Willamette’s long tradition of excellence in international and comparative law is in good hands as part of the Signature Strengths Initiative of the law school’s new administration.
As Professor Jim Nafziger, who has directed the international and comparative law program for many years, points out: “Resolving so many critical issues these days requires a blend of domestic and international law — for example, the pandemic, ransomware attacks, international trade, climate change and immigration. More and more, international law impacts legal practices of every size, location and specialty.”
Nafziger is a globally recognized expert. He was recently reelected to office in two premier organizations: as secretary of the American Society of International Law (ASIL) and as vice chair of the International Law Association (ILA), of whose American Branch he is a former president. Founded in 1873 and headquartered in London, the ILA is the world’s leading non-governmental organization dedicated to developing and advancing international law. Nafziger was also an invited participant last spring in NATO’s first-ever conference and related workshop on human security.
Nafziger wrote two chapters in “The 2003 UNESCO Intangible Heritage Convention: A Commentary,” published by Oxford University Press, a book that won the ASIL’s 2021 Certificate of Merit for high technical craftsmanship and utility to lawyers and scholars. His current research ranges in subject matter from conflict of laws to export controls and from border walls to military occupation issues. Two of his books will be published within the next year.
“In encouraging our students to study international and comparative law, we are trying to anticipate the needs of the legal profession as both it and the law school continue to evolve,” Nafziger explains.
In October 2021, Nafziger received the second-ever Charles Seigal Service Award from the American Branch of the International Law Association.
