In a fast-moving and volatile world, the rules-based international order and accountable judicial systems are critical to peace and progress. Lloyd N. Cutler, counselor to two US Presidents and long-time board chair of Salzburg Global Seminar, firmly believed in supporting young lawyers committed to public service. The Salzburg Cutler Fellows Program:The Future of Public and Private International Lawhelps outstanding law students explore ways to forge careers in international law that can help shape a better world.

The Salzburg Cutler Fellows Program is a one-of-a-kind program for graduate students from 11 top US law schools, who intend to pursue careers in international law, legal practice, and public service. The Program identifies and empowers outstanding talents, fosters leadership skills, and builds lasting collaborative networks within the legal and public service sectors. 

The Salzburg Cutler Fellows Program was launched in 2012 in memory of Lloyd N. Cutler, a Washington “super-lawyer” and counselor to two US Presidents. During his service on the board of Salzburg Global Seminar, Cutler regularly identified and mentored young lawyers, bringing them together with international judges and jurists to discuss the rule of law, including principles of judicial independence, human rights, and democratic governance. Successful lawyers across the world cite their Salzburg experience as highly influential in developing their legal philosophy, global networks, and career paths. 

Salzburg Cutler Fellows follow in these footsteps as lawyers pursuing careers in international practice with an abiding interest in public service. Each Fellow prepares and presents a research paper on a topic of private or public international law. Some of the top law faculty in the United States offer advice on how to make their argument most effective, and on how to succeed in getting papers accepted by journals in the US and across the world. In parallel, lawyers and other mentors in public service help Fellows explore traditional and non-traditional pathways into careers in international law and public service that can align passion and personal impact. 

Salzburg Global Seminar works to foster lasting networks and partnerships for creative, just and sustainable change. The Salzburg Cutler Fellows Program helps participants develop the skills and contacts needed for effective engagement and communication across the public sector, business and civil society. These strengths can help Fellows play a leading role on emerging opportunities and challenges, including achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, in their home countries and around the world.

The Salzburg Cutler Fellows Program aims to build collaborative networks for human capital and leadership development within the legal and public service sectors.

The program accepts up to 55 law student Fellows who are 2L, 3L, and LLM degree candidates. Up to five students are selected by each of the 11 participating law schools. Their priority focus is on international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law; international and national security; international environmental policy and law; international courts and tribunals; and international finance, monetary, and trade law. 

While all study at US law schools, past Salzburg Cutler Fellows have hailed from all around the world, including Albania, China, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Germany, India, Iran, New Zealand, Nigeria, and Thailand.

The two-day intensive session uses a mix of pedagogical approaches to build expertise and maximize ways in which every participant can share and learn.

Ahead of the intensive and highly interactive two-day workshop, Fellows present pre-prepared legal abstracts to their peers and top law faculty representatives from participating schools. The meeting itself combines plenary discussion and small thematic working groups, in which each Fellow receives feedback and guidance on how to strengthen the legal arguments in their papers and find publishing opportunities. Fellows also hear about and discuss traditional and non-traditional career paths in international law with experts and practitioners. 

Salzburg Cutler Fellows derive three main benefits from participating in the Program:

• A stronger research paper for eventual publication, that integrates expert input from renowned law faculty and peers, and advice for how to successfully publish this in US or international journals;
• New insights on how they can shape their careers and pursue their passions in both traditional and non-traditional pathways to international law and public service; and
• Membership of an expanding network of Salzburg Cutler Fellows that is connected to the 170-country network of Salzburg Global Fellows.

Selected papers presented at the 2018 Salzburg Cutler Fellows Program. The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of Salzburg Global Seminar. 

Matthew Eible, Duke University School of Law
Using a Human Rights Law Approach to Allege Human Rights Violations in the Trump Administration's Termination of the DACA Immigration Program

Jenny Sandvig, Harvard Law School
Retroactivity of Changes in the Case-Law of the European Court of Human Rights

Anagha Sundararajan, University of Chicago Law School
Environmental Counterclaims

LLOYD N. CUTLER CENTER FOR THE RULE OF LAW

The Cutler Center was established to continue the legacy of Lloyd N. Cutler (1917–2005). Under the Center’s auspices, the Lloyd N. Cutler Lecture on the Rule of Law is presented annually in Washington, DC, and features a distinguished speaker on a vital legal issue of international interest. Additionally, the Cutler Center convenes Rule of Law seminars in Salzburg, Austria and the Salzburg Cutler Fellows Program in Washington, DC.

For more info, visit: cutler.salzburgglobal.org