Katarina Durcova and Professor Shahram Dana
Many students and graduates of The John Marshall Law School work as law clerks or externs for successful firms and judges, but some pursue positions abroad.
Since 2010, three John Marshall graduates have completed law clerkships at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Professor Shahram Dana, a former legal officer for the ICTY, knows John Marshall students are well suited for the job and encourages his international criminal law students to take advantage of this opportunity.
“These international jobs are within reach for our graduates,” Dana said. He assisted John Marshall graduates Katarina Durcova (JD ’11), Nathan Grzegorek (JD ’11) and Luka Jankovic (JD ’11) with their applications for three-month and six-month clerkship positions in The Hague, Netherlands.
All three had expressed interest in international law careers, and Dana helped them highlight in application materials factors that are relevant to the clerkship positions.
Dana maintains good rapport with senior members of the court, and gives personal recommendations for John Marshall applicants whom he considers to be excellent candidates for the positions. He has received positive feedback on the work the three performed for the ICTY.
Dana who also co-chairs the International Criminal Law Interest Group for the American Society of International Law, says networking is valuable, but more valuable is that “the students who go there do a good job. Working at the court opens the door for other opportunities.”
Clerks at the international criminal courts and tribunals work on cases of war crimes committed during conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, the Sudan and other countries. They conduct legal research, write memoranda and are mentored by accomplished international criminal law practitioners.
The graduates have had valuable experiences. Grzegorek, who concluded his clerkship this spring, says his assignments have been “interesting and substantial; above and beyond what I expected.”
Durcova, who worked at the ICTY in 2009, shares a similar experience.
“The clerkship was a rewarding experience that improved my research and writing skills and increased my knowledge of comparative criminal law and procedure—skills that I use to this day.” Durcova took international law and international criminal law courses with Dana, which she said proved essential during her work in The Hague.
“Our students should know that they are receiving an excellent education at John Marshall, and our human rights certificate program allows them to advance their international law credentials. The work of these three graduates is a reflection of the preparation this law school is giving students. I believe the word is spreading among attorneys at international courts regarding the excellent work of our students, and I’m anxious to place the next outstanding student with the court,” Dana said.
Students interested in a clerkship in international law are encouraged to contact him at sdana@jmls.edu, or at his office at 312.427.2737 ext. 854.
