Disruption and Renewal: Charting the Future of the International Rule of Law, Democracy, and Pluralism

In the 21st century, democratic backsliding and the concentration of power have coincided with a retreat from aspects of the established international order. International law, once viewed primarily as a framework for cooperation and governance, is now at times seen as an obstacle. Across critical domains – technology, trade, human rights, and climate change – international law faces mounting pressures that test both the durability of institutions and the stability of the global system. Against this backdrop, it essential to assess the implications of these shifts and consider how best to strengthen the tools available to shape a more just and sustainable future.

This year’s theme, Disruption and Renewal: Charting the Future of the International Rule of Law, Democracy, and Pluralism, explored the role of international lawyers in protecting the rule of law within pluralist, democratic societies across a wide range of issues. Through dialogue that brings together diverse voices and perspectives, the Cutler Fellows Program sought to spark ideas and cultivate leadership capable of sustaining and renewing international legal practice in a rapidly changing world.

Launched in 2012, the Cutler Fellows Program honors Lloyd N. Cutler’s commitment to strengthening the international rules-based order through leadership development. The 2026 session brought together 60 exceptional law students from top law schools across the United States, many with prior legal training and experience in other jurisdictions, as well as a group of mentors and speakers from a range of national, institutional, and policy settings. The program empowered Fellows to tackle cutting-edge issues in international law, foster leadership skills, and build lasting collaborative networks within the legal and public service sectors.

Date

Feb 05 - Feb 07, 2026

Session no.

S940-01

Location

Washington, DC

Contact

Benjamin Carlson-Peters

Davidson Impact Fellow

Kristina Vér Foley

Content overview

Program Information Paper Workshops How to Apply Program Chairs Faculty Speakers Partner Schools

Program Information

The two-day intensive session combined a pedagogical and collaborative approach to help Fellows build expertise, foster creative thinking, and develop new ideas to further their goals in contributing to international law.

The program combined plenary discussion and small, thematic working groups. Each Fellow received feedback and guidance on how to strengthen the legal arguments in their papers and find publishing opportunities. Simultaneously, the program was organized around a theme that structured the weekend’s broader programming. Distinguished speakers, faculty-led roundtables, and student panels engaged with that theme from a variety of perspectives, fostering a shared conversation that complements the Fellows’ individual research. The program also incorporated career mentorship, giving Fellows the opportunity to hear directly from practitioners and academics about both traditional and non-traditional paths in international law.

To allow for candid and open exchange of ideas, the session adhered to the Chatham House Rule. 

Paper Workshops

A core element of the Cutler Fellows Program is the opportunity to develop an original paper on international, transnational, or comparative law and present it before leading professors of international law and peers, receiving detailed, publication-focused critique from two distinguished faculty members with expertise beyond what any single law school can offer. The program also helps Fellows identify avenues for publication, with past Fellows successfully publishing their work in leading international law journals and widely read platforms such as Lawfare.

Fellows should have a paper in progress – for example, a research paper from a law school seminar – and intend to revise/expand that paper for future publication. Before participating in the program, students must prepare a 6–8-page executive summary of that research paper to be shared with participating faculty and fellows. This paper can be previously written or a work in project and should be something they wish to improve with peer and expert feedback. The workshops, taking place on Friday, February 6 during the program, aim to provide feedback and guidance for the future development of the paper. Discussions will focus particularly on argumentative framing, paper structure, and theses. In small groups, each student will orally present their research and receive constructive feedback from peers and expert faculty members.

How to Apply

The program accepts up to 60 law student Fellows at the 2L, 3L, and LLM levels. Four students are selected by each of the 15 participating law schools: Berkeley, Chicago, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Michigan, New York University, Northwestern, Penn, Stanford, UCLA, Virginia, and Yale. Students’ areas of interest and the topics of their papers may include any topic in international, transnational, or comparative law, including: