ND Law Creates New Exchange Program with Strathmore Law School in Kenya | News | Law School

Notre Dame Law School has added another exchange program opportunity for students and faculty – its first in Africa – with a recent agreement with Strathmore Law School in Nairobi, Kenya.

Strathmore Law School was founded in 2012 and is part of the wider Strathmore University system. The school offers LL.B. and LL.M. degrees, will soon add LL.D. degree-seeking students and hosts a faculty of local and foreign jurists, lawyers and experts.

Notre Dame Law School has continued to expand its international relationships through its Global Lawyering Initiative. The new agreement with Strathmore complements ND Law’s other exchange programs in Chile, China, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy and Switzerland, as well as the long-standing Notre Dame London Law program.

Like other Notre Dame Law School student exchange programs, the Strathmore program is designed to enhance students’ mutual understanding of different cultures, legal traditions, and scholarly approaches to law.

“This is a historic development for Notre Dame Law School – our first exchange program in Africa,” said G. Marcus Cole, Joseph A. Matson Dean and professor of law. “It is high time that Notre Dame Law School had an exchange partner in Africa. I am delighted that Strathmore Law School is the partner.

Strathmore Law School dean Peter Kwenjera said he was also delighted to have a partner at Notre Dame.

“We are no strangers at all, as our graduates and former staff have passed through the hands of Notre Dame in their LL.M. and doctorate. studies,” Kwenjera said. “We believe that this partnership will go a long way in creating opportunities for our students and staff to interact and, since we need to innovate in the field of legal education, such collaborations will go a long way in this regard. »

The agreement allows an exchange of two students from each school per semester. Notre Dame students will study on the campus of Strathmore Law School in Nairobi. Strathmore students will have the choice of studying at the main campus in South Bend or the London Global Gateway at Notre Dame.

An exchange of professors between the two law schools is also part of the agreement. Teachers from each school will visit each other for short courses of one to three weeks as well as semester or annual teaching engagements. The agreement also encourages professors from each school to collaborate on research projects.

Finally, the agreement between Notre Dame and Strathmore establishes an annual human rights conference, which will be held online. As part of the conference, a writing award will also be created.

“Our JD and Human Rights LL.M. students will have unique opportunities to learn from and with Strathmore law students through the student exchange and student conference components of this agreement,” said Paul B. Miller, associate dean of international and graduate programs.

Dean Cole said the Hon. Ann Claire Williams ’75 JD, a retired judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, was instrumental in establishing the relationship with Strathmore. After retiring from the Seventh Circuit in 2018, Williams joined Jones Day to lead the law firm’s pro bono efforts to advance the rule of law in Africa.

“Judge Williams’ connections across Africa have opened up opportunities for us and our students,” said Cole.

Several Strathmore Law School alumni went on to graduate from Notre Dame Law School’s LL.M. Program in International Human Rights Law. Recent graduates include Raphael Ng’etich ’19 LL.M., Jemima Nimma Kolo ’21 LL.M., and Eva Maina ’22 LL.M.

Learn more about Notre Dame Law School’s exchange programs.

Photo credit: Victor Anyura, Strathmore University