Palestinian Rule of Law Program

Halla Shoaibi is an alumna of the OSI Palestinian Rule of Law Program. After completing her internship at the Open Society Justice Initiative in New York in July 2009, Shoaibi shared her views on her academic experiences in the U.S. and her hopes for her immediate and long-term future in Palestine.

I completed my LL.M at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.  As a small town, it was a complete student experience.  Not only did I of course learn legal issues and meet amazing professors, I also got to meet people from all over the world.  Now I have friendships which I feel may actually last.  I also liked the fact that my legal experience was not only in the classroom.  We always compared how the law treats different issues in our respective countries.  It was extremely useful to hear how Germany treats inheritance issues, for instance.   

When I compare what I could have learnt by pursuing my studies in Palestine, I see a major difference in both the quality and quantity of teaching.  I did my undergraduate degree in Palestine and after studying for my master’s degree in the U.S., I have learned more than I would have in 2 or 3 years back home.  I felt U.S. professors were very focused on their subject area. 

I’m interested in women’s rights, and in Palestine, such knowledgeable experts are hard to find.  The class structure is also different.  I got used to the lecturing methods; the real "academic" method so to speak.  It encouraged me to study more. In addition to the presentations I had to give, answering questions on-the-spot makes you more aware that as a lawyer this can actually happen in the courtroom.  

My internship was spent at OSI New York within the Open Society Justice Initiative.  Through this opportunity, I feel like I got the complete package from OSI as I’m able to put my theoretical skills into practice.   My work focused on pre-trail detention and health as part of the Global Health Campaign as well as the independence of the judicial system in Africa.  As a Palestinian, this is particularly insightful as we also suffer a lack of independence.  Case management was also very useful for me.  Palestinian law offices are usually chaotic! 

Before leaving the U.S., my OSI link continued.  Valorie K. Vojdic, Associate Dean of Faculty Research and Development at West Virginia University, and Instructor of Legal English at the Scholarship Programs Summer School visited me while in Michigan.  As a result, I was invited to speak at the University as part of the McDougall "Global Perspectives" Lecture Series, a program of three lectures which brings together international speakers in the field of Law.  My lecture, entitled “Women in Law in Palestine,” focused on the situation of women giving birth at checkpoints after being held up at the crossings. It was a wonderful opportunity, and a great chance to network.

The biggest area of concern for me in the women’s rights world is violence.  It’s a big issue.  Women in Palestine just take it as part of their lives.  It’s really unfortunate.  Education plays an integral role.  Some girls are not allowed to attend university. There is a norm in Palestine that the best thing for a woman to be is a teacher. 

Training to be a lawyer, a doctor or a pharmacist doesn’t fit the maternal role well.  At this point, I’m not sure how I would incorporate educational promotion in the legal services, but I’d encourage women’s education so they can pursue their chosen careers.  I think if they were encouraged to pursue their dreams, they could also speak up against abusive situations in the home.  Even in rural Palestinian, people are still willing to give chances to others.  If they have, for instance, a very smart daughter who could benefit them economically, they may also push for rights for her.

Returning home, I’m confident I’m equipped to start a career.  Women’s rights is by no means an established field, but I feel I have a more rounded knowledge on associated theories such as feminism.  I also know more about international law, citing and discussing various cases.  This is knowledge I doubt I would have gained in Palestine.   

In order to qualify as a lawyer, I will have to go through two years of unpaid training in corporate law or litigation.  I have a slim chance of finding an office dealing directly with women’s rights,  but I currently have a year-long internship at the Independent Commission on Human Rights in Palestine, where I am doing research on issues related to women’s rights in Palestine. I also work part-time with a law office in Ramallah dealing with corruption and corporal punishment, areas also related to my field of interest.

As Palestine is a small country, you’d be surprised at how much we all know each other, especially the lawyers.  Whether they’re working in law offices, as professors, in NGOs or undertaking internships, we have good connections.

My links to OSI and my fellow alumni will continue into the future.  I feel I can benefit from future opportunities at OSI but also give back to the organization.  I’m in contact with the new PROL grantees, which I consider a way of giving back to OSI.  I hope to keep in contact with my fellow PROL alumni and hopefully start an alumni initiative back in Palestine.  I believe this is completely possible.

University of Michigan–Ann Arbor |