CGJ Student Staff Update from Graduating 3L Shannon Fields

This semester I had the privilege of writing a memo for the International Justice Mission.

In August 2017, the police began murdering and raping civilians in a certain nation after a presidential election. Hundreds of citizens were harmed during the violence without any charges ever being brought.

One of the reasons why no one has been charged is because the victims have not been able to identify the individual officers. However, the victims know for certain that the perpetrators were police officers. To remedy this issue, IJM is looking into the legal doctrine of “command responsibility.”

This doctrine holds those in authority, like police commanders, responsible for the control over and actions of their subordinates. Thus, the doctrine goes after the superiors rather than the subordinates, making the issue of individual identification irrelevant. If each element of the doctrine can be met, then a case could move forward with criminal charges against the police commanders for refusing to control their police force.

This has by far been the most difficult project I have had throughout my time at the Center, but it has also been the most rewarding. I am truly honored to have been a part of such an amazing organization for the past two and a half years.

My law school experience would certainly not have been the same without the Center for Global Justice.

This post was written by a Center for Global Justice student staff member.  The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

Legal Projects with International Justice Mission and Alliance Defending Freedom

As a first semester member of the CGJ Student Staff, I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to get my bearings and really delve into the projects I’ve been assigned.

Student Staff Member Corrie Lee

I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to work on two impactful projects with two different organizations this semester: International Justice Mission (IJM) and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). My first couple of weeks were heavily focused on the ADF project. I am monitoring cases going before the European Court of Human Rights and sending weekly reports to Dean Walton and the ADF team, including cases that ADF might have an interest in intervening on.

As you can probably imagine, the cases going before the Court are atrocious crimes against humanity. Many cases include loss of life, property, religious freedom, or expression -- freedoms we enjoy so lavishly here in the United States. Reading over these cases has given me a new appreciation for the work the Center and ADF do, as well as, the blessings I receive as a United States citizen.

Now that I’ve got my feet firmly planted in the ADF project, I’ve shifted a significant portion of my time to the IJM project. My team is working on drafting a research memo regarding gender-based violence in Uganda. We’ve split the work into separate pieces so it’s more manageable, and I am focusing on the laws, regulations, and procedures that are in place to hold perpetrators of gender-based violence accountable.

This post was written by a Center for Global Justice student staff member.  The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

Student Staff Projects for Fall 2016

To provide Regent Law students with practical experience in the legal protection of human rights, students volunteer with the center each semester for a minimum of 5 hours/week. Here is an overview of the projects that our student staff members are working on this semester:

IJM Uganda: International Justice Mission Uganda fights land grabbing, a terrible problem that affects thousands of widows and orphans in Uganda. In order to aid IJM's work, the Center is expanding a legal memo it drafted last semester on the legal doctrine of res judicata. The Center's memo will help IJM decide the best legal strategy to bring civil suits on behalf of widows whose land was stolen.

Kyampisi Childcare Ministries: KCM is a nonprofit organization in Uganda that fights child sacrifice. In order to aid KCM in its work of monitoring child sacrifice cases, as well as aid prosecutors, the Center is putting together a legal manual that outlines the steps involved in a child sacrifice case, applicable charges for the defendant, and various legal issues that will have to be addressed to have a successful prosecution.

Handong: The Center works in partnership with Handong International Law School to advance the rule of law and expand religious freedom in Mongolia.  This semester, the Center is drafting a legal memorandum relating to the implementation of homeschooling in Mongolia.

Shared Hope: Every semester the Center supports Shared Hope with the Protected Innocence Challenge (PIC).  The PIC is a 50-state survey designed to improve the laws of all 50 states as they relate to the sex trafficking of children. This semester, the Center is analyzing whether each state has vacatur laws that allow minor sex trafficking victims to have any convictions that resulted or related to their trafficking vacated rather than merely expunged.  When a sentence is vacated, it is completely erased from all existence, as opposed to expungement, which normally just seals the records of the conviction.  Vacation of a sentence thus offers greater protection to the victim.

Turkey Project: This semester the Center is planning on writing a short book that discusses the legal framework regarding secularism and religious freedom in Turkey.  Turkey is a very strategic country, situated between the west and the east, mostly Muslim but constitutionally secular, etc.  Recent events in Turkey, however, have the potential to upset this balance and make Turkey another Islamic state.  The booklet is thus intended to explain Turkey's constitutional commitment  to secularism and guarantee of the Free Exercise of Religion and (2) the illegality of many of the government's recent actions, including the ongoing state support of mosques. We intend to use the booklet as a means to educate those in Turkey about what Turkish law actually says and requires.

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights: The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) is the body responsible for overseeing and implementing the major human rights treaty for Africa. The Center for Global Justice is currently praying about whether to become a certified non-profit organization (NGO) before the ACHPR, which hosts two sessions every year in order to address the status of human rights in the continent. Center Executive Director, Professor Jeffrey Brauch, will be attending the next session, which is to be held in The Gambia in October. We are drafting a legal memo on the ACPHR to help us identify if and how we can be involved and to better understand the major human rights issues that need to be addressed from a biblical perspective.

ADF International: As always, the Center is partnering with ADF International to monitor all cases before the European Court of Human Rights to ensure that we identify all cases on which ADF should intervene.

Jerusalem Institute of Justice: This semester the Center is continuing a project from last semester for JIJ on the Palestinian refugees. One of the primary points of disagreement between Israel and Palestine is what to do with the Palestinian refugees.  Palestine claims all refugees have a "right to return" to Israel. Israel claims that no such right exists.  We are analyzing the legal situation of the refugees, specifically looking at whether a future (or existing?) state of Palestine has an obligation under International Law to grant citizenship to the refugees.

Speaking to the Future Fighters of Human Trafficking

Pam Dodge (pictured L) has served as a legal intern with CGJ, and currently serves as a student staff member and graduate assistant.

On a recent trip to Oklahoma, I had the opportunity to speak to high school students about human trafficking. One of my life-long friends is now a high school teacher, and she invited me as a guest speaker to her five classes of students. When she first extended the invitation, I hesitantly accepted, thinking that I was not possibly qualified to be a “guest speaker.”

However, in my two years of law school, I have learned far more than I realized. Through my work at the Center for Global Justice and my internship with International Justice Mission in India, I have gained the kind of knowledge that comes from hands-on experience.  I spoke to the students about a basic understanding of the issue of human trafficking, and then we compared the challenges of fighting domestic human trafficking (in the U.S.) with the challenges of fighting international human trafficking. The material I used was drawn from my work at the Center and my internship with IJM. I had so much material that I actually had to cut it down because we ran out of time in the first class. I was easily able to lay out basic concepts and to answer the students’ questions. Additionally, I provided resources to my friend (their teacher) to continue the teaching.

I was also deeply encouraged by how engaged the students were. The students were interested; they participated in discussion; and they asked tough questions. They intuitively understood the challenges facing those who fight human trafficking. While preparing, I was concerned that some of the material would be too challenging, but the students surprised me with how quickly they grasped difficult concepts that some adults struggle to understand. They also asked emotionally intuitive questions—for example, how I personally dealt with the casework in India. I am confident that many of the students I spoke with are future fighters of human trafficking.

Time has gone by so quickly—I can hardly believe that I am already in my third year of law school. Although I am still a law student, I already have enough experience to begin to teach and equip the next generation of human rights advocates. I am grateful to the Center for Global Justice for these opportunities and experiences.

This post was written by a Center for Global Justice student staff member.  The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice. 

Fighting to Protect Women and Orphans in Uganda

First Assignment

I spent the summer working with International Justice Mission (IJM) in Gulu, Uganda. IJM has 17 field offices that seek to transform the justice systems in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. IJM Gulu provides free legal work for widows and orphans who are victims of property grabbing. Due to living in a post-conflict zone, many women and orphans have been driven off their land by family members, neighbors, or the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Without their land, many women have no means of provision for themselves or their families. Thus, to protect women in Northern Uganda requires protecting their land rights. IJM has been fighting diligently for four years in Gulu and has helped numerous widows and orphans.

I was in Uganda for almost two months and spent much time traveling to and from work on the back of a small motorcycle referred to as a “boda boda” and eating ground maize called “posho” with “g-nut and greens” soup. More importantly, however, I spent two months interviewing and meeting with the widows with whom we work to hear their stories and prepare reports for our attorneys to take to court.

I was also assigned a project for the office involving Domestic Violence (DV) in Northern Uganda. According to studies, over 70% of women in Northern Uganda face DV in one form or another during the course of their lives. DV constitutes a form of discrimination and oppression in Uganda, specifically Northern Uganda. The predominant ethnic group in Northern Uganda, specifically in the cities of Gulu and Amuru, is the Acholis. Acholi women live with an inordinately high risk of being a victim of DV due to the Acholi custom of treating a wife as property, the prevalence of alcoholism in Acholi men, and the harsh realities of living in a post-conflict zone. Thus, I wrote a memo on the affects of DV on women and how that could be combatted in Acholi culture.

Before this summer, I had very little interest in DV. However, after the research I did in order to complete this project, my life has forever been changed. I have already found places to volunteer in Virginia this year and am thrilled to see the impact that this summer will have on the course of my life.

Second Assignment

IJM has two offices in Uganda, Kampala and Gulu. The Gulu office serves the Gulu and Amuru districts in Northern Uganda. In Gulu and Amuru, IJM focuses on cases of land grabbing that impact widows and orphans. IJM seeks to restore the property, liberty, and security of land grabbing victims in Uganda by working alongside local leaders.

My second major assignment of my internship involved studying succession law in Northern Uganda. Succession law concerns “the transmission of the rights, estate, obligations, and charges of a deceased person to his or her heirs.” Succession law can be referred to as inheritance law.

Uganda's 1995 Constitution guarantees that "[a]ll persons are equal before and under the law" and "shall not be discriminated against on the ground of sex....” Further, the Constitution also provides "[w]omen shall be accorded full and equal dignity of the person with men." However, both statutory and Islamic laws in Uganda support inequality in inheritance.

Often distribution of estates upon a father or husband’s death is left to clan elders, religious leaders, or relatives. In these cases, a widow may not have a voice in deciding who gets the property. Unfortunately, many religious leaders, clan elders, and relatives do not know and do not follow the succession laws of the land. Because many people do not know the laws of succession in Uganda, the property is often distributed based on customary law, or the traditional law of the tribes and clans, which calls for property to be passed down from one generation to the next through male descendants.

When a woman marries, she becomes the property of the male by the paying of the bride price to a woman’s family. By treating the woman as property, the male’s clan can deny her inheritance rights when the man dies and can condition her continued occupancy of the land to her willingness to marry a male member of her deceased husband’s clan. Thus, under customary law if the clan does not follow succession law, the only way a woman can inherit her land is to remarry a male member of her deceased husband’s clan. Unfortunately, a woman may have to share the land with other women as customary law allows men to marry more than one woman. Thus, when the husband dies, the woman inherits only a portion of the property in accordance with the number of wives the man had before his death.

Under Ugandan law, the closest male heir is the administrator and successor of the deceased husband’s land. Therefore, many women do not own property and have no land of their own. Because of the lack of land ownership, a woman often endures abuse and may be driven off the land by her deceased husband’s relatives. A woman may lose not only her land, but also her children. Unfortunately, the Constitution of Uganda and the Succession Act of 1972 as written do not always protect a woman and her inheritance.

This post was written by a Center for Global Justice student intern.  The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice. 

CGJ Intern Update from Shannon Fields

The following blog post is written by CGJ Intern Shannon Fields ('18), who interned this summer with both the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in Uganda and International Justice Mission.

During my internships with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and International Justice Mission (IJM), I was able to gain a good understanding of the clash in Uganda between the customary law of the people and the formal law of the state.

In 1962, Uganda accepted British law and abandoned the customary law known as Buganda law. However, no one followed the British law. Since the common law was coming from a different nation, the Ugandans did not respect the law. A nation is not going to take ownership of another nation’s common law when it had no role in formulating that law. Despite the adoption of the common law, customary law still is still valid, so the two clash regularly.

Customary law is not just a legal system, it’s also a lifestyle, and it is always changing. That’s the character of customary law since it is not written down. To prove customary law in court, you have to get an older clan member to testify to what the law is. This causes issues because there is no foundational law to refer to. The law changes as a community of people change. Additionally, customary law is diverse and localized to different tribes, so there is no consistency throughout Uganda.

During the study abroad portion of our trip, we learned about the importance of the rule of law within a country’s legal system. The rule of law is the notion that all government agencies and citizens are bound by and abide by the law. The rule of law does not exist if a nation’s government and its citizens are free to act as they wish without repercussions. The people should be able to defer to the law, so it should be foundational enough so that the people know what the law is. In Uganda there is a clash between the customary law of the people and the formal law of the state. The people are affected by the customary laws and what the community is doing rather than what the court system is saying. The peoples’ legal imaginations are formed by what they see and experience. This creates very diverse opinions about what the law is. Clifford Geertz said, “the law is one distinctive manner of imagining the real.”

Man is sinful, so there must be a foundation of law that every man must abide by to curb his sinful nature. If customary law is followed then the law will change as the community changes, which is not necessarily a bad thing. However, the elder of the clan will always influence the community. Thus, to allow an ever-changing law is to give the leader of the clan the power to influence the clan in whichever direction he or she chooses. There must be a foundational law that everyone, including the leader of the clan, is under. Thus, it is important that a nation’s laws are written down in order to ensure that no single person or group can sway the law to their benefit.


 This post was written by a Center for Global Justice student intern. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

Student Staff Project Update: Michaela Pannell

This semester I have been working on two projects. The first project is an ogoing project that the Center does every semester, and a project which I worked on last semester. I, along with other students, have been monitoring all new cases that come before the European Court of Human Rights to see if ADF (Alliance Defending Freedom) might want to intervene. I have enjoyed having the opportunity to continue assisting ADF. Last semester was my first time working on the Student Staff, and right when I was beginning to feel comfortable, and (semi) competent with the work, it was the end of the semester. Feeling like I am doing some work long enough to produce good work product has been beneficial and encouraging this semester.

The second project I have been working on is with IJM (International Justice Mission). We have been researching and summarizing cases related to the unlawful taking of property in Uganda. I have found myself reading so many interesting cases that I just loose track of time. I sometimes thought researching U.S. cases was difficult, but having to research cases of another country has been the most frustrating and educational aspect for me.

I am taking an International Human Rights class this semester. In that class, we have learned about the European and African human rights systems. Being able to learn in class about the various systems and then to see it in real life through the work we do for the Center has been very rewarding.

“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” –Nelson Mandela

Michaela Pannell ('17)

Student Staff Update: Moriah Schmidt

My name is Moriah Schmidt, and I am a first year law student and a member of the student staff in the Center for Global Justice.

I joined the Center for Global Justice this semester and have had the pleasure of working on a project for International Justice Mission’s Uganda base with some other staff members. This project focused on “land grabbing” in Uganda and addresses the issue of land and property rights—specifically among widows in Uganda.

Here in the U.S., we often take land for granted. When we buy a house or land, we expect it to be there for us if we leave for a vacation or an extended stay elsewhere. We certainly expect it to remain our property even if a family member dies.

That is not the case in Uganda. For instance, if the male head of the house dies, leaving a widow and/or children behind, they are at risk of losing what little they have left. Many widows and children live off their land, raising crops like cassava (a carbohydrate similar to a potato, which turns into a thick white porridge, usually eaten with beans) or at least enough food to sustain themselves.

Who puts these widows at risk of losing house and home? Usually members of their family or husband’s family. In researching these cases, I came across many instances of family members of the widow wrongfully forcing the widow of her land; sometimes claiming they were the rightful heirs, and sometimes even alleging the widow was not a legal spouse of the deceased. These cases occasionally are tried as “trespass” cases, which is what they are. Other times, the court analyzes who has the certificate of title to the land. IJM works to aid widows by properly registering themselves as owners of the land to avoid legal battles and land grabbing.

The good news is, Uganda’s legal system does seem to be addressing the problem. I came across several cases where the land was returned to the widow with the judge ruling that the only proof needed was that the widow had been married to the deceased. International Justice Mission does incredible work training local government officials and building up the legal system so that the land systems reflects right and just motives. Their hope is to ensure widows are protected from land grabbing. It’s a privilege to work alongside this organization from afar and see their progress in Uganda.

Student Staff Update from So Heon Park

My name is So Heon Park, and I am a second year student at Regent University School of Law. I am currently working on a project for International Justice Mission (IJM) with my teammates to help bring justice to corrupt legal systems in East Africa, as I shared in my previous blog post. My primary responsibility for this project is to research cases in the United States where police officers are prosecuted for violating the law and finding the procedures that were followed in the investigations and prosecutions. I would like to share a few things that I have learned through working on this project.

First, I have learned real skills that I need to know to work at a law firm through the work at the Center. For example, when I first heard the term, “billing hours,” I had a general idea of what this meant. However, I did not know what exactly the term encompassed. After learning that “billing hours” requires recording the date, amount of time, and a short description of the work that I did, I feel that I am getting trained and ready to work at a real law firm because this is what I am going to do to bill my clients or keep the record of my work at a firm in the future. Although it might sound like “billing hours” is a very simple thing, I was excited to learn how a law firm would run and how I would do the same thing as a lawyer in the future.

Second, working at the Center has helped me to focus on the task that I am assigned to. As I was reading many cases during the research process, I sometimes had a hard time figuring out whether I was answering the question that I was asked to because there were so many materials that seemed important for police accountability. Our supervisor, S. Ernie Walton, always guided me toward focusing on my assigned question and seeing the big picture of the project so that I can focus on more important materials. I also appreciate his encouragement, which helped me to keep up the work and see the importance of the project.

Third, serving as a student staff for the Center is such a privilege, especially working with other student staff members, who love God and know the importance of the work that needs to be done in the world to bring justice. It is easy to focus more on assignments, exams, and other extra-curricular activities without remembering the reason why I came to law school and why I am at Regent University School of Law. The Center work is the constant reminder of the reason why I am in law school and the mission that I have for God.

The Center is not only a safe environment to see the room for growth, but also a great place to train myself to work with excellence. I really appreciate the support and encouragement through prayers and words by the staff members, and I am so proud to be a part of this community. 

Partner Organization Highlight: International Justice Mission

International Justice Mission is a global human rights organization that seeks to protect the poor from violence throughout the developing world. IJM partners with local authorities to rescue victims of violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors, and strengthen justice systems. Specifically, they work on combating slavery, sex trafficking, sexual violence, police brutality, property grabbing, and citizen rights abuse.

Their global team includes hundreds of lawyers, investigators, social workers, community activists, and other professionals at work in nearly 20 communities. In 2010, US News & World Report ranked IJM 1 out 10 “service groups that are making a difference.”

The Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law completes legal projects on behalf of IJM, particularly for their work in East Africa.

To see where some of our students have interned or worked on pro bono projects for IJM, click here >

Student Staff Project Update from Diane Wesh

The project I am currently working on is IJM. IJM is an acronym for  “International Justice Mission,” a global organization that protects the poor from violence in the developing world. International Justice Mission works with governmental authorities and organizations to: rescue victims of sexual violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors, and strengthen the justice system. My project consists of aiding my team in drafting a legal memo regarding police accountability. Our main focus is to identify and explain: 1.) major criminal/administrative investigations of police officers in the U.S & U.K; why they worked or did not work; 2.) how criminal and administrative investigations of police officers affect the public; 3.) how to implement a social demand for police accountability in societies with high crime and terrorism; and 4.) whether police accountability is better served by internal affairs or independent oversight.

The toughest part of the project is the extensive amount of research I have to do. A lot of my hours go into looking for scholarly journals, articles, books and anything that I can find pertaining to my project. The most rewarding part of this project is learning about organizations that I never knew existed and seeing how there are so many people that want to see a change in this world. I also like the fact that I am able to meet and work with students from different cultures who share similar interests as me. 

Student Staff Update by Courtney Marasigan

I have been given the opportunity to work on a project for International Justice Mission (IJM)—an amazing organization that initially sparked my interest in human rights and in working for the Center for Global Justice. IJM is a global organization focused on protecting the poor from acts of violence. IJM aims to rescue victims, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors, and strengthen justice systems in developing countries.

This semester, my fellow teammates and I have been tasked with writing a legal memorandum about police accountability. Specifically, I have researched whether police accountability is better served by internal affairs or independent oversight. As suggested by their names, internal affairs regard accountability measures conducted by the police force toward its own officers, while independent oversight regards accountability measures conducted by organizations or individuals independent of the police force.

The toughest part of this project has also been a blessing. Early on during the research process as I was acquainting myself with internal affairs and independent oversight, I quickly became overwhelmed with an abundance of resources. At first I could not wrap my mind around each concept simply because so many individuals and organizations have written on both internal affairs and independent oversight. Though my brain was engulfed with information, it is always better to have a wealth of available sources rather than a scarcity. This temporary obstacle ultimately taught me key legal skill sets such as distilling information and determining which sources are most authoritative.

Despite struggling to balance class work with extra-curricular activities and student staff obligations, it is an honor to remain grounded through this project. I am reminded daily that there are real-life crises in the world even when studying for a mid-term examination demands my attention as if it is more significant. Issues of safeguarding citizens from corruption and holding the police accountable will not be resolved overnight. Still, I know my team’s legal memorandum will aid IJM to positively impact developing countries.

Student Staff Update: So Heon Park

My name is So Heon Park. I am a second year student at Regent University School of Law. The Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law (Center) was the primary reason why I chose Regent. I am privileged to work for the Center as a student staff member to help human rights victims and bring justice to corrupt legal systems.

I am a part of the team working on a project for International Justice Mission (IJM). IJM is an organization dedicated to rescuing human rights victims, bringing criminals to justice, and strengthening justice systems in many countries. Our project focuses on police accountability in East Africa. Specifically, we are working on drafting a memorandum to suggest how governments can effectively hold police officers accountable to the law with the goal that innocent victims will not suffer under corruption and the abuse of police powers.

My primary responsibility for this project is to research cases in the United States where police officers are prosecuted for violating the law. I have to provide summaries of these cases, explaining the procedural aspects of how the United States holds police officers accountable and how effective the justice system is in the United States. I learned that the United States tries to uphold the principles of justice by holding police officers accountable and tries to emphasize the importance of bringing justice in society because pubic corruption undermines national safety, the public trust, and confidence in the government.

Although ending public corruption seems to be an endless process to achieve because human beings are sinful in nature—and it is happening everywhere—I am hopeful that our team members’ work can bring a small change, which can impact entire societies so that there are less and less victims who suffer from injustice.

Center Intern Interview: Pamela Dodge

Pam Putting Her South Asia Pin on the Map at the Center

Pam served as a legal intern this summer with International Justice Mission in South Asia. IJM seeks to protect the poor against violence by partnering with nationals to rescue victims, prosecute perpetrators, restore victims, and ultimately to transform justice systems. Pam worked with the legal team to combat sex trafficking by researching various legal issues—including the use of video conferencing for victim testimony—and writing research briefs for the IJM advocates. 

The following is an interview summary conducted with Pam Dodge related to her intern experience with the Center for Global Justice at Regent University’s School of Law. 

Q:       Where did you serve your internship and what did you learn?

I interned with International Justice Mission (IJM) in South Asia for six weeks and returned to the US on August 3, 2015.

I primarily worked with the IJM legal team to combat sex trafficking. I researched various legal issues and wrote research briefs, including one on using video conferencing for victim testimony in court.

The most influential part of my experience was my interaction with the local staff.  Most of the obstacles the team faces come from within the system. For example, when a judge grants bail to a convicted trafficker who will undoubtedly reoffend.  The system is broken and inadequate at providing justice to the victims, mostly young girls under the age of 16.

The implementation of the use of video conferencing will allow the victims to testify without fear of facing their trafficker in court and the costs associated with traveling to the specific court location.

Q:       What were the major challenges you faced during your internship? 

The victims have an immense distrust for the legal system because of rampant corruption.  Many victims are controlled by their pimps through the use of illicit drugs.  They are often forced into prostitution and have limited choices, if any.  Many of the victims are minors who are poor and have little education.  Unfortunately, when girls are rescued it is not unusual for them to return to prostitution because it is the only way of life they have ever known. 

Q:       What surprised you the most about your internship experience?

I see my experience as two sides of the same coin.  On one side of the coin I knew the judicial system in Southeast Asia was broken; however, I didn’t realize the degree and severity, or the level of incompetence that pervades the system.

For example, advocates (IJM lawyers) go to court and sit behind the public prosecutor and feed them the information about each case.  I view this as the prosecutors not doing their jobs to a level of competency and professionalism.  They are unprepared and rely on someone else to do their work for them.

On the other side of the coin:  the IJM employees were more wonderful than I had anticipated.  Their energy level was high and they possessed a great deal of determination. I never viewed them as discouraged or deterred by the slow progress of the judicial system.

Q:       Did anything unusual or concerning occur during your internship? 

What I’m about to share is a true story. Our team was attempting to rescue a group of girls in a specific area of town.  We had the appropriate paperwork and knew the location and the identity of the trackers.  On two occasions we attempted this rescue and each time it was called off for various reasons.  On the third attempt the pimp was smart and knew what we were attempting to do. 

When our “Fake Buyer” arrived at the location to meet the girl the pimp told him the girl was not there but had been transferred to a different location.  The police called off the rescue because they did not have the necessary paperwork for the new location.  Our team was discouraged but not deterred. For three days we prayed and asked the Lord for His direction. 

Finally, and as a result of our perseverance, we received the paperwork for the new location and a few days later went back for a fourth rescue.  This time we succeeded!  Not only did we rescue the two girls but we also rescued a total of 17 girls, five of which were minors. In total six people were arrested for their involvement in the sex trafficking of these women and girls.

Q:       Share with us what’s next and possible career goals 

Since the first missions trip I served on, the Lord has grown in my heart a passion for serving the poor overseas. Alongside this passion, I have—for as long as I can remember—wanted to study law.

Two years ago, I visited Regent University to attend the Center for Global Justice Symposium, and I saw for the first time how these passions could be intertwined. Not only could they be intertwined, but they must be intertwined to truly serve the poor around the world. Caring about human rights for the poor is directly related to caring about functioning public justice systems. 

I would love to work with IJM in the USA and prosecute cases.  I’m not certain if I will work abroad again but I do believe I need to gain experience here in the USA first.

Q:       What closing comments would you like to offer the readers?

I loved working with IJM and drew great strength from the 30 minutes of prayer each day (IJM has 30 minute prayer sessions every day).  Everything we did was covered in prayer. Every victim, every project, every rescue, every case and yes even every police officer was prayed for by name.

“The Lord loves to use small things to defeat the Giants (like David and Goliath).”

As I returned back to the USA I felt sad because I had such a wonderful spiritual experience with the team.  I developed a more intimate relationship with the Lord and a great thirst for Him.  I didn’t want to leave the team who had been with me through all these experiences.  The Lord reminded me that HE is the one who has experienced this with me, not just the team.  He is the one that opened the doors and has walked with me.  Everything I experience in life, it is He who will be there with me on this journey.

Center Intern Update: Pamela Dodge

As I return to the U.S. and begin my second year of law school, I want to share a few reflections on the personal transformation that occurred in my life this summer.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about working at International Justice Mission was the culture of the organization. The IJM staff begins every day with two spiritual disciplines: "stillness" and corporate prayer. "Stillness" is a thirty-minute block of time in which the office is quiet, and every staff member spends intentional, individual time with the Lord. At our office, stillness was followed by thirty-minutes of corporate prayer.  Every day, the staff would join together, sing a worship song, and list prayer requests for the day. Then, we would divide into groups to pray over each request.

At first I was surprised about the level of detail to which we prayed. But after the weeks went by, I became accustomed to praying every day over every aspect of our work. Some requests changed from day to day, but some requests we lifted up persistently every single day.  Every rescue, every part of each trial, every victim by name, and every IJM staff member were consistently covered in prayer.  In six short weeks, I spent 15 hours praying together with fellow believers.

In Judges 7, the Lord tells Gideon that his army contained too many men for the Lord to grant him victory. He commanded Gideon to wean down the size of the army until a mere 300 remained. Why? The Lord tells us that Israel would have become boastful and said in their hearts, "My own power has delivered me." The human heart will-whenever possible-attribute credit to itself.

The truth is, fighting human trafficking is often overwhelming and exhausting. One of the mental challenges is that nagging question in the back of my mind, Can we really bring about change when so many things are broken? I am comforted by the knowledge that our Father loves to bring about the impossible through His strength in our weakness. He loves to defeat a mighty nation with a few hundred soldiers, a giant with a shepherd and a slingshot, a fortified city with marching and trumpet sounds. He loves to use seemingly small things to overcome what is seemingly strong.

The spiritual disciplines of stillness and corporate prayer are not implemented to guarantee some human conception of success. Rather, these disciplines remind our forgetful hearts that God is the source of all power to restore and transform; that He is both loving and sovereign; and that without Him, we can do nothing. The tenacity of the IJM staff flows from an understanding of the power of God. I question whether real change can occur because I automatically think in terms of what can reasonably be accomplished, but the culture of the IJM office is to surrender everything to the Lord and to trust Him for the results.

These concepts have influenced me deeply. My prayer life is woefully minimal because I am accustomed to relying on my own strength every day. In my pride, I want to say, my own power has accomplished this. I am challenged by the IJM team who remain fearless in the face of circumstances that appear insurmountable. I am humbled by their faith and convicted of my own self-reliant attitude. I am challenged to turn to the Lord in consistent, daily prayer for every aspect of my life.

Twenty Days of Interns: Pamela Dodge

This summer, 20 Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law interns are spread across four states and ten countries, going not only with the Gospel, but also with legal training and a passion to see the Lord’s justice carried out on a fallen earth.

Pam served as a legal intern this summer with International Justice Mission in South Asia. IJM seeks to protect the poor against violence by partnering with nationals to rescue victims, prosecute perpetrators, restore victims, and ultimately to transform justice systems. Pam worked with the legal team to combat sex trafficking by researching various legal issues--including the use of video conferencing for victim testimony--and writing research briefs for the IJM advocates. Pam described her time with the IJM team in South Asia as inspirational and humbling.

Whether fighting sex trafficking in India and Indonesia, advocating against partial-birth abortion in Europe, advancing the rule of law in Uganda, or securing religious freedom in Bulgaria and South Africa, our interns are making a difference.

See where all of our interns are working here >

Donate to our Internship Grant Program >

Center Intern Update: Pamela Dodge

Pam serves as a legal intern this summer with International Justice Mission in South Asia. IJM seeks to protect the poor against violence by partnering with nationals to rescue victims, prosecute perpetrators, restore victims, and ultimately to transform justice systems. Pam works with the legal team to combat sex trafficking by researching various legal issues—including the use of video conferencing for victim testimony—and writing research briefs for the IJM advocates.

It is the fourth week of my internship with International Justice Mission in South Asia.

The field office in which I work combats sex trafficking, especially the trafficking of minors, by seeking to rescue and restore victims, prosecute traffickers, and transform the justice system.

The most influential part of my experience has been my interaction with the local staff, especially the advocates on the IJM team. They are—in every sense of the word—heroes. They work tirelessly in the face of both disappointments and victories for which they are never thanked.

Most of the obstacles the team faces come from within the system. When the team had to call off a rescue because the police were unwilling to follow through, when a judge granted bail to a convicted trafficker who will undoubtedly abscond—these moments reveal why the work of IJM is so important. Because the system is failing to provide justice to these girls. The system needs transformation.

I have almost completed my first research project for our legal team—updating a brief on the use of video conferencing for victim testimony. Many young girls are trafficked from nearby countries, and it is essential for them to be able to testify even after they have been repatriated to their home countries. The implementation of the use of video conferencing would also benefit the victims who are willing to testify, but are not willing to face their traffickers in court. The use of video conferencing is a new development in case law, so our advocates are working to implement it strategically.

My day-to-day work involves research and writing, as well as other legal support tasks, and a lot of learning about the inner workings of IJM. I am humbled and honored to play a small role in the work of justice the IJM team is doing in this city.

Student Staff Update: Matthew Mogish

This last semester I worked with a team of two other students on a project for International Justice Mission. This project was similar to projects I worked on in the past, but with one major complication: the cases we were to assess had not been translated into English. This revelation immediately forced the team to reevaluate how we were going to accomplish what we had been asked to do. We chose to break down the general elements of the project and try to assess each part and then put all the individual research together into a completed package.  It was difficult to find information and statutes relevant and on point. Yet, the team was diligent and steadfast and ultimately able to pull together a work product that was beneficial to IJM.

Working on projects of this nature is why I joined the Center. I wanted to work on projects dealing with real issues for real people that might not have an easy answer. The Center has given me that opportunity and blessed me with invaluable experience in how the process of assisting other nations in the development of law works.

Student Staff Update: Kolleen Daniels

Q.  Are you working independently or on a team?  How has that experience been?

A.  I worked with three other students on a project for International Justice Mission Thailand where we assisted the officer's efforts to obtain citizenship for individuals who were at risk of being victims of human trafficking, namely the hill tribe people.  It was a positive experience working with others who shared the same goal. 

Q.  What made you sign up to be a student staff member with the Center?

A.  I joined the Center for Global Justice because I have been blessed in my own life with individuals who have helped me in difficult times.  I wanted to devote my time to an organization where I know my efforts would go towards doing the same for others. 

Q.  How did you balance work for the Center with other law school work?

A.  I did most of my hours on the weekend when I was not interning or in class. 

Q.  What have you learned from being a student staff member with the Center?

A.    I think that I learned when you work together with others small amounts of time can turn into very successful and meaningful projects. 

Q.  How does your research work for the Center differ from your typical studies?

A.   My research included both foreign and international law.  Most of my typical internship and school research focused on domestic law. 

Q.  How do you cope with working with such sensitive subject matter?

A.   I believe compassion and professionalism are essential in dealing with any touchy legal situation.  I followed the same approach in my work with the Center.

Learn more about the student staff at www.regent.edu/centerstaff >

Center for Global Justice Intern - Krystle Blanchard

Krystle Blanchard, 3L

International Justice Mission, Washington, D.C.

My summer started out pretty disappointing: I had plans to go with International Justice Mission (IJM), the organization of my dreams, to be a legal intern in Kenya, the exact kind of place where I could see myself using my education in human rights law. Those high hopes nearly crashed completely with one call which bore bad news about the increasing security issues in Kenya and IJM’s decision to pull all interns out (and refrain from sending more). Needless to say, when I had the chance nonetheless to remain with IJM for the summer in their Washington, D.C. headquarters, I could not be more thankful. At least half of my hopes could come true!

There’s a reason for everything. This summer, I’ve had the amazing opportunity not only to work with a very successful organization doing exactly what I have a passion for, but to see the ways that God uses ordinary people to accomplish his purposes in the context of professional excellence. And while I was disappointed not to be doing it from Kenya, I can see how God used my time in D.C. to grow me spiritually and professionally in ways I don’t think would have been possible while dealing with assimilation to a whole new culture.

I’ve always had difficulty dealing with what seems to be a dichotomy between Christianity and excellence in the business world, but my time working in IJM headquarters has shown me exactly what that looks like. The most striking thing about this organization, in my opinion, is the way that Gary Haugen, IJM’s founder and CEO, runs it. He is the essence of a humble and professional leader who strives for excellence not only in the organization he founded, but in his personal and spiritual life as well. The best part is that his example overflows into every other part of the organization, resulting in what I’m sure to be the most unique organization in the world.

For one thing, he has chosen to dedicate a whole hour of every working day to the Lord. Thirty minutes every morning is given for each employee to practice stillness, a time to reflect, pray, and be spiritually prepared for the day. Then, at 11:00 each day, the whole office gathers together for 30 minutes to lift up praises and prayers to the Lord for what He is doing in the organization. The humble leadership that emanates not only from Gary, but from all leadership, is truly astounding.

A common theme in the office is the intentional pursuit of joy. The concept of pursuing joy was new to me, but it makes total sense in an organization that is fighting injustice day-in and day-out, often standing in the face of the most grotesque perpetrators and saddest stories. In this line of work, it is so important to pursue joy—especially for those abroad working with victims. However, I have learned this summer that the pursuit of joy is necessary even for those of us who don’t have any first-hand experience with that pain.

For me, the pursuit of joy has been necessary almost for the opposite reason. It’s hard sometimes to think about the fact that I could be there, seeing the people affected by police violence illegal detention and making the fight that much more worthwhile. It’s difficult sometimes to remind myself that the research I do on my own, in a small intern cubby in the chilly D.C. office, matters just as much as the work they are doing in Kenya. I have to pursue joy, because otherwise I can easily get bogged down with thoughts about how I should be working internationally somewhere, seeing things first-hand… as if that would make a difference somehow. I’ve learned how selfish it is of me to think in that way, and that that kind of thinking is the thief of joy. While the kind of joy that it may be stealing is completely different from the kind of joy that is drained from every-day work in the trenches of a field office, my joy is just as much at stake. And in reality, I think that’s just as much the case in everyday life, when things are normal. It’s easy to start thinking, often selfishly, about how things could be better, and instead of taking captive those thoughts and being thankful for life and our own ability to offer up work as a form of worship to God, we allow the joy to seep slowly out of us.

This summer I’ve been given the opportunity to research and write memos proposing new procedures for the Kenyan judiciary. These procedures, if put into place, will help ensure that innocent men who are accused of crimes will be given necessary process before being thrown in jail for years to await trial. They will help a person like one of IJM’s current clients, who has been in jail for over one and a half years for a crime he did not commit, all the while unable to provide for his wife and children. It is people like these that make my solitary days of research and writing worthwhile. So, even though I can’t be there in Kenya to see the faces of those I want to serve, I won’t let simple circumstances steal from me the joy that comes from working for the Lord and fulfilling his call to seek justice and defend the oppressed no matter where I am in the world.