecture styles and student body all combined to provide for a truly invigorating and learning atmosphere. Especially as the international law class was very international in form, comprising students from all over the world and equipped us with our very own United Nationswhere we were all given an opportunity and encouraged to learn, share, participate and progressin fact, practicing the cardinal rule of sovereign equality of all class members indeed!
It was a great experience, and hopefully, well all attain our career expectationsfor me, I would love an opportunity in the areas of humanitarian affairs, development, research, and the rule of lawgood luck to us all, and keep in touch!
Kathy Bianca Molnar
Year of Graduation: 2006
Name of Award: Master of Laws (LLM) in International Law, with Distinction
I had the most fantastic experience at Westminster and because of that miss London everyday.
Since graduating from Westminster I have been working at the Canadian Recording Industry Association as a Research and Data Base Assitant. CRIA handles all the anti-piracy and royalty rights' legal issues for independent artists' and most of the major record labels in the Canadian Music Industry.
I am currently applying for the Juris Doctorate in Ontario, Canada, with the hopes of continuing a career in Entertainment Law.
However, I am to become an EU citizen in the near future and would like to renew my search for a career in International Development Strategy back in England, to continue in my attempt to utilize the knowledge I gained from my LLM.
Asffa Shahzad
Year of Graduation: 2006
Name of Award: Master of Laws (LLM) in International Law
The teaching staffs are very supportive and the modules are very informative.
Alexander Franklin Deel
Year of Graduation: 2005
Name of Award: Master of Laws (LLM) in International Law, with Distinction
My name is Alexander Franklin Deel. As a Westminster Scholarship student I graduated on October, 7th 2005.
I returned back home I am preparing a doctor in of course the field of international law, to be more specifically international criminal law. At my request, dr. Ilias Bantekas suggested me a topic in the area of international criminal law.
As to my doctorate that will be a combination of research home and abroad. Therefore you may once see me in London for research purposes at on of the institutes there, in case things go as planned. But I do not make progress really. I am still struggling in writing my research proposal, because I have to combine study with work (I am full time employed by a local telecommunications company) and the sources are very limited here. Moreover I have not found a thesis supervisor as yet. But I am very determined to accomplish what I have planned, of course with the help of God.
Marie Zaiti
Year of Graduation: 2005
Name of Award: Master of Laws (LLM) in International Law
Since I left London in 2005, I did a one year Master in Real Estate at SDA Bocconi in Milan and then started working for UBS Real Estate in Munich and successively in Milan. I am currently still working at UBS as an asset manager and I am located in Milan, where I now live.
Solomon Effiong Udounwa
Year of Graduation: 2007
Name of Award: Master of Laws (LLM) in International Law
I joined the 2006/2007 academic session at the University of Westminster to study for an LLM degree in International Law with over twenty years of active military service in the Nigerian Army and a Masters of Defence Studies (MDS) degree from the National University of Bangladesh. I am also an Associate Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK). My military experience in command, staff and instruction offered me immense advantage in easily forging friendship with both staff and fellow students and also in adjusting to the culturally diverse city of London. I am grateful to the University for providing excellent tuition and academic environment which no doubt contributed to acquiring my LLM with Distinction and being the recipient of the maiden edition of the Oxford University Press Prize for International Law as the best graduating student.
While at the University, I gained a deeper understanding of the workings of international organizations and the legal framework on which inter state relations are anchored. The LLM course also offered me an insight on what would be required of me in the discharge of my professional military duties in consonance with international legal pre-requisites and standards especially as part of regional and sub- regional arrangements in conflict areas. Presently, I am a Lieutenant Colonel serving as a Staff Officer at the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja Nigeria. However, in the near future, I would like to experience more challenges in an international environment such as working in a specialized commission of the United Nations dealing with any aspect of international law. It is also my intention to pursue higher degrees in International Law at the appropriate time and to carry out voluntary/part time work for any international organization that may require my services.
Freda Ruth Murray-Bruce
Year of Graduation: 2005
Name of Award: Master of Laws (LLM) in International Law (Distinction)
I am from Nigeria but was living and working in Canada. School brought me from Canada to England and after school in February 2006 I moved to Nigeria not having lived there for 16 years! From Feb 06 - Jan 07 I worked with the United Nations in Nigeria. First with UNIDO as a national expert in agriculture (You wil soon see why) and then with UNDP as a Governance Associate.
From Jan 07- Dec 07, alongside focusing on school work, I was also in the political field, as part of the think tank set up by the new President and Vice President of Nigeria for the presidential elections. I actually travelled with them for the elections and have partially entered the political arena whilst carrying on normal life as well. From Jan 08 - Date, I am a member of 2 Nigerian Federal Government Panels - the panel on the EU-Economic Partnership Agreement, and also the Panel on Bilateral Investment Treaties. The EPA panel comprises of 11 people of which i am not only the youngest, I am the only female. Members include the Nigerian ambassador to the WTO, the EU, former ambassadors and 6 professors, some of whom live abroad. Its indeed an eminent body.
I am, and have since early 2006, been working on my PHD at the University of Leicester. I am analysing the impact of the agricultural subsidies provided by EU and America as noted in the Cotton and Sugar cases and its implications for the economic development of sub saharan africa. i have done 60,000 words and hope to round up early; i hope to complete by next year.
Indeed, a few weeks ago, the Senate (House of Representatives; committee on justice) invited me to talk to them about the WTO and its implications for the provision of legal services in Nigeria. I am also in the past 2 months, a Senior Manager with Nigerian Communications Commission, the regulatory board for the very successful emerging telecoms industry in Nigeria. I do this alongside my federal panels. I already a first degree in french and german, and other masters in computer programming with a distinction also; the latter from canada, the former from nigeria. after my phd i plan to start another llm in petroleum law as i am from the niger delta area in nigeria; the people with the oil.
