Yulia Ioffe Report - ICJ Judicial Fellows Programme
From 15 August 2018 to 15 July 2019, following my nomination by the Oxford Law Faculty, I participated in the Judicial Fellows (JF) programme of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). As part of the programme, my main responsibility was to act as a law clerk for a Member of the Court, H.E. Judge James R. Crawford.
My time at the Court coincided with a number of diverse cases on the Court’s docket, including the disputes concerning financing of terrorism, racial discrimination, reparation for mass human rights violations, state immunity, consular assistance, maritime delimitation, and others. The work at the Court allowed me to explore a broader range of areas of international law, in comparison with the ones I had a chance to engage with in the course of my doctoral research. Witnessing the parties present their arguments first-hand in the Great Hall of Justice of the Peace Palace was an unrivalled experience. It was also very helpful to take a glimpse at the Judges’ thought process and decision making, as well as their approaches to treaty interpretation, which was particularly useful for the purposes of my doctoral thesis.
The Court has vast resources to support the research tasks of judicial fellows, including an excellent library. An encyclopaedic knowledge of international law resources, as well as a friendly and patient attitude of the ICJ library team have made the hours spent doing research a highlight of my year.
Finally, I had a privilege to meet, work along, and learn from 14 judicial fellows –brilliant international lawyers from around the world. The JF programme provided me with an incredible opportunity to discuss pertinent questions of international law with my cohort, learn more about the different legal systems the judicial fellows come from, and discover their approaches to international law. I was incredibly impressed by the knowledge, commitment, and integrity of my colleagues, and I look forward to following their carriers and further achievements in international law.
It was both a pleasure and a privilege to work at the Court. I would like to express my gratitude to the Law Faculty and particularly the Public International Law Group for providing me with the opportunity and financial support for the duration of my stay at the Hague. I also would like to thank Judge Crawford and his team for giving me an opportunity to work with them.