Intellectual Life
The dynamic intellectual life surrounding national security law at Georgetown reflects our expertise. The Georgetown Center on National Security and the Law, the Human Rights Institute, student organizations, resources available to our students on Georgetown's main campus, and other programs and initiatives reflect this vibrant activity.
Center on National Security and the Law
The Georgetown Center on National Security and the Law combines innovative scholarly theory with practical research, teaching and training, policy analysis and development, outreach and engagement, impact litigation, and discussion and debate.
The Center aims to bridge the academic and policy communities; bring together people from relevant disciplines who study national security law and related issues; produce new generations of scholars and legal practitioners who understand the complexities of national security law; foster balanced, nonpolitical examination of national security-related issues; and develop sophisticated strategies and practical policies for both enhancing national security and protecting constitutional values.
The Center hosts a variety of programming and projects, on topics including the the state secrets privilege, emerging technologies, security clearances, habeas corpus, and civilian and military relations.
Journal of National Security Law & Policy
Georgetown Law will co-sponsor the Journal of National Security Law & Policy, the top-rated journal in the field. Georgetown will share the sponsorship of the Journal with the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSCT) at Syracuse University's College of Law and Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs. The Journal is a distinctive peer-reviewed law journal, highly regarded for its scholarly contribution and for its sound policy analysis and recommendations. Students will work with the Journal's expert Board of Editors in several ways, which will give them working relationships with a distinguished group of national security law scholars and experts. In addition to designing a yearly Symposium, students will contribute to the peer-reviewed articles, have opportunities to publish their work, and more. Journal membership will be open to both J.D. and LL.M. students.
Human Rights Institute
The Human Rights Institute showcases Georgetown Law's strength in human rights, and, among other things, develops programs that explore the intersection between human rights and national security. The Institute's goal is to serve as the focal point for human rights activities at Georgetown University Law Center, and, in so doing, promotes Georgetown Law's role as a key actor in the human rights community. The Institute pursues this goal by two primary means: by cultivating Georgetown Law as a leading forum for discussion, debate, and collaboration on human rights issues; and by developing the next generation of human rights lawyers through a robust human rights law curriculum, academic and professional advising, and the facilitation of student involvement in human rights work.
Student Groups
On their own initiative, Georgetown students have been actively engaged in national security law topics. All four of the national security law related student groups have sponsored programming on campus. The National Security Law Society presents programs of general interest in NSC. The Military Law Society serves as a social and academic forum for those interested in the armed forces or military law. The International Law Society, seeks to increase interest in, and understanding of, comparative and international law practice. Amnesty International works for the release of prisoners of conscience who have neither used nor advocated violence.
University Resources
There are myriad opportunities at the main campus to engage in national security law. Students in the National Security Law LL.M. program have six credits to use towards graduate-level study in any department, either at the Law Center or on the main campus. Students may take courses at the School of Foreign Service, or in any of the departments of Language and Linguistics, Government, Politics and Policy, and International Affairs.
