LAWYERS FOR ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

After Lex:lead was recommended to land and human rights NGO Landesa, we are proud to make a new placement this year with Michael Shayo (Tanzania) competitively selected to work part-time in December 2024 and January 2025, his stipend again paid by the Friends of Lex:lead.

Working part-time over two months, UK NGO Protimos competitively selected Edward Coker (Sierra Leone) to intern with them over July and August 2024. Edward's stipend was part-funded by Linklaters with the rest from the Friends of Lex:lead.

In November 2023, German development aid agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) competitively selected Busiku Simoonga (Zambia) for a six-month paid internship with them. We are very grateful to GIZ for regularly offering this opportunity to Lex:lead winners.

In September/October 2023, Advocates for Community Alternatives competitively selected Victor Nsoh Azure (Ghana) for a two-month part-time internship working with their litigation and other outreach programs, Victor's stipend funded by Friends of Lex:lead.

In August/September 2023, Protimos competitively selected Josephine Ngulube (Zambia) for a one-month internship working remotely with their conferences and other programs, her stipend funded by Friends of Lex:lead.

Lex:lead judge Tyler Holmes hosted our Malawi winners in September 2022 (L-R Chimango Nyasulu, Osman Yusuf, M Collins Banda, Tyler Holmes, Davis Sibande, Patrick Zindikirani, Andrew Gift Umali, Chawezi Phiri, Joel Elifala, Faith Sumani, Ivy Nkhata).

To support its Judicial Action Committee conference this year, UK NGO Protimos offered the opportunity to Lincoln Majogo (Zimbabwe) working one-month full time with the group September/October 2022. Lex:lead provided Lincoln with a stipend.

In September 2022, Advocates for Community Alternatives - Lex:lead was delighted to place Mowbray Jones-Nelson (Ghana) on a one-month internship with this Ghana-based group, his stipend again funded by Friends of Lex:lead.

In August 2021, Lex:ead winner (2014) Lulbahri Afeworki Araya (Eritrea) started her two-month internship with human rights group Protimos, working from Geneva, Switzerland, where she has been studying at the Geneva Academy of International Law and Human Rights. Lulbahri's stipend was supported by Advisory Board Member Matthew Weldon.

Following in the footsteps of other winners, in August 2021, 2014 Lex:ead winner Martha Laura Luhanga (Zambia) was offered a short-term internship with German development aid agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Lusaka. The opportunity is paid by GIZ.

Earning high praise from his one-month assignment, in March 2021 Panashe Gombiro (Zimbabwe) interned with human rights NGO Protimos, his stipend provided by the Friends of Lex:lead.

Commencing in February 2021, Friends of Lex:lead were able to provide a stipend in support of Momodou Manneh (Gambia)'s six month internship with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights in the Gambia.

Lex:lead was delighted to have been recommended to US NGO Landesa which works for human rights and land rights. Itael Kimaro (Tanzania) was selected by Landesa for a two-month internship in July and August 2020, funded by Landesa.

In January, the World Bank (Ghana) also selected Lex:lead winner Bertha Seleman Nanyaro (Tanzania) for a short-term assignment working remotely from Dar es Salaam, tied in with other projects focused on East Africa. Bertha's stipend was funded by the Friends of Lex:lead.

In November, the World Bank selected Lex:lead winner Moses Baguma (Uganda) for a short-term assignment working remotely from Kampala, tied in with other projects focused on East Africa. Moses' stipend is again funded by the Friends of Lex:lead.

In October 2019 another Lex:lead winner started a paid six-month internship with the German development aid agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Zambia when they selected Kasanga Ngulube (Zambia) for the role. As a paid internship Lex:lead is not funding this placement, but we congratulate Kasanga all the same!

The ACA (Ghana) was so pleased with its first Lex:lead intern that they were eager for a second and in June we were delighted to place Ms Nana Adwoa Baiden (Ghana) in a three-month internship with them. Nana's stipend was also funded by the Friends of Lex:lead.

In 2018 we placed Nkandu Chota (Zambia) in a six-month part-time funded internship with the German development aid agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Zambia. She also received a stipend funded by Lex:lead named in honour of former A&O partner Stephen Denyer. In October 2018 Lex:lead provided a discretionary grant of US$300 to Nkandu in support of her studies. Photo with Advisory Board Member and Internship Coordinator Sabine Midderhoff.

Co-founder Rudy Ezeani with Advisory Board Member Sabine Midderhoff and winners in Lusaka Zambia September 2018 (Back L-R: Milan Dipakkumar Desai; Paul Moono; Lumela Lumela; Front L-R: Muchinda Muma; Nsofwa Puta; Chileke Sakala; Nkandu Kunda Chota; Chitalu Yalobi).

In August we were able to place 2017 Scholarship Winner Frederick Abu-Bonsrah (Ghana) in a four-month internship with Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA) in Ghana inter alia bringing cases to the ECOWAS Court. His stipend was funded by the Friends of Lex:lead. Photo: Frederick with ACA colleagues.

In November 2017 we made our third placement for the year with a funded six-month part-time legal internship for M Collins Banda (Malawi) chosen by US-based Medical Tourism Training (MTT). Collins' internship was funded by DLA Piper.

in September Lex:lead arranged an internship for Mawunya Etsa Kudu (Ghana) with the World Bank Ghana researching water law for the Ghanaian Ministry of Sanitation. Mawunya's stipend was gratefully funded by Linklaters.

Accepted into American University's summer school, Lex:lead arranged a one-month placement for Masalu Luhula (Tanzania) with the Center for Water Security and Cooperation (CWSC) in June 2017. Masalu's internship was funded by Travers Smith.

In August 2016, Lex:lead arranged a month-long internship for 2012 winner Hilina Berhanu Degefa (Ethiopia) with the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute. The placement was in London UK where Hilina was studying at the University of London (SOAS).

In July 2016, Washington DC-based Forzley & Associates selected two Lex:leaders for internships working out of Kigali, Rwanda. Mary Musoni's US$500 stipend was funded by London lawyer Oliver Yaros; Jean Claude Mahoro's US$500 stipend by Linklaters.

Following our 2015 placement in Uganda, in January 2016 the World Bank assisted in placing Ms Sousena Kebede Tefera (Ethiopia) with the same consortium to further work on healthcare law from Washington DC. Sousena's US$500 stipend was gratefully funded by DLA Piper.

In May 2015 the group was able to arrange a research internship for 2013 scholarship winner Ms Galindo Ruhiyyah Aliyo (Uganda) working with World Bank partners (UNICRI, the O'Neill Institute, IDLO) in Kampala, Uganda, on healthcare law. Galindo's US$500 stipend was funded by Cozen O'Connor.

In January 2015, our first scholarship winner Lemlem Fiseha Minale (Ethiopia), was accepted into a semester-long externship with the World Bank in Washington DC. Photo April 2015 with Lex:lead judge Fasil Amdetsion, Directors Lakwame Anyane Yeboa and Feyi Obafemi, LemLem Fiseha Minale.

What in your life has shaped your interest in law and development? Iain retraces his time at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and other influencing factors.

"How does one make a difference without getting overwhelmed by the sheer scale of need that exists?" Judge Simone Scott-Sawyer is doing her bit.

"I hope those who have experienced the work of Lex:lead [...] will be inspired to pass on the benefits of their knowledge to young lawyers and to their countries."

"I... find the work [of Lex:lead] admirable...: the empowerment of new generations to think and work outside the [economic development] box."

"... Lex:lead contributes notably to two overlapping values: identifying, debating and searching for answers on such topics; and developing and enriching the international professional community that overarches and facilitates them."

"[Lex:lead] is exemplary because young lawyers get the opportunity to look at the law from a different angle. Development is usually not a topic lawyers would be talking about ...this initiative enables students to ... think outside the box."

"I was impressed [by the work of Lex:lead], and have been honoured to be a judge since 2019. In fact [Lex:lead] was one of the reasons I set up my own community group, the East Asian Lawyers Organisation."

"[The work] of Lex:lead has had significant impact on the training of lawyers in many countries throughout [Africa]. [and] has been quite instrumental in making it possible for more young women in Africa to enter the legal profession."

"Lex:lead provides a much-needed resource for those who can guide the world into better legal frameworks that have a chance at fostering development."

"I think the Lex:lead essay competition is a great initiative. Students get a chance to relate their legal knowledge to tangible realities in their societies. [...] It prepares them to use their acquired skills to solve development challenges. And they draw lessons from similarly-placed countries all over the world."

It was with sadness that Lex:lead learned of the passing of one of our longest-term judges, Dr Violet Odala Phiri (Malawi) in January 2023. An outstanding international lawyer specialised in child law, Dr Odala came to us from Save the Children (Ethiopia). We will be forever grateful for her years of service on our panel of judges, and will personally miss the gracious person she was. Rest in peace Violet.

Lex:lead 'is a brilliant initiative as it gives a chance to each and every member of the legal community to contribute and engage in meaningful and impactful work that not only motivates us all but makes a huge difference in people’s lives around the world.’ Read this year's interview with Lex:lead judge Anurag Bana (India), a long-standing lawyer with the International Bar Association (IBA), below.

'I was introduced to Anne Bodley and to Lex:lead through a mutual friend of Anne’s and mine, and was immediately struck by the initiative since it embodies my core belief—that education is key.'

Lex:lead's 'annual essay competition provides young and thoughtful lawyers with the opportunity to independently articulate their thoughts, views and analysis of topical issues. They are encouraged to put forward a considered position, recommendation or solution on the emerging issues. This initiative is definitely beneficial to young lawyers.'

First introduced to Lex:lead in 2015, international law professor Dr Marta Pertegas (Maastricht University) has been a 'big fan' ever since. 'I think any international lawyer is struck by the inequalities in our world and is keen to seize opportunities to redress them'; an opportunity Lex:lead provides in its way.

L-R 1 Lex:lead Judge SunHee Park (Korea); 2 Isobel Butler (Protimos); 3 Fiona Darroch (Protimos); 4 Matt Sparkes (Linklaters); 5 Lex:lead Director Catherine Maunder (UK/Lebanon); 6 Friend of Lex:lead Pamela Fapohunda (UK/Nigeria); 7 Lex:lead Judge Godwin Tan (Singapore); 8 Lex:lead President/Founder Anne Bodley (Australia); 9 Friend of Lex:lead Pamela Chan (Singapore); 10 Guest Sir Ross Cranston (Australia); 11 Guest Pauline Lyle-Smith (Australia); 12 Lex:lead Judge and Senior Advisory Board Member Anurag Bana (India); 13 Guest Belinda Storr (Australia). Not shown: 1 Lex:lead Judge Lloydette Bai-Marrow (Sierra Leone); 2 Lex:lead Judge Dr Elimma Ezeani (Nigeria); 3 Lex:lead Judge Helen Fovargue (UK).

In 2020, President/Founder Anne Bodley was awarded In-House Lawyer of the Year by the First 100 Years Inspirational Women in Law Awards again for her work founding and leading Lex:lead. Her acceptance speech is available on the About Us page.

Washington DC, for Law, Justice and Development Week 2018--with LJD Week Student Competition Winner, Lex:leader Mawunya Kudu. (L-R): 1 Lex:lead President/Founder Anne Bodley; 2 Scholarship Winner Mawunya Kudu (Ghana); Lex:lead Director Lakwame Anyane-Yeboa.

In recognition of Lex:lead's support of law students across the world's least developed countries, in 2019 Lex:lead President/Founder was awarded the American Bar Association (ABA) Outstanding International Corporate Counsel Award. Lex:lead President/Founder Anne Bodley (centre) with ABA Section of International Law

(L-R): 1 Lex:lead judge Dr Mark McQuinn (UK), 2 Scholarship Winner Ms Hilina Berhanu Degefa (Ethiopia), 3 Former Deputy Group Secretary Syeda Zinnat Akhter (Bangladesh/Italy), 4 President Anne Bodley (Australia), 5 Lex:lead judge Iain Morley QC (UK), 6 Lex:lead judge Ms Simone Scott-Sawyer (UK/Sierra Leone).